On Growing Up...

This was Chelsea last year with one of her leaf
piles.



Chelsea this year...

She is growing up!

I stopped for a few minutes this morning
to remember what it was I loved about Fall
when I was a child.

If I close my eyes I can still smell the
fall in the air as my brother and I, rakes
in grubby hands, ran across the road to a
perfect place. It was a row of maple trees.
Large trees. These put down many leaves over
a large area. I can see us taking those rakes
and making extravagant pathways through the
leaves. We would run these pathways, laughing
and giggling until our legs would fall out from
under us...

Those were the days.

I remember when it was fun to make little leaf
piles alongside the road and burn the impertinent
little things. So often they resisted this by
issuing great billows of smoke. Just perfect for
pretending to send smoke signals.

Today, I am grown. I would love to go out and
play in the leaves. Unfortunately, it has been
rainy and we must wait for the leaves to dry out
before attempting to gather and burn them.

Ah, but when we do...the sweet smell of Fall will
tickle our noses with delight. First that sweet
smell of the leaves themselves and then the
gentle smell of the smoke as they burn.

I am still that little girl who enjoyed making
patterns in the leaves. I just have to work
a little harder to take the time!

Enjoy the day wherever you are and take a
little time for you today!

Love,
Becky K.