I Like Fall

I'm a summertime gal. I love the warmth, the sun, wearing shorts and flipflops, playing on the beach and swimming in the lake. But...I also like Fall, in spite of myself. I try to tell myself that Fall means the cold darkness of winter is right around the corner. That Fall, in all her beauty simply fools us into believing that the warmth and sunshine will last a little longer, hiding the fact of what is to come. Winter...with her bone chilling cold, brown and gray trees, a garden that is desolate, and darkness that sends me into depression, wishing I could hibernate until Spring.

Try as I might to poo-poo Fall, I still find myself reveling in her beauty, her smells, the way the sunlight becomes golden and harsh, and my shadow is long on ground. I still find myself anxiously anticipating soup on the stove and a fire in the fireplace. I still love Fall. I'm a fool for her, even as she laughs at me, beckons me into winter, teasing me with her brilliant colors and warm sun.

A few of my Fall favorites:
Warm sun among cool, crisp breezes
Pumpkins and Mums on the front porch steps
Honeycrisp Apples, and trips to the Apple Farm
Starbucks Gingersnap Latte and Pumpkin Spice Latte
Bonfires...even the neighbors burning leaves all weekend long.
Apple Spice scented candles
Ga. Bulldawg Football
Monday Night Football,
High School Football...heck, just football in general
Seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, dressed in brilliant colors of crimson, gold, yellow, and green.
Hiking the woods around my house, basking in those colors.
The way the trees are mirrored in our lake, turning the water a kaleidoscope of colors.
Driving into the mountains, looking for the best boiled peanuts and apple cider.

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosiac of them all." Stanley Horowitz