Monday September 30th, 2013

The exercise:

Write about: the picker.

Kat has been taking Max to StrongStart here in Osoyoos a couple days a week recently and this morning I went along with them. We didn't stay very long, thanks to Max's mid-morning nap, but I could definitely see why he enjoys it so much.

Speaking of the little one, he seems to have picked up the third cold of his young life. So if I'm incoherent due to lack of sleep for the next couple of weeks, that'll be why.

Mine:

The orchard was filled with the rustling of leaves as a gentle breeze meandered its way across the property. I watched from the house, morning coffee in hand as I daydreamed about the coming end of the season.

After unusual bouts of damaging weather and more pests than had ever been seen in our area before, winter would be a welcome respite. A chance to refuel and come back strong the following year.

I suppose it was due to this distraction that I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at first. Later I would realize that the neighbour's trees were perfectly still, that the clouds overhead were equally motionless.

No, it wasn't until the apples began to detach from their branches and float into the waiting bins that I knew the day I was commencing would be a far cry from typical.