Fall or Autumn? I can never decide what to call it! Either way, it’s my very favorite season, and I can’t wait!
Leaves Changing–Two years ago, when he was three and a half, Turkey told me that the leaves change during Fall because “God likes beautiful things.” I agree with him 100%, and I’m so thankful that we have a God who loves little details. I love the beautiful reds and yellows and oranges that decorate the trees. Only God could make leaves that are really dying so pretty!
First Frost–There’s nothing like that first morning there’s frost on the grass, and it crunches underfoot.
Color–The leaves changing are not the only colors I admire in Fall. The colors that show up on clothes, decorations and displays are so rich and beautiful, and such a pleasing contrast to the eye after looking at the light and bright colors of spring and summer. All the beautiful eggplants, wines, rusts, and oranges–I can’t wear a lot of these colors (would hate to clash with my skin tone!), but I love seeing them everywhere!
Boots–After a long summer of wearing sandals, which are admittedly more conveinent, I can’t wait to wear a pair of tall boots with a knee length skirt!
Sweaters–Soft and cuddly, it’s as close to wearing a cozy blanket out as you can get.
Leaves Crunching–Like the first frost, there’s something magical about hearing dried leaves crunching under your feet when you go for a leisurely fall stroll. And don’t even get me started on leaf piles…
Candles–Specifically, my very favorite candle, “Autumn Wreath” by Yankee Candle. I only allow myself to buy one a year (too darn expensive–I remember when the big candle used to be $19.99, which I thought was a lot, and now they’re $24.99!), and won’t start burning it until October 1st. And even then, I ration it, so it lasts as close to Christmas as possible. But it smells heavenly–just like fall, full of spices, and a hint of leaves–and there’s something so homey and comforting about the flicker of candlelight.
Fashion–I love new fall fashions. Granted, they come out in July or August, when you don’t even want to think about sweaters and long pants, but at least you can comfort yourself with the reminder that cool weather will appear eventually! Maybe it goes back to my childhood fondness for back to school shopping. I just love seeing the new styles, criticizing the ridiculous ones, dreaming about what I’d like to have, drooling over the popular colors and cuts. And the crowning glory of it all is the Glamour fall fashion issue.
Pumpkins–So round and cheerful (just like Ladybug!), such a quick and easy way to decorate, and a fun field trip if you are lucky enough to live near a pumpkin patch. What’s not to love?
The Great Pumpkin–we don’t “do” Halloween. Not our thing, and we don’t see the need for it. But I love the tradition of watching The Great Pumpkin every year. I love Charlie Brown and his friends, I love the music, and I really love the obvious poking of fun at the whole “Santa” thing (which we also don’t “do”) that is present in the story. It’s cute and fun, and it’s a show I don’t have to worry about my children watching, which is something you can’t say about a lot of the current stuff out there!
Baking–I do my best baking during Fall (well, Fall, and of course, Christmas!). There are several recipes that I will only make during this season–butterscotch haystacks, pumpkin and apple bread, caramel apple pie–and one thing that *I* don’t make, but will only allow myself to buy during Fall–the very delicious pumpkin butter! I love all the spices–cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg–and the smells associated with them. I also love the cozy feeling in the house when something delicious is baking. Oh yeah–I love eating it all, too!
The Air–I love the air in fall. A crisp fall breeze coming in the window and billowing the curtains. The refreshing coolness after a hot summer. The small of dry leaves. The smell of burning leaves. The smell of a chill in the air. And, if you’re really lucky, the smell of the first snow.
Heavy Blankets–It’s so fun to put the good comforter back on the bed, after a summer of only a light blanket. It makes me so happy to need the comforter to keep warm (because that means that I am finally, actually, cold!), and I love the weight of a heavy blanket.
Long Sleeves–particularly seeing my children in long sleeves. After seeing them in shorts and t-shirts for so many months, the long pants and long sleeve shirts somehow emphasize how they’re grown, and make them seem smaller, at the same time. I have no idea how that’s possible, but it is. I’m always struck by how much older they look in long sleeves, but they seem littler, too. Maybe because the bigger sizes and new styles make them look more grown-up, but they’re dwarfed by the length? I don’t know. Weird.
Being Cold–After the aforementioned long, hot summer, I love being a little cold. Like when you forget to close the window before you go to bed, and you’re a little reluctant to get out from under the covers in the morning. When your nose is just a little too cold. When you think you may actually want to put on gloves and/or a scarf. Or needing to wear a sweater or a great jacket for the first time. What can I say? My ancestors are from northern-ish Europe–being cold is in my blood, and I’m far more comfortable in chilly weather than I am in hot!
Crock-pot Meals and Soup–I do make these kind of meals all year long. But I make them a lot more when it gets cooler out. For one thing, the weather is more conducive to it–when it’s chilly, you want to eat something warm and comforting, something that will stick to your ribs and keep you warm, especially if you’re going to be outside. I love the wonderful smell in the house when something is cooking in the crock-pot all day. Or the smell of soup simmering for several hours. And the delicious flavors in those dishes…yum! Which brings me to…
Spices–Not just the baking kind, although I do love baking spices. The smell and taste of delicious flavors like cloves and cinnamon–and they seem more prevalent in recipes I make at this time of year. But savory flavors, too, like curry and cumin, mean Fall to me. Probably because there are a lot of big flavors in crock-pot dishes and soups. Maybe because you’re more likely to eat heavier flavors and richer foods in Fall and Winter than other times of the year. But Fall mean using lots of different spices to me, and since I like both cooking and baking, this is good news!
Apple Cider–I hate apple juice. Just can’t stand it, and I have to be pretty desperate to drink it. But apple cider is another story altogether. It’s a good thing it’s so expensive (I guess), or I would drink entirely too much of it. It’s just so good and full of flavor. And if you’re feeling really ambitious, and want to heat it with mulling spices, Oh. My. Goodness! It’s just the perfect fall beverage!
Running the Heat for the First Time–There’s a special smell in the house when you run the heat for the first time. I have very strong memories of this from my childhood, and I was afraid when I moved to my own home that maybe it was something particular about my parents’ house. Nope–it seems to be universal, and I look forward to it every year.
The First Snow–Usually, at least in the places I’ve lived, the first snowfall of the year technically occurs in Fall (even if it’s usually the very tail end). The world is just magical when it snows, and even though I’ll be sick of it by mid-January, there’s something so special about that first dusting…
Christmas–I know, Christmas is in Winter (but only by a few days!), but I love the anticipation of the Advent/Christmas season. Starting about mid-October, I start getting really excited, and by the time we put the tree up after Thanksgiving, I’m ready to go. Fall is my specials pre-Christmas time, which I know sounds silly, but is really important to me. I’ve never met anybody who likes Christmas as much as I do, and I like having that time to myself where I’m excited about the upcoming Holiday, when other people aren’t really thinking about it yet. It’s my favorite!
I love Fall–can you tell?