Autumn is Here!

Hello!

I had fully intended for this to be posted on September 1st.  Alas, it is now September 6th.  The past few weeks have been very busy and I find it unacceptable that I have neglected the barn for so many days, so I am sorry about that.  I hold the season of autumn in such high regard that I was excited when September arrived so I could blog about it.  For me, September 1st marks the beginning of fall and boy am I obsessed with fall.  Forget about the "official" day, which is usually around the 3rd week of September, I am all in on the first day of September.

There is something so comforting about fall (and winter - my second favorite season).  I love the warmth (even if the weather is cooler) and familial comfort that comes from the upcoming holidays, the introduction of pumpkins and gourds, cider, warm clothes, cold nights, the colors, shorter days, apples, using the fire pit, the décor, baking, curling up with a blanket, and turning on my heater and roasting in front of it.  Those are just to name a few, but there's so much to love about this season we are entering.

Living where I do, I don't feel the season as much as I would like, as much as say, a New Englander would.  Let's face is, New England is essentially the epicenter of fall foliage and fall splendor.  In 2011 I visited upstate New York in the fall, strictly to see the foliage.  It was beautiful in the Adirondacks, even though the colors were not at their sharpest.  But I still had the chance to do some good leaf peeping (yes, that is a term!).  Aside from the fall leaf colors, it was so nice to be in a place where there were barns, farms, trees, much beautiful scenery, and mom and pop shops in small towns that sold fresh cider donuts and drinks.  Fall could really be felt in those places.  It still makes me happy thinking about that time and every year when this season rolls around, my heart aches to be in a place like that. 

Fall means so much to me.  It is truly one of the things I love the most.  For me, the year is pretty much divided into "fall" and "waiting for fall" or the "fall" and "non-fall" seasons.  My love runs deep for autumn.  I am thrilled to go into many stores and see the fall items on the shelves already.  Some may say it is too soon, but it's never soon enough for me.  My friends over at Costco stock fall and Halloween products in late July and August!  Pumpkin season is here and is on full display in many places!  I think it's the time of year when people should come alive.

My wish is that you all enjoy a lovely autumn season.  It goes by quick, so I hope you stop to spend time with loved ones, drink that warm pumpkin spice or hot chocolate, go for an evening walk in the chilled air, and relax on the couch with a soft blanket as we reflect on a year that will soon be drawing to a close.  But don't let that make you sad.  Remember, the best is yet to come when autumn starts - as there is much to look forward to.  Here's to wishing you a happy autumn!

Sincerely,

Carrie

Song of the Day:  "Autumn" from Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons