The changing seasons

[Pleater]

I have summer and winter sets of clothes, and in the last few days the temperatures have dropped, there has been rain and wind, the apples are ripening in the garden, windows are being closed, the summer visitors are leaving - the people and the birds, the winter geese have arrived on the grass around the lake in the park along with the horse chestnuts shedding their 'conkers' and the seagull chicks are losing their juvenile colours and starting to look like their parents.

Six months ago I would have been setting aside the cold weather garments, washing everything, drying items thoroughly and ironing lightly if required, then packing them away until needed again.
The heavier kilts, knitted jackets and jerseys, caps, scarves, hose and gloves, all went into a large chest - probably originally a 'blanket box' which would have been kept at the foot of a double bed in previous generations, to protect them from moths and carpet beetles.

Now I am removing the items from the chest as I need them and beginning to collect up the lightweight kilts, short sleeved knitwear, washing the broad brimmed cotton hats in the machine rather than just rinsing them, putting away cotton jackets and open sandals along with the kit I wear when out with the morris dancers and there will be a day when I empty the chest completely and refill it with the warm weather garments and then it will be winter officially.

I think that as I have grown older the marking of the changing seasons has become more important to me - along with ensuring that I dress appropriately, not getting overheated on chilled through lack of preparation.

Anne the Pleater (feeling a bit philosophical)