Quieting crickets

September 2020 - There are hushed signs of the changing seasons, quietly effecting our daily rhythm. The very tips of the highest trees turning gold. The air - cooler, less humid. In the morning we reach for the cozy robes and linger over hot coffee. In the evening we huddle around crackling bonfires. We reach for the bottle of smooth red, rather than the crisp white. The crickets are quieter. The geese louder. The lawn needs less maintenance. The flowers less water. Dinners are heavier. Dessert, warmer. Last night, over a candlelit dinner, we shared a rich bottle of bourbon barrel-aged Cabernet, chicken and dumplings, and homemade peach pie with old friends who came for an overnight stay. It felt decidedly autumnal.