Here’s the puzzle I started on the Autumn Equinox and finished this morning. This is the second stop on my journey around the Wheel of the Year by myself. And a little trip down memory lane with some photos from past celebrations. Enjoy!
The two main things we used to do to celebrate the equinox were apple picking at Holmberg’s Orchard and picking up freshly pressed apple cider and pumpkin bread at Clyde’s Cider Mill. At home Tim used to make me a great cup of hot cider with cinnamon sugar on the rim of the cup. And although I don’t have too many pictures of leaf beds, an autumn day wouldn’t be complete without a walk through the ‘fresh, crisp, and rustling leaves‘ in the woods. 🍂
It is pleasant to walk over the beds
of these fresh, crisp, and rustling leaves.
How beautifully they go to their graves!
How gently lay themselves down
and turn to mould!
Painted of a thousand hues, and fit
to make the beds of us living.
So they troop to their last resting place,
light and frisky. They put on no weeds,
but merrily they go scampering over the earth,
selecting the spot,
choosing a lot,
ordering no iron fence…
How many flutterings
before they rest quietly in their graves!
They that soared so loftily, how contentedly
they return to dust again, and are laid low,
resigned to lie and decay at the foot of the tree,
and afford nourishment to new generations of their kind,
as well as to flutter on high!
They teach us how to die.
~ Henry David Thoreau
(Autumnal Tints)
🍂🍂🍂
I bet you miss classic NE autumn. The turning leaves, apple cider and donuts, the harvest festivals in crisp air. Iconic!
I just bought a new puzzle today, cats in Halloween costumes! I couldn’t resist, ha!
Now that’s something one doesn’t see every day, cats in Halloween costumes! I hope you will post a picture of the puzzle when you finish it. 🙂
I do miss my New England autumns – I’m glad I have so many happy memories of them to savor. 🍂
Lovely photos of autumn, Barbara. Sweet memories, too–they carry us, thank goodness. Wonderful Thoreau musings and words, thank you.
Thank you, Jet. I just started remembering hay rides and all the corn mazes we would get lost in, too. Memories keep popping up. 🙂 🍂
Thoreau sure knew how to put a special spin on leaves fluttering down from the trees. I love to see the beautiful leaf colors, but dread seeing them fall to the ground, knowing that Winter is not far off. Fall has always been my favorite season and I welcome its arrival. It’s been years since I’ve been to an apple orchard to pick apples, buy late season harvest veggies, or buy apple cider. I do miss those days and I’m sure you do as well on so many levels.
We’ve gotten ourselves old, Linda, full of nostalgia for our autumn memories. Thoreau was only 44 years old when he died – I wonder what he would have written about had he lived as long as we have. (((hugs))) 🍂
Thoreau should have had more years to walk in nature and write about his enjoyment of immersing himself in nature. I didn’t realize he was that young when he died. We have more years on us Barbara and are full of good autumn memories. We have had a nice run of days for late September – it is good to step out and feel refreshed instead of having the heat and humidity hit you like a ton of bricks.
We could learn a lot from Thoreau and the autumn leaves. Beautiful images/memories, Barbara.
Thank you, Robin. Thoreau advised us to live in each season as it passes, but it seems like autumn held a special place in his heart. 🍂
Love the poem!
Thank you, Elisa! 🍂