Fall, Autum, Harvest Season

I love the fall of the year!  The briskness in the air, the hint of coolness is such a welcome respite after the long hot summer months!  I love how the leaves start to change colors- how they don bright orange, yellow, red and brown dresses for their fanciful flight from the tree tops to the ground! I love the way the leaves crunch and poof up around your feet when you walk through them.  I love the way it gets dark earlier…as if to beckon us inside where it’s warm and cozy. 

I love the big orange pumpkins and the knobby, warty squashes and the calico-colored ears of Indian corn!  I love the odd shapes and crooked necks of the gourds!  I love the rainbow colors of Mums and the smell of the bales of hay. 

I love caramel apples, apple cider and bobbing for apples!  I love how the air seems to have a spicy-smoky aroma all the time, maybe from the burning leaves.  I love State Fairs with all the animals and the rides and the deep fried foods and the foods on a stick!  I love to see the birds in giant flocks flying south.  I also love to see the geese.....flying high in their perfect V-formations!  I love putting out bird feed to invite the birdies to stop for a rest and a bite to eat in my back yard. 

I love seeing the kids start back to school with brand-spanking new backpacks and shoes!  I love school supplies in general…..the pencils, paper, pens, glue, markers, crayons….I could just go on and on!  I love seeing little kids all dressed up for Halloween: .princesses, witches, Super Heroes, cowboys!  OH they are just ALL so precious!! I love the little fun-sized candy bars that you hand out at Halloween, I love candy corn and I love popcorn balls!

I love acorns, I love hayrides, I love bonfires, I love field trips, I love pumpkin patches, I love fall festivals and I love a big orange harvest moon in a black-velvet sky! I love foggy mornings!  I love the fact that I can wear a sweater and pull out the fuzzy, soft warm socks!  I love hot, steamy fragrant coffee on a crisp, cool morning!  I love mulled apple cider with spicy scents of cinnamon and nutmeg!  I love a big crock-pot full of chili for a cool evening’s supper.

Fall, Autumn, Harvest Season….whatever you call it, it’s my favorite time of the year!!!