Prepare! (and Give Thanks)
At this time of year, our ancestors would gather the harvest into root cellars, barns, smoke houses and larders. They fought against time and the seasons, hoping to get everything put up before the killing frost and the first snow storm. This was a great time of community. Neighbor helping neighbor. Those who had been blessed with plenty, sharing with those who where not able to do as well. There were circles of women knitting, sewing, weaving and creating clothes, blankets and items to keep the family warm during these months. When all was done, families gathered together in celebration, but also to offer thanksgiving. Our ancestors saw the autumn as a time when the veil between this world and the next was thin. They knew how quickly Death could come at this time of year, snatching away a field of ripe squash, whisking away a loved one too frail to battle illness. Gatherings reflected this dichotomy of joy and heartache and fear. Today, we have com...