Cornflakes on the Driveway

Leaves upon the driveway,

Like dry cornflakes in a bowl,

Swept into a neatly crafted pile

Until I turn my back upon them

Just to set aside my broom,

And the autumn breezes

Send them skittering away

To reclaim their corners

And sheltered spaces

Where the eddies

Leave them in swirls

And piles

To crunch beneath the feet

Until cold rains come

And they are tracked

Into the house

Adhering to the soles

Of boots and shoes.

Weather On My Mind

Sunshine this morning,

Rain tonight,

Winds howling,

Carrying a bite;

That's the forecast for today

But, I'll go on my merry way

Because where I grew up

That was normal for the fall --

Except the rain of course.

Rain was a rare luxury

Much appreciated

Unless it was the middle of harvest

Which it still is.

Here?

Why,

Sunshine

And warmth

And light breezes

And falling leaves

Are typical this time of

Year.

Anticipation and Determination

The days are getting shorter and in spite of the omnipresent heat, there are signs that Fall is just around the corner.  From the time I get up in the morning until the sun rises is over an hour.  Dove hunting season begins in less than two weeks; I've seen lots of those silvery-gray bullets darting around the area, practicing their evasive maneuvers.

I'm looking forward to the cooling weather, college football, hunting season and harvest time.  Yes, even in the cattle business there is a harvest time.  For the cow/calf rancher it is when the calves have been weaned and pre-conditioned and are ready to head to wheat pasture for awhile, or possibly straight to the feedlot where they will be fattened for the "final" harvest.

Fall is also a time when many herds are calving.  In fact, Fall calving has begun at our place.  We have a small group of cows that will be calving over the coming weeks.

I enjoy Fall.  Growing up in the Plains my eyes developed a desire to see great distances, unhindered by objects in the way.  Here, in Northeast Texas, the trees block my vision and I often feel enclosed.  When the trees shed their leaves during the Fall and Winter it gives me a sense of being able to see again! -- if only a little further into what is impenetrable greenery during the summer.

Perhaps it is the changing season that is enhancing my anticipatory mood.  I have a sense of change on the horizon and it promises to be exciting.  Hopefully, it will prove to be good change.  I firmly believe it will be and will do all I can to make it so.  The trouble is, right now I have no idea what it will be!  I do know that I am determined to make the best of it.

Early Morning Leaves

Autumn leaves,
Falling to swirl
In the sharpness of
An icy breeze,
Rustle under foot
While the silvery pearl
Perches watchfully
Against a sequined gown
Of ebony,
Waiting
For bright slivers
Of morning
To crest
The inky fingers
Of dimly seen
Sources
Of the rustling,
Crunching
Shards.

Finally Fall

Changing weather
Colorful leaves
Harvest time
Grain trucks
Cotton bales
School starts
Pep Rallies
Football games
Marching bands
Homecoming parades
Bonfires
Hunting season
Pumpkin carving
Indian corn
Holidays
Felt hat
Jackets on
Jackets off
Northern winds
First frost
Crisp nights
Fire lights
Family gatherings

Football, Travel and Fall Colors

I just watched Texas Tech pull out a win against Texas. It was quite a game. It was exciting to the last second on the clock. It's too bad the Aggies aren't having such a good season but they did beat Colorado today.

Tomorrow I'm headed for the DFW area for the Texas Cattle Feeders Convention. It will be held at the Opryland Hotel on Lake Grapevine. From there I will head home on Tuesday to spend the night in my own bed before heading to Colorado Springs on Wednesday for the Beef Summit. It will be lots of travel from now through mid-December. But, I guess it's been lots of travel for the last few weeks.

The weather here has been nearly perfect for the last few days and is expected to be the same for the next week or so. The high temps have been in the low 80's and the lows have been in 40's and 50's. It has been great for creating good color in the trees. The red oaks below are in our front yard.

Harvest Time

Harvest time
Combines
Piles of grain
Changing leaves
Pumpkins
Scarecrows
Cool mornings
New wheat springing
Rural towns bustling
Football
Kids in school
Hurry in the air
Fruits of summer's of labor
Before the winter rest.

Fall Into a New School Year

School has started back and the pace of life just stepped it up a notch. Now, it seems a little strange for me to say that because I'm not in school and although my son's activities sometimes throw a little extra into the schedule, it's not bad and I enjoy getting to see him participate. It does seem to create extra demands on my spouse who works in the Central Office for our school system.

I guess really it is just the increase in activity around me that makes it feel like everything is faster -- more hurried. The morning traffic seems heavier. Various school activities place demands on others at work. It is more difficult to schedule things because of conflicts. Oh, well -- that's part of fall!

Fall.
I can't believe that
Footballs are flying,
Corn is drying,
Students are crying
'Cause summer is dying
And I would be lying
If I said I was trying
To keep from sighing
Over the end of summer.

OK. Technically there's still nearly a month left.