It has not escaped my attention that Mercy seems to “blog” as much as I do.
Okay, let’s be honest. She blogs more than I do and her pictures are cuter.
I’m not sure why that is, but I will point out that while she is busy having fun and playing with her buddies, digging water out of the water bowl, and playing “statue” in the backyard so the squirrels will come down from the fence, I’m the one who has been working.
Okay, let’s be honest again. I love my work. I love writing and I love all the other things that I get to do as part of my work. And just like Mercy, I’m happiest when I’m busy because–let’s face it–that means I’m doing things I love to do.
Take last week for example.
Golden rod signals the start of allergy season for some.
Last week I took a quick trip to North Carolina to see my Mom and Dad. It was fun being there in autumn (usually I’m there in the winter or summer). The leaves were just beginning to turn, so there weren’t as many colors as there will be in a few weeks. Still, it was fall enough for the goldenrod to be blooming (sorry, Lisa). (Lisa is my sister. Goldenrod makes her sneeze.)
Dogwood Berries in early autumn. (Photo by Jim Jung)
And it was fall enough for the dogwood trees to have their red berries. (By the way, those berries make lovely red shoes for your tiny hairpin dolls if you can get them to stay on. I had a lot of trouble with the shoes, but I could make excellent leaf dresses.)
On the next to the last day of my North Carolina visit, I was lucky enough to visit Mrs. Christopher’s third grade class at Piney Grove Elementary. I had asked for her help (actually her students’ help) with a new presentation I’m working on for my visit to Michigan in October. They were a terrific class and had great ideas for me that will be very helpful. I can’t wait to put those ideas to work.
Speaking of which, I also can’t wait to see what autumn is like on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. My friend Lloyd says the trees are already at their peak of color–red, orange, yellow, gold, and magenta with some of them still green. She warns me that the colored leaves may have fallen by the time I get there. I certainly hope not!
How about where you live? Are the trees changing their colors to let you know that the seasons are changing?. Before autumn get’s too far along, take a minute or two to look around and notice the changes that announce a new time of the year. The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, “Everything changes and nothing stands still.” I think I agree.
Here in California, it’s easy to see all the changes that have happened because of the drought that we’re having. But even though everything is dusty and brown and dry–and has been that way for a long time–the changes still happen. The autumn wildflowers are blooming and the water in San Francisco Bay is a deep, true blue. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler and they last longer. The stars in the autumn sky are old friends and it’s good to see them again. I’m not sure, but this might be my favorite time of the year.
Okay, let’s be honest. I say that about every season!
Happy Fall!
M. C. Tillson 
Happy Fall!