CELEBRATE!

Compared to previous years, this year's pumpkins have been a success! I have four of these beauties (four I can see in the weeds, anyway, so maybe more) crawling around the vines and fence lines. This one is truly a beauty and is ready to be picked. I hope some of the other, greener, gourds will be ready by Samhain for carving and celebration but in the meantime I have this baby to usher in fall.

Sunday I went to the Sheepdog Trials at Merck Forest with Gibson and my friend Miriam, the photographer. I only was able to stay for the morning but the ride there with the chill in the air, the fog, the leaves swirling along the Vermont Roadside and rows of pumpkins and mums for sale...it was like waking up. It was like coming up for air after being under water for nearly a year. I felt lighter, physically lighter. All the clutter in my head blew away and there was just that holy, tired light and the silent prayer of gratitude I get another Autumn like this. TO need a sweater and a balefire, to sit against a log stump with cider and a chunk of cheddar, lifting up your hood from your sweatshirt to fend off any chill. The northeast has faults like any other region of the country but we have Autumn down to a science. Next weekend is apple picking with the horses and then cider pressing! Fall is here and my dance card is open for him. Time to waltz. I've said it before and I'll say it again, my heart beats in 3/4 time.

I can not wait for Halloween. Big day. Big celebration. Big, warm, hearts.