The crops were mostly in along the interstate highway during a Saturday trip to the state capitol. It seems a shame to grow corn and soybeans on so many acres, yet that’s what Iowa farmers do. A few were tiling their fields, another unneeded intervention designed to marginally increase land outputs. Next year, they will do it all again.
At home, the major land preparations are finished on my 0.62 acre. I mulched the leaves from deciduous trees and let the mealy textured product fall where it might to put minerals back in the soil. I suppose it could be bagged and put into compost, yet decided against it. Whatever else I get done in tearing down the garden this year is not urgent.
When I returned from Des Moines, the two main seed catalogues had arrived by U.S. Postal Service. Between now and January I will plan the 2026 garden and place big orders for seeds. The basics are known — tomatoes, hot peppers, cruciferous vegetables, squash, celery, fennel, and cucumbers — of course, garlic has been planted. It’s the variations in genetics and extras that are most interesting this season. I’m of a mood to try new things.
Our family does not celebrate Thanksgiving. The way our child put it, there is too much bad information around what it represents. They have a friends gathering around that time, and the two of us are deciding how we will spend the day which was drilled into us as custom since youngest memory. If we are home, there will be a special meal of wild rice, a butternut squash, Russet potatoes, baked beans, and a freezer full of vegetables. Plans are not settled and if we are not home, everything will remain good until we are.
There is a caesura in home life activities as work shifts indoors for winter.
In addition to taking care of health and surviving, there are three main activities planned for colder months. The daily work block for writing is my first priority. I continue to want to finish the second book before spring. Next is what I will call the “Big Sort.” That means going through all the boxed belongings to gain visibility of what is available for the autobiography as well as for living our life in Big Grove. Some downsizing to clear clutter seems appropriate. Maybe next spring there will be a yard sale. Finally, on warmer days which seem more frequent during this time of global warming, I want to go through the garage and make a better organized work space. I have a start at it, but come spring I want a place ready to make stuff. If I can complete these projects, that would be enough for one winter.
2025 has been a positive year despite the politics. As we turn toward winter, a lot remains to make this a better life. I am working toward that end.
Journey Home 
One reply on “Autumn Turning Point”
There always seem to be projects, inside and outside, especially for gardeners. Seed catalogs are a delight, what dreams they inspire! What wonderful descriptions they create to lure you into buying their seeds! There are new plants to try growing, as well as old favorites. A few flowers here and there to add color and more food for the various pollinators. As I move forward with my garden, I hope to save heirloom seeds.
I hope your indoor projects go well, and spring finds your tasks complete. Enjoy your writing and garden planning.
We found a very effective way to downsize (https://retirementrvdream.com/2020/08/24/more-preparing/) from a large house to an RV that might be helpful to you. We took a portfolio, divided a page into three columns. The first was “Take”, the second was “Store”, and the third was “Dispose”. We went through every room in the house, marking beside the first column for the room which room it was. As we progressed with our downsizing, we marked off each item until all items had been dealt with. It was a large task to make the list and took several days over weeks, but when done, the list made it easy as we prepared to go full-time RVing. You could do something similar, “Keep”, “Sell”, “Donate”, maybe?
We also have several indoor tasks, as well as garden dreaming.
LikeLiked by 1 person