Fall is Sneaking In

This summer has flown by, I am sure partly due to the feeling of trying to catch up after being slowed down by an injury this spring.  Summer has continued on, the gardens producing well, the thought of the end of the growing and Farmers Market season for this year just doesn't seem possible, but it creeping in along with some signs of fall.  We went this last week with record heat in the mid 90's and no rain.....to lows in the upper 40's and finally some light rain today.  It won't be enough to help with what produce remains in the garden, but it may help with the grass (pasture) and moistening the soil to help with germination of some late plantings of spinach/lettuce/kale/green beans/carrots/peas/chard/beets.  Wouldn't it be neat to have fresh green beans for Thanksgiving dinner, or to take to Market the day before Thanksgiving?  With Mother Nature's help (and some row cover material) I am hoping to have a nice little assortment of produce for the end of October into November.  Some areas of the garden have been tilled under and retired for the year.  This year was an amazing year for fruit in our area (after a devastating late freeze in 2012 which pretty much wiped out fruit crops).  We have a younger apple tree out front this year that gave us an amazing crop of apples.  This is the first year I have put up applesauce since the kids were little.  My husband picked a bunch more last night - I hope to do more applesauce, apple butter, apple bread and dehydrate some apples this coming week.  If I can get a couple more batches of salsa run through the canner before the month is out, I will consider my "putting up" season finished for the year.  What a good feeling it is to have food "put up" canned, frozen, dehydrated to pull out and use all winter long. 
Signs of fall, along with the large apple harvest and temperature changes.....is definitely the harvesting of fall "decoration" items.  The other day we started picking pumpkins, mini-pumpkins, gourds (Indian corn should be ready in the next week or so).  We will be taking those to Farmers Market and craft shows/festivals we are setting up at over the next few weeks.  Hopefully in there somewhere I will get the fall display set up along the driveway.  Fall is my favorite season!  We are very fortunate to live in a part of the Country where we get to enjoy all four season.  I enjoy certain aspects of each....but fall has always been my favorite.  Fall festivals & craft shows will be kicking into high gear.  I've been making soaps, candles are on the agenda for this week, and extra weaving anytime I can fit it in.  I so enjoy any excuse to craft.  Speaking of, time to wind down for the day, tomorrow is a full day of canning & crafting.  Hope each of you are able to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather working our way.....get out and see some of the beautiful scenery, take a walk, or just curl up and read a book - whatever your choice, enjoy all the beautiful smells/sights around for the taking.....think harvest, fall foods-apples, pumpkins, spices, walks, campfires, leaves changing, crisp nights, bright star-filled skies.  How could anyone not love fall!