Day Two Hundred Sixty Six 2012

My sister Ann and her husband Terry always host an annual Labor Day family get together at their house. This year, we got rained out, so they moved it to this afternoon and rented a huge shelter at the beautiful park just down the hill from their house, just in case the rains came again. But we couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day, and what a way to kick off the first day of Fall than with family and yummy food!
























My sister in law Cynthia snapped this one of us enjoying BBQ, Ann’s killer potato salad, Don’s killer cole slaw, and Terry’s killer baked beans. I took a similar picture and sorry to exclude you, Cyn, but your shot was much better than mine.
After dark, we headed back to Ann and Terry’s for a huge bonfire.
This fire was so big and hot you had to have a ten foot pole to roast a marshmallow! It sure did knock back the evening chill.

Thanks, again, Ann and Terry, for hosting this good time shindig! This is my favorite time of year, and getting to spend times like these with my family is always a blessing to me.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Six 2011

BOOT SCOOTIN’ BBQ!








Had a great time this evening at the 3rd annual Boot Scootin’ BBQ at my mom’s assisted living home. It is a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Tennessee, and there is always a big turnout for this shindig. The Back Roads Band, an excellent local group, played country tunes and had everybody dancing or tapping their toes. The food was yummy (especially the homemade banana pudding!). There was a silent auction (I got outbid on a couple of items). And there were games and things for the kids to play. I snapped a few pictures and caught family members in various stages of chewing, but that’s okay. It means they were having a boot scootin’ good time. Welcome Autumn! Happy Fall, Y'all!!

Day Two Hundred Sixty Five 2010

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Daughter Kelly sent me this picture of ornamental gourds she bought at a vegetable stand down the road from her house. 25 cents each. Not too shabby. Even better--they're for me! She knows I love gourds. The gnarlier the better. It's nice to be thought of. Thanks, Kelly! Welcome, Autumn! The most wonderful time of the year.

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"the air is different today

the wind sings with a new tone

sighing of changes coming

the harvest gathered

a flower, a nut

some mead, and bread

a candle and a prayer

returning the fruits

in thanksgiving

to the grove

and receiving

it's blessing

again"

--Rhawk, Alban Elfed

Day Two Hundred Sixty Five

The Wind And The Leaves
by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
(published 1918)

“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day,“Come o’er the meadows with me, and play.

Put on your dresses of red and gold;

Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s low call, Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew, Singing the soft little songs they knew.

“Cricket, good-by, we’ve been friends so long! Pretty brook, sing us your farewell song;

Say you are sorry to see us go. Oh! you will miss us, right well we know.

“Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we’ve watched you in vale and glade: Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went: Winter had called them, and they were content.

Soon fast asleep in their earthly beds, The snow laid a coverlet over their heads.

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This is the first poem I can remember hearing. My mom's dad, George Bain Gailbreath, taught me the first stanza and I've never forgotten it. I always thought that was all of it and figured it was something he had made up. I never realized until today that it had other verses and was made into a children's song. This old poem is full of melancholy, because as beautiful as Autumn can be, it makes me sad for the little leaves that have already begun to change and fall. Now that I've bummed everyone out, Happy Fall, Y'all!!