I'm sure everyone has their favorite season of the year and for me.....it is Autumn. I have lived in many different places over the last 20 years and have had the opportunity to witness different climates but will always appreciate and come back to those areas that have the four seasons. In the last few weeks, as summer is winding down and the mornings and evenings are getting cooler, I am reminded of some of the simple things in my past that I loved about Autumn.
I loved going shopping for my new school year clothing. Even though it was still 90 degrees during the day when school started, which back in my days (seems like the dark ages...lol) we didn't start school until after Labor Day, everyone would be sporting their new fall clothing. I would have my fall sweaters, corduroys, etc. All the other kids would have their new clothes on also. Nowadays, it seems the kids I see walking to school have on shorts, flip-flops, etc. as if they were still on summer vacation.
I loved knowing that when it was a little cooler, I would relish having hot chocolate with lots of marshmellows or hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick in it. Now, being more grown up, it has turned to hot chocolate with kahlua in it and hot toddies, but you get the point....hehe
I loved going to the pumpkin patches to pick out the pumpkins that I would get to carve to put on the porch for Halloween.
I loved taking trips out to the boonies and having hayrides with my friends. The farms we would take the hayrides on would be going through their harvest season, and many of them were harvesting their apples. A hot apple pie is the one food I always associate with Autumn because of this.
I loved the excursions my family and I would take up the canyons to see the changing colors of the leaves. I think this is the biggest thing I missed when I lived in areas that didn't really have a changing of the seasons. It is such a simple pleasure, much like going to an outside art museum.
I loved the Haloween decorations that would start popping up on my neighbors' windows and doors at the beginning of October. Halloween has always been my favorite Holiday, if you want to think of it as a Holiday. I love the make-beleive atmosphere is creates, where anyone can dress up in a costume and be someone else for a night. I have always loved to be scared, although most scary movies make me crack up in laughter.
I loved knowing it was time to have warm, homemade soups and stews that would warm you up on a cold night.
I loved raking the leaves up on the front lawn and having my friends in the neighborhood come and jump in the large piles with me.
Now that I am older (late thirties) I still appreciate many of these things, although not in such great detail. Simple things, such as buying squash at the grocery store reminds me of the good times.
Watching college football and occasionally getting to go do a pro game (Denver Broncos the last four years and hopefully, now that I am back in Seattle, the Seahawks). Gotta love a good tailgate party!
There are so many other things I love about Autumn. I would love to hear if anyone has any other memories of Autumn they would like to share.
Varoommmmmmmmmm