Feeling it.

There are a dozen bananas in a brown bag on the greenhouse windowsill in the kitchen. It seems my local market and their perpetually green bananas are conspiring against me and one very important Autumn ritual involving new banana bread recipes. This one, is the new favorite. Waiting for the green things to ripen is a little like watching grass grow, and not entirely different than waiting for your favorite season to arrive in full. And surprisingly similar to the last few weeks, which despite being busy, were as exciting as all of the above.

I have been channeling the squirrels as usual. Crossing things off both the long and the short list. Worrying that we won't finish what needs to be done out of doors before the rains come. Plants have been planted in planters. But new lights must be installed. And house numbers you don't need bifocals to see. Gutters to clean. Crazy out of control bushes to be cut back. Mulch and fertilizer and all the while, wishing it was done, and I was still under the covers with a book. But I am frantic to make progress on the house, hoping to be done with the painting of screen-doors and the hanging of blinds by the time my beloved October rolls around. 

I have a habit of revisiting favorite childhood books this time of year. Spending my free time with precocious, usually British, children and their nonsensical, but nevertheless charming adventures. After the sixth such book in five days, Aaron suggested that I finally finish the Cormac McCarthy and Annie Proulx sitting on the nightstand.  I balked. (I do this. Start multiple books and finish them a year later.) And couldn't exactly explain why, at the moment, I only want to read books about eight year olds that positively sparkle, and have you seen my copy of Theatre Shoes?

Because I am feeling it. When I lift my head up from this or that project, or walk down the street to purchase more green bananas, it is everywhere. Subtle. But I'm like a basset hound for Autumn. And I guess there's no other reason for the impossibly good mood I've been in these days. I'm sure it isn't the two hundred Halloween titles (each multiplied by twenty) I've been lugging around for displays at work, or the projects waiting to be completed at home, or the very long hours Aaron has been putting in at his new job. Everyone has something that makes their heart swell just a little bit more, and this is mine, I think. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to desperately search Wikipedia for Magical Banana Ripening Spells. 

All love,

*Andrea

Comments

[Barbara]

One of my favourtie childhood books is The Good Master, by Kate Seredy. It's set in the Hungarian countryside, sometime in the past. It has a precocious girl from the city, and her well-behaved country cousin. Also, beautiful b&w illustrations, in my copy.

[Rachel]

Even here in Florida, I can feel the fall. Too bad the leaves don't change here, though :-(
Good luck with those bananas. And your porch is gorgeous!

[Nadia Lewis]

Fall is just the best, no?

Banana bread sounds loverly. As does nostalgic kid's lit. I'm reading some award winning book, but all I want is Little Women.

School starts tomorrow for me and I'm so psyched.

Bring it, fall!

[shari]

you are the best. i hope you will email me the list of books you've been reading. fall is my favorite too though it feels pretty far away right now...even in vermont.

[KT]

Put a tomato in the bag with your bananas. They emit a gas (ethelyne I think) that speeds the ripening process.)

:)

[lisa s]

good luck w/ them bananas...
i love that you still sound excited about the house - even w/ the chores....

happy almost fall

[emily]

feeling like your love of fall could be contagious. and glad of that.

[Eunice]

beautiful words. i am an autumn girl too. so looking forward to october.

maybe you should put an apple in these bags of bananas? the ethylene gas from there might help ripen them.

[Kate]

Andrea,

big fan. long-time reader, first time commenter. Have been wondering what happened to you since LAX and then erin sells said you lived in Portland, where I live! or did live till I took a strange hiatus to hawaii where I am now, but will be back from after Christmas.

I've always had a soft spot for Theatre Shoes (and Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes too) and may just bypass the two looming books on my night table to read a shoes book again, for the umpteenth time.

Would love to catch up,
Kate (McGrail) Rohl

[gracia]

I have been channeling the squirrels as usual. - such a sweet visual this conjures in the mind, Andrea.