I started a post this morning about how we didn’t quite manage to go two weeks into the school year before picking up a bug, when I had to stop writing to take a phone call from the school, letting me know that another soldier had fallen. I had to bundle up the Captain – on day three of being curled up on the couch with a ridiculous fever – to go over and pick up Gal Smiley. The Little Miss was actually the one who started it all – she unfairly and unjustly spent the weekend feeling rotten, only to be declared well enough to go back to school on Monday, poor dear.

While I’ve been stuck at home with sick children I’ve been doing a bit of a fall cleanout, getting rid of old art projects and sorting the Lego into its appropriate bins and tossing out – sigh – so very much stuff. I’ve put the winter blankets on the beds, packed away the sunscreen and summer hats. Yesterday I had to get out toques for the girls to wear to school, and I’m frantically ordering more pants for everyone as everyone is suddenly six inches taller. It’s the usual autumn routine; it’s only a matter of time before I’m back into crockpot soups and afgans.

I’m always sad to see summer leave and fall begin, and but this year I’m doing okay (although the morning lunch-making did reduce me to tears once already, in the 12 short days I’ve been back on the job, which does not bode well). I turned the heat on the in house and dug out my warm slippers and thought about pulling the sweaters out of the back of the closet and it all seemed just fine, just fine thanks. There’s something about September sunshine that doesn’t let you feel sad about the cooler temperatures, just happy to be alive and living in such a lovely country and fully, deeply appreciative of homemade applesauce.

Happy autumn.