Fall weather has us in its spell

We've almost reached mid-October and fall weather has caught us in its spell. We are tempted to slow down and admire the beautiful scenery as the sumacs color up in the fencerows and plump pumpkins are showing up at area roadside stands and garden shops. The days are growing a little shorter, so we must get our outdoor chores done a bit earlier in the evening. The grey squirrel that frequents our backyard seems to feel a sense of urgency as he scurries about digging holes to bury the few pecans he finds.

I took advantage of a recent sunny day to get out and wash some of the outside windows. I gathered a handful of newspapers and my bottle of Windex and tackled the chore while Jim was trying to repair our TV antenna. He finally just bought a new small antenna and has been able to get a few more channels again. I need to get busy clearing some more of the clutter inside the house but, instead, I enjoy taking my book or magazine to the front porch and watching the leaves come drifting down.

We're happy to have accomplished some cleanup chores around the yard and garden shop. Jim and his helper have cleared out both sides of the shop and they put out some broken glass, set-up concrete, damaged ladders and other trash for removal in the annual fall cleanup last week. We're fortunate to have these opportunities to dispose of items not accepted on the regular garbage pickup days. Another mission accomplished was replacement of some old rusty gas line so that we were able to have our gas meter reinstalled and our service connected. Jim lit the pilot light and it felt pretty good to have the heater going in the living room the end of last week.

Our Razorbacks aren't doing very well so far this year, but the Lions have only suffered two losses this season. We didn't travel to the Prairie Grove game, but we picked up grandson Matthew and drove to the game at Pea Ridge Friday night. Knowing about the Blackhawks' perfect record, I was fully expecting to see them gain another victory. Instead, we were very pleased to be able to see the Lions hand them their first defeat. We also got to enjoy those famous Pea Ridge hamburgers.

I received a call from my friend in Tulsa the evening before the football game. She was calling to report she'd not be coming over for the game. Her son is a band director at Pea Ridge and she often attends the Lion-Blackhawk rivalry, but a band contest on Saturday would have limited her time to visit with him. Other things were vying for attention as well since her first grandchild was born just the week before and she was eager to get started spoiling the little fellow.

I visited the farmers' market Saturday morning and came home with a good supply of green beans and a small head of cabbage. I prepared the beans the first of the week and cooked them with some small red potatoes. We enjoyed them seasoned liberally with chopped onion and bacon. The cabbage will make a good meal later this week, especially if I add a package of smoked sausage. Some of the market vendors have planted fall gardens and are bringing produce from them, but it sounds as if they will be closing in only a few more weeks.

I went through the armoire late last week and hunted out quilts to take to our show at the civic center on Saturday. I selected a plain old nine-patch in green and violet shades on a cream-colored background and a smaller wall hanging featuring a cat design. We had about 100 very interested visitors and I worked a couple of hours during the show. I also snapped a few photos for the paper. I filled my camera card and had to stop until I had a chance to delete some items on Sunday afternoon.

We haven't seen much of my sisters recently. Nancy and her husband have enjoyed a visit from his daughter in California, and the harvest season is always a busy time with their big garden. Mary Alice has been working a few days a week at SportsWired and I sometimes get to visit with her on her lunch hour. Nancy did drop by Sunday evening, bringing me some honey, pickled eggs and pickled mushrooms. Jim had requested a salad for supper, so I chopped one of the pickled eggs and added it to my bowl. It was a new and quite tasty twist on a chef's salad.

Susan Holland is a long-time Benton County resident and a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.