Frosty

Tonight Jack Frost will pay a visit here in northeast Wisconsin, laying the ground work for Old Man Winter. The gardening season was long and the harvest was plentiful. From that perspective, it is time, time to give the soil and my muscles a respite.

I prefer the colder weather and I attribute that to my Norwegian and Scottish roots. However, the first frost always sends a figurative and literal chill down my spine. My grandfather, Leonard Larsen, died on the first fall frost of 1993. I always think of him at first frost in addition to the actual day he passed away. He was a frugal and resourceful man. While the Great Depression sidetracked his career as an accountant, he still retained his money managing skills and raised a family. I marveled at his creative ways of solving problems.

As soon as I got home from work yesterday I went out to the garden. I picked some beans, kale, beets, broccoli, squash, and a few tomatoes. I also picked 154 peppers. Some were quite small but they'll be enjoyable none the less. Some of the peppers have soft spots so I'll save the parts I can and cook or preserve those immediately. The ones in perfect condition will go in the refrigerator to be enjoyed in the coming weeks. When I became a vegetarian 30+ years ago, I struggled with what to do for Thanksgiving. Some years I fasted. Other years I ate a meal only of items that I produced myself. In both cases, I found myself appreciating that I didn't have to rely on my own gardening to sustain me year 'round. That being said, I did come up with some rather creative meals. Given this year's harvest and my renewed interest in preserving food since my Dancing Rabbit visit, I think I'll have a tasty meal for T-day.

I worked in the garden some today and I planted a long row of spinach. I hope to have some early, winter-curled spinach to enjoy in April. I also took several walkabouts around the yard, enjoying the cool wind, stiff breeze and smells of autumn. At one point I watched a deer on the edge of my property quietly enjoying some green grass that will soon be dusted in white.

My favorite color is brown but I love the varied shades of green that paint such a lush look during the summer. For the 56th time in my life, I need to adjust to the grey and white of the earth for the next few months. The lack of sun can dampen the mood of the human brain. Diet, exercise and vitamin D are especially important now. It will be awhile before I can ski, snowshoe or shovel for my winter exercise.

The sunrise tomorrow will be rather late by my standards, 7:24 a.m. I hope to be lakeside to view the sun and perhaps capture some chilly, shivery shots. I'll post any that are worthy. Regardless, I'll be filling my lungs with some delicious, cool air.

"To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose..." (Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds)