Getting out of the house...

I’m working toward a deadline that’s flying at me like a speeding freight train. I’m not complaining a bit—I love what I do—but on occasion I do get tired of staring at the computer screen. Of course, my grumpy levels are through the roof and when I do crawl out of my office, it’s generally because my coffee has grown cold or I recognize the signs of impending starvation—ie: I am NOT good company.

So yesterday my spouse dragged me out of the cave, otherwise known as Kate’s office, and took me for a hike in the woods. I know I’ve written about our hikes before, but for some reason, every time we go, it’s like the first time I’ve ever been along that familiar trail. Yesterday was spectacular—more so because I hadn’t been out of the house in days.

We’ve just had our first drenching rainfall in over seven months—almost seven inches came down over the past few days to help ease a three year drought—and there were pine needles and leaves everywhere. The dogwood has gone red, the poison oak is absolutely scarlet, the big-leaf maples are a beautiful bright yellow and the bracken fern has turned a mellow gold. The sky was a dark pewter gray and we were in a cloud for most of the hike, which gave all the colors a soft, muted cast.

I couldn’t wear my glasses because they kept misting over—steaming up from fog on the inside, covered with drops of water on the outside—so I hiked without them. The fact I can’t see well at all added to the almost surrealistic feel of our hike, so that I felt as if I were floating through a Matisse rendition of Boggs Forest. We only went four miles, but during that time we didn’t see another soul. We didn’t hear cars or voices—just the wind in the pines and the occasional raven reminding us who was in charge.

I didn’t even think about the book, and when I came home, I shut off my computer, went downstairs and read. It was wonderful—it’s also why this blog is going up a bit late. I took that little mini-vacation and extended it to an early night to bed and a late morning sleeping in.

Today I’m ready to write. I’m not feeling grumpy, the coffee tastes great and I’m looking out my
window at blue skies and a perfect Fall day. I hope your day is a good one. I hope you can find a moment to step away from your cares and the woes of the world and appreciate the beauty of the season. It’s out there—sometimes we just need to be reminded that it’s there, and it’s not going to wait for us.

What’s your plan for the weekend? Will you be taking any time for yourself? I do hope so. And I do hope you’re able to appreciate the beauty of the season before the long, cold days of winter settle in for the next few months.