Don’t you just love fall?

I certainly do.

I love its crisp mornings and its sunny afternoons.

I love the crackle of leaves underfoot and the bustle of harvest in the fields.

I love its glorious landscapes, especially here in southern Indiana.

Down here you see, we’re blessed, unlike northern Indiana we have miles and miles of forested hills. In those hills, you will discover vistas equal to any found in Kentucky or Tennessee. Just take a Saturday drive through Brown County or a trip to French Lick. Better yet make a journey along I-64 between Corydon and Evansville. Yep, we are blessed.

Perhaps James Whitcomb Riley said it best, over a century ago.

“They’s somethin kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here –
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock –
When the frost is on the punkin and fodder’s in the shock.”
– James Whitcomb Riley When the Frost is on the Punkin

 

Yes, I love fall, and so I avail myself of every opportunity to enjoy the scenery. Last Wednesday was just such an opportunity. With granddaughter Caroline in tow, I drove to Vincennes; it was one of those fall days when the sun amps up every color. Overhead, the brilliant blue sky accented the scattered snow-white clouds which seemed to glow with an internal light. With leaf season at its peak, the trees radiated in their autumnal spender.

We completed our errands and turned toward home. It was then that we beheld a rare vision. As we crested a small hill, we met a  melon bus. Now, I must point out that we live in melon-country and the sight of an old school bus, with its windows and benches removed, stuffed with melons is not unusual. Sometimes they’re loaded with the bright green of watermelon, at other times with the sandy tan of cantaloupe. However, it’s nearly Halloween and the melon season is long past, so the sight of a loaded melon bus was, well – it was unusual. Even more surprising was its cargo.

Was it hauling watermelons, or perhaps cantaloupes?

No, it was stuffed with pumpkins, and there was not just one bus, we met a convoy of at least ten, each loaded with hundreds of the brilliant orange squash.

“Caroline, see the pumpkins?” I laughed.

“They’re on buses,” she exclaimed.

“Yes. Where do you suppose they’re going?”

Caroline considered the question. She pondered it as only a five-year-old can, with furrowed brow, deep in thought. Suddenly she smiled, eyes twinkling.

“On a field trip, of course!” she laughed.

My friends, while the weather holds, I urge you to take a field trip.

Bask in the glory of autumn and perhaps marvel at God’s handiwork.

Have a magnificent fall.

– David L Dahl.
Read more about Olivia’s Story here.

Or read about my other books here.

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