The Superior Express -

Last week a change in the seasons finally arrived and it was certainly felt. Fall came upon us and most were ready for it. We felt the change as the summer temperatures seemed to hang on with highs remaining up into the 90s and 100s, then within a day they dropped 50 degrees. The weekend was perfect with sunshine and highs in the 70s making for a perfect weekend to get outside and take advantage of it all.

Fall is my favorite season of the year. Living on a farm most all of my life, I take notice of the rural sights, sounds and scents of Fall. There is the humming of the combines working in the fields of corn, milo and soybeans, reaping in the rewards of the fall harvest. There is a peaceful sound as one stands near a ripened corn field and hears the breeze stir the dried corn leaves. Even though less wheat is planted, some tractors can be seen in the fields planting the seeds. The whirls of the swathers and balers are heard as they put up the feed and the last cutting of alfalfa. There is nothing like the smell of freshly swathed alfalfa. For those that fall calf, it is a beautiful sight to see the little calves running about in the pastures. Soon the cattle will be moved from the spent grasslands home to the winter lots and home pastures. There can be the smells of a fall rain shower as it moves in quickly and leaves within a few minutes. There is a chill in the morning air as the sun rises, but soon the temperatures rise a little to make for a perfect day ahead.

Fall colors are everywhere. They are in the wild flowers that seem to instantly appear, including the bright yellow goldenrod, and the dark red of the sumac. Beautiful sunsets can be seen in the western skies almost every evening. Soon the trees will be adorned in reds, oranges and yellows. The milo heads have turned a burnt orange and pumpkins are decorating yards and porches of homes everywhere.

It’s time for school, football and volleyball games and homecomings. It’s time for bonfires, marshmallow and wiener roasts, as family and friends gather around the campfires on a crisp fall evening. It’s time to get out the sweatshirts and jackets, but only when we have to. It’s time to do the last minute garden and yard work, wash the house windows and bring in the house plants. It’s time to take last minute road trips and motorcycle rides.

Fall only lasts so long and then we know what season follows, so enjoy!