Autumn is finally here!

I was born in New Hampshire and raised in Vermont for the first 20 years of my life.  Though I lived in Europe for a couple of years and then for the remaining 24 years of our military life lived many places in the US, I always knew we'd end up back in the Northeast.  Home is always home and we adopt many of the "feelings" of home.  For me something happens in August...a restlessness with summer and the heat.  I become tired of outside activities, flowers, cookouts....I know it sounds crazy doesn't it?  But, my thoughts start to turn to earlier evenings, cooler nights, hunkering down.  It's probably a good thing we decided to settle in Northern New York because we have plenty of time to "hunker down".  For me, Fall is such a warm time of year even though cooler temps move in.  I remember as a little girl watching my dad prepare the wood pile for the long winter ahead.  Craft fairs would occur in little churches or halls.  Cooler evenings where you needed a hat and gloves became more frequent, though as kids we would try to get our time to play outside as long as we could.   I often asked Marcky, the girl who worked with Mom and I what they did in the fall for festivals.  She was from New Mexico and I believe she told me something about chilis or tamales...I'm sorry Marcky, really, I was listening, but you know my memory.  The reason I had asked her this was because she had attended a hook-in with Mom and I and we were heading home and stopped off at a pumpkin stand where there were tons of apples, cider, baked goods.....the true beginning of fall.  For her, the chilis were her "home comfort".  We all have those yearnings.  For me, there is a special feeling, I start to love see the glow of a candle (apple scented of course) as the sky darkens earlier....

....and the first Macintosh apples.  Oh, the crispness!!  I love them!

...and of course anything pumpkin....even if it is a pumpkin cupcake from Walmart!

And I don't know why but I get this overwhelming urge to cook Pot Roast!!  Is that a New England thing?  I think it is...no one understands pot roast like a New Englander!

I think I love Fall because it  is the beginning of Holiday season and you know you are going to be digging out your decorative items.  Pumpkins and bittersweet will be followed by feather trees and ornaments.  I just love it all!

There is also nothing like a Fall sky.  I don't know why, it's just different.  Probably because as you stand on the deck getting the picture it is chilly and you know it's time for your wool socks....

So,  that is why I love Fall.  Many of my friends here think I'm crazy, but I know some of you must feel the same way because I see an increase in patterns, woolens and kits flying out the door.  I think as women we are like little squirrels, packing away all our projects for the long winter.

So, I hope you are all feeling the comforts of "home" as Fall creeps into our lives.  Take a moment to enjoy the season, check out the leaves, go to a farmers market or craft fair.  Or even grab your favorite craft (punching or hooking hopefully), a cup of cider and enjoy the evening! 

Until next time.....