It doesn’t seem that long ago – we were fussing about when we could get the garden planted. When the sun became visible nearly every day, the seeds that got planted sprouted and grew. We now are enjoying the fruits of that labor. But within the next couple of weeks the long days of summer will have shortened to the crisp days of fall.

Though fall is my favorite season, I still can’t believe that summer is gone. The days turn into weeks and into months and the three short months of the season are gone. Walks in the woods that never happened, the perennials that never got planted, and the books that never got read illustrate that time moves too fast.

As I get older, time moves ever faster. There never is time to do all the things on my wish list and get all the necessary things done in a day as well.

We are turning the calendar to a new page, a new month, a new season and new weather. Though the next few weeks will seem like summer during the day, the evenings will give us a hint of fall. The cool breezes will help prepare us for the winter ahead.

Some of us will be canning garden’s ripe harvest. The tradition of canning for many has moved from a necessity to feed our families to the preservation of a traditional art or craft. Yet nothing tastes better than homemade bread with butter and sweet fruit jam, or pasta coated with homemade marinara sauce, whether it is used straight from the stockpot or from a canning jar or freezer container.

With all the on-farm markets or community farmer’s markets, fresh produce is available to try your hand at preserving some of the summer sunshine in a jar.

This season change also means a change in wardrobes. The light colors and fabrics are exchanged for earth-tones and soft textures. The sweatshirts replace the tank tops for daily exercise. Jackets are added to the launch pad with keys, coffee mugs and brief cases for tomorrow morning’s departure.

This is the time to look forward; to plant spring bulbs; and to understand that this too will pass.

Yes, winter will come but there is always next spring and summer when we will shed the coats and glory in the sun again.

Carol Ann Gregg is staff writer for Allied News.