Fall

Another growing season winds down.  Everything but Brussel Sprouts and carrots have been harvested.  Beets and lettuces are growing under row covers and next year's garlic is yet to be planted.
 We are cleaning up garden beds, composting and mulching. The last of the CSA shares are being distributed this month. Huge quantities of food have materialized each week all summer and fall, arranged beautifully in the farm stand for members to pick up. It seems a miracle to me that Kate has managed to provide so much food for so many for so long.

We are enjoying the harvest of many root vegetables. One of my favorite ways to eat them is roasted all together: beets, carrots, parsnips, potatoes cut into one-inch pieces with shallots, whole garlic cloves and Brussel Sprouts(halved). Toss them together with about a  quarter cup of olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, place in a single layer in a roasting pan, and roast for about 45 minutes at 450 degrees.

All summer long 3 other Surry women and I have been training to walk a marathon (26.2 miles) on Mt. Desert Island (the mountains of which you see in the background of the above photo). We walked many miles in anticipation of this event and October 16th was the big day!  We joined about 150 other walkers at the starting line while it was still dark out for a 7:00 a.m. start. The temperature was 50 degrees, but there was a strong chilly wind which blew through our windbreakers and made us anxious for the gun to signal the beginning of the race. The 850 runners were to start an hour later and my daughter, Darcey, from the Florida Keys, was among them. She has run many marathons, triathalons and in September did a half ironman in Galway, Ireland.  My other daughter, Kelly, from another part of Maine, was there to walk with us. Our families were there to cheer us on and they would pop up along the course to encourage us along the way. Bless them!
 Kelly and I started strong and it felt great to be walking. The sky was overcast, a little rain fell at the beginning and the  wind was gusty. The first runners passed us around mile 6 and Darcey caught up with us about mile  9. An old knee injury was giving her trouble and she decided to walk with us. By that time Kelly was beginning to think that it would have been a good idea to train  for this event. Her energy and spirit were flagging. By mile 17, she had "hit a wall" and Darcey was limping. I didn't think they should go on. Just past mile 17, my husband and grandson were waiting for us with reinforcements - bananas, Gator aid, and Cliff Bars. Bless them! Kelly plopped down on the ground and I was certain she wouldn't get up again. She was experiencing such fatigue - even nausea and dizziness (although she didn't say so at the time). She could have gotten a ride with my husband, but she stood up and trudged on. At mile 20 we decided to stop and rest. Kelly sat down on the curb in front of the Somesville library and laid back in the grass. Darcey and I plunked down and hoped that Kelly would revive. Darcey's ankle had begun to bother her probably because she was compensating for the knee injury. They could have given up at any time. The race support bus drove by us several times but they always gave the driver "thumbs up." They wouldn't quit. Boy, I have stubborn daughters.
We had 6 more miles to go. Kelly did revive after a short rest and we continued on. She seemed recovered and we picked up the pace. As we approached the finish line we linked arms and strode onward. My 3 walking partners were already there at the finish with their husbands and some family cheering us on. Bless them! We'd made it! It had taken nearly 8 hours.  Blue ribbons with medals attached were placed over our heads and shiny silver energy blankets were draped over our shoulders. My daughters showed such grit and determination. I was proud, but concerned for them. I felt great! I was elated that I had done it. But then, I had trained and I wasn't injured. Darcey knows she has to rest her injuries now and Kelly knows that if she ever walks 26.2 miles again, she'd better train for it.

From left, Darcey, Me, Kelly Almost There!

From left, Gina, Mary, Paula finishing STRONG!

 Mary and Gina's husbands are throwing a victory party for us later in the month and the 4 of us plan to do at least  one long walk a week together forever, we hope. We're so grateful for the support of our families. Now we're wondering what our next challenge should be.
 I think I have the post race blues and even went for a four-mile stroll the day after.

So now we settle in for the season of long nights- a restorative time for body and soul and for the earth too. A contemplative time for dreaming, planning and creating. A time for family and friends and a few games of Mah Jongg.