I love fall, from the beautiful weather to the change in routines, with schedules a little more ordered and the kids back in school. But with back to school also comes the annual school lunch challenge. Parents and kids have a choice: buy lunch in school or pack a homemade lunch.

I was 15 minutes late to the Allen Farm this morning. It was cold and getting out of bed felt like torture.

Ever since we had to put down our beloved dog last February, I have lost the will to exercise. Floyd, our yellow lab, was my physical fitness program as well as my religion.

Walkabout at Sea Level

From the Sept. 16, 1920 edition of the Vineyard Gazette, by David M. Cheney:

Let my Vineyard friends give me their attention: a brief lesson in geography.

Locate on your map Kapawack.

And when you have found that small enclosure of the earth’s crust, see if you can find Strauney.

The reign of the water queen is coming to an end.

We were packing to leave for a trip to Maine on Sept. 14 to visit old Vineyard friends and attend a wedding. Our backpacks were on the kitchen table and I had just filled the hummingbird feeder. One of the juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds flew up to the kitchen window, hovered for a few seconds and then flew off. That was the last time we saw our hummingbirds.

Family scalloping begins in Edgartown Oct. 1. In Oak Bluffs Sengekontacket Pond opens Oct. 12 for family scallopers. In both towns the forecast for the season is fair.

The Martha’s Vineyard Wind Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 12, but no need to wait to get in the kite-flying mood. The poster for the event was created by Traeger di Pietro and is available now for $20. Sales of the poster benefit the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer research. Posters are available at the Field Gallery in West Tisbury, Craftworks in Oak Bluffs, the Island Art Gallery in Vineyard Haven or by contacting Holly Alaimo at 508-693-5444.

I could not be happier to see the first week of fall. It is so wonderfully cool and clear. The gardens are looking spectacular in this lower light. One must look, of course, with a soft eye to avoid seeing weeds and dead flower stalks. The wild goldenrod I neglected to pull now looks like I planned it. Once again, I shall take credit for Mother Nature’s work.

One more plus in the fall season — I found a parking space twice this week.

Sassafras Earth Education in Aquinnah has a full lineup of events during the off-season. There’s Nature’s Nest for young children on Fridays, Squirrels and Coyotes for the 6 to 14 year-old set on Sundays, and some Saturday events for “wild families.” If mom and dad are interested in seeking a deeper connection with nature, there are special events for them as well. A couple of upcoming workshops include a Saturday, Oct. 19, offering on bird language and then Nov. 16 features an open fire cooking session using locally harvested foods.