Can You Hear the Rustling of Falling Leaves...

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.
At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow."

- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November."

- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden

"When the trees their summer splendor

Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns mellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is autumn,

Loveliest season of the year."

- Carol L. Riser, Autumn

"November's sky is chill and drear, November's leaf is red and sear."- Sir Walter Scott

"The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I'll put a trinket on."

- Emily Dickinson

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful.Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."- Sir John Templeton

Light your favorite Fall candle, fix yourself some hot spiced tea, and go visit the Just A Girl blog for some great ideas and links on sharing gratitude with your children this month! Kelli at There is No Place Like Home also has great ideas for counting our blessings with your children.

I plan on making the Gratitude Leaf Garland and daily my children will help me write on a leaf something we are thankful for leading up to Thanksgiving, then I plan on reading these before our big meal!