Autumn on the Farm

Here on our farm it is starting to finally feel like autumn. Because we had a dry summer this year our leaves aren't turning the beautiful rusts and golds that we anticipate each year. But still it is nice to feel the cool, crisp mornings and evenings as we sit on the front porch and enjoy a warm cup of coffee. I took the picture looking down the road from our house last Fall when all the trees were changing color and we had a beautiful autumn. This is the road where I take my (almost) daily walks and it is really a treat when the air is cool and the scenery is so beautiful.

About a mile east of us is an old country cemetery that we like to visit now and then, especially on cool autumn days. It is called the Wright Cemetery and there are several generations of some of the families who have lived in this area for as far back as my husband can remember buried there. There are also a few headstones belonging to fallen soldiers from World War I and II. It has a very calm, peaceful feeling that I enjoy.

This is one of the prettiest autumn sunsets that I can remember seeing and I was lucky enough to get a picture of it from our front yard. The sunset itself has the rich colors of autumn spread out like a painter's palette ready for an artist to take up a brush and paint the leaves on every tree. I think some of the things I missed the most when I was a city girl were the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that were hidden behind high-rise buildings.

And what fun is autumn if you can't jump in a big pile of leaves.....or bury your big brother in them!

Breakfast on the Farm

At 7am we were awakened by a wonderful sound.....thunder and large raindrops hitting the windows! After several weeks of triple digit temperatures and no rain, our grass and hayfields were brown and crisp. A thunderstorm was exactly what we needed to brighten the landscape and our spirits!

We headed to the porch with coffee cups in hand and sat quietly, enjoying the sound of raindrops, first pounding and then settling down to a steady tap-tap-tap, on our metal roof. Shadow the Cat was the first to join us there, ready for his morning petting and purring session. It wasn't long until one by one our houseguests arrived on the front porch to enjoy the cool, breezy morning rain with us. Later, after the shower ended, my husband's sister and brother-in-law rode down on their 4-wheeler to enjoy a cup of coffee on our front porch.

Somewhere along the way breakfast was mentioned and before long my husband and I were in the kitchen preparing a hearty farm breakfast for everyone. Crispy bacon was fried along with slices of country ham, and bread was buttered and toasted in the oven. My husband prepared his "world's best" homemade hashbrowns and fried country eggs to order for everyone. Homemade peach and blackberry preserves were set on the table and another pot of coffee was made ready for our breakfast guests.

Days like this are what weekends are meant for.....spending time with family and friends and counting all our blessings.