On the Downward Side of Autumn

The homeopathic remedy I've been taking for my allergies seems to be having some small effect.  Either that or the new filter I bought is finally clearing out the air in the living room.  I still feel either too moist or too dry, either snuffly and clogged or constantly running.

I suppose it's appropriate that my body is acting this way, because the weather itself feels locked into a similar pattern of irritable daytime dryness and nighttime dew.  Mostly we're seeing piles of leaves and blowing winds, cold-puffed squirrels hoarding acorns and nuts, clear cold mornings and nearly horizontal golden rays of light at the bookends of the day.  The rain continues to elude us; for the most part I am unaware of its absence, except when I wonder about the last time it rained - then it seems so long ago - and it is.  In the yard, the leaves stand on end, turning from the brilliance of their early days to a rich dusky orange.

On the door hangs a sheaf of Indian corn, an autumnal garland that has been there since the end of September or so.  When the days roll into December, I intend to replace it with a conifer garland, but I am dragging my heels because it seems perverse to be talking about winter holidays when the grand harvest dinner of Thanksgiving has yet to take place  They say that snow usually comes during the last week of classes, and I wonder what the cat will think as she stares out at it, fur fluffed in memory of being a stray in winter.  In her thickening coat white freckles are appearing on the blackness of her flanks, a feline echo of crisp late night, late-fall skies.

My own coat thickens, even as my skin and sinuses dry.  I wear cashmere and merino, live in handknit socks and soft warm hats.  Today I wore my mother's Frye boots, creased and furrowed by the shape of her feet, by years of pressing down in stirrups.  As I stomped my way through the fall air, the sharp light of late fall crossing my eyes, I felt myself clearing, opening up, ready for the bright chill season to come.

Comments

[T-Ray]

I am pleased to finally find a reason to give pause here. I came here about a year ago from CRN and have enjoyed your musings, more so since you have started back writing. Anywho, I wanted to recommend adding local honey to your diet, if it isn't already, for your allergies. It is effective and tasty. It has worked for me for over 20 years in spite of me not knowing it was, until this year.I was introduced to honey as a sweetener in my 20's and kept it in play (gladly) since and read an old "remedies" book talking about the affects of honey, earlier this year and realized that my hay fever and cat dander issues (the most recurring stimuli) began diminishing the same period in my life I began using honey. It was just fortunate that I tended to like finding local raw honey anyways, as I guess it is most effective when local bees/plants are used. I know I am applying backwards logic, but it is a pretty tolerable prescription. Thanks again for your efforts here. They are appreciated. Blessings.

[Rana]

Thank you! For both the nice comment and the advice.

I am indeed eating local honey, though it's more to "eat local" and because I like honey. *grin*

My allergies are - alas - not floral or planty in orgin; I'm one of those unlucky mold-mite folks. Most of the year it's just a constant low-level thing - unlike y'all who have to suffer through the agonies of the pollen season - but something about this fall has stirred up the allergies. Apparently this place is known for provoking allergic reactions (!) - I do hope that this is a passing, temporary thing instead of a new level of sensitivity.

If nothing else, the homeopathic remedy gives me an excuse to squirt an alcoholic solution into my mouth during the day. *grin*