“The RoseBouquet”

The seasons are changing. That’s a good thing, really. I feel sorry for people who live in parts of the world where they don’t see seasonal changes the way we do. We’ve had a very good summer with heat that required our air-conditioner to be on only during the hotest ones in July. Otherwise the temperature has been quite comfortable.

This August and September (so far) have been mostly dry, which is just right for a good harvest. I don’t hear people complaining in this area. Those that remember to be grateful are thanking God. On the radio I heard yesterday that the harvest of crops is well ahead of schedule.

But today is a rainy day, and I see the forecast is for several more days like this. There is a smell a taste of fall in the air. The trees are changing colour and I’ve even seen one or two that were totally bare already.

Dad has been harvesting our garden as I said last week, and was going to bring in the last of the tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., today, but now he’s having a rest in his recliner. Not much you can do but rest on a rainy day, if you’re a gardener.

Well, Monday, he sat patiently at the table and methodically cored and peeled and diced two pails full of apples for the freezer. They are sour green apples, but he knows they’ll make good pies.

The outside exercise has been good for him too. Dad mentioned the other day that he’s lost some weight, and I notice that the skin around his face is hanging loosely. There is no telling if he’ll feel up to this much gardening work next year, but I’m grateful he can still do it this year.

We’ve had such good produce from our garden that when we make a trip to the city, Dad usually goes out and picks a bag full of this, and an armload of that, and then we distribute them among friends there.

Now God is bringing us the fall or autumn and winter to rest from these projects, and focus on other things. In spring, we’ll be eager to get out there and work in the garden again! See? The seasons are meant to give us variety.