Autumn is Here

Leaf Photo Taken By My Daughter

Autumn has officially arrived. Summer of 2013 is now behind us as we look ahead to cooler days, frosty nights, soccer games, crackling fires, and a kaleidoscope of color as the leaves change from green to brilliant red, yellow and orange.  We find ourselves searching for wool socks in the morning, trading our shorts in for long pants, and leaving the house with sweaters on.  The afternoon iced coffee is now a cup of hot tea, and extra blankets are finding their way onto the beds at night.

Sometimes the warm days of summer hang on throughout September, but this year, fall has decided to settle upon us quickly. With temperatures only in the 50's the past two days,  I have been tempted to start the first fire in the wood stove.  I did, however, restrain myself...thinking it best to save the wood for the bitterly cold days of winter...but, oh, it was so tempting.  I compromised and opted for  flannel pj's, dark chocolate, a cup of tea, and a hot water bottle...not so bad, really.

I've begun the chore of packing away the summer clothing and sorting through the fall/winter clothes that have been in storage.  With ten children, this task can be daunting at times, so I try to do it in small increments, starting with the youngest and working my way up, one child each day until I'm finished.  I found this darling, vintage jumper that I scored at a thrift store last spring and stored away for cooler days.

Photo Taken By My Daughter

Photo Taken By My Daughter

Along with the change of seasons usually comes a round of the sniffles. Almost all of the Littles have been under the weather with runny noses and coughs.  I took advantage of the produce sales at our local grocer and stocked up on fresh fruit to help boost those little immune systems and also filled the tea cupboard with soothing herbals.

The Littles all agree that the Echinacea Plus is tasty, but no one is too keen on the Gypsy Cold Care.  Feeling rather sniffly myself today, I will be sure to give all the teas a good sampling.

 

This time of the year always seems to be the busiest for us.  Our days are busy, our schedules hectic with dental appointments, homeschooling, homesteading, and soccer scheduling.  I need to remind myself, from time to time, to take a deep breath and enjoy the season that is upon us.  Slower, cozier days of winter are coming soon, but for now, the excitement of fall is here, and I shall embrace that.

Photo Taken By My Daughter