Autumn feels

When fall arrives there is a crispness in the air and under our feet. Daylight is shorter, temperatures are cooler, and the leaves begin to take center stage. Birds start to migrate, squirrels are (quite literally) squirreling away acorns and seeds, and us humans are stoking the wood stoves and turning up the thermostats.

Autumn feels like the final crescendo of nature before the arrival of winter.

I always appreciate the way fall teases all of our senses. The air seems extra fresh and there’s always a hint of coolness. The sound of birds on the move makes us look skyward, while the falling leaves begin to crunch beneath our feet. Our eyes take in the beauty of the colors — yellows, oranges, reds and greens — against the backdrop of a cerulean sky. We smell wood fires again, and feel the prickly warmth of wool sweaters and socks, which have risen from the depths of our bureau drawers.

The change of seasons in Michigan is very defined, each with its own beauty and associated chores. Preparations for winter begin: firewood is cut and stacked, leaves are raked, gardens are cut back and mulched, storm windows are hung, and summer lawn furniture and toys are stowed.

Fall is also a time to contemplate and reevaluate. With three-fourths of the months behind us, what do we have yet to accomplish before we flip our calendars to a new year? There is a certain amount of dread, too, as the first frost arrives and winter is looming.

I think the key is to stay present and enjoy each moment and change as it comes. Each season brings hope for the next.