It is officially October and fall is here. We are still enjoying okra and peppers in the garden. Some of my lettuce went to seed this spring and is coming back in full force. We had our biggest, sweet potato harvest to date this month. We have decided they are the ugliest things in the garden but one of the most delicious! One of our favorite ways to enjoy them is in roasted sweet potato chips.
My daughter and I recently attended a bridal shower for an upcoming autumn wedding. The decorations were crisp and lovely in all our favorite colors of the season. When school starts and our schedule gets hectic around here, it is always nice to go to a party and visit with our friends. The bride was beautiful and surrounded by a loving family and so many friends.
The local football team has played hard for the past few weeks for both junior high and varsity. The evenings have been nice and cool, and it feels like football weather. Plans are underway to decorate our youngest daughter’s senior class homecoming float. The kids have been working hard. It is a year of lasts for her class, and we are thankful to get to watch on the sidelines and cheer them on.
We have had some nice fall rain out here and it has kept our garden looking vibrant. Our flowers and mums are in full bloom. As the colors of our trees change, our youngest son has been gearing up for deer hunting season. He is finally strong enough to pull his crossbow back. He has been setting up stands and patiently stalking a big buck who keeps passing through in front of his game cameras. He is a young man on a mission. I am really hoping he kills that big buck before one of the neighbors gets it.
With a house full of teenagers, you never know from day-to-day who will be home or how many friends may be over. I have gotten my slow cookers out and have made several pots of chili, pulled pork and tacos to feed the troops. We may be a family of six but there is always room at the table for a few more.
I love the autumn season and am enjoying this time with my family. I am working on plans to layer a flower bed with bulbs along our fence line and retaining wall. I am just enjoying not sweating my neck off! I am looking forward to picking out some pumpkins and doing a little baking soon. I think a smell an apple crisp in the future, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
