grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

happy autumn!

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Saturday was the first day of fall. Autumn Equinox. Same length day and night. We begin to wind down the year, rebalancing our bodies and minds as the days begin to shorten and cool. 

Football. Harvest. Chili. State Fair. Pumpkin Spice Latte. 
The first day of autumn went by completely unnoticed in Munger Place. 


We were too busy with Munger Place Days to notice the sun cross the celestial equator. Autumn? What autumn? The mercury topped out at 97 degrees yesterday. The home tour date was moved from early May to late September for cooler weather…

According to the calendar, we have survived another scorching Texas summer. But it sure didn’t feel like it yesterday afternoon as I corralled sweaty, sugared-up kids and tired dads with strollers around the cakewalk. 

Next stop….State Fair and Halloween!
cakewalk goodies!

Happy Fall!

talya

Musical Pairings:

Autumn Almanac, The Kinks

Autumn has caught us in our summer wear. – Philip Larkin, British poet (1922-1986)

My new friend – Martial Arts Man in the next booth:))


Blackbirds

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Throughout the spring and summer they send up silent prayers. These rough, hardworking, strong farmers ask for very little else other than ideal growing conditions. Not too hot. Perfect rainfall.
Just one more good crop.

Self-taught, yet like highly educated scientists, they control weeds and pests and test soil for nutrients, constantly patrolling the fields, sensing the slightest alteration in the landscape. They hear the wind change direction and feel the days get shorter.

The rice grows. Flat green blades, heading and flowering, ripening into a milky stage.  Finally golden brown, heavy, dry. Ready for harvest they pray once again for late summer storms to scatter, to blow over the county, leaving them at peace to work into the night.

Combines, massive and roaring, move into the fields, threshing and cutting, churning up dust and debris, leaving jagged stalks and stubble behind. Leaving duck blinds, partially revealed.
Duck blind pit mid-field…
Thick flocks of black birds circle at a safe distance, curious, panicked. They watch their summer food vanish. Winter is not far behind.
talya
Musical Pairings:

Lighting the Way to Autumn

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Lighting the way to autumnSeemingly out of nowhere, spider lilies bloom in Munger Place. Yesterday the bulbs were hidden underneath matted ground cover and thirsty summer grass. Suddenly they make an early morning appearance, randomly scattered, tall and sincere on leafless stems, blooming the instant late summer sunlight sends its subtle message. Surprise lilies are a sure sign that autumn is on the way.

Had I known the time was at hand, I would have watched them grow through the night.

Mother Nature’s nonchalant, often unrecognized message is bittersweet. The end of carefree summer days, lake trips, lightning bugs.

First day of kindergarten. First day of college. Change.

Hatch chile peppers and sweet corn pack the produce aisles. Fresh and fragrant. Watermelons and raspberries are priced to move, tired.
Soon the trees will be on fire. Orange, Red, Yellow. Hiding summer. Lighting the way to winter.
I dream of The Great Pumpkin.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

The Great Pumpkin Waltz – Vince Guaraldi

Oh Great Pumpkin, where are you? – Linus

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!