The landscape is tired and needs a rest.
John Harrigan
This is just how I feel come October. I am tired and need a rest. We pack a lot of activity into our short span of summer weather, and by now I am ready to sit in my chair by the wood stove and read a good book. I'm tired of traveling and talking and eating out and gardening. I think I'd be really uncomfortable in a climate that allowed such hustle and bustle all year long. What I wonder is does the landscape create the personality or does the personality choose its landscape. I've talked about this other times in my letters, and it is a perpetual contemplation for me. What I do know for sure is that this climate of short summers and long autumns suits me perfectly.
I've discovered that as I get older, I long for the shorter days of fall and winter. I look forward to "hibernating" in my little bungalow, reading on the couch, snuggled deep beneath a quilt, listening to classical music while sipping hot tea, red wine or bourbon. Summer is full of travel, yard work, cold beer, dinners out and evenings on the porch. I enjoy those things immensely, but not year round. Like you, I'm ready to rest. Here's to some quiet time.
ReplyDeleteYou had me with 'little bungalow' - those words are so appealing, so evocative of the old songs about cottages.
DeleteThis is so interesting to think about Nan! Our daughter loves winter and the opportunity to hibernate; I do not. She and I have talked about that, sometime seriously, sometimes facetiously (i.e. "are you sure we're related?"). I think I might have enjoyed winter more if we'd lived where it was cold but bright. Oregon is so gray in the winter and my body and spirit seem to require sunshine. But all your Fall/Winter activities sound wonderful and you deserve them!
ReplyDeleteWe usually get a fair bit of sun in the winter, and when we don't the snow gives its own brightness. I'm not sure I could take gray and no snow either.
DeleteYour header picture is very beautiful! I also like the pictures in your post. They suit the quote and your comment so well.
ReplyDeleteI guess that, in places where summer is longer (or all year round), people do not pursue the hustle and bustle all the time; they can stretch out their activities for a longer period and do not have to cram in so much into a few warm and sunny weeks.
Like you, I have been very busy (just with completely different activities, mainly work) over the past months, and really need a rest now. I still have over 3 weeks of holidays due and am going to take one week at the end of this month. Can't wait!
I knew someone who lived in California for a few years, and she was so happy when it (rarely) rained because she didn't feel compelled to be doing, doing all the time.
DeleteBeing from the South, I can't imagine such long autumns ...I suspect I could used to it though, especially as I am, ahem, a woman of a certain age and find it hard to take the heat! I adore autumn, the cooler temps and the changing leaves.
ReplyDeleteStill happy for you, thinking what a wonderful grandmother you will be!!
Our autumns are very different now - the frosts come later, and the warm weather lingers a longer time. I'm not fond of the change.
DeleteI feel the same way. We are still deep in throws of cleaning out beds, raking leaves, putting things away, but, the dark comes sooner, soups simmer, and books are companions for longer and longer periods of time. Love the quote - and your photos.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful description.
DeleteI do love the change of seasons, and fall is my favorite by far. We've had an early fall foliage season this year but it was unusually beautiful as well. After the heat and long days of summer, I relish the cold nights and shorter warm days of fall. Since I'm a football fan, that has a lot to do with it too. We had long contemplated moving south when we can no longer keep up this place in the country, but now we're thinking of staying in a city nearby, close to friends, and where there are many activities we love. We would buy a condo so we could live comfortably without yard care or worrying about clearing snow. That sounds pretty good to me now.
ReplyDeleteYour plans sound perfect!!
DeleteWow, your leaves are way ahead of ours. Ours haven't turned yet. I keep thinking every day that they will. Finally some cooler weather is to come in with the expected rain today. I too look forward to that first chill in the air knowing nothing is growing and needing attention.
ReplyDeleteColumbus Day is always a big tourist time up here, and most of the peak foliage is past. 'Needing attention' - isn't that the truth.
DeleteSuch an interesting topic. I live in the southern hemisphere and tonight on TV I watched dreadful bush fires running out of control in several locations. It is terrible to think of the losses and frightening to think that it is only spring - what will summer be like?
ReplyDeleteAutumn is a lovely time and I love the name Fall - so evocative. Every season has its own beauty.
Sue
I'm sorry about all the fires.
DeleteI've always thought it must be hard for people in your locale to always, always be reading about cold-weather Christmases, etc. For us, it's the stories about warm and sunny Easter weather. It's happened maybe twice in my lifetime. :<)
Oh, I really related to this. I used to be such a summer girl but something changed (maybe because I was a girl a long time ago?!). I found this very hot summer particularly long and exhausting and am leaning into autumn, the coolness, the interior thoughts of it. I think it would be very hard to be in a one season place all the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like having different seasons.
Delete"What I wonder is does the landscape create the personality or does the personality choose its landscape."
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question. Not sure myself. Maybe they feed into each other constantly. As for myself, I can't really imagine myself living in a place where there's no autumn.
I do think about this a lot. I wonder about people who are stuck where they aren't happy with the weather. It must be hard.
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