“The north wind doth blow, and we will have snow, and what will poor Robin do then, poor thing. She’ll sit in a barn to keep herself warm, and hide her head under her wing, poor thing.”

That rhyme just popped into my head. No wonder. It’s fall!

I read Mother Goose rhymes to all our children, and these poems are embedded in my long-term memory. I read those rhymes to them over and over, and I have a storehouse of them in my head. I muse about the day when I may no longer have my right mind, and I lie there reciting these poems aloud into the air.

And as the poem says, “The north wind doth blow ...”

Fall has come, just like that! A snap of the fingers, almost, and it’s here! And sure enough, the unobstructed prairie winds come predominantly from the north, reflecting the seasonal transition.

Yes, it’s getting cold, and yes, snow will come. And of course, we complain no matter the season. It’s too windy. Brrr. It’s too cold! Blah, blah, blah. However, what a wonderful change this season is for us. The garden is a has-been; the outdoor flowers have given up, and we don’t have to think about them for a while.

And now it is fall! Isn’t it wonderful?

It’s uncanny how quickly we drop the summer thoughts and transition to fall. It reminds us of cold-weather foods: soups, spaghetti, stews, baked potatoes and hot chocolate. Our heavier, dark-colored clothes that looked so drab during the bright colors of summer now look good again.

And guess what?

It’s time to make some changes.

I tore my closet apart a few days ago to switch it over to the changing weather. I have lost a little weight, and some of my shirts are really big. Yes, I know. Don’t be in a hurry to get rid of them, right? Oh well, I was looking for an excuse to pare down the closet anyway, and this was as good as any. I moved my summer clothes to another closet and made a pile of clothes that didn’t fit or didn’t look good.

I challenge you to get going if you haven’t already.

I weeded out some of my coats. They were coats that I liked and used; however, I had too many. No one needs that many coats. I kept several, both lightweight and heavy.

It feels so good to gain some more space!

Next, food. FOOOOOOD! Who is tired of cookouts, hot dogs and chips, potato salad, pork and beans, and such? Are we ready for something different? (I still love hot dogs anytime, however.)

I enjoy this soup because it deviates from the usual chicken-and-vegetable soup recipe. I will serve it with crusty bread. I will double the recipe. One chicken ought to do it.

The Best Chicken Soup Ever by “Budget Savvy Diva” on Pinterest (serves 6)

• 30 ounces chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
• 2 pounds chicken, cooked and shredded
• 15 ounces black beans, washed and drained
• 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

(I usually shred my chicken the day before.) Use leftover chicken or cook chicken for the soup in a large stockpot. Cover and cook on low to medium heat for 40 minutes. Or, if you choose to use a slow cooker, set it on low for six hours.

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com.