Wake up, wake up little bird.

Summer is not offically over acording to the calender, but in my mind and heart we are over.  A successful one, but time to turn the page.
My favorite time of year is so close I can smell and taste it in the air.
I lay in bed at night with the windows open just enough to get the fresh autumn breeeze over my face.  There is a whiff of smoke, something damp, some noise of a bird, crickets in their final chorus, innately knowing "speak now, or be lost forever."
There have been a few rainy days in the last two weeks and they are calming, notures way of saying..
"Its ok to stay home and snuggle your boy, watch him play games all day, Lego for hours."  "Its ok to lay in bed with your man while he works and reads, and listens to music."  Its alright to WANT to stay home, and hide out, and cook.
We were out the mountain for Labor day weekend as always.
There was rain, sun, puffy white clouds.  the whole thing.
Yesterday I put out my mums, three huge potted yellow mums for the front of the house, a scarecrow, two orange mums, pumpkins.  It looks pretty.  It also makes me feel like HOME.
Home is where I want to be, witht hose I love.
Lock the door, turn off our phones and pretend we are all there is.
Fall does this to me.
Look into the clearest blue sky, and breathe in the freshest cool air.
A sense of shedding the old, cooling down from the long run, collecting all that matters for the long winter.
A settling in, nesting.
I love that.
Then to top it all off, I get to prepare for my favorite of all holidays.
THANKSGIVING.
A time of year when we all sit together for no other resaon than to say..
I am so thankful for you, and you and you in my life.
I am grateful to be able to enjoy all of our quirks and still love beyond words.
Come sit with me, I will let you into the inner sanctum of my world. MY HOME.
Not only MY HOME, but my proverbial HOME. MY LIFE.
MY CHILDREN and FAMILY.
All in one place saying THANK YOU for eachother.
While Jack and I were driving to school this morning we passed his favorite tree, the big wheeping willow on the corner of Wyoming Ave and Pierce street.  It overhangs the road and has the gnarliest trunk you have ever seen.  It is one of the first to green up inthe spring and yellow down inthe fall.  As we looked at it this morning Jack thoughtit looked "scary and sad."
I told him, "I dont think hes scary and sad, I think he is tired.  He has been green and full and holding up his leaves and branches all summer.  Now is the time that he gets to shed his heavy leaves and take a long winter nap."  The cold weather is coming with rain and snow, wouldnt it be better he gets to tuck himself tight and sleep qietly until spring pops again?"
"Yeah."  "As long as no one ever cuts him down."
"Yeah, I agree."
I think of the sounds of Fall creeping into my psyche around this time of year.  The sounds of Fall are short lived.
The rustlingof leaves before they fll of f the treees doesnt last long.  Such a soothing sound.
Amazing changes out our window everyday if you look. 
If we take a walk you will see, smell, taste, hear the earth change.
Are you ready for the Fall?
Can you close the doors and windows and enjoy WHO and WHAT are inside with you?
Can you listen to your own thoughts in the quiet of fall and pending winter and still continue to breathe?
I remember walking before I figured out how to use the ipod? and thinking so much in the fall that I had to sing.  Thoughts of the river and its destinations, constant motion, with life underneath the surface that is totally unaware of me and my conjurings.
Fall Autumn. 
Im feathering my nest, collecting mynuts, keeping my matches dry.
If you are looking for me, I am in the blue bubble at the end of River street with my nest mates.


Fall is a time to reflect, collect and prioritize.  And prepare for a LONG time in your own head.
In YOUR OWN HEAD?
Are you ready to go there?  I need to go there. 
Love to all, I am still here.
Forever your girl.