“Autumn……….the year’s loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant/ Indian Summer

As autumn nears I get as excited as a child on Christmas Eve except I have visions of “frost on the pumpkin” in my head.  I can smell the wood smoke as it wafts through the cool crisp air.  I can smell the aroma of chili as it drifts upon the breeze and searches for an unsuspected nose.  Tis the season for beans and cornbread.  It will soon be time to don the hoodies.  Autumn, my season of choice by far.

Autumn is a busy time for Mother Nature’s critters.  Squirrels and chipmunks are burying everything they can.  The tiny Hummingbird begins its trip south.  Geese can be seen in a “v” formation headed south for the winter.  Bear begin gorging themselves with food to prepare themselves for their long winter nap.  The days become shorter and the nights become colder as Mother Earth prepares for Old Man Winter to arrive.

Final Autumn

Maple leaves turn black in the courtyard.

Light drives lower and one blue jay crams

our cold memories out past the sun,

each time your traces come past the shadows

and visit under my looking-glass fingers

that lift and block out the sun.

Come – I’ll trace you one final autumn,

and you can trace your last homecoming

into the snow or the sun.

                                                                                                                 Annie Finch

Autumn also signals the beginning of the holidays and family gatherings.  The smell of baked turkey and dressing, pumpkin and sweet potato pie.  Hot chocolate for those cold autumn nights and warm apple cider.  Friends gathered around a bonfire talking about what they did “last summer” and all ready making plans for the “new summer”.  Its sitting in front of the fire reading your favorite book.  It is the season of Thankfulness for all the things you have to be grateful for.  Autumn, my favorite season of all.

“Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly above the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot

Yep, with autumn beginning we know Old Man Winter isn’t far off.  Thanks for reading my blog I really appreciate it.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love.