As Seasons Change

September 16, 2014

Beloved:  
   
    I’ve two red and four green tomatoes left on the vine, two yellow squash that might get big enough to eat, baby cucumbers that the chickens will enjoy more than me.

    Yesterday I met a freshman from New York who asked, “Is the weather sort of inconsistent here?”  “Consistently inconsistent,” I replied.

    Energy spent gardening now goes to sewing.  I’m learning to make drapes. Technically, drapes are just really big curtains and I’ve made lots of curtains.  But I’m discovering that while curtains obey - drapes fight back.  They slide off the cutting table. They tangle around my legs.  They chug under the needle then stop, refusing to make way for fabric coming along behind.  It’s harder to sew straight for 110 consecutive inches. Ripping white stitches from white fabric is blinding.  I sigh often and consider quitting, justifying the expense with thoughts like, “I could make dozens of pillows and give them out as Christmas presents.”  And so far I’ve only worked on the lining!

    As always I’m sad summer is over and glad for the change.  Glad to move indoors for longer nights and shorter days. Glad to trade my sandals for slippers. Glad to pull out my flannel sheep pajamas and have a fire most evenings.  Glad to eat fall food like chili and pot roast.  Cheryl Wheeler has a song with the line, “Sometimes I feel like winter is the warmest season,” which makes lots of sense to me.  

    The day is much warmed up since I began writing.  Sunny too.  I pray it treats you kindly.  ~peace and prayers, pastor annette