"To enrich the earth I have sowed clover and grass
to grow and die. I have plowed in the seeds
of winter grains and various legumes,
their growth to be plowed in to enrich the earth.
I have stirred into the ground the offal
and the decay of the growth of past seasons
and so mended the earth and made its yield increase.
All this serves the dark. Against the shadow
of veiled possibility my workdays stand
in a most asking light. I am slowly falling
into the fund of things. . .

~ Excerpt from Enriching the Earth by Wendell Berry

“My workdays stand/ in a most asking light.” What an amazing line of poetry. Thank you Wendell Berry. Today, was not really a workday for me. It was an exceptional rest day. I would not get out of bed. I slept and slept. And after my almost twelve hours of sleep I woke feeling cheerful and rested and grateful. I think I don’t get enough sleep sometimes. I think I can go and go on about six hours. I don’t love to sleep. I do love to be awake and aware. But last night, I slept soundly and gratefully. So, it was late morning by the time I went out with Charlie and Suzi into October, into the blue and red and gold of a stunningly fresh day of fall. Yes, there is anxiety in the house and in the world. Staying safe from infection is so critical right now. And the national news is so disturbing and frustrating and absurd, really. But I really focus on being outdoors while I’m outdoors in the meadow and woods in my mask. There are many others out enjoying the day at this hour. Fall draws us out so eagerly. We walk for a long time. I won’t swim today. I will be more restful than active. However, I do take two walks after all, because my youngest comes home and we walk while my other daughter is resting for hours. Today we let our house be a house for rest. And, in the late afternoon, as the bit of chill comes into the unheated house my husband builds a big fire of comfort and heat to curl up next to. I’m a bit surprised to run into a friend on the railroad tracks on our way home from the meadow near the wetlands. A painted turtle wandering from one wet spot across the tracks to another, all alone, as turtles mostly travel. She understands, too. The need to take things slowly today. October has always been a favorite month, a memorable month, my birthday month. My birthday month! How young I will be this year.