A Season of Small Comfort
Summer has been fleeting, as they say. It’s still warm here, and most days are still sunny. If you weren’t paying attention, you could be excused for thinking we’re still in the tail end of August.
But if you are paying attention, you’ll hear that the crickets and cicadas have changed their songs. You’ll see a few leaves tucked into the Patapsco forest starting to lose their green and take on yellows and reds. You’ll notice the squirrel digging in my flower garden, trying to bury peanuts left out by a kindhearted neighbor.
Some seasons arrive all at once. Autumn, at least in St. Denis, prefers to ease into the change.
September still carries plenty of summer. Warm afternoons invite plenty of porch sitting. But the village kids have to wait until they get home from school to jump in the swimming pool. Mr. Hollis is out on his tractor, only now he’s hauling more logs for the fireplace than cutting brush at the forest’s edge.
Have you noticed the sun is rising later now? The mornings feel different. Crisper and cooler. A warm mug while sitting on the porch is starting to sound awfully good.
At St. Denis Sundries, Ruthie the Shop Cat has already begun her morning rounds. Inventory is changing over, and she is making sure everything is in place.
It seemed like a fitting way to begin autumn in St. Denis.
On the Counter
And because every good autumn afternoon deserves something in the mug:
Warm spices and a familiar fall favorite for mornings when the calendar says September, even if the thermometer has other ideas.
A comforting cup with the flavors of the season. We’ve tried this one ourselves, and it has officially earned the Ruthie seal of approval.
The change of season doesn’t have to arrive in a rush. Sometimes it begins with a quiet morning, a new coloring book and a box of colored pencils, and something warm in your favorite mug.
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