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Fall is more than just a whisper here now.
It’s marching in. It already feels like September. After our only couple of weeks of dry weather here this summer (big change from last summer’s drought conditions), we’ve finally had a couple of days of hard, pouring rain. Our electricity was out here yesterday for several hours. When the power is out, work screams to a stop. At least, real work. I can’t write. I can’t manage my website, process photos, work on new posts. I can only even check email in measured bits as I conserve what battery power I have on my laptop. I considered cleaning, but it was dark in midday and who wants to clean by candlelight? (What a waste of candlelight!) I couldn’t cook or run dishes or do laundry. And no TV. I went through some paperwork that needed organizing, and I sat outside on the porch. A lot. I don’t get to sit on the porch as much as I’d like. I have too much to do! So, in some ways, a power outage is a directive from the universe to slow down. Take a walk in the woods. Notice stuff.
Like the fallen leaves on a log near the new duck pond.
But back to my point, and yes, I have one!
A couple of weeks ago, I installed a forum on my site. I’ve only mentioned it in passing a few times in relation to some of the discussions going on there, and since the power outage prevented me from processing pictures and writing the post I had planned to write for today, I decided to take the opportunity to properly introduce the forum. The forum is so much fun and has become very active very quickly–and it’s all about you. I launched the forum because there is the most amazing community of people here that can be found anywhere. Every day I’m surprised and grateful for the funny, wise, interesting comments you make, and I wanted to create a way to hear more–from you. The forum is a place for questions, sharing ideas, and just good conversation about all sorts of country living toipcs. And to me, country living is a state of mind more than simply a state of being. Country living is something you can do in the country, the suburbs, or even in the city. (And believe me, there are people who live in the country who live as if they live in the city, so why not the other way around?) And, I’m guessing, wherever you live, you have some sort of interest in country living ideals or you wouldn’t be here.
The message boards on the forum are categorized under six broad topics–the Farmhouse Table (cooking and kitchen chat), Primitive Crafts & Country Style (decorating and crafts), the Old Barn (farming and animals), the Country Garden (garden ideas and discussions), Wild, Wonderful West Virginia (life and travel in West Virginia), and Living the Country Dream (everything else!). Within each of those boards are a variety of topics, from what’s cooking for dinner tonight to a really neat thread with ideas on what to do with too many green tomatoes.
And how about ideas for fall decorating? And favorite crockpot recipes? There are some great ideas there, and I know you’ve got more great ideas of your own.
So if you haven’t been to the forum yet, please hop on over! Tell us about yourself. Join the conversation.
You’re invited!
Clover’ll leave the light on for you.
One that is sunny and happy! 
