Frosty Night

Last night was the first frost in northern Indiana. There frost warnings blared on the radio from the weather forecaster, but I think I knew it to be true beforehand.

There is a certain kind of feel in the air when the frost is imminent. I had spent the day mowing and raking and pruning and weeding with a sweat shirt and jeans as it was cool. But the sky was azure blue and the crows were cawing the frost warning. The neighbor girls came and picked the last of the red raspberries out of the patch for their early morning breakfast today. I covered what was left of my garden, the last tomatoes and squash to keep them going for a while longer.

This morning when I went walking, the barest glimmer of frost was on roof tops and the Commons outside of town. I am sure the countryside was of great beauty and that the lakes were steaming.

I have been reading James Whitcomb Riley to my kids at school this week, When the Frost is on the Pumpkins. I can only hope they all woke up this morning thinking about the poem!

A lovely day before me...for painting, for gardening, for visiting the farmer's market and for cooking hot dogs outside tonight on the fire. Come to think of it, I might just make an apple pie as well!! Autumn is definitely here.

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red fringed lamp in Angola, Indiana.