Sunshine, leaves and little boys, the blessings of Autumn

1. Indian Summer. The sun was out today - shining so bright the sky looked nearly purple - a pristine sky - not a cloud to be found. You could almost be fooled into thinking that it wasn't November the air was so warm. I think that days like today are God's way of giving us that last summer kiss before we have to bundle up against the cold until spring.
2. Fall sounds. Leaves brushing against each other in the breeze, hanging on for dear life to the branch where they were "born" all green and fresh only months ago.
3. Fall perfume. Last night when I let my dogs out just before bedtime, I stepped outside, closed my eyes and took in the full aroma of the season. There's just something about the smell of the leaves in the fall - pungent, hearty, robust. That unmistakable Autumn scent will be gone all too soon and replaced with snow and ice but for now, and for a few more days, that beautiful Fall perfume will hang in the air.
4. Windows that clean from the inside. My home is an old Edwardian - three stories - so, the windows I had installed shortly after I moved in are a modern miracle to me. Today I was able to clean them without having to hire some young, wiry guy not afraid of height (or death) to do the job for me.
5. Little boys and big boys. My son and his youngest son were over today to help with a few outside chores that needed to get done while the weather was still nice. Watching my youngest son and his youngest son together was such a treat for me. As Jeff would hammer away at something, Josh would stand nearby watching his daddy - hands in pockets - having a little "guy talk". The kind of talk a five year-old has with the man who, in his eyes, can do anything in the whole, wide world.