Changing Seasons

 by Fran McNabb

It’s that time of year, the time when warm breezes switch to cooler, or in some cases, much colder winds. I don’t live in the north where brilliant colors on hillsides tell everyone that autumn is here, but even in the South we have little indicators that winter is on its way.

As I walked up our stairs with the morning newspaper, I caught a motion in the bayou. (Yes, I still like to read the news in paper form. Hubby reads online.) I stopped and watched as a small duck bobbed on the water, ducked under momentarily, then popped up close-by. I don’t know the real name of these little ducks, but they appear every year about this time and spend the cold months on our bayou. I called them “Mama’s ducks” because my mother used to sit in the sun room keeping track of what they were doing. They gave her hours of pleasure. Mom is no longer with us, but when I see her ducks, I can smile and remember how she loved them and the joy she had watching them.

This morning there was only one little fellow on the water, but as the week goes on, there will be a few more. I don’t know where they spend the summer, but I’m thrilled they choose my little corner of the world to get through the winter.

In the last Classic and Cozy Blog, Deborah Nolan wrote about Bucket Lists. My bucket list includes a trip up north to see the changing leaves, but whether or not I actually get to see the brilliant changes on the northern hillsides, I can at least know my year is changing with the appearance of my little ducks. The ducks may not be as spectacular as the changing of the leaves, but for me they give me a warm feeling throughout the cold winter.

What tells you that your year is moving on? Do you wake up one morning and suddenly feel the frigid air around you or even a sprinkling of snowflakes? Do you step outside and see the hint of a color change in the trees. Mother Nature can give us tragedies in the form of tornadoes and hurricanes, but she can also provide us with little things that make our days brighter.

Winter is coming so step outside and see what you can find that puts a smile on your face.

FRAN MCNABB lives on the Gulf Coast and uses this setting in many of her novels and blogs. She writes sweet romances and presently has nine available. A SOLDIER'S HONOR is her latest. Visit her at www.FranMcNabb.com or at mcnabbf@bellsouth.net

Autumn: A glimpse from the water

By Fran McNabb

 Transition is a nice way of describing the months we call autumn. Summer has ended, school has started, football is rolling along, and winter is just around the corner. I have a love-hate relationship with the season.

I love the color change in the few trees that actually lose their leaves in the fall. I live on the Gulf Coast so we miss out on the breathtaking colors that our northern neighbors experience, but we have just enough falling leaves to remind us that we’re in a different season. Here on the coast fall fishing is fantastic, but with football we tend to have a conflict. Yes, that’s one of the things I dislike because I love to fish. My husband is an avid fan and attends every home game and a few road games for the university where we each attended.

The warm days of fall still offer quite a few boating days. Last week my husband and I took a short

boat cruise to one of the beachside restaurants. The wind had picked up making the ride a little bumpy, but it still was a gorgeous day. Not many boats were out so we had the waterways to ourselves. Warm sunshine and birds following the boat hoping for a morsel of food made the bumpy ride a minor inconvenience. I love being on the boat with my husband. He understands I’m a wimp and don’t like to be knocked around so he slowed the boat down, put on some music and together we enjoyed the afternoon. What better way to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon.

As I was enjoying the ride, I thought about all the pleasant days we spend together on the boat with each season bringing a different experience. Soon it will be much cooler and our days will have to be selected carefully for a boat ride, but today that wasn’t the case. From the channel through the bayou I enjoyed the changing colors of the wooded areas. We watched a bird, either an osprey or an eagle, soar with the breeze well above us. The wind created a rippling effect on the water catching the sunlight. My youngest son used to tell my mother that the sparkles were like diamonds on the water. He was right. Today there were diamonds all around us. I was rich in the beauty that nature was providing.

I use these coastal scenes in some of my books. It’s hard for an author not to include what she knows and what she experiences and especially what she loves. I’m glad to be able to share the joy I get from where I live.

Am I lucky? You bet. Will I be sad when winter gets here and I’ll have to look at the boat on the boat lift and wish I was out on the water? Again, that’s a “You bet.” Every season has its good parts. Autumn offers a lot to all of us no matter where you live. I hope your fall days are filled with the joys of the season.

FRAN MCNABB writes tender romances and uses the setting of the Gulf Coast in several of them. At present she has eight books available with her latest books being published with Montlake Publishing and The Wild Rose Press. Check her out at www.FranMcNabb.com or at mcnabbf@bellsouth.net