Elias scooted around the backyard while I grilled tonight. I avoided getting hit by Princess Warrior Linnea's light-up carnival sword and shield as I brought the veggies out to the grill. Our dog Mango ran around with her stuffed Halloween spider in her mouth. Oh, the fun that we had in the 75°F weather this afternoon! You read that right - 75° - in North Dakota. On NOVEMBER 2nd! Absolutely amazing.
It seems that when people think of fall they think of the amazing beauty that fall brings. The variation of leaves from green to yellow, orange to red can bring such joy to so many. Jumping into piles of those same leaves brings giggles out of my kids as only a few things can. (Something magical must happen when a kid disappears into a leaf pile.) Or maybe people think of the cool mornings and mild afternoons. The coziness of a fireplace or the baked goods hot out of the oven. And some crazy people out there think of all things pumpkin-spiced, especially their coffee.
In North Dakota, fall can be all of those things, but the dream of fall is often tempered by cold, windy weather. A nice calm day can quickly give way to the first (or second or sometimes third) snowstorm of the year. Snowblowers often spread just as many not-yet-raked leaves as they cut their way through the first six-inch snowfall.
But that hasn’t been the case this year and especially hasn’t been the case this week. When Elias and I finished up our grilled teriyaki chicken tacos with grilled pineapple-pear salsa supper we left our coats inside as we went out to the front of the house and put away some of the final reminders of summer.
I picked up some of the garbage that blew into our yard a few weeks ago. A few items that belonged in the shed got moved there for the final time. We used the ladder to adjust a few of the extension cords tied to the Christmas lights I didn’t take time to put away after last Christmas.
He enjoyed helping me rake one last pile of leaves from behind a downspout and he ran around in his train t-shirt. The temperature was perfect, the wind was calm.
Tomorrow will be a different story. What was a high of 75° will only be in the 40s. But I only had one today and I am glad that for one last time in 2022 I could spend part of it outside with my son.
Rachel always says that each day the weather is perfect for something. When it’s cold and windy that something might be a hot cup of coffee and a blanket. But today, today the weather was perfect for short sleeves, grilling, one last bike ride in the backyard, and hanging out with my son checking on the Christmas lights.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
How about you?
What’s your favorite thing to do on an unexpectedly nice day?
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To read Day 1 of the 30 Days of Thankfulness about our really awesome neighbor who turns his front yard into an archery range on Halloween, click here.
Love this! What a great reminder not to take anything for granted and to count every blessing. :) Sure has been nice warm days lately!