Fall Favorites

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             Autumn is my favorite season and October is my favorite month of the year. As the days get cooler I am overwhelmed with a happy warm feeling, and I feel it is a great time to enumerate just why this time of the year is so great.

First on my list of my favorite things about the season is the change in the leaves. The colors are at peak in many parts of the country right now and I am fortunate enough to witness this. The brilliant reds and blazing oranges are breathtaking. Walking through piles of leaves reminds me of road trips with my family in my younger years. We went so we could see all of the vivid colors and take in all of fall’s delights.

Second is my joy as the hot, long summer days have faded into cool autumn days and nights. It is perfect sweater weather, and great for cuddling up by a fire. I have always been a cold weather person. In cold weather you can always put on more clothes, but when it is hot you can’t always take more off. Fall temperatures are perfect because you can wear a sweater and add a fun scarf for that extra bit of warmth against the breeze. The season cannot pass without at least one bonfire. When I was young I used to try to get so close to the fire I would have to pull my feet in to keep them from burning up. There’s something about the chill in the air and the heat radiating from the fire. The charred smell of the fire sticks in your clothes and hair, but it’s worth it. Besides, washing machines are made to be used. You can wash away the smell, but the memory will last.

Fall is a time of new beginnings. That’s when students typically go back to school, begin a new season of sports or activities, or start a new endeavor. I can’t help feeling a lot of nostalgia when it comes to the latter part of the year. I enjoyed school and everything that went along with the new school year, including and especially the dances and meeting new people. Another seasonal favorite is football. Not just the games themselves, but the crisp weather and blowing leaves that combine with the game to remind me of the greatness of the later part of the year. Football itself is a joy, but I believe it has such a place in my heart because of the season.

One great fall activity is named after my favorite month, Oktoberfest. How great to have festivals across the entire country that celebrate drinking and enjoying beer. Not just any beer, but the more hearty, spicy beers that I am growing fonder of. Cold weather food is also exciting. It can by comforting, savory, and rich all at the same time. Stews are commonplace during autumn, as are using squash in those stews. I like to get creative and see what I can come up with. Summer is good for grill outs and autumn is good for warm dining room table gatherings. 

There are a lot of great celebrations in the month of October. In my list of friends and acquaintances there has always been a glut of October birthdays. Blame it on being a child of the north and the fall falling roughly one gestational period after Valentines Day. This makes celebrating the month even more fun. There are birthdays all around. The bashes continue right on through my birthday and to Halloween, which is one of my favorite holidays. I love the excitement of planning a costume and decorations and then spending time with friends at parties or gatherings. The food and treats are great, too. It is a great time to get creative.

There is more autumn fun when October is over. We’re just getting heated up. For many, their favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both are great times to spend with friends and family, whether you’re eating, watching football, shopping, cooking, or decorating. Autumn is a time to be with loved ones and be thankful for what you have.