Autumn is here

Despite my unwelcoming attitude, the rains have come and summer is gone. I'm not at Tuesday Market today, because I got wet on Saturday and might again this week, and I just can't do that over and over. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the day downtown but I am really, really enjoying the day at home, listening to the dripping. I finished up painting the south side of my house at dusk yesterday, got everything put away, and cleaned up the yard as much as I could. Gutters are clean and tightened up, the roof section that was leaking is not now, and I guess I am about as on board with the earth's journey as I can be.

My son and his wife came down on a Sunday to work all day shingling and that really saved me. That roof project, even though it wasn't the full roof, was pretty ambitious and it would have taken me several more days. Next year we will do the rest; I realized it is 25 years old, just a bit older than my son. Kind of cool that I was pregnant for the first roof and he helped me put on the next one. I guess it follows that he may be doing the next one without me. Guess I have to accept that.

Mom and I have firmed up our plans for our trip to Australia, enough to say that we will go for two weeks. It will be at the end of April so I have time to get ready for that. I'm getting back into my house research as the weather turns, as well as getting my berry patches under control as the duplex next door appears to have sold. The new owners will be surveying the property line and planning some landscaping, and among my greatest fears, possibly a fence. Not as bad as the possible student housing in the back yard that was one dread I had, but I'm pretty sure my berry patch is filling quite a few feet more than the five feet I hope I have on that side of the little house in the back. There's an easement between us, not quite an alley as it is only 7 feet, and it isn't driveable. A fence, if they put one up there, would kill off my berries and my access to them, but I'm pretty sure they don't have room for one.The new neighbors seem quite nice, are very thorough so far, and surely would give me a chance to comment on the possible fence. Nothing I can predict. It isn't my yard. I have to just feel lucky that I have enjoyed the open space and opportunity to garden and share it for the last 26 years. I won't have the surplus of berries again, but I certainly took full advantage of them all this time.

Fearing the unknown is fairly unproductive but I still seem to do quite a bit of it. I certainly have some fears of the known too, but writers are always peering into the darkness trying to see some more details to embellish their stories, so I know how to project difficulties. I've had some difficult experiences lately, and they have proven to be about as hard and complex as I imagined, but nothing to fear. The fear and anxiety are really much more of a problem than the real tasks and situations. Funny how I do that to myself.

Down at the Market lots of energy has shifted to Holiday Market already but that is still over a month away. So many customers asked if last week was the last outdoor Market, but no, we still sell outside through Nov. 15th. Sometimes we get really lucky and have a gorgeous day, and other times we don't. Last week it rained from about 7:00 until noon, so I got soaked and sweaty going there, took an extra hour of setup to make sure everything stayed dry, and then the weather cleared and it was quite lovely. Looks like that might be the pattern again this week. I'll do it. The community gathering is still essential, still lucrative, and the continuity of selling every Saturday is still important to me. I just go, I don't even think about it. Rain pants, long johns, thermos of hot water, nice hot lunch from a food booth, standing in the sun with the neighbors when it does dome out, all make it workable and even pleasant.

It does take some extra strength though. My day last week was fourteen hours, and that is really the hard part, finding the stamina, for us older or medically compromised folks. I see the usefulness of partners, though I still prefer to do it alone. It might be a strategy to partner up with some other old folks in the future though, or with some younger ones. Going off for a nap or just a break could make the day possible when I don't have that wonderful strength and stamina I depend upon. Soon it will be dark when I come trundling home, as it is already dark when I go out to load up. Harder times. Maybe the rewards are that much better when we work harder. At any rate, in a very short time we will have that luxurious show at the Fairgrounds all set up and humming, but in the meantime, I hope people remember to come down to Park Blocks to say hello. 

Guess I ought to suit up and go out to see if all my gutter improvements worked or caused new problems. With two houses there are always parts that need repair. I suppose I should do some work in the shop, too. This luxurious unexpected day still needs to feel productive. If I were really a good person I'd go down to Tuesday Market to support those who did brave the rain. There will certainly be a few. Maybe just one more cup of tea and an internet article or two, though, before I get my feet wet. See you Saturday!