Thinking ahead, so squirreling away ...

I was ready to hit the ground running today for a pleasurable and well-deserved long walk.

The morning air had a real Fall-like feel to it and it was breezy as well. As usual, I “dressed wrong”, despite listening to two weather forecasts before I left. I must admit I was chilly as I walked along the water’s edge.

Just like this little squirrel at the Park, I, too, have been thinking ahead to the cold and nasty weather that is just a few short months away. You know it is coming - the sun is a slacker these days … later to rise and going to bed earlier, so, for the past few days I’ve been laying in pantry provisions for the Winter months. I trekked around Meijer for hours, then schlepped bags in from the car, one by one, to build up some walking steps, and, before I was done, I had slowly filled the pantry shelves, plus added multiple miles to my walking total.

So, you see my little furry friend is not the only one squirreling away food for the future; I just don’t run like heck and bury my stuff like he does.

I noted that the grocery store is slowly morphing from a Summer extravaganza to Autumn happenings. The BBQs and patio furniture are on sale for a song, and the fertilizer and bug repellent have been tucked away, only to be replaced by backpacks and lunch totes, not to mention the traditional back-to-school items like paper and pencils. Quite honestly, I didn’t think kids used those basic items anymore.

All too soon, the rows of rakes will uniformly line the aisles and yard waste bags will be piled sky high on end caps, all to be used to snag and capture all the brittle Fall leaves. I’m sure the store’s creative designer is tapping his or her foot, just waiting for the school supplies to be scooped up, so the Halloween items and Fall décor can be shuffled in quickly.

You’ll know Fall has arrived once you see the bales of hay, exquisite mums and gangly or misshapen-looking gourds gracing the entrance to the store, and, don’t forget the caramel apples once they show up in the produce department. I’ve had an unexpected treat all Summer since Meijer had decided to carry apple cider all year around now, so, no need to wait ‘til harvest time and hoodie weather to sip that tasty and aromatic drink.

My trip to the Park was rewarding as I took in the rich beauty of a sunny Summer Day and a nature alcove plunked in the middle of the city. I walked two complete loops before heading home, and truly hated to go inside as it was just a glorious day … I wished I could bottle it up to exchange it for one of those blustery, ugly snow-filled days we’ll have come January or February.

You can catch up on my blog posts before I started blogging at Patch in August 2013 by going here: http://lindaschaubblog.net/