This and That

By Helen Kaverman, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, October 12, 2009 (5 months ago)
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I love autumn – it’s my favorite time of the year. I even like what follows autumn. You’ll notice I said like, not love. I do like winter, as long as the electric power stays on. I just hibernate.
Autumn is so beautiful  — the colors are rich and grand. The farmers have most of the soybeans off, since we’ve had plenty of dry weather. When soybeans are ready for harvest they come in various shades of golden brown. Some farmers have begun to pick corn or whatever they do with it these days. Harvesting these fall crops has changed so much over the years with the monster equipment. They can whip a field off in no time at all.
I look back on the fields of beautiful corn shocks all in a nice row. Now we have to go to the Amish country to see these fields of shocked corn. Oh! Nostalgia!
My dad did everything to perfection; that included corn shocks. The symmetric of all the shocks matched beautifully.
Dad drove the tractor and Mom rode the corn binder – or did Mom ride the binder and drive the horses, while Dad shocked the corn. My memory isn’t clear on that because my brother, Nub, and I were too busy catching field mice. We made good sport of catching these mice from around the corn shocks. We were really skilled at using our hands to do the job. We would put our catch in a paper bag. Once we brought the bag into the house and put it on the hall cabinet. We did have the top twisted shut. Naturally Mom had a fit! This was so much fun. Maybe we turned the mice over to the cats. I just don’t recall that part.
My younger brothers played in the dirt around the corn shocks with their own farm equipment. My sister, Beth, remembers pretending that the corn shocks were Indian teepees.
Now as I drive through the country in the fall, I look at all the trees and old buildings as if I am looking through the camera lens.
I took the back way to go to the dentist this past week. I hope I can take that route again when the colors are just perfect, because there is this old shack sitting between two trees which will make a perfect photo opportunity. That spot would also make a good winter scene in the snow.
Two scenic roads to travel in the fall are Road 20-P on the east side of the Auglaize River and Road 22-K on the west side of the Auglaize north of Fort Jennings, in the Ottoville, Kalida and Fort Jennings triangle, with the trees in color, the river and the rolling hills. Even the weeds and the cat-tails in the ditches are colorful. Someone once told me that anyone who sees beauty in a weed has to be an optimist. The Chrysanthemums are so pretty this fall. My favorites in my garden are two red ones and an unusual white. Last year I kept my mums in double pots and wintered them over by putting the pots in boxes and then in my plastic wheelbarrow in the center of the garage. It worked so I’m going to try that again.
With autumn comes falling leaves. I just mow them up with the Cub Cadet and put them back on the grass. Recently, I read an article by some expert who believes that’s the best thing to do. It’s nice to meditate as I ride around on a crisp day, watching the leaves fly. I just say “Thank You God” that I can still do this.
I want to plant a few tulips in front of the house so I can watch them pop up next spring. I can do my own digging but one of my daughters has agreed to plant them because even if I sit down, I might roll head over heels along with the tulip bulbs. Also, I went to a program at the library to learn how to force bulbs in the house for February bloom, when most of us get a little winter weary — even though I like winter.
Why do I like winter? It’s restful. The pace of life slows down to where I can keep up with it. I don’t have any grandkids in winter sports although I might have a great grandson playing basketball. Naturally I will want to see him play sometimes.
Since I am partially retired, I can just hibernate in my cozy, warm house when the snow and ice come, just as long as the electric power stays on. I just wait until one of my kids come to plow me out. I have plenty of windows to look out to see the beautiful scenery and the birds.
I do emphasize with others, including all the members of my family, who have to work or drive in all that stuff. Those who have snowmobiles enjoy the white stuff.
My hobbies and writing will keep me busy all winter. Maybe, I’ll even read a book. I’ve set some winter goals. I plan to organize my genealogy, history and photographs. It’s fun but it will be very time consuming since I have my own private library. One of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking and I have a place in my “office” where I can let it all lay out, without stacking it away in the middle of a page or album.  My aim is to keep everything off the kitchen table, as least most of the time.
The only thing I miss in winter is not being able to take walks with my friends as a daily routine.
These are my goals. Wish me luck. When we turn the calendar page to March, I will probably be just as ready for spring as everyone else.
Happy fall and winter to all!

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