Cloudy, rainy days have been balm to the soul

I suppose if we lived in a place where we regularly had gray, chilly, drizzly days, it would be possible to grow weary of it.

But after a summer under the broiler with the temperature gauge turned to “blazing,” the cooler days we had last week were a balm to the soul.

When that tenacious high-pressure dome finally released its grip on our world and slid off early in the week, and cool and blessedly damp air moved in on Tuesday, I pivoted right into fall mode.

It seemed too hasty to light a fire in the fireplace, although I really wanted to.

Instead, I broke out my favorite hooded sweatshirt and dusted off my fuzzy slippers. Pure bliss.

Falling to sleep under a quilt felt like an early Christmas gift.

My place was shrouded in fog on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, one of the surest signs of fall, and the perfect setting for a hushed and sacred commune with nature on my morning walks.

We missed the heaviest rains that fell in eastern New Mexico last week, but on the heels of our bone dry, sizzling summer, I rejoice for every acre that received the much-needed moisture and continue to revel in each drop of dew and misty moment.

The heat isn’t gone — the forecasters are promising a return -- 0but with luck those triple-digit days are in the rearview mirror for now.

I have firewood waiting and green chile in my freezer. Come on over, autumn. I’ll make us some stew while you warm by my fire.

Betty Williamson is ready for sweater weather. Reach her at:

[email protected]