And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.

– Oscar Wilde

Just a week ago temperatures pushed near 90 degrees. We sought shade and shelter from the morning heat at Addison’s softball games. Today, we clamored for an extra layer of clothes against autumn’s early morning chill. In the space of a week we experienced both the highs of summer and the cool, crisp air of fall.

Summer was good, as it always is. The long days of sun and warmth have seemingly passed in the blink of an eye. But memories remain of the gardens in their full glory, fresh vegetables with our evening meals, warm nights under the stars, and summertime trips to destinations both near and far abroad.

Summer’s end brings new developments here on the homestead as well. We welcomed our first granddaughter, Avery Jean. Born in the last weeks of summer she is as perfect as can be. And, as if on cue, our chickens began laying at this time as well. Both serve as amazing reminders of just how blessed we are to experience life here on our tiny farm.

With the arrival of fall we slowly started breaking down the summer garden. Chinese noodle beans are collected and hung to dry. We pulled out the ground cherries and harvested the green beans. A few rows of peppers remain ready for harvesting. A few pumpkins still ripen on the vine. Squashes are curing in the basement. Our tomatoes are harvested, processed, and canned. Even our sunflowers have put forth their last blooms of the year.

Now we look forward to cooler days, apple picking, the changing colors of autumn leaves, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and all the splendor fall has to offer.