I know, I have it all backwards. Spring is the season of renewal with the daffodils blooming and Easter eggs and baby bunnies and all, right? Yes, Spring brings renewal in nature, but to me Fall is the season of renewal. I would bet that many share that feeling. The most obvious example of Fall renewal is the beginning of the new school year. New clothes, new pencils and notebooks, new computers, new teachers, new students all rested up from the summer break—see how many times I said “new?” Even if you have been going to school all Summer the way many college students do, there is still an air of returning to school and starting anew when Fall semester begins. When I was teaching high school I loved that I got to start all over every year and had the opportunity to leave the old mistakes and bad habits behind. Teaching college is even better because you get to start anew every semester!! I have often wished there were opportunities to close the books on the old and open a fresh, new book in other areas of life, as well. What would you change if you could do that in your job? In your relationships with other people? In your everyday life?While Spring cleaning is traditional, Fall is when I really get in the mood to clean out, throw away, and get organized. I think it is because I am preparing for colder weather, shorter days, and being cooped up inside with all that junk and other people. Makes me claustrophobic to think about it! Also, Fall brings cooler weather, making it much more pleasant to open the windows, air things out, paint inside with proper ventilation, and do yard work with less chance of sweating, bugs, and snakebites. Also, those first few cold fronts give me a bigger energy boost than a double shot of espresso! Cooler weather makes my mind sharper and makes me sleep better. Fall also brings a new hunting license (got mine this past weekend), a new football season (with lots of nasty/happy surprises depending on who you root for), a new television season with new shows, and kicks off the planning for the holiday season with its travel plans, cooking plans, and gift-giving plans. If you are a crafter like me, you are already overdue to start making Christmas presents for friends and family. This year, so far, I am being smarter than usual. I have already made some things to give as Christmas gifts and I have taken advantage of end-of-summer sales to start buying gifts. Now if I can just remember for whom I bought and where I hid things when Christmas rolls around. Finally, Fall brings its own wildflower season. Between my house and gate, we have a crop of liatris (AKA blazing star or gayfeather) that spreads every year. They have already begun to bloom, but it will be at least another three weeks until they are in their full glory. As if the flowers were not enough, the hummingbirds and butterflies flock to the liatris patches for their last hurrah before heading off to warmer places. In my opinion, the various grasses with their fall colors and seed-heads are as beautiful as any field of flowers—particularly in early morning or late afternoon. It is time for me to get back to my cleaning—I hope all of you have an energetic and enjoyable Fall. I’ll see you at a football game!! SpringCreekArtsGuild@gmail.com