” Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” -John Muir
Walk with me…
It’s that time of year again. I miss the crisp air and fall colors in my Indiana hometown. But I’ve discovered a hidden gem just a short drive from Tucson, Arizona. Madera Canyon “washes my spirit clean.” Breathe the cool, fresh air. Look around. Listen. Few words are needed. Come, walk with me…
See a blush of fall color…
Listen to the water dancing over the rocks. Feel the cool mountain stream…
Get in touch with a tree…
Wonder at ancient stones…
The circular depression in this boulder is a mortar used by prehistoric people to process wild plant food.
John (not his real name) was a student in my first grade class and, nine years later, was also a student in my husband Ed’s high school biology class. I remember him as a lively red-haired little guy. By the time he was in high school, “lively” would be a mild term. Ed saw through the antics and challenged this bright young man to live up to his potential. After he graduated from high school, John joined the Marines. Ed and I kept in touch, often taking him out for lunch when he was home on leave. We’d lost touch for a while, and were excited to receive an invitation to his wedding this fall. Of course, we had to go.
Photo from an Autumn hike in the nearby Catalina Mountains
Ed and I moved to Arizona three years ago. We were drawn to the turquoise blue skies, the mild winters, beautiful sunsets, and the way you can see a million stars in the clear night sky. But, I’ll have to admit, I miss fall. Don’t get me wrong, we have seasons here in the desert southwest, winters differ greatly from summers, but the changes are subtle. You have to be on the lookout or they will pass you by. Here’s how I do Autumn in Arizona:
Forget about Daylight Savings Time
It doesn’t exist in Arizona. We are one of the two states that don’t observe it. (The other being Hawaii, where they don’t worry about time anyway.) I’s rather nice. There’s no adjustment period when the clock suddenly “falls back” or “springs forward.” The only slight adjustment I make is keeping track of what time my friends and family in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia are on when it comes time to make a phone call.
It is rather nice. Right now, we have almost exactly 12 hours of sunlight each day. Dawn breaks at 6:00 am and dusk arrives at 6:20. Being retired, I have the luxury of waking with the sun each morning, meaning I sleep in longer in the winter. My biological clock is in sync with the seasons. (That’s not to say that I go to bed at 6:30 in the evening, mind you. The artificial daylight created by household lights and electronic devices plays a part… and a good Netflix binge can wreck havoc with your sleep patterns.)
A gateway wreath with silk sunflowers and fake leaves welcomes guests.
Add Some Fall Decor
There are no deciduous trees here unless you go up the mountain, so forget about leaves (nothing to rake, however.) Here in Arizona, you have to make your own autumn ambience. It’s a feeble attempt, I know, but it helps.
fabric pumpkins pile on the hall table
pumpkin spice candle warmer
Close Out the Pool
Just last week I enjoyed my last swim in our small, unheated backyard pool. Though the daytime temps are running in the mid 80s right now, it’s not unusual for it to drop 30 to 40 degrees overnight, making the water too chilly even with the solar cover.
Bathing suit, shorts, sweatshirt? Who knows what to wear?
Wardrobe Chages
It took me years to figure out how to dress for the seasons in Arizona. A friend of mine who’s been here longer than I have says “It’s all about layering.” I still don’t have it right. The other day I met some friends for coffee. It was 50 degrees when I left home. I put on a long- sleeved tee and a skirt. We sat outside, and by the time our lattes arrived, I was too hot. Back home, I changed into shorts and a short-sleeved tee shirt. That afternoon I had my bathing suit on (for my last-swim-of-the-year.) When I got out of the pool I was freezing; I put on yoga pants and a sweat shirt for the evening. We do a lot of laundry at our house.
Our backyard pomegranate tree
Pomegranate Harvest
In the midwest, we had access apple trees and I would often take my kindergarten class to the local orchard. Now we have a pomeganate tree. It’s a beautiful tree and the crimson fruit is harvested in the fall yelding an abundance of juicy, red seeds. But you can’t make a pomegranate pie…
Seasonal Food
Cool, crisp salads are making way for soups, Ed’s homemade bread, and yes, I’ll admit it: Pumpkin Spice Latte. My new favorite comes from Trader Joe and I mix it in with my chai tea. Perfect for sipping by the fire pit in the evening while making s’mores.
Yeah, I know, it’s not the same. Those of you who live in other parts of the country will have your beautiful leaves, the first snowfall, White Christmas. I miss it, and in fact, am planning a trip to the Midwest soon for my “fall fix.” But come January, February, and March, you’ll be calling me for reservations. http://seamslikeastory.com/good-company/
Threads of Thought:
Fall is a great time to curl up with a good book. Hmmm, I think I have one around here somewhere…
