Changing Season

Here comes the rain

Autumn is setting in with the rain

The grass is still growing fast

How long is that going to last?

Some plants are flowering

Some leaves are browning

The rain makes everything greener

The wind is that much keener

The cold seems meaner

Making all the effort to be warmer

The birds are huddling under the eaves

The wind rustles through the leaves

The clouds gathered all grey

Where is the sun pray?

I want the skies again blue

So that I can stop being blue

The cold makes my muscles hurt

Which makes my speech curt

Heat helps the muscles warm

But makes the rash buzz like a swarm

I need to balance the heat needed

Just as nature balances the cyclical renewal needed

For most the growing season is done

The propagation is done

The time has come to slow down

Hunker up and bed down

The time to hibernate is soon due

So that it can rest and come anew

Time to reflect on the done

Prepare on what will need to be done

Time to dream and hope

Just time to dream and hope

Autumn

The days are growing shorter
The sun sets earlier and earlier
There is a wind that blows colder
All remind that autumn is here

Chill in the air early morning
The frost regularly forming
Wispy strands of mist linger and melt slowly
Even as the sky turns blue and clear
The sun shines making one squint in its brightness

The countryside changes at first slowly
With leaves changing colour continually
There are shades of pale green to yellow
From bright red and oranges to brown and mellow
Nature slowing down for another year

The countryside prepares to sleep
The squirrels gathering nuts and seeds to keep
The birds chirping later in the morning
All the nests empty as babies have finished fledging
The rush of life in summer quietening

People start airing warm clothes
Warm colours being displayed in fashion shows
Fashion changes to clothes that are warming
In colours of browns, yellows, rust and oranges glowing
Matching the beautiful autumn colours of the countryside

The fire place is readied for warming the home
Logs cut and piled in basket next to it
Pine cones gathered for that autumn aroma
The sofas pulled closer to bask in the log fire
Luxuriating carpets and furry throws

Time to be spent in snuggling by the fire
Laying games or losing oneself in reading
Time for bonding in the family
Taking time to cook hearty warming meals
Sharing over love and laughter

All can be this idyllic I dream
The log fire is a small electric one
Pine cones sit in potpourri bowls
The rooms are small and snug
Hearing the echoes of laughter of old

Sitting on opposite ends of the sofa
Toes playing under the warm throw
Watching the occasional good comedy on tv
Smiling and remembering the summer holiday
Comparing it to the other holidays fondly

Poetically one talks of hearty warming soups and meals
I am partial to dals and curries all year round
So there is little change except less of the cold salads
Bring on the beans and leafy vegetables
The Gujarati heart warmer of undhyun and rotla

The shorter days with decreasing daylight
Brings on time for contemplation and introspection
Careful it does not turn depressing
Bringing on the Seasonal Affective Disorder
So find every minute of cheery sun light

Look forward to winter and the festive season
Sadly now more commercial than fun
Changing countryside from colour to bare trees
Leaves covering the earth and animals borrowing deep
Autumn is a beautiful time with a splash of colours between the blue of the sky and water

Autumn is here

The days are growing shorter and day light seems to be slipping away. I do not like this time and the on coming winter just because there is less sunlight. Have always felt that I have that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as I feel feel low and lack energy when I do not get sunlight. Maybe I am like a sunflower who needs the sun to flourish and dance in the wind. Since finding out I managed to have a sever lack of Vitamin D I need the sun more than ever. People keep telling me to go live in a warmer place or at least visit India where I believe it is very warm and sunny during the day. Even in winter one generally gets a good few hours of sun in India.

This year I went to Australia and it was during the winter there. Save a couple of days of rain and a couple of cloudy days the sun shone most of the time we were there. It is just the lack of sun shine that i have problem with, the cold or even the snow is fun to have. When it is cold I can bundle up in the lovely fleeces, jumpers, faux fur coat, nice warm hat (I got the hat and coat from Quebec City) and even gloves. Am happy wearing all that for a walk out in the sunshine. A few years ago we used to go for a walk in the Trent Country Park on new years day. The fresh air and crunch of frost underfoot felt good and lifted my spirits. Not sure why we stopped doing that. In fact I cannot remember when we last went there. The last few years have been full of stress, pain and ill health for me and am hoping that finally times have turned to good now. The sad times are going to sleep with winter and spring will bring new hope and luck and health.

I love the snow as long as I do not have to go to work in it. Am not sure I ever liked driving in the snow. One day I remember I took my husband to the station just a mile down the road and it took me 30 minutes to get back, slipping and sliding everywhere. But I love to walk in the snow and throw snowballs. Have never done any other snow activity ever but walking is fun. I have walked in the snow in many places besides home - Scotland, Iceland, Cyprus, Black Forest in Germany, Sierras in Spain, Copenhagen, Moscow, St. Petersburg, New England... This year there was a lot of snow here but I was snuggled in my warm bed under the duvet as i was not well enough to go out. Hope that next time there is snow I am well enough to walk about in it. But who know where I will be.. will there be snow... as time is always uncertain and life is strange and unpredictable.