happy first day of fall

I always do this. I forget how much I enjoy fall.

The weather of late has been nothing short of spectacular around these parts of central Indiana: sunny days, luscious breezes, blue skies, and even a few over-achieving trees offering hints of color.

This afternoon Brian and I went grocery shopping. People ask how I like his retirement, and I think they are sometimes surprised to hear that I think it’s great. We’ve shared grocery-shopping duties every week but one since he retired in June, and I’m amazed at how much faster it goes when double teamed. Today he asked me how we stood on laundry detergent. I realized that I had no idea since he’s been doing all the laundry. Then he asked if we needed dishwasher soap and the same is true in that area. He also vacuums, has become Reggie’s best buddy and well, what’s not to love if you are me? My work load at home is much less and I am grateful. As for Brian, he is still elated to have the gift of time.

All that is to say that I found myself on a mid-afternoon Wednesday  with time to go to my favorite spot in the world, our back porch, and just soak in the wonder of a perfect-weather day. Do a little Bible Study Fellowship homework, work a little on a program I’m giving to the Union County Extension Homemakers in a couple of weeks, write this little blog, and enjoy one of the delicious Honey Crisp apples we bought at the grocery store. Life is GOOD.

Today’s email brought some fun too. Thanks to a post by Blaise Doubman  about the recipes of Sweetland, (http://blaisethebaker.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/sweetland-of-liberty-bed-breakfast-review-and-guest-blogger-announcement/ ) one of his peeps ordered a copy directly from me. Another lady booked me for her church’s May women’s brunch. It’s a lovely thing to have a far-off booking. It means the fun this plump, middle-aged mom is having gets to continue into a distant season in another year.

I hope you are enjoying your hump day too. Maybe I’ll see you Saturday at the Fayette County (Ind.) Public Library where librarian Melissa Scott has planned a full day of local authors who will discuss their books and how they made some of the plot, place and character decisions they did, and also describe the entire publishing process, among other topics. I’ll be there from 10-4. I’d love to chat with you. Drop by.

And enjoy the weather! It is a slice of heaven, Hoosier style. Today reminds me of a quote by one of my all-time favorite feature-story subjects, the late, great Max Hiatt. Max was a Mooreland farmer who dearly loved his wife Madge, his Mooreland farm, and his life with both. I loved him. He looked to the good Lord's natural signs and wonders such as thickness of animal fur, insect activity and how tight the shucks were on the corn to predict the winter ahead. I miss interviewing him each fall. Max once said, "If the good Lord hadn't chosen Eden (for his perfect garden), I believe He would have chosen Mooreland."

On a day like today in Hoosierland, I'd have to agree.