The cleanup has begun. A hint of fall is in the air. I have given away the last of my squash to the food bank and met a wonderful bunch of workers there who talk to me each time I go. One of the women volunteers even gave me advice to pass on to my kiddo, who is looking for work in his field. We had things in common and talked a while. It is strange how we connected, especially over worries about our children. Communication is always the key to life, isn’t it? You never know where it will take you.

And speaking of connections, I have been following Renea Winchester for years, a writer originally from Georgia who now lives in Appalachia in North Carolina. She is a wonderful storyteller, and her words inspire me to carry on into the next chapter in my life. Her latest book, The Mountains Remember, details the history of her ancestors who lived in the Great Smoky Mountains. Her characters are strong and resilient, rooted in her family’s history in the mountains. The home featured on the cover is now a museum in the Great Smoky Mountains State Park. I encourage you to purchase her books. It will lift your spirits in the winter months. Visit her website at https://blogthefarm.wordpress.com/ to follow her story.

So, as I prepare beds for planting the multitudes of brightly colored bulbs, hoping for a beautiful spring, I know I will be ready for what life may bring in the winter of my years. We contracted for a new, more efficient sprinkler system in the spring, hoping for a greener future. (And there is always hope for a good snowpack this year!)

As long as I have a brain that works, I’ll keep listening, making new connections, giving hope and encouragement when I can, and writing my story.

I encourage you to donate money, produce, or canned goods to the Louisville Community Food Bank on Taylor Street. https://communityfoodshare.org It is a worthy cause!