Hope you are having a very happy and safe Halloween! As we close out the month of October, I wish for all of you health, happiness, and joy! Cheers!!

Last night “Ole Man Winter” made an appearance and left his calling card. We awoke to a thin white blanket of snow covering the ground that had silently came in through the night. It’s hard to believe that fall was so short lived. I’m sure we will see some more pretty weather, but we just got a preview of things to come. As I was warming up the car and scraping the snow from the windshield, I was already bemoaning the loss of autumn so soon. They say all good things must come to an end, but really? Winter already?

One of the great things about having grand-babies is that you never know just what they will come up with next. On one of my recent visits to my see my grand-babies, my son and daughter-in-law fixed me a great steak dinner. While me and the grand-baby were preparing to eat, I looked at him and said, “We’re going to eat steak, aren’t we?”  And in his three year old little voice, he smiled real big and said,”Yep! we’re gonna eat steak. You got your teeth in?”

Yesterday I made my annual fall pilgrimage across the mountains to view the Autumn splendor on display. As I drove through town, I passed the friendly scarecrows on display on every light post. The colorful orange pumpkins kept them company with the occasional fall mum. Corn husks stacked up behind them to hold it all together.

I waved at the girl from the water department who was out taking a stroll enjoying the warm weather.

The closer I got to the mountains, I could feel the air beginning to change. It was a little cooler, more brisk.The sun was shining brightly on the fall leaves of brown, yellow, and orange. The reds were really stand outs. A few had already turned brown and fallen off to the ground. You could hear the fallen leaves crackling around in a frenzy of activity.

I drove in silence soaking up the atmosphere. What an amazing place God had made and placed me in to enjoy! The background of peaks and valleys in their mountain foliage could not have been more beautiful!

Once a year the mountains burst full of color and beg to be noticed. And notice them, I did. As I came to the end of my journey through the mountains, I felt refreshed and alive! Renewed once more by this wonderful place I call home. The beautiful mountains of eastern Tennessee!

Although this poem certainly doesn’t do justice to Autumn, I thought I would write a little poem for you on behalf of the lovely fall weather!

Autumn is Here
 
It has finally come
That beautiful time of the year
Autumn in all of its glory
Shouting I’m done
Have no fear
The earth is now ready
for your viewing pleasure
Vibrant orange, yellow, and reds
Lovingly arranged, enough said
The air is just right
A nip of frost to get you awake
The warm sunshine to play in all day
The earth screams
Come play with me
For goodness sake

By Shelia Campbell