Monday, September 23, 2024

THE COMING OF FALL

     The coming of fall is a mixed experience for me. There are some good things and some bad things all in due time. We had very warm weather and then in two days it turned cold and we had light frosts. 

     I have anxiety when fall is on the way. Fall means freezing. Freezing of plants. We talk about a killing frost. That means that most plant activity is over. I worry about that first frost. I always have plants that I want another week or 10 days out of. 

    Once that killing frost is over , the anxiety is gone. I can now enjoy fall with all it's color and wonderful smells. 

    The sun is paler as it moves deeper south. 

    I like fall activities. I like cleaning up my yard with all the plants that need to be taken care of. Regular summer gardening activities are over.

    Fall is a beautiful season with awesome color. 

    I liked fall on the farm. I liked harvesting , running combines and  hauling grain. Harvesting took a long time as there had to be dry conditions. I liked running the tractor doing the fall field work. I also got to stay out of school for about 6 weeks.

     I phoned my 83 year old brother about 10 days ago and he was out running a combine for one of his sons. I phoned him first and there was no answer. He knew I was calling but he couldn't see in the dark to  press the right buttons. 

29 comments:

  1. We had farmers working like that a few weeks ago, still going with headlights on in the fields.
    While it is dry enough you get it in.

    We are just having wet wet and more wet...maybe cold again by the weekend

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  2. I must admit that I liked harvest time best when it was all finished; there's something very satisfying about walking across a stubble field as evening starts to fall. Most of my harvest work consisted of stacking straw bales for the livestock; given my time again it's a skill I would avoid mastering at all costs!

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    1. Good reminder about walking through stubble.

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  3. Fall seems to bring anxiety for many of us though for different reasons. It's good to get through the hard part and enjoy the autumnal colours. I'm impressed that you brother is still working on the farm at 83 years young. Good for him.

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    Replies
    1. Fall is a signal that some tough stuff is ahead of us.

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  4. I seeded down some spots in my lawn that I worked on last week. I'm hoping for several more weeks before a killing frost to allow the grass to get established!

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    1. We usually have a killing frost before the end of September.

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  5. Hello,
    I love fall but now what comes after. I am not a fan of winter or cold weather. It is sad to see the flowers come to an end. Take care, have a great day!

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    1. Yes, it's sad to see the plants go dormant. Even our grass goes dormant.

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  6. I love autumn too, especially the cooler temperatures of early fall. Late fall is too cold. May as well enjoy what is now.

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    1. Yes, I will get out and enjoy some good fall weather.

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  7. I love Fall! The cooler temps always feel so nice and the colors of the leaves are so fabulous. I'm tired of gardening by then and am glad to have a break from feeling guilty about not doing enough gardening! ;)

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    1. Fall seem to bring some extra gardening tasks when we clean things up.

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  8. The early darkness depresses me somewhat when it first begins to happen. I get over it as the seasons marches on. I should probably blog this, but there isn't a lot more to say other than what I just have said.

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    1. I wonder how many people feel the same way. I know the feeling.

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  9. I enjoy the fall, with the cooler temps and the shorter days.

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  10. Running the combine after dark to get all the work done before the rain and then the snow comes. Harvest. Autumn. Yes. I am picturing it. It has been a long time since I was a farm girl, but it is still a part of me.

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    1. Yes, I left the farm in 1957 and came back for holidays and weekends for a few years. I still vividly remember these farm activities.

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  11. I love Fall, I suppose I love most of the seasonal changes. (except Winter).

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  12. I remember Fall. But here it was 86 degrees F. today. That's our fall in this new world, I guess.

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    Replies
    1. A long time ago it seemed like Sept and fall were quite cool. We were 27 today.

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  13. I love fall, too. I especially like to hear of your youth and how different it was from mine.

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  14. Fall is so pretty but seems too short! There is so much the farmers have to pack in during this short time frame.

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  15. Do North Americans call it "Fall" because it's when older folk might "fall" over after slipping on frosty paths? I hope that Jean still calls it Autumn.

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  16. There is something wistful about fall. Your post captures it well, Red.

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  17. Awesome post about fall dear Red
    Harvest season was like celebration for us when i was less than ten or so soon after two to three years i had to stay at home as growing girl and fun was over.
    Glad you enjoy the glorious fall days

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  18. Oh my gosh! He's doing this in the dark??? At 83??? Yikes!

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