September 17, 2007
Fall Shopping … and a CONTEST!
We had a great weekend with College Guy and his friend Illinois Guy. As you might imagine, he was “oh so happy” to pose for this picture “for the blog”. But I said, “I have to take a photo – otherwise they won’t believe you actually came home!” Ok, that’s not true. I just like getting at least one photo of him when he’s home. (Well it IS true that I told him I needed photo-evidence for the blog. But mostly, I just wanted a picture for me.) He grew up with a scrapbooking mom – he’s pretty tired of photos, I think. (But boy does he have great albums of his life. Someday he’ll appreciate that, right? Or maybe someday his future wife will appreciate it.)
I did a little shopping today. Never mind that I have waaaay too many emails in my in-box to answer. I paid bills AND scheduled a dentist appointment today, and if you know anything about me, you know that those are two of my least favorite things to do. Susan (The Awesome Assistant) told me I deserved to go shopping. And who am I to argue? So slowly, I’m starting to turn the house over to fall. 
Fall is my absolute favorite season of all and I love doing up the house with all things autumn. It would be smart for me to decorate with what I have first, and then see if there are any holes that need filling. But what fun is that? So today I bought this great gourd, and candle. Tonight I’ll get the rest of the stuff out that I already have (after dealing with all of my emails – I promise). Maybe later in the week I’ll go shopping again to fill in the holes. Don’t tell WH. (Who, by the way, really really appreciated all of your birthday wishes last week! And who, by the way, really really hated that I put a picture of him on the blog in an apron. I got in trouble over that one.) 
Just so you don’t think it was all about fall today, I also got this beautiful pottery mug in the mail today from my new favorite pottery place. The pie plate was a gift from a friend, and I immediately hopped right over to the website to see if he had any mugs. (Actually, my friend was going to buy me mugs, but knew of my “mug problem“. Obviously that didn’t stop me. Obviously that is why I have a mug problem.) John does amazing work and is featured in several museums. I’m happy to have these two pieces from him.
I also found this fun bag today. (Did I mention that I have a bag problem, too? I’m addicted to great bags. sigh. Surely there are some of you out there who share this affliction??) I love the way this gal tied on a bunch of fun ribbons. I tried to get her to make them for us at Loopy, but she is having a hard time keeping enough in stock at the shop where she works. She kept my card, so maybe in the future.
I’m thinking we won’t have an official Sneak Up this week. Only because Susan felt the need to take off to San Diego for the rest of the week. (She needs a vacation from the yarn. Go figure.) And while the other Loopy Elves and I could probably handle a Sneak Up without her, it just wouldn’t be as much fun! So we’ll take a little breather and be back next week with more fun stuff. (”What stuff?”, you ask? Well, we have Yarn Pirate, Yarntini, more Fiesta, more from Schafer, and the new Classic Elite Alpaca Sox yarn, for a start. Plus more of Wendy’s Patterns. And oh BOY, wait until you see our two newest indie dyers! They won’t be here next week – but they’ll be here in October.) Also, we are heading out of town on Friday morning to visit College Guy for Parent’s Weekend at his college. (I know – I’m spoiled, aren’t I?) So orders placed Thursday night and into the weekend, will start shipping on Monday morning.
And now, the September Loopy Loot contest. Since Fall is my favorite season, I’d love to know something that you like about the Fall. Do you have certain family traditions for the season? Special recipes that you make? Decorations that you love? A favorite Fall memory from your childhood? What makes the Fall special for you and your familiy? Leave your answer in the blog comments and we’ll randomly pick one winner. This month, the winner will receive two skeins of highly coveted yarn – a skein of Wollmeise in Raku-Regenbogen (I kept one of these for myself!) PLUS a skein of the beautiful Pumpkin Spice from Yarntini. Woohoo!
Sheri whatbetterwaytocelebrateFallthanwithnewyarnfortheseason?
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DataGoddess said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Fall means pumpkin pie and the return of soups and stews to the menu. I love to cook, and hopefully I’ll get to cook more now that my desk is on the other side of the wall from the kitchen
I would wave to you guys as you drive up to CG’s Parents’ Weekend, but I’ll be out of town, too. Going to sit around and knit with a friend in LA for the weekend.
knitography said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Fall is one of my favourite seasons too! There are many reasons for this but here are two of them. Firstly, I LOVE the fresh, crisp air of fall, which smells absolutely fantastic. The second thing I love about fall is my annual visit to the pumpkin
patch to pick out my halloween pumpkin. I love pumpkin pie, so I always get a few extra pumpkins for that purpose. I know you can get them at the grocery store, but it’s so much more fun to go straight to the pumpkin patch. Besides, maybe one day when I’m there I’ll see the Great Pumpkin!
Nichole said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
I love ALL things fall – its my favorite time of year. The cooler temps mean we can take out the handknits and wear them proudly (and without sweating to death)! Apple picking… walking around a fair with a mug of hot apple cider… cider donuts… apple crisp… yum-o! What’s not to love about fall when you live in New England??!!
cecily said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
honestly, the thing i like most about fall is the smell of the early fall air. it’s so crisp, and sometimes full of the smell of fires in fireplaces. also, i’m quite the little kid at heart, and i love to be able to scuff my feet through leaves. and it’s not fall without my mother’s applesauce, which she puts a lot of cinnamon in. yummm.
Denise said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
Of course, high school football is my favorite fall tradition, but is starts so early now that last Friday’s game was the first one that even felt “fallish.” It was game four of ten.
Over at the Wool Gathering at Young’s Jersey Dairy near Yellow Springs, Ohio, I started a new fall tradition. They have cinnamon ice cream for fall. Yummmmy!
Karen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Fall means taking our sailboat to a quiet cove on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, anchoring overnight, and watching the geese flying to destinations unknown. It’s a restorative time — very special.
Ellie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Fall means bringing out the cozy sweaters, and snuggling under blankets to watch tv. Not to mention the cooking and baking that’s not quite right for the rest of the year – pumpkin cheesecake, warm apple turnovers.
Nancy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Fall is my absolute favorite season. It contains my 2 favorite holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Halloween allows you to be anything you want, just for one day, without question or comment, and Thanksgiving is all about family. And neither require you to give presents to anyone at all. Purely pleasure as far as I am concerned. One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to make donuts. Especially the ones that turn them selves over in the pot while they are cooking. I need to get this recipe out and make them for my grandchildren as it has been a few years since I have done it for them. I have finally been able to taste the pumpkin spice at Starbucks. YUMMMM.
ChristyH said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Fall, how do I love thee, let me count the ways. I love fall because I can close my windows. (I live on a busy street) I love the color of the leaves and sometimes it looks like the earth is on fire. The snap to the air recharges my batteries and I feel energized again. Baking breead is not a chore anymore. I could go on and on but I think you get the point.
What no sneak up!!!! Wahhhh and I finally have funds to spend. You certianly know how to torture a person. Is North Korea looking for you? LOL
Christy in Michigan
Darlene said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
What’s not to like about fall? I love the crisp air that smells like woodsmoke and leaf smoke, thoughts of harvest grains and vegetables, hearty soups, and the colors all around–orange and green are my favorite colors, so seeing all the trees wearing orange and red and green and yellow all at once is a treat!
Wendy in Cambridge said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
I love fall! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and my birthday is the last week in October. One of my favorite childhood memories is going trick-or-treating every year with my parents and little brother. It was cool and dark out, very suitable for what was, to me, the most magical night of the year. And it came just a few days after my Halloween birthday party!
That was in the late forties. Today, I have two very good friends who are 7 and 4, and we go trick-or-treating every year!
Tammy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
Oh how I miss fall! Here in So California, it doesn’t mean more than a slight drop in temperature and a few falling leaves.
Anyway, my absolute favorite thing about autumn would be my childhood memories from New York of the colors… and leaping into the pile of freshly raked leaves!
Phyllis said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Love the gourd, and the mug is a perfect match for the pie plate.
Fall brings memories of trips to the Franklin Cider Mill (it’s been there practically forever) and crazy Halloween parties and costumes. One memorable party was the first year we were married. Party was held at a bachelor friend’s new home. Bachelors only needed bottle openers in those days. One of the guys came as the mummy, and his bride had wrapped him in yards and yards of gauze — and forgot to leave an important opening/escape hatch. He didn’t realize it until after a couple of beers. Yep. And being a bachelor pad, no scissors to be found. We had to cut him out of the gauze with a steak knife. He was teased for months!
melissa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
fall is my favorite too! i’m looking forward to making lots of soups, lots of pumpkin pie, and wearing my new coat!
Sharon said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
OK. I’ve seen bags that I like, but that one just about did me in. I REALLY, like those colors! Fall – I love to have a little fire in the back yard and have a marshmallow roast. There is nothing like a fire in the fall.
Amy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
I have a different approach to fall than family celebrations now that I’m in college. At my school, we have Black Cat. See, we’re a small women’s college without sororities or anything, so we ban together as classes and have been celebrating this for almost 100 years. Each class has a color and mascot .For example: my class is red so we chose the Phoenix as our Mascot. Black Cat week occurs in early fall and celebrates our unity as a school, especially with the first-years. We have everything from a play making fun of the school to a bonfire in a trashcan (cheesy) to sports day to a big dance at a nice venue. It’s pretty much amazing and as the cool wind comes in we can feel the warmth in the sisterhood of our college.
PS: The winner gets a black cat toy.
Tanya said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
I love fall too – just a wonderful time of year!
Let’s see – I suppose our current tradition (since we have a small child) is raking up all the leaves and then running around in them until they’re scattered all over the yard again. Really though, fall means apple pie in my world. Preferably my step-dad’s – he makes the best pie ever, and even does his own crust. I’ve never mastered pie, so I invite myself over to their house at every opportunity in the fall.
I suppose another wonderful part is pulling out all the lovely wool socks that I’ve knitted and haven’t been able to wear in 90 degree/90% humidity weather.
Miss T said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
Fall is my very favorite season. The colors, the crispness of the air, the chance to wear scarves and shawls and jackets, I love everything about it. And fall food is fabulous–soups, stews, gratins–I’ve been craving it for months already! I love scrunching through leaves and wearing boots with my jeans. I love pumpkins and squash and peppers and the last good tomatoes of the season. Really, it should last for at least six months!
Amy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
What don’t I love about fall? Its probably my favorite season too. I love digging out my fall sweaters and being able to wear them. I love the changing of the leaves and taking walks in the cool, brisk air…
Probably my favorite tradition, started as a child, but continues into adulthood is watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Poor Charlie “I got a rock” Brown… And I absolutely to this day love Snoopy, especially his laugh. It makes me smile every time. : )
Angela Milazzo said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Fall in our family usually means the return of homecooked hot meals – beef stew, chicken and veggie soup, and especially chili.
AnnaMarie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Fall for our family is snuggle time. It’s colder so we need to snuggle more with each other, the Corgis, fuzzy blankets and warm leather recliners. It’’s time for more hot tea, less ice tea. More reading and DVD watching, less outdoor time. Fall is always my time of renewal and taking stock of the year behind while I look back on what has been and think about what will be for next year.
I’ve always thought that Fall took me all the way to New Year’s Eve where I take my hopes and dreams and write them down for the next year. It’s always coldest in January here which for me is true winter.
Right now I’ve got months and months to snuggle and dream.
I love Fall!!!
Aimee said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Fall means Halloween!!!! I am a Florida girl, so I have never fully appreciated the return of sock weather until I started knitting socks since I spent most of the year in flops, but it means sock weather – all those socks I knit all year get to come out and play. It also means that I have a birthday coming up. So does Tattoo Boyfriend.
I don’t look forward to the holidays. I do look forward to the annual changing of the leaves in the Carolina Mountains (if you have the chance, you should come see someday!). I look forward to SAFF!!!!! And I get Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffins at Starbucks!!!!
Katherine said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Sadly, my family has no fall traditions. None! But for you, Sheri, I will start one. I hereby declare fall for my family will mean Pumpkin! Now I just have to decide what pumpkin to pursue. Shall I make pumpkin bread? Pie? Soup? Mom loves pumpkin butter… It’s going to be grand!
Sally said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
I love long Sundays filled with football (and knitting, of course) with a big pot of soup or chili for dinner. Pumpkin spice lattes and Carmel apple cider too, yum!
Jodi said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Fall is my favorite season when I’m in Chicago (if I’m in Minnesota, it’s winter!). Trips to the apple orchard, baking up a storm, having a fire in my wood-burning stove, long walks along Lake Michigan — theses are all good things about fall.
Kim said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Fall means the kids trick-or-treating in the crisp evening air! You can just smell fall!
I just had to click over to the pottery site you mentioned and fell in love with a mug and saucer, so here I am trying to find out the price and where it has to come from and I look at the address and It’s about 5miles from my house!
Wouldn’t you know it, something that beautiful and it’s always been right around the corner, and I knew nothing about it (and dare I say that I go to places specifically to buy pottery!) Sometimes you just have to shake your head and laugh over things
Melissa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
My favorite season is fall also! I love the crispness of the air and the crunch of leaves under foot. I love pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter bars (so good!!) and pumpkin lattes. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I love when it gets cool enough for me to wear my college sweatshirt and to visit my alma mater and see the marching band.
shadkitty said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
What don’t I love about Fall?
When I was little we used to go to upstate New York to see some family, and they would have a festival called the Fall Foliage Festival. We would all eat funnel cakes, watch the parade and roam around. It was beautiful! October is one of my favorite months all together. People start decorating for Halloween, you can smell the crisp leaves in the air. Sometimes we have bonfires. I love to dress up for Halloween! It is so much fun to pretend to be someone else for a night, and you get candy!!! Whoever thought that up should be given a medal…or at least a candy bar. lol
Then in November, the air gets a bit crisper. We can pull out our sweaters and socks. Our family always gets together to eat. I love to eat! Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, pumpkin pie! When we are together for the holidays, my father and I always make fudge together, I’ve been doing it so long now that I can’t remember when I started. I know how to tell when fudge is at the softball stage without even checking! We haven’t always been close, my father and I, but that one little tradition keeps us from drifting too far. The fudge is usually gifted to other friends and family, and taken into work.
I am now a little south of my birthplace, and it’s taking us a bit for the weather to get the message. Still, in my mind I am already wrapping up in blankets and sipping hot chocolate, watching the leaves turn as the kids stand at the bus stop. It’s a beautiful time.
Yvonne said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
I think what I love the most about fall is that it is so pretty outside. There is that nip in the air and the leaves turn colors. I love how the trees look. And as a new knitter, fall means to me the time to start working on scarves for winter and the new ability trying to learn how to knit socks.
Halloween is also great. I think what will stick in my mind about Halloween was when I was a kid went out to the country one Halloween to see some friends and this is out in no man’s land. But what I remember the most was seeing toilet paper in the trees. The trees were covered with it. Dont see stuff like that in the big ole city.
Yvonne
Gretchen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
I love getting to wear my sweaters again. I’m a little ashamed to say I haven’t knit myself one yet, (socks are too addicting) but they are my favorite thing to wear. I also love going to the stores and browsing all the back to school supplies. I have a “cute notebook problem” as well.
Jen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Fall marks the return of two of my favorite things: soup season and cooler weather! I unabashedly hate summer and the hot, humid, mugginess that it brings. Give me 15 degrees and 10 inches of snow any day! And the cooler weather means I can drag out my soup pot and make my favorites – chicken soup with tortellinis (a family recipe) and minestrone soup (another family recipe).
Karen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
I love the fall – the changing of the leaves are just gorgeous and I love to go for a drive up into the mountains to see all the fall foliage. Simply beautiful!
I remember as a little girl, we’d go to the apple farm and pick apples, get pumpkins and in the end we had hot apple cider and fresh hot apple donuts. If it was a nice day, we’d go on the hay ride (something I continued to do with my daughter when she was little) (I wonder, now that she’s in college, if she’d still do that with me?)
Nikki said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
My favorite NEW thing about fall is finally getting to wear the socks I made all summer!! My favorite thing in general about fall is the cool crisp mornings where you need a light jacket or sweatshirt and the glorious afternoons where you carry your jacket out. And the color of the sky, and the leaves turning and that Halloween is in the fall… and that my cats start snuggling with me again (ok, really it’s the fleece blanket but I pretend its me!) and well, I just love fall!!
michelle said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
I’m a fall lover also. The colors, the colors drive me crazy! Everywhere I go during this time of year takes a bit longer because I have to take detours. There’s a favorite spot of mine in West Stockbridge (MA) that is lovely all seasons, but in the fall it is breath taking. There are so many trees that you’re like in a tree tunnel, and when they are in full color I try to go that route anytime I can. It’s only a couple of blocks stretch but oh so beautiful.
It’s funny though, at one time in my life I thought they should switch the seasons to only two, spring and summer. Growing up in southern CA you really do not get the experience
Kim A. said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Fall is my favorite season, too. I love the way the light changes, and I remember the crisp fall days of my childhood in New England–the gorgeous foliage against the bright blue sky in particular. I distinctly remember the first time I tasted pumpkin ice cream; I was in college and a friend introduced me to it. Yum!
Sherry said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
I wish I could say I loved the fall. It’s always sad to me that the daylight hours gets shorter and it’s colder. As for childhood memories, any good ones are tainted by the anniversary of my only sibling/sister’s death on 10/4 when she was 8 & I was 4. My sister’s death was followed by mother’s death on 11/12 – 2 years later. Don’t know why I’m sharing this info in the comments. But I have to say writing this makes me realize & remember why I feel so yucky this time of year.
On a positive note, as the season marches on, I appreciate that the pace of life is slower .. there’s more time for knitting and relaxing.
Betty H said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
I love to see the leaves change. I like the smells in the air, fresh rain, fireplace smoke, and the foods cooking (pumpkin and pecan pies). I love being with my family. I like people gathering around sporting events from high school, college and professional levels.
Patricia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Fall for my family means pulling out “The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” and watching it while we have hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream and pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. After that we start the discussion of Halloween costumes. We have kept our tradition while living in states that are still pretty warm in fall by utilizing the air conditioning. I love fall because it is such a snuggly time and brisk and fresh at the same time. I get to pull out sweaters and all of the decorations and soup and stew recipes. Fall is awsome!
karen w said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
The one thing I like about fall is taking a trip to the apple orchard and cider mill. And baking all things appley.The hay wagon ride out to the trees to pick your own apples is a blast. The cider and donuts are yummy. The only bad thing are the BEES! at the cider mill. Crack open that first jug sitting at the picnic tables with your fresh donuts and the bees come swarming. Look out!
The downside of fall is that it turns into winter, which means 2-3 months of a slushy mess. It seems that here in Metro Detroit, it is too cold for the snow to stick around like it did when I was a kid. (Not *that* long ago thankyouverymuch!).
Barbara said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
I have two favorite memories of the fall season. I went pumpkin picking with
my grandchildren when I was able. That was always a lot of fun. Of course we always
had to bring them home and cut them out for Halloween. I think my daughter-in-laws made pumpkin pies out of the what we chopped out. The other was
to go to Eckert’s Apple Orchard and pick apples. Several and I mean several
years ago, my friend Darrel and I picked apples until we hadn’t any more room for
them in the car. The next day we spent making apple pies, apple betty, baked
apples, and anything else that had an apple in it. I guess we probably froze at
least l5-20 apple pies. That was fun too. I wish I could do both of those things
over again. My grandchildren might just be too old to go pumpkin picking right
now. It’s funny how you pick them when your little and then you want to pick them
again when you’re all grown up.
Stacey said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
I love all things fall! Leaves, pumpkins, football, halloween, the smell of wood in the fire! I love them ALL!
Traditionally, we visit the local pumpkin farm and pick out pumpkins, eat apple cider donuts and drink cider. And I am always asked to make my Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting at every fall family gathering! They are FAB! But sooo bad for me!
carolyn said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
fall is our favorite time of the year.. since we live in Texas, we finally get to cool off!
I have to get my husband his favorite fall candles – “Witches Brew” from Yankee Candle (I got them this weekend). And the first truly cool night of the season we burn those and have White Chicken Chili for dinner and start the first fire of the fall in the fireplace.
I can’t wait.
Wendy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Oh how ironic that one of the prizes is a delicious yarn in PUMPKIN! I absolutely adore pumpkin! Pumpkin flavored everything! One of my favorite things about fall is that I can get all sorts of goodies that come in pumpkin flavor and I have a good excuse, it’s pumpkin season! Every year we go out to the farm on the weekends to pick pumpkins, load up on pumpkin muffins, pumkin cookies, pumkin pancake batter, and pumpkin butter. At Thanksgiving, mom knows to get one pumpkin pie for the family and one for me! I know, a little over the top, but hey, it’s only one time a year that I get to indulge like this. Fall is totally my season. After all, I am an October baby. Rusty reds, oranges, browns, and golden tones look best on me and my wardrob is bursting with fall colorways.
Missy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
I LOVE FALL
growing up in california meant no real “fall” for me.
now it’s my favorite season of the year… for many reasons:
my birthday’s in october
I love the crisp air
the pretty leaves
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES (Which are the gateway lattes to the christmas drinks)
spiced apple cider
the pumpkin patch with my son
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL!!
I love just about everything fall
Karen Wong said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
Here in Texas, it can be hot and summer-like until November, so, in celebration of the season, I bake my special apple cake and we eat it in the autumn chill of the AC…ah–I can almost see ripening pumpkins, colorful leaves, and that nip in the air (even though it was 99F today).
Enjoy the season!
Barb said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Fall is probably my favorite season, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. The days are already getting shorter, which means knitting earlier in the day, watching some TV and cuddling with WH and our two dogs.
The apples are falling off the trees in our backyard and I’m making every version of apple pies, crisps, brown betties, etc. that you can imagine. The house smells so good. I just today surrendered the summer flags for the scarecrow and pumpkin versions…Next up a fire in the wood stove and, of course, my clogs and handknit socks….
~Kristie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
My favorite fall memory is when my husband and I bought our new home and a month later got married in the backyard with our closest family & friends in attendance. Since we were house-poor from all those horrible closing costs & such, we had to skip our honeymoon, but our new fall tradition is that every anniversary we take a trip somewhere. This year — we’re off on a mini-cruise!
LaLa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
I love the smells of fall. Apple Cider is one of my favorite. Luckily, Beanpods makes a great Apple Cider candle (I went shopping today, too and found them on sale at Hallmark). I also love the smells of leaves, pumpkin pie, pine trees, and the first snow.
georgia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
you know, i made mr. yarnpirate an apron out of camouflage canvas-type fabric. it’s very manly. maybe your hubby needs one too…
mouse said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Fall is my favorite season because it contains my two favorite holidays.. Halloween/Samhain and my birthday! I LOVE pumpkin pie (my grandma’s was the best.. but sadly she didn’t pass on the recipe and no one can duplicate “that” taste) and fall leaves, the smell of fireplaces, the warm cozy smell you get when you turn the heat on for the first time, Witches Brew candles from Yankee Candle, hot spiced apple cider & hearty soups and stews… and the wearing of handknits and boots!
My favorite holiday tradition is carving pumpkins. I have those little saws and special tools to aid in the process.. and I usually make my own stencils. The pumpkins get more and more elaborate every year.. my son (now 6) absolutely loves watching the shapes and faces come to life.
Cindy in Oregon said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love watching the leaves change colors and the hint of crispness that greets the morning air. I love, love, love being able to put my BIG down comforter on my bed again. Nothing beats being curled up in a comfy bed under a big down comforter with the windows open and crisp air coming in.
Julie S. said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Fall has both Hallowe’en *and* Thanksgiving! What more could you ask? My best childhood memories are all of Fall – the start of school, the start of Girl Scouts, Hallowe’en, picking apart bread to make stuffing to stuff the turkey, apple pie dumplings and cider doughnuts at the orchard, thinking ahead to the Christmas cookies…Fall is definitely my favorite season in New England.
Lauren said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
No questions asked – the best part of fall when I was little was warm home-made applesauce with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top as an after-school snack. And I think my favorite part now is that when the weather gets a little cooler people don’t look at me like I’m crazy for knitting wool socks!
Vera said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
I love fall because I was married in the fall (October 28th), so when the temps start to drop a little, and things get more comfy, and I see all the fall decorations, I’m reminded of my wedding day. My colors and decorations were fall themed.
My hubby loves fall becuase Halloween is his favorite holiday. I don’t care one way or the other so much, but I love to see him so happy about Halloween. He even picks out my costume for the parties we must attend.
Of course, he would have loved to have gotten married on Halloween, but I drew the line on that.
Laura said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Fall is my favorite season as well, mostly because of the weather. Here in PA, the summers are hot and humid and winters are freezing. Fall is perfect, sweatshirt and jeans weather. I also love the leaves changing color and watching Penn State football
And this year, I’m excited to wear the socks I learned to make this summer!
Theo said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
We have a vulture tree, where many, many of those guys live. They always come about March 25th and always leave September 25th, so that definitely is the beginning of fall. We also have geese, geese and more honking geese!! I love it. We often have Indian Summers and cut our firewood this time of year. It is so gorgeous. So, we have lots of Fall activities. It is my favorite time of year as well!! Crisp mornings with a little frost and warmer afternoons, the aspens that turn amazing colors….
christa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Fall means the return of pumpkin and cinnamon to my life. When I was a kid, we used to (and still do) make Old Witch’s Magic Pumpkin Cake. The recipe was from the back of a children’s book from the library. It also means mulled cider and pumpkin pie. My three favorite holidays are in the fall as well…Halloween, Thanksgiving and my birthday and these treats go along with them beautifully.
Sandra D said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
I’ve always liked fall best, too. Different reasons during different stages of my life. But it’s always been about the colors – fall colors just really sing to me. And right now, it’s also about being able to open the windows again, after the heat of summer and the need to live with the AC. I can hear the birds and the rattle of leaves in the breeze.
I LOVE your gourd! Enjoy your weekend at CG’s school. And now I won’t worry about missing another Sneak Up by going to the yarn shop tomorrow!
Lauren said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
oooh – and roasting pumpkin seeds after carving jack-o-lanterns!
kit said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
my favorite things about fall are makings soups and stews again and taking the kids to the apple orchard and to a local farm to handpick their pumpkins for carving.
ann said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
I will be married 30yrs. on October 1st of this year. This year is also special because my son will be married on October13th! Love is in the air or maybe it’s cinnamon and spiced apples and pumpkins!!!
Rebecca said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
My favorite fall memories involve jumping in large piles of leaves, getting caramel apples with my mother (and not getting some for my brother or father), and going on long walks in the crisp evenings. I love those little marshmallow pumpkins (in fact I just bought a bag), fresh apple cider, and winter squash. I love the excuse to wear beautiful handmade scarves and the excuse to knit more.
And I shouldn’t forget Cranberry-Apple Crisp. Mmmm… Fall is yummy.
Lynda said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
I love to decorate outside with pumpkins, mums, and pansies. Inside, I start to burn my favorite fall scented candles. One of my favorite fall dinners is roast with butternut squash and sweet potatoes. I just bought a butternut squash yesterday, and I’m looking forward to making that very dish. I also look forward to Friday night High School football games and the end of Daylight Saving Time!
Sandra said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
My family has their own football game called the toilet bowl (the prize is a painted toilet lid heh) Then a pig roast and hayrack ride. We look forward to it as a family every year. The family is large so there are people that we only see at this event. Makes me love fall even more!
Kelly said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
What a beautiful mug and pie plate! I too share the bag addiction. I just can’t resist a cute bag. My favorite thing about fall is packing up the kids and going apple picking. Then after we come home we have apple cider and the kids help me make apple pie.
meg said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Fall means making Mulled Cider with Williams Sonoma Mulling spices. Making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins. We take lots of walks in the woods and kicki around the leaves! I also love taking pictures of our family outside by the leaf piles.
I think I love Fall becasue it is the start of new routines and all things cozy:)
Jana said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Fall is my favorite season, too. It’s perfect, not too hot or too cold and everyone stays closer to home (or indoors) playing cards, watching movies, eating popcorn and laughing. I especially love Halloween so that makes it the perfect season. The Fuji apples are ready. We have a great farmers market and it is so great when the Fuji’s are picked (the wait until the first frost, to make the sugar go into the apple – that’s what the guy said anyway, every time I would say “are they ready yet”) here in Washington we love our apples.
Karen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
I always like to bake pie pumpkins and make pumpkin pies from scratch. None of that canned crap for me. And I love the colors of the trees, and the fresh MN apples, and my birthday is in the fall too!
Lisa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Love the “cooler’ weather. (In Dallas, that just means lower 90’s) high school football and the State Fair. I always loved fall – especially October – because that is when my birthday is! Growing up, October was ” birthday month” around my house : a grandmother on the 4th, me on the 8th, my Mom on the 16th and my brother on the 23rd. My mom always made me this great chocolate cake…….
Lisa J said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Fall is my favorite season too. I am glad there are so many of us! I went to college in Western Mass and let me tell you, I loved autumn in the Berkshires. I think the red leaves are my favorite. No, yellow. No, purple. No, greeny gold. Well, you get the idea. The other fantastic thing about fall is the return of pumpkin pie ice cream. MMMMMM.
Monica said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Fall is also my favorite season. I love the cooler temperatures. I love that I can start wearing my sweaters and hand knit socks. But mostly I love all the colors. I don’t think there is any thing prettier than the oranges and reds and yellows of the changing trees against the clear blue fall sky.
As for memories, I always loved Thanksgiving, my mom would bake at least 15 or 20 pies ( I am not exagerating) the house would smell so good … pumpkin spice and baking apples. And then right after Thanksgiving the cookie baking would begin. Ok now I need to find something sweet to eat.
Now every fall we take the kids to the Scottish Festival and get fresh apples, apple cider, apple butter, and apple dumplings from our favorite apple orchard. We all look forward to that.
OK I could go on forever about Fall, but I will stop. I think I need a pumpkin spice latte now FPS
Melissa Featherly said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
I love the cool crisp air of fall. I love when it is cold enough to snuggle up on the couch with a hand-knit blanket. I love the the colors of the leaves as they change . I also love to make apple pie!
Kathy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
I love fall, too. It means I can turn off the AC, throw open my windows and let the crisp, autumn air fill my home.
Fall in Colorado isn’t too shabby, but I was raised in Northern Michigan and fall there was magical. The colors were so vibrant and I used to love walking in the woods with my dog. I can still here the ‘crunch crunch’ under our feet. I had a collie when I was a teenager and I think she loved those fall walks in the woods as much as I did!
Ronni said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
I love fall too. I love decorating the house up for Halloween. I usually start with just some fall colored flowering plants in the house and a wreath on the door and work my way up slowly. We end up decorating up the place for months though – Fall to Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years right through Valentines. (I have a patient hubby as I believe I have mentioned before.)
And I love being able to cook again. The last few weeks of summer are too hot to put the oven on so one of the first things I do in the fall is make Shepherd’s Pie (I’ll put the recipe on my blog someday soon) and start doing more baking. Both of which are big hits around here. But I think the best thing about Fall here is that when the rain starts Christmas is coming. I formed that subliminal signal when we moved to California when I was a kid and to this day (many many years after I could be called a kid) I’ll spend a week grinning like an idiot after the first rainfall of the fall.
Grace said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
One of the things I love about the fall is the abundance of APPLES! I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago, closer really to Wisconsin, and I make my boyfriend go with me to a ton of apple places. There is one place I try to go to every year (they have brats and fresh doughnuts to boot!) and we try to go to a few new places. Right now the foliage is still pretty green, but the leaves will be turning soon. So lovely. My boyfriend also hunts and I usually accompany him (hoping each time that the deer evade him–don’t tell him!), but we travel to really lovely parts of Wisconsin. I am also a HUGE football fan, mostly pro but I do like a good college game, too! Plus I love SWEATER weather; what knitter doesn’t?
Kristi said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
Fall for me is Pumpkin-Apple Soup with Curry and Cream. It was a recipe I saw while in college–many, (too many) years ago–at a friend’s house. A dozen years later I found the out-of-print book on a clearance table at a discount bookstore! It also means taking out all my sweaters and corduroy pants to go run out in the leaves with my kids. Driving through the Berkshires or the Adirondacks are close seconds!
Jenna said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
I absolutely love fall but it’s so short where I’m from. Sometimes we really one get maybe a week or two of in between weather stuck between summer and our ridiculously long winter. What I love most about the season is the crispness. The crisp, fresh feeling of the air as the humidity fades. But especially the sounds of the leaves as you walk over them and you can crunch them under your feet and they make that satisfying crinkling sound. Perhaps my favourite fall memory was going through a corn maze just outside of the city.
Maria said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
We have a motorhome and every fall we sneak the kids out of school for a day and head up to Northern Minnesota (Duluth) to check out the fall color. Well, we also go for mexican food. The State Parks in Minnesota are awesome! Please let me brag, because about 6 months of the year Minnesota is frozen!!!
Tracy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Outside, Fall is the beautiful colors and crunch of leaves underfoot and that wonderful fall “smell” and difference in light when I’m out for a hike.
Indoors, Fall is the smell of things cooking in the oven (pot roast! cookies!) and the sound of football on the tv. Cozy!
Janelle said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
I grew up in Texas, where we didn’t really have fall. Now I live in Pennsylvania, and fall still feels like a holiday every year. I love when the air turns a little crisp and we start drinking cider from the orchards in our county. We always take the kids to buy mums and pumpkins, and pose a photo on the front porch. We have one from every October and one of these days, I’ll get around to framing them. I have an idea about starting a progression of boys-with-pumpkins pictures going down the hallway or something.
And of course, one has to eat large quantities of those mallowcreme pumpkins.
SpaceCase said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
I love autumn, but it’s a lot different in Chicago than it was growing up in the mountains of New Hampshire. So in recent years, I’ve discovered a special treat that only comes around in the autumn – the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. It reminds me of trips to apple orchards and seeing the mountains covered in a rainbow of colors. Sure, it’s a stretch, but it’s also yummy.
Ann said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
I love fall also. I don’t think there’s any one thing that stands out. It’s just the combination of the nights being cooler, the clear blue sky, the smell of the leaves and flowers at the end of their season, the harvest foods made with apples and pumpkins. All these and the family memories that I have from this time of year – it’s just the best!
Jenna S said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Fall is absolutely my favorite season!
Gone is the oppressive heat and humidity of summer.
Enter cool mornings, sunny bright afternoons and crisp evenings. Fall is perfect as sunrise highlights the ever changing colors of the leaves. Perfect for walks, scuffling and crunching through crisp falling leaves. Perfect for porch sitting, rocking on the swing watching the neighborhood kids play hopscotch on the sidewalk. Perfect as dusk fills the evening sky with blazing color and you smell a wood fire wafting on the breeze. No doubt the best part of fall is getting to bring out and wear sweaters!!
Sigh
I love fall!
annette said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
I love that fall smell in the air. Plus my family’s yearly trip to Vermont, for the foliage and apple cider and maple syrup and the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream factory.
Cindy Evans said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Fall is my favorite season also!!! I love the feel of the crisp air and able to open my windows for some fresh air! I also can’t wait to show off all the pairs of socks I have knitted this summer. It has been a hot summer and no sock wear at all!!!
Elizabeth said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
So glad College Guy got to come home – and that you’ll get to see him again so soon!
For me, fall is first & foremost about my a couple of birthdays. Mine is October 11 and my younger sister’s is October 6. My parents are divorced & growing up, my dad would always drive up to New Hampshire(where we lived with my mom) from Connecticut(where he lived) for Columbus Day weekend & spend our birthday weekend with us. We always did fun things. I love my birthday. I don’t even mind that I’ll be 31 this year. Well, ok, I mind a little. It’s weird being an adult.
But fall also means that I get to watch my extra special ET dvd — one of my very favorite movies. When it was the 20th anniversary of it a few years ago, I bought the fancy box set and watch it once a year…usually around Halloween. It has those great Halloween scenes with the kids dressed up & trick-or-treating that I love.
And fall means wearing my wool socks again with my favorite Birkenstock clogs – they’re Mary Jane style, so the socks peek through! yay for cooler weather!
Maggie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Around the middle of October, the bakery near my parents starts making their fantastic ginger cookies – seriously to die for. And then they only make them until the end of January! I eat an alarming number of ginger cookies during that time period. Best part of Fall, hands down.
Lesley said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Fall is everything wonderful when people smile more, rejoice at change of leaves, prepare for the upcoming holidays…and sneeze their heads off!!! The more beautiful it is, the worse my allergies are. Just waiting patiently for that first hard freeze
singlewhiteknitter.com said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
i have to agree with everyone who has said the smell of fall… it’s like nothing else. i love it at night when you can smell the leaves and someone’s fireplace from a block away. it’s the best smell in the world… but fall is my favorite season, so… i also like the food (thanksgiving rocks!), and the layering of clothes… and breaking out the scarves, hats, and armwarmers that have been stored all summer… and the rumble of school buses in the morning… and…. and… and….
Nancy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Man, if it wasn’t for a contest, I wouldn’t make a comment, but here goes — I have never liked Fall! Yes, it’s crisp, and yes, the trees are pretty, but where I lived most of my life, it always meant to me the beginning of Snow, Cold, and Bitter! And, I have always disliked Cold Weather! I hate wearing coats, and boots, and anything that is heavy. Plus, I get really depressed without all the hours of Sunshine!
Now, talk to me in the Spring — that’s when I come alive! I love the Summer and the Hot Weather! I know, I’m crazy! But now that I live in Florida, Fall isn’t quite so bad (since I know we’ll never get snow or temperatures below 40 degrees – and only for a few weeks each year).
Ann said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
I love fall, too. For me, fall symbolizes back to school — I always loved getting new school supplies: fresh, unmarked notebooks, sharp pencils, and new pens. Now that I’m no longer in school, fall has become a time for me to learn new things. I learned to knit last fall; this fall it seems that weaving may be in my future. And I still get to shop for cool school supplies with my elementary school daughters.
corey said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
i love the somewhat cooler weather we finally get in the fall. not that it’s that cool here in florida, but anything is better than the heat and humidity!
what i really, really love are all the pumpkin flavored desserts and scented candles! in fact, DH and i shared a slice of pumpkin cheesecake tonight that was to die for!!! yup! gotta love the pumpkin cheesecake!!
Deborah K said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
I LOVE the cooler weather – it makes me want to knit even more.
I LOVE fires in the fireplace and cuddilig up with an afghan and a cat in my lap.
I LOVE hayrides and apple cider.
It’s such blessed relief to have the heat and humidity over. YAY!!!!!!
Amy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Truthfully, I still love fall because I always loved school, and fall is when school starts. What a goody two-shoes! But I also love the cooler temps, the changing of colors, fires in the fireplace, and apple crisp.
Katey said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Fall is also my favorite season! I love the smell of the cool air, the way the nights are crisp, like the lovely array of wonderful apples! I love to sample the apples at local farms, enjoying the fall colors in Pennsylania. Hiking in the mountains on October weekends is a wonderful way to enjoy them.
(p.s. I have a thing for bags too — does this go together with loving knitting, yarn, needles? Perhaps I feel a need to have a fun place to put all my goodies and tote them around with me?)
Liz said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Favorite fall things (it’s my favorite season, too):
- New pens and empty notebooks
- A return to cool weather (thank goodness!)
- Pretty pretty leafies
- College football (go Northwestern go!)
- Skittery, crunchy leaves underfoot
- Lots of birthdays in Sept./Oct./Nov.
- Apple picking and any related activities that might let me ride behind a tractor
- Halloween-y, Edgar Allan Poe-y things
- The end of hurricane season (good friends + Florida = nervous Liz)
- Wild, windy, rainy nights…I find them very romantic for some reason
- Giving thanks for all that you have and for the people you’ve loved
melissaknits said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Fall is my favorite time of year. It’s dramatic around here, and we’re all aware of things changing. This is fair season, so there’s the NH Wool Arts tour Columbus Day weekend – we hit the same farms every year, buy the same hand made soap and the same lamb stew. Then Rhinebeck, and we all know what that means. Local ag fairs abound, and we try to see as many as we can. But I’d have to say MY favorite fall activitiy, and it is a tradition, is “putting up stuff” for winter. I love the snug feeling of jars of salsa, jam, chutney, applesauce filling the shelves, and I love the smells in the kitchen and everyone gathered around helping. I think it’s one of the things I miss most asthe kids grow and leave. Somehow, when it’s down to just me and Mr. Wonderful it won’t be the same.
Smuddpie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
I LOVE fall! The kids love going to pick apples at the orchard and making a dutch apple pie. Yum! I also love turning on the surround sound when there’s a football game on and hearing the roar of the crowd. It’s a stadium in my living room!
thursday said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
I love fall….but it comes late for us here in Arizona. Here, I think about getting a bagel and coffee on a crisp, cool morning. I can’t wait for the mornings to be cool and crisp again! Rather than oven hot. I love that I can wear sweaters, jackets, and jeans! My birthday is in November (yes, still fall!) and I’ve always had pumpkin pie. I love pumpkin and this is the season for it! YUM. I want pumpkin pie now. Fall is also the time of baseball – the postseason, the world series!
Rebecca said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Fall is my favorite season as well. The colors of the leaves and the smell of the air are something special. Or maybe is it because my birthday is October 1st? I can remember kicking little piles of dry leaves as I walked to school and I try to do it still whenever I can.
Anne said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
I love pick-your-own apples, corn mazes, wearing sweaters in the morning but not in the afternoon, but most of all I love that my birthday is the first day of Autumn!
Katie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
I love the beautiful colors and the landscape that seems to come alive every year in OH. The crisp in the air and warm apple pie are lovely too!
Tiffany said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Perhaps it’s the fiber-holic in me talking, but one of my favourite things about fall is Rhinebeck! I love getting to drive through upstate New York and see all the beautiful fall leaves and pretty little towns. Then when we get there, we get to sample all the lovely fall flavours like maple cotton candy! My sister and I make a road trip of it every year, and this is the first year we won’t be going because of financial considerations. I will definitely sorely miss it!
There’s also the usual apple picking and pumpkin carving – an annual event! And I love all the great fall flavours in the kitchen like squash and pumpkin and baked apples! MMM! I wish it could be fall all year round!
Lori said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
I was raised in Austin, Texas, which has exactly 2 seasons: hot and wet. When we moved to the Midwest, I was wowed by the appearance of 4 actually distinct seasons. When we moved to Ohio, I continued my enjoyment of autumn by moving down the road from a family-owned apple orchard (blueberries there in the summer) and near a gorgeous woods in which to enjoy the turning of the leaves. I love the chill in the air, the smell of wood smoke, the colors (not only the spectacular leaves but also the muted browns and rusts of the dying of the year), and the wonderful segue into winter foods (chilis, stews, pies, and anything eaten over rice).
Autumn and spring vie for my affection as the favorite season but hey, I can enjoy both of them, can’t I? My daughters, all raised in the Midwest, just don’t understand my enthusiasm for the beauty that each season holds. But I continue to adore them as they come.
Kay said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
My favorite part of fall is the smell in the air before the weather turns really cold.
Cyndy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Apples,all types.
Kristen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
I’m not sure if I like autumn or winter more, but I truly appreciate not being hot and sticky. My favorite part of fall is that first day when the air smells different. It transports me to football games and all the adventures that went along with those. My other favorite part of fall is that one perfect day when you get to see the trees’ leaves against either a really blue or a really gray sky.
Brenna said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
I just love fall and Halloween. I wish I lived where there was more changing of the season in Southern California. My favorite teenage tradition was going to Oak Glen to pick apples with my mother and brother. It was a favorite activity until I moved away from home. I’ve been able to go once with my husband and oldest child but we haven’t found the time to go since we had our second. Both of my children are old enough this year I think to appreciate what fun it is to tramp through an apple orchard.
Kelly said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Fall.
Sweaters. Football. Chili. Cool, crisp mornings. The smell of dry, fallen leaves and the rustle under your feet.
Fall is new beginnings and official endings. It’s tart, freshly picked Macintoshes and cider drawn right from the tap. It’s looking forward to fires in the fireplace, soup in the crockpot, and the last harvests of the season.
I can remember cool September mornings, standing at the end of my driveway, waiting for the bus to come. I could hear the trains in the valley below, and barely see the other side through the morning mist. Dew sparkled on crispy brown grass, and as I took in the sights and smells, I thought that THIS was what it was all about. And never felt more alive.
That’s fall.
Kati said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Fall is my favorite season. We’re in Upstate NY so it’s the start of cooler weather and beautiful foliage. The Fall means Hockey – Go Sabres! Sunday football on TV with my husband… Pumpkin hunting and carving together (mines always better :O)) – we’re a little competitve about it – but its all in good fun. It’s the smells of comfort food … soups, stews, chicken & biscuits, homemade applesauce and jams…sweaters and jeans… wool knitting projects….hand quilting… now that the worst of the summer heat is over.
I could go on and on (obviously). I just love the changing of the seasons.
Bertha said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
What DON’T I love about fall is a better question! I love absolutely everything, the crisp air, wearing jeans, corduroys, boots and sweaters, going to the apple orchard to pick apples and make the first apple pie of the season…my favorite holiday Thanksgiving! But probably the best thing I like about fall is the Topsfield Fair! It’s the oldest county fair in America in Topsfield, MA (about 15 minutes from where I live) and it runs for 2 weeks at the end of every September/beginning of October. I love looking at all the exhibits–giant vegetables! Handmade quilts! Spinning yarn from Angora rabbits! Farm animals! Beef jerky! Honeybees! Baby chicks hatching! Carnies! And of course fair food! Candy apples, fried dough, giant (and I mean GIANT) turkey legs! German Fries! Apple crisp with ice cream! I am frequently heard to say that my favorite day of the year is Topsfield Fair day! I am SO excited to be a mom this year so I can bring my daughter for the first time! She is only 7 months old so she probably won’t appreciate it, but she loves animals so maybe she will have fun!
Casey said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Fall is a great time of year and this week in Virginia is having cool fall evenings and mornings. I’m a sweater girl so hurray for the fall. We always have a big Apple Festival
at church. There are bushels and bushels of apples, apple butter, apple cider, apple cookbooks, apples everywhere. It is a fun event for all who work and attend.
Kate said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Fall is my favorite season for a few reasons – not only because my birthday is in the fall! I love the weather changes most of all (though I’ve missed out on them since my family moved to California). I love the crisp nights where you start to bring out the warmer blankets and the sweaters (even better know that I’ve started knitting my own). I love the brilliant colors of the leaves. Football and knitting. Pumpkin pie. Wonderful time of year!
Heather said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Ooh, fall things! I’m actually cooking a lovely beef stew as I type this, and a loaf of pumpkin bread *just* came out of the oven.
I love fall cooking! We have all the standard traditions, like going to the apple orchard (the one near us has the BEST cider & cider donuts EVER), pumpkin carving for the husband & kids, breaking out all my yummy fall smelling candles, and of course, knitting. Um, not that knitting isn’t a summer thing, it’s just more cozy in the fall.
For me personally, this time of year always makes me want to watch lots of BBC. I don’t get tv, so I have to rent everything, but fortunately for me, my library rocks. I’ve got several seasons of All Creatures Great & Small in, plus a couple Masterpiece Theatre productions, and a set of Midsomer Murders. Cozy evenings with candlelight, a nice glass of merlot, a good British period piece, and a soft, fluffy sweater is my idea of heaven. Especially if the neighbors up the street fire up their woodburning stove…nothing smells better on cold, crisp night air!!
KnitSteph said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Fall to me means, cooler weather, Friday night football games, homecoming mums and marching bands. The leaves start changing and things just seem crisp.
I was born in September and I just wonder if it makes me more inclined to like this time of year. I like it when I step out in the morning and instead of the sweltering heat, I walk into cool air. When I don’t have to have my car A/C on for the drive to school.
Fall is also back to school and new school supplies! I love paper and folders and spirals and new pens and pencils.
Fall Rocks!
Michelle said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Winter is my fav season, but fall is a close second. Growing up in an area where we had foliage, there tended to be raking of leaves by adults and then jumping in said leaves by children. I’m sure that some of the adults did not appreciate us children jumping in the piles, but it was TOTALLY worth it! And you have to jump in piles of leaves as a child because being an adult means that you can suddenly see all the bugs crawling in the leaves and have no desire anymore to jump in there.
Dixie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
I have memories of raking the leaves in the backyard, then jumping into the pile. Pretty darn exciting when you’re 6. Over the years, all the leaves (post-jumping) went into one spot in the very back corner of the backyard. I remember finding that spot after a while and leaping onto it…surprised to find it had turned into a pile of dirt. Early science lessons.
These days, autumn means I get to wear wool again without being horribly uncomfortable. Sweet!
Robin Pearce said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Fall is all about the weather, especially this year that we’ve been so HOT all summer. That crisp air compels me to sleep with the windows open and get to work on Christmas knitting! Soon there will be pumpkin doughnuts, family togetherness and feasts galore, oh and leaves, cannot forget falling leaves. I put up the fall wreath just today, so now the decorating can begin!
Michelle said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
I love fall. Everything about it. The cooler weather, the extra-blue skies, even the rainy days.
I especially love:
- baking/eating anything flavored with pumpkin (mmmm, waffles…)
- fall foliage hunting/viewing
- my wedding anniversary
- cool-weather clothes
- soups
- apple-cranberry pie
I could keep going
bungalowmum said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Pie Night is my favorite fall tradition. It takes place the week of Thanksgiving and every member of the family gets to choose what kind of pie they want. Then several us get together and bake all the pies….yes, every person gets an ENTIRE pie to themselves…. We make a pretense of eating dinner on Pie Night, and it’s potluck, but really, we’re all just biding time until the pies come out. That’s when the eating and trading starts. It’s so much fun! It does take quite a while to bake that many pies, but it’s so worth it. Since all my siblings are married, it’s very often that we all can’t be together for Thanksgiving, but none of us have missed Pie Night yet!
Laura said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Fall is truly lovely. This year, my favorite part about fall will be being finished with graduate school comprehensive exams (!!). But this year, like every years since I’ve moved to the northeast, my favorite part has been going to the local orchard, apple picking, getting fresh flowers (mums), delicious cookies, cider donuts, and fresh baked breads at their little store. I just can’t wait! (Oh yeah, and the pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks could make this list too
)
Kristin G. said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
Fall is about food for me! Already, even though September just started (Well, sort of. It feels like it anyway!), DH has made (I know– he cooks! He’s totally a keeper) a pumpkin cake/cream cheese roll (sooo good!) and pumpkin cookies. I can’t wait until it’s a little cooler (still around 85 in Atlanta) and we can have yummy fall chili (with noodles! Apparently that’s something indigenous to my homeland: Louisville, KY). I’m quite looking forward to cranberry sauce and cornbread, too… or maybe, just Thanksgiving
As a youngster, fall made me think of school starting– and the pictures! Every first day of school, through high school, my mom took a picture of us. Sometimes it was a pain, but I’m glad that we did it now that I look back on it. Keep taking pictures, Sheri
Oh, and another fall favorite? The gorgeous LEAVES! I’m looking forward to some socks on FALL trees!
Oh, and that yarn sounds even more scrumptious than fall foods!!!
Hariamrit said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
I love fall for 2 reasons. One I can start wearing almost winter clothes, and two winter is not far behind, my favorite season. All the critters on the farm are starting to get frisky, me too. And it means more Starbucks.
Kristin said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Fall is my favorite also because:
The crisp air in the morning, and the cool “crunch” under my shoes when I step on leaves on the ground. The beautiful colors of the mountains, and the cool breeze. Holding my warm coffee mug while sitting by a fire or on the porch in the morning.
We love to ride our bikes on a cool “Rails to Trails” railroad bed-turned bike/walking trail this time of the year. It’s very flat, but there is an exciting tunnel, and a neat bridge to bike across. It’s beautiful when the foliage appears. It almost seems like God just dips a paintbrush and dabbles here and there with the trees!
Fall is also the time of the year when I’m thankful for my family and friends, and when my DH and I celebrate our years together!
Jane said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Fall is DEFINITELY my favorite season for two reasons: 1. Halloween is my birthday, and I always enjoy it; 2. I love the colors of the changing leaves. While I now live in Seattle, I grew up going to my Grandparents lake house in NW WI. Ever since moving to Seattle, I take an annual visit to the lake house to see the beautiful fall leaves in WI. I love the crisp air, the crunch of the fallen leaves under foot, the spectrum of warm colored leaves, and the hot toddys too. Happy Fall!
Kellie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Autumn (as we downunder refer to Fall) is my fave season as it signals the return of the cooler weather (I am definitely not a sun worshipper) and makes all my crafty endeavours more fun – what better time to crank up the knitting output, start wearing all those luscious hand-dyed socks, and finish all those quilty projects. Plus you start to see a lot more of one of my fave colours – orange!
Emma said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
No family traditions here, but I do love fall so much that this is really my favorite part of the year–when it’s still hot out, but you know fall is around the corner. You’re just waiting for it, urging the weather people on the news to bring the temperatures down. It’s like Summer is beginning to give up her fight, and you revel in every halfway-crisp moment, just knowing what’s coming.
Cathy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Another Fall lover here!! Everything mentioned above just makes me long for Fall to be here full force. Got that little taste of it this weekend and now we’re back to high 80’s and AC is back on. But in the Fall, just cozying up on the couch with a nicely knitted afghan and knitting while watching a movie is sooooo relaxing. Pumpkin anything – especially pumkin spice lattes from Starbucks (thanks for letting us know when they came out again, Sherry!). Traditionally, my mom and I do lots of Fall festivals and craft shows and start getting ready for the holidays! Of course, apple picking. And our Fall season tickets to local theater starts which is always exciting!! And I love the beginning of school with new students and it always re-invigorates me as a teacher!!
Yeah Fall!!
peggy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
I grew up in Western NY. Fall meant raking leaves. As a child, I would rake the leaves in my grandmothers yard. Our reward would be to build a bonfire with them, wrap potatoes in foil and bake them in the center of the pile. I can still remember the fun we had jumping in the pile of leaves first and that smoky taste of the potato. They were delicious.
knitopia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
I love making my grandmother’s cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving because it is delicious.
Linda said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Fall is my favorite too – here in Chicago it only lasts about 3 days, and then it’s gone. The best thing about fall is SWEATERS. And the leaves changing colors, and the crispness of the air. And apple pie, I love apple pie. Mmmmm…
Sue J. said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Fall was always the happiest time of the year for me as a child. I loved to rake leaves and jump in the pile. My mother, who was always working and so busy, would even take time to help me and join in the fun. I remember the smell of burning leaves in the fall, too. And with a chill in the air, out came the winter sweaters and coats, mittens and hats. But, most of all, Fall is about gorgeous colors. Having lived in Wisconsin for most of my life, the changing colors would just take my breath away. There isn’t a combination of colors I like better than those of Fall.
Lazuli said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Oh my. Fall is most certainly my favorite season! I love how the air feels: crisp and cool, like apples. I love the colors of the leaves and how they crunch under your feet and let off a smell like pumpkin pie. I love fall foods – pies, soups, sqashes, with plenty of nutmeg and ginger and cinnamon and allspice! My cats love fall, too, because it means the windows get to be open most of the time, and their little indoor selves can feel the breeze. I think I love it so much because I had to leave it. I lived in MA until I was six, and then we moved to California – fall there is very different! Since then, though, I’ve been back on the east coast and experiencing falls not just in memory, but in reality, too!
Martha said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Fall always means new beginnings for me, more than the first of the year. I make big plans in the fall. I also start looking for ways to settle in for our winters and I get more reading and knitting time in.
Kit said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
My favorite things about Fall are the colors.
I hope that picture goes through.
Katy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
I love that fall brings cooler weather, so that the dilemma of dressing appropriately for both polite company and the weather of summer is over, and I can go back to my 9-month uniform of jeans, long-sleeve t-shirt and sweater/vest/fleece/jacket.
Also, fall brings pumpkin beer and pumpkin pie and crisp nights (and days) and that yummy smell of fallen leaves on the sidewalk.
freecia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
The snap to the air is always a fall treat! And I tend to browse the llbean catalog a lot more for jackets. I need another jacket like I need another mug (I think my current jacket count is 15?)
Here in my section of California, it’ll be a while before the leaves start to turn color. Doesn’t stop me from grabbing a mug (preferably new to the collection) and enjoying a morning cup of tea while watching the gray morning sky turn blue.
Tammy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Fall, the chill in the air, the first fire in the woodstove, and hot, mulled apple cider. Carmel apples, applesauce, apple pie, spice muffins, pumpkin carving. Oh man, I am ready for FALL!! Making myself hungry here. I’ve never liked the colors of Fall for myself, but they are really starting to grow on me once they are mixed up.
Dorothy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
I the Autumn with all the beautiful colour changes that occur here in KY. I think it is the most beautiful of the seasons!
Alex said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Whoooooa! What a prize!
Fall is apples, but especially pumpkins for me. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, whatever else places manage to get pumpkin into. =)
That gourd is so pretty…such a lovely orange.
Liz said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Fall means watching the kids night time soccer games while drinking hot chocolate trying to stay warm. Every year my Mom makes this awesome harvest cake. It has cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices, and some apples, served with dream whip on top. When Mom makes Harvest Cake we know it’s time for the Fall. And we always go to the Pumpkin festival at the local Berry Farm. Fall is my favorite season, is it any wonder why?
Kim said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
I love the fall leaves. Also I have a beautiful old oak tree in front of my house that drops acorns all over the place. I love to sit in the front part of the house and listen to the falling and crunching of the acorns under peoples feet as they walk by. It such a warm and fuzzy kind of a sound.
Trish said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
I love the crispness in the air during fall, the way the leaves change colors and fall from the trees. I also love being able to wear my favorite hand knit socks and comfy sweaters. I also love fall because my family always gathered together for Thanksgiving. No one ever missed it!
Alexis said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
My favorite things about fall can be matched with the five senses.
Sight: the color of the leaves here in New England
Taste: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and my first hot vanilla of the season from Starbuck’s
Hear: the geese honking overhead, and the fallen leaves crunching beneath my feet
Touch: the feel of a warm sweater pulled on for the first time
Smell: the smoke from fireplace chimneys in the air
Sandy H. said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Fall begins the season of wonderful smells through the house. Yummy things like stew and soup smells issue from the kitchen and pumpkin-mania begins. I have a race with myself to find new recipes using pumpkin as the core ingredient in breads, cakes, cupcakes, stews, ravioli…you get the idea.
Also fall begins the time of getting ready for Christmas…knitting outside in the warm sun and pouring love into handmade gifts.
Meghann said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Fall is my favorite time of year! I wait every year for those first hints of fall…..the air turning crisp, the leaves burning in their autumn glory, and let’s not forget the most important part…..getting out the wool! My favorite part is early in the morning….snuggling under my favorite blanket, drinking tea, and reading my email and listening to the rustle of the leaves.
Growing up, every year we took a “leaf” tour. I grew up in Maine and we would take a Saturday to drive through the countryside, looking at the leaves, getting a special lunch and enjoying time together as a family. I can’t wait until my kids are a little older so we can do this together!
Jenn said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
The best thing about fall for me, besides the chance that it might get chilly enough to wear wool items (socks!!!!), is that hubbo and I were married in October. Awwwwwww.
Sara said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Fall means it’s time to go to Apple Hill! I loooooove this family tradition. Every year around October my parents and I go here. For the last 5 years I’ve dragged my husband and this year will the first year with our baby Emma! We EAT, EAT and EAT the best food. Fresh apple cider doughnuts (made to order!!), caramel apples, apple fritters, apple pie, you get the picture. My poor husband doesn’t understand how I can eat so much! I highly recommend it if you are in Northern California. Oh yes, big surprise, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!
Julia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Ah…. fall. I’ve always loved, but I don’t really have any specifics. And right now, it seems so far away. The thing I hate most about Arizona is that fall is supposed to be encroaching, but it’s over 100 degrees outside, consistently. I am supposed to feel a brisk chill down my spine and the hairs on my arm lifting in response… but nothing but this cursed heat.
What I love, and I miss, about fall is anticipation. Winter is my favorite season… and fall heralds it’s coming. I miss Winter’s Procession.
*sigh* Just one more year.
Emily said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Fall means my birthday!
But even without that, I love fall too. I just love the colors of the season, the muted oranges and reds and yellows that make up the trees.
What I don’t love about fall is all the deer on the roads during mating season. I’ve had a couple of really close calls on a curvy rural road that I have to drive almost every day.
So, fess up. Did College Guy come home just so you could do his laundry?
(BTW, I’m sorry if this posts twice. I keep getting an error.)
Donna said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
I LOVE fall! My favorite memory is crunching through the leaves with my bast friend on the way to and from school. We live in Seattle now, so not so much crunching – it’s more like slogging, but it is more beautiful with way more color in the tress.
Kelli said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Ok, first, if you love bags, check out julipbags.etsy.com. My friend Amby is now making these awesome “Everything But The Sock Knitting Bags. They’re big enough to fit a scarf, a sweater, or even the beginning of a blanket in! Plus, they’re just super cute and really well made.
Second, I love fall! First because my birthday is Nov. 2. Second because I love Halloween. Third because of Honeycrisp Apples. Fourth carving a pumpkin. Fifth roasting pumpkin seeds. Fifth crisp fall evenings and warm sweaters. Sixth woodsmoke and smores.
I could come up with so many more, but I think I’ll stop.
Kelli said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Ok, first, if you love bags, check out julipbags.etsy.com. My friend Amby is now making these awesome “Everything But The Sock Knitting Bags. They’re big enough to fit a scarf, a sweater, or even the beginning of a blanket in! Plus, they’re just super cute and really well made.
Second, I love fall! First because my birthday is Nov. 2. Second because I love Halloween. Third because of Honeycrisp Apples. Fourth carving a pumpkin. Fifth roasting pumpkin seeds. Sixth crisp fall evenings and warm sweaters. Seventh woodsmoke and smores.
I could come up with so many more, but I think I’ll stop.
Sittenknitten said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
Ahhh, fall, my favorite season. We had our first fall meal this evening, homemade foccacia bread sandwiches with capacolla, salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone, pickled peperoncinis and that pickled veggie stuff with cauliflower, carrots, and so on. The house smelled sooo delicious as the bread came out of the oven. That, and we have had 24 hours of thunderstorms, over an inch of rain, and a high of 59 degrees today.
I’ve seen more deer in the back of pickup trucks than on the road, what with hunting season and all, but what I’m really thankful about is that they haven’t turned up in our apple orchard yet. It’s only a matter of time before they come in after the windfalls and start stomping the rest of the garden in the process. Oh well, that’s part of fall, too. The apple pie, applesauce, and cider will be worth it.
Have a wonderful time next weekend!
Laurel said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I got married in the fall outdoors in a beautiful park. There were colored leaves falling and during the vows a family of deer came through. I carried sunflowers and dahlias and it was perfectly fall and perfectly beautiful
This will be our 4 year anniversary!
Laurel
Lani said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
In Fall/Winter (because Florida doesn’t get cold until much, much later) I love, love, love Thanksgiving dessert. It signals the start (usually) of the colder weather. When I was much younger we always had one of our pastors and his family over every Thanksgiving and his wife always made this to-die-for chocolate pie.
We didn’t have that chocolate pie for Thanksgiving after my family moved, but for my wedding almost two years ago the pastors wife sent me her “secret” recipe for our wedding present. And last year’s Thanksgiving was again graced by her wonderful recipe, a yearly reminder of their family.
Marcela said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
My DH’s Aunt starts selling pies at her Farm Market, they are fabulous and you never know what apples she used. We have tons of different varieties that don’t always make it out of the apple growing region. It’s also time to pick out pumpkins and this year they are really round!:)
Gina said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
This is just a funny fall thing I remember about my Mother…There were 4 of us children and my Mom was the BEST …so funny and talented, a great cook and terribly clever. My brother..the oldest..had to do a fall leaf collection book for his 3rd grade teacher. Remember the ones where you ironed the leaves between waxed paper? He got a B on it. Two years later, I had the same teacher and same assignment. My Mom had me hand in the same book…did I mention my Mom was a teacher?? Funny that she would do this. I got an A. I guess my teacher liked me more. My little brother handed it in two years later and then my sister 2 years after that. Same teacher (small town). Little brother got a C…he was a wise guy…and little sister got an A like me. Whenever I think of that I smile. My Mom cracked me up!
Sandy C said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
Fall is my favorite season also! One of the reasons is that my birthday is in the fall.
When fall starts my mom would always go out and buy as many cinnamon household items she could find. She would also make her special Hot Chocolate mix that would last through the season.
Vicki said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
It was a beautiful fall weekend in PA. I, too, decorated my home with the beautiful colors, shapes and textures of fall. It is my favorite season to decorate and to bake and cook. I spent the rest of my weekend making swiss steak with the rest of my summer tomatoes on Saturday and beef stew, cornbread and a fall harvest cake for Sunday dinner. I miss my newly married son, as he loves all things pumpkin but especially my pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. We are trying to find a date when I can cook them a fall meal. This year, it is my turn to host Thanksgiving (I alternate every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.) I love the cooler weather and the chance to “put on a sweater”, wear those handmade socks or curl up under my flannel quilt.
Miri in SE AZ said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
My most favourite thing about fall is the rich warm colours of fall clothing and being able to wear suede again without sweating to death.
Nia said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
One fall when I was probably 14, I took my friend Naomi and her mom and sister to the apple orchard/pumpkin farm. I didn’t realize it at the time but having come from Japan they had never seen anything like this. A nice melon could cost $30 in Japan, so who knows how much a pumpkin went for if they were even available. So here we are in the station wagon pulling into the orchard and you come around a corner where there are just hundreds of pumpkins just laying all over the place and all three of them gasped like it was a miracle. The rest of the day was tons of fun showing them around and I think they bought 20 pumpkins.
Kari said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Fall is my favorite season too! We love to go apple and pumpkin picking every year, and bake lots of goodies with the loot. I even decorate my house with lots of pumpkins, so some pumpkin yarn would be perfect!
Jessica said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
My favorite fall memory from growing up was always going apple picking. We lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles, so the only times we really got out and into nature were summer camping trips, winter sled day, and apple picking in the fall. We’d go out to an orchard and pick enough apples to put in lunch bags until November, my dad would bake at least one apple pie from scratch with these apples, and we’d collect a bag or two of mushy ones and press our own apple cider. It was always a nice break after the craziness that is the start of a school year, and a way to mark the beginning of the holiday season in my parents’ home.
stariel said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
I think my favorite part about fall has always been Halloween – specifically pumpkin carving although trick-or-treating was fun when I was a kid too. My dad always helped me and my sister carve pumpkins when we were little, and last year I carved a vampire pumpkin with a bunch of friends.
Zarah said,
September 17, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Ahhh…. I LOVE fall! Those cool mornings and evenings remind me of cross country practices in high school and all the fun times I had with my friends on the team. I don’t run that much anymore, but fall always gets me outside to run a couple miles after work. Ahh…. good memories.
Kara said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Fall is by far my favorite season – I love the changing of the leaves and the chill in the air. And I love Halloween!
I don’t have a lot of fall traditions, but I do have a great Pumpkin Spice bread recipe that I love to make. And chili, yum, chili.
Oooh, and the Caramel Apple Ciders at Starbucks are back in season. Sure they say they have them all the time, but it’s the perfect Fall drink.
Karen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
I love the fall too. The cooler mornings and evenings, the not-so-hot days. The warm, vibrant colors in nature and in wardrobes. Hotdishes and good smells coming from the oven.
Camille said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Fall means sweaters and kneesocks. In not so knitting terms, it means crunchy leaves and a chill in the air. I love fall!
Melissa said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
I, too, love Fall. It is my favorite season. I love the smell in the air, apple picking, going to the pumpkin patch, and not being so blasted hot all the time.
Alix said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Texas doesn’t have much in the way of fall, but I love it anyway. I went to college in Massachusetts and fall was a much more obvious thing there- I LOVED walking around seeing the pumpkins on the stoops of houses matching the gorgeous foliage. A favorite TX fall memory? Well, when I was younger it seemed like there was always a cold front on Halloween or the day after, so that would signal fall for me.
rohanknitter said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
I’m a big fan of fall and fall weather, even though it means my husband isn’t home much because he’s harvesting. We love to go to the apple orchard and make treats with apples like apple crisp. We also love to make pumpkin cookies and other goodies. I get out the fall decorations and buy some mums for the front porch. My fav thing though is to get a new Yankee Candle in a fall scent to burn…..this year it’s “Autumn Wreath.”
Erin said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
I’m from a suburb of Cleveland, OH, and in the town next door to my hometown, Brunswick, there’s a really great place to pick up apples of all sorts called Mapleside Farms. I still go there pretty much every year when I go home to visit my folks. So fun!
Tracey said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Fall is my favorite season also! I lived in Southern California for the last 10 years and this is our first fall in New England in a long time. I am going to enjoy it very much! I want to find some great new traditions to share with my son. We are going to go to a Pumpkin festival at a local farm in a few weeks and I hope to go apple picking at least once! I do not think I am going to be so excited for winter this year, so I want to take some extra time to enjoy all the fun of fall!!
Lisa W said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Fall to me means the return of sweatshirts and sweaters, good sleeping weather, football, pumpkin muffins, watching the kids jump in the leaves, and fall shopping!
melrae said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
I love the crisp clean smell of the air and it makes me want to rake leaves! I look forward to raking leaves into a pile and watching my son jump into them just like I did when I was a kid. There are so few things that are the same for my son as they were for me and I treasure them.
Barbara-Kay said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
May favorite fall memory is going out to my grandparents’ farm to pick Bittersweet berries for fall decorations. Now, once in a while some fancy-smancy florist will have some for sale. I buy it, of course, but it’s not the same as going out to that farm.
Amy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
I love going on tractor rides w/ my family. My grandpa would hook up his trailer to one of his Silver Kings and we would go around the woods behind their house. Also, there are times we would just around their neck of the country, going down to the creek or just all over the place. We just did that over Labor Day and went around in the trailer with the family.
Megan said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Fall is the best season! My favorite colors are fall colors, and my favorite flavors are fall flavors. And of course, fall is sweater season and the best knitting season. I love to go to an apple orchard and get cider and cider donuts. And don’t get me started on pumpkins. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, I even bought pumpkin spice coffee this year! But the best thing of all is that all my favorite beers are in season. Pumpkin Ale, Harvest Ale, Pumpkin Stout, and of course Octoberfest, yum!
Pam said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Even though winter is my favorite season (I live in California – the only difference between fall and winter is that the trees drop their leaves in the fall and it rains in the winter – plus its cold enough to wear my sweats), my beloved grandpa (who died in 1989), did something fun with the leaves our sycamore dropped.
Our neighborhood was filled with sycamores – everyone had one – and there was constant leaf-raking during September through November (it’s happening right now). He would rake all the leaves into a pile and keep adding to it until it was enormous. Then he would carefully construct a maze/fort, using cardboard to make the walls and completely covering the entire thing with leaves. He would leave a door for me to crawl in, and then he would hide somewhere in the maze. I would crawl around and around trying to find him, and when I got close enough to touch him, he would yell and sit up suddenly, which would collapse the entire thing on top of us. I would shriek, he would laugh, and then he would grab me in a huge bear hug, tell me “Grandpa loves you”, and stuff me in the car to go get a cheeseburger. I would always have leaves stuck in my hair and smelled like the trees.
Now that I’m back in the same neighborhood, as I watch Hubster rake the leaves, I’m overtaken by an almost uncontrollable urge to collect all the leaves, get some cardboard, and make a fort. It wouldn’t be the same, though, because he’s not there to scare me and laugh and hug me close. I think I’ll have Hubster do it for the grands, though.
I miss him so much.
Jocelyn said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
I’m with you about fall — it has always been my absolute most favorite season. When we lived further north, fall was the time we could go hiking and pick blackberries right off the bush. I used to go with my older daughter when she was still little enough to be in a backpack, and I’d pick one for me, then hand one over my shoulder to her, then one for me, one for her. Sun-warmed blackberries and a nice cool wind. Now that we live further south (Susan, welcome to San Diego!), fall means I can get out the casserole dishes and stock pots and start making my favorite dinners of all — soups and stews and baked yummies…
Tammy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
Fall means my family’s “annual peanut brittle makin’ days!” My dad decided years ago he wanted to learn to make peanut brittle, and it’s become a tradition with my sister, my dad, and me. We have other family traditions, but this one is just Dad and his girls. And the peanut brittle is the best! He’s made special copper-covered boards to spread it on, and we have modified the recipe (which is top secret)!
Ali said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Autumn (I may have been in the US nearly 10 years but I’m still English) means hot chocolate from Penzeys, turning off the AC and wearing sweaters, and pulling the handknit socks out of storage and onto grateful feet.
My favourite autumn memory is the year my Dad was teaching me to drive. I was 17, he taught me to take hairpin turns at 50mph and not be afraid of speed and control. It was the most fun I’ve ever had with him and I treasure the memories. I had “official” driving lessons with a driving school, but Dad taught me all the fun stuff.
Jenny Raye said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Fall has to be my favorite time of year as well. Crisp, clear mornings. Long shadows. Red, orange, and gold leaves. Family Thanksgiving (time at home with College Dude). Football knitting. Handknit wool socks. Warm sweaters. Open windows. Cool breezes. Blankets on the bed. Blue skies. Shorter days. Apple picking. Homemade apple cider doughnuts. Stars so bright you swear you could touch ‘em. What’s not to love?
April said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
I love the turn of weather and the cool crisp air on the first days of fall. I also love savoring the occasional warm days that we still get. Now that I have kids, fall means going to the apple orchard and the farmers market to buy pumpkins to carve. It also means taking inventory of what clothes still fit and which need to be replaced. This fall, more than before it has been my jump start to knit sweaters and hats and mittens and other things we need for the MN winter.
amy said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
I grew up in Western Pennyslvania, on the edges of the Allegheny mountains. For the last eight years, I’ve lived in Los Angeles, where “winterfallspring” consisted of a few days in the 50s and an inch or so of rain.
Fall has always been my favorite season, with the crisp air, beautiful changing trees and the excitement of football season high in the air. Thanksgiving is the capstone on my fall. It’s my favorite holiday … all the family time and fun with loved ones without any of the gift-giving stress.
We’ve been in the 50s the last few nights. I’m really looking forward to seeing color in the trees for the first time since the fall of 1998. Scary, huh?
Meg said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
I love that so many of my fall favorites were mentioned already, right down to the Franklin Cider Mill, which I rarely get to anymore, because there are others closer to home, but it still has the very best donuts and was always a tradition when I was a kid since it was near Grandma’s house. Fall is birthday season in my family, and one tradition I used to hate (as a kid) was me and my sister sharing a birthday party since we were born 2 years less two days apart. But that got to be a lot more fun as we got older, and now my oldest has her birthday just 6 days after mine. Love the smell of woodsmoke, and days that start off cool and get warmed by the sun in mid afternoon and then end up cool again, making a big pot of chili and eating it with a dollop of sour cream on top. I also like getting out all the fall clothes, especially the sweaters. A new tradition: the pumpkin spice latte – I had my first one last week! Oh, and leaf raking: love leaf raking. If I didn’t have trees, I would go rake leaves for a stranger, I like it that much, especially with my kids “helping” aka jumping in the piles.
Gail said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Fall is birthday time for DH, myself, a grandson. It was also my grandfather, a nephew, 2 nieces and my anniversary. It’s the time when it smells good outside and feels good. It’s the time of leaves, sweaters, the first fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate and other goodies of the season. I remember trips to the Orchard for apples. They had bushels and bushels of all sorts of apples. Freshly pressed cider and the most wonderful doughnuts with cinnamon sugar. Colors are different in the fall with the different light of the sun and the colors I love apricot, orange, gold, red, scarlet, salmon, all blending together in the piles of leaves.
Christine said,
September 17, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
One of my favorite fall traditions is apple picking and apple cider – yum!!
Laurie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Fall is a favorite time of mine too! I live in Southeast Texas now where Fall is just a blink between summer and winter, but I will never forget the autumns of my growing up years in the Texas panhandle…school starting, going school shopping, football games, marching band performances, harvest time for all the crops, a big yellow moon in a jet black sky and cool weather! There were virtually no trees where I grew up, so I could only enjoy the beautiful fall colors in a picture, but my dream vacation would be to drive through New England in the fall…Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday and one day where I really go all out in the kitchen…can’t wait! Oh, and being able to enjoy my handmade socks this year will be wonderful!
Hattie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Yes fall! I miss the east coast around this time of the year. We don’t have as many trees that change colors here in Washington, mostly evergreen trees, pines. So that I miss. My favorite thing about fall is the apples. Every year when I was little, our family would go apple picking. Climbing the trees, and we’d all try to find the biggest apple to eat. Macintosh are my favorite and we always picked more of those. Then we’d go home and make apple pie. I still make it every year at least once around this time, and still make it the same way my great grandmother used to.
Lynn said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Fall is my favorite season. I love watching the leaves change! I also love making trips out to the apple orchard to pick up a gallon of fresh apple cider. And so I don’t get hungry or thirsty on the ride home, I buy a cup of hot spiced apple cider and a couple of apple cider donuts fresh from the oven. Yum!
Becky said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
Fall is my favorite, too. I love the colors of the leaves, the crispness in the air, the snugliness of hot chocolate and hot tea , and warm clothes straight from the dryer.
I also love that my hometown’s county fair (Brown County, Ohio) is in 2 weeks and we’ll get to see all the crafts, strange vegetables, farm animals, and gigantic pumpkins and eat fresh pork tenderloin sandwiches for lunch with family.
Lastly, I love that Thanksgiving comes soon (relatively) and that I’ll get to visit with my family who lives far away. My sister’s family was in a bad (but not fatal, thank goodness!) car accident last year traveling on Thanksgiving-eve, so this Thanksgiving will be even more special.
ruth said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Fall means wool for me. Socks. The first time I put on my woolly socks, my feet are so happy. But then my feet are always happy in sockies. And turtlenecks, and warmer shoes. And flannel nighties. And the beginning of sweater season.
And Rhinebeck. Yippee!!
And lots of hot tea. In summer I don’t mind if my tea cools off, but the minute it gets chilly, I want hot tea all day long.
My favorite season! Here in New Jersey, we have a long period of leaf change, so the scenery is always spectacular.
Pat Quetsch said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
I love everything about fall but my whole house is painted in fall colors. I decorate like crazy because everything looks so nice with matching colors. My favorite thing to do is, every year my family and a whole bunch a friends and their family’s get up early on one Sunday morning and we make our way to a very small town (in Illinois) that had an apple orchard and pumpkin patch. They put everyone on a hay ride into the apple orchard and pumpkin patch and you get to pick your own. Then they have a store in a barn that has the most wonderful fall foods. We get apple pie, soup mixes, apple cider, fudge, and apple donuts. (Yummy!!) Then we picnic and talk about old times. It’s just so much fun. Oh, and not to mention in the fall it finally gets cool enough to bring out the afgan that I’ve been knitting and it won’t be too hot to knit it!! Can’t wait!
minnie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
HALLOWEEN! i love the planning, and the crafting & sewing, and costumes. it’s the one time of the year you can be ANYTHING you want, as long as your imagination holds out. i’ve been a dragon (imagine that, lol), a geisha, a devil, and a ghoul. i like creepy scary halloween. any grandkids of mine will have to adapt, lol.
the best part? shopping for new goodies to put on my porch!
Kristan said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
My favorite memory from fall are all the great costumes my mom made us growing up. Most of them were complete with yarn wigs and shoe covers. Mom swore that her kids would never have a store bought costume, and we never did. I make all my kids costumes now, too. Unbelievably, the hot AZ temps would always drop just in time for Halloween so we didn’t have to roast, or melt our chocolate!!
PlazaJen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
I think so many foods taste SO much better when it’s Fall…. soups, hot apple cider….because the crisp air and smell of leaves and all the great things about Fall (my favorite season, too) all combine to the nose, eyes & palate. In winter, the hot things become more utilitarian, and that’s when you have to spike things (peppermint schnapps in hot cocoa!) to make them more powerful. In Fall? You just taste the chocolate……
Janice said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
I love how the light changes. How the sun as it sinks in the sky sheds a beautiful autumnal glow on everything. I love how the air gets crisp and feels cleaner. I love how the seasonal knitters find their way back to the knitting groups and we all huddle around a table drinking our boba (or coffee). Autumn. Love it… until I realize that the holidays are just around the corner! lol
Deb said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Well, my birthday is in the fall, but those are getting less fun than when I was younger…it is still nice to celebrate with family. My real favorite parts of fall are watching NFL Football with my husband and son, and THANKSGIVING.
Manda said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Ohh, Fall is my favorite season, too. My birthday is in October. I love the colors. I love the weather. I love the SMELL of autumn. Nothing beats the smell of autumn, and the crispness in the air. The start of school (which means new school supplies!! lol. i’m not in school anymore, but that still excites me to no end!), Halloween, Thanksgiving, turning leaves. Oh, and don’t forget SOCKTOBERFEST!!
Fall rules.
Andrea said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
One of my favorite fall activities is to go apple picking with my family, and then making yummy apple pie later! I love so much about fall, the colors, the weather, my son’s b-day, sweater weather!
Kathy in KS said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Fall is my favorite too. I love apple picking, then eating half of them on the way home, then using the other half to make homemade applesauce in the crock pot and using it for everything until we run out. For dessert, on top of pancakes, on top of ice cream, dunking cookies into, etc etc.
I also have a very much yummy pumpkin cookie recipe that I make about 3 or 4 times a month starting….about now! Sometimes I put in pecans, sometimes walnuts, sometimes raisins, sometimes 2 out of 3. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.
I love raking leaves! Now that my kids are old enough to know what to do, and now that we’re finally living in a place with 4 seasons, we have so much fun. They like to pile the leaves at the bottom of our slide and then, well, you know. Wheeee!
I love the smell of the crisp air, I love the chill, I love being able to have the windows open without sweating to death, I love keeping the windows open and night and freezing and snuggling under the covers and argueing over who has to get up and shut the windows.
My mom always made our costumes too. I remember being a Rubik’s cube, that one was easy, a big box, and some colored construction paper, a southern belle, mom cut down her hoop slip from her wedding for me, but I think my favorite was Pippi Longstockings. She bent a wire hanger like a headband, but left the ends sticking out, and braided my very long hair around them. I wore my dad’s work boots, and mis-matched socks.
I love fall. It’s late now, but if anyone’s interested, I’ll post my pumpkin cookie recipe on my blog tomorrow…
AJ said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Fall is my very favorite time of year! My favorite Fall memory was the Thanksgiving my Dad and I decided we were NOT going to eat turkey that year, and told my mom so (she’s the big turkey-eater of the family, anyway.) So, as a compromise, my mom made a meatloaf for Thanksgiving instead… but she baked it in the shape of a turkey – little drunksticks toothpicked onto the sides and everything! Makes me chuckle every time I see a meatloaf, now…
Michele said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
Fall! Things I love are:
-The rain comes back to WA state & everything is green.
-The horses are getting their winter coats.
-The colors of the changing leaves.
-My parent’s cranberry bogs are ready to be harvested, and there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh-picked cranberries. And they DON’T smell sweet. They smell like my grandpa used to! It’s rather earthy…
-The best of all? BACK TO SCHOOL! The kids are excited, have new haircuts and clothes, are curious about being in school all day, and I love learning their personalities. I’ve been teaching for 9 years and I still love getting ready for the 1st day of school and beginning a new year. It’s hard to explain but nothing beats a fresh classroom with new faces.
Julie said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
When living in New Mexico, the beginning of Fall meant that the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was only a few weeks away. Friends and family would drive to Albuquerque early in the morning, in the dark, to be at the launch field when the sun would come up and the hot air balloons would lift off. There are over 500 balloons now-a-days. We would want watch the balloons take off in waves while taking hundreds of pictures and eating breakfast burritos. It is the greatest thing to do the first week in October. If you’re ever in Albuquerque that time of year, make sure you don’t miss this event.
Sharon said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
AAAHHH—FALL! The beach belongs to us locals!! The traffic has eased up and the grocery store isn’t as crowded! Time to dig out the crock pot…and put some cream cheese pumpkin bread in the oven. Hoping for some “Loopy Ewe” gift certificates for my birthday in November!
Rowen said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
I am a fall baby ( born in early october) and I love the fall. The return of long walks in the woods. Hot tea in the evening. Winter squash. The turning of the leaves. Raking up those leaves into big piles and jumping in them! Fall is definetly fun.
Gina said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
Growing up in Guatemala (called the Land of Eternal Spring for a good reason…) I never experienced Fall until I came to the USA (midwest). I absolutely fell in love with this “new season”. I had never had the opportunity to see the leaves turn pretty colors and see them fall. I had never seen oak trees full of acorns (except with Chip and Dale) I had never experienced this kind of change of seasons…for me it had always been either the rainy season or the dry season! nor had I ever celebrated Halloween or Thanksgiving.
I have come to really appreciate its arrival every year.. It is hard to choose what would be my favorite thing about Fall as I love everything about it, but I absolutely love the sunsets. It seems the sunsets in the Fall are just more vivid.
Lora said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
One of my all-time favorite things about Fall is when my daughters and I construct our “Fairy Lights”. We started this tradition when they were 5 and 3 and they are now 15 and 13. We make little circle structures out of rocks around our yard (making sure to lleave a hole for circulation) and put votive candles inside. Every night at dusk we light the candles (we now use the “flameless candles” to light the way for the fairies in the dark.
Even thought my daughters are now teens- they still remind me that is time for the fairy lights every Autumn Eqinox!
Kristin said,
September 17, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Sheri –
I do not have one specific fall memory but the thing I love most about fall is the smells and the tastes… I was excited this weekend to enjoy my first glass of hot carmel apple cider for the year and to pull out my pumpkin spice candles. The smell of burning leaves is always one that I love. The colors are my favorite of the year.
Just a few of my favorite things *starts singing the sound of music* either way, Fall is amazing… you picked the best season!
yarnlibrarian said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
My favorite thing about fall is apple cider! I just adore it. I’m drinking some right now fresh from the orchard. I like it cold and I love it hot. I drink it from September through January and serve it at every party and get together for that whole time too. yum.
Shannon said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Fall is my favorite season! The oppressive heat of summer finally starts to melt away and living in Michigan, we get the gorgeous change of season leaf colors; the browns, golds, reds, yellows and oranges take my breath away. It’s the time of year for apple and pumpkin picking; a great time for family activities. Also a great time to take my son to the zoo before it’s too cold and after it’s way too hot. There’s the anticipation of Thanksgiving and all that good food and family and friends. There’s something so crisp and clean in the air and I get to change the feeling of my house as well. Away go the flowers and the pastels and out come gourds and glass and the deeper autumnal colors…bring on the oranges, the browns and the burgundies!!!
Kat said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
two words — LSU football!
Kristi said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
Fall is my favorite season as well. I love the cool weather, pumpkins, wearing sweaters & sweatshirts and wearing hand knit socks. I love fall, earthy colors. How about hugh, crunchy, crisp apples. Yum. I too have a bag thing…love all kinds. And have way too many.
Your new pottery pieces are really pretty. -Kristi
Kate said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Shortly after waking up one day last week, I crossed through a spot in the living room and smelled fall, just drifting in from the open window. There is no other smell like fall! Even in a new city (I’ve just moved) I recognized the scent. Fall means October, my favorite month (no particular reason, but somehow life is good in October). Fall means colors you’d think didn’t exist in nature showing up on the tree outside your window. And being glad to arrive on your doorstep and to get into the coziness inside!
Marti Johnson said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
Ooooooh, fall traditions! Most of my fall memories started when I was young (back inthe Dark Ages, I think), and we’d drive the gardener nuts by running out and jumping in his piles of leaves before he got them bagged and disposed of. Obviously, that was before the days of leaf blowers & mulchers. Probably, however, my favorite memory was to head up into the foothills of California with my Dad to pick up bags and bags of pine needles to bring home to finish drying so that our homing pigeons could use them to build nests in the early spring. I learned early on that letting a bird, be it pigeon or chicken, build a nest out of sawdust or straw meant that the pigeon coop got smelly. Letting them build nests out of pine needles meant the nests didn’t get moldy, and the smell of the pine needles was always welcome. Obviously this has nothing to do with knitting, but its sure a fall memory for me!
Alison said,
September 17, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
I love fall. I lived in PA for the first 10 years of my life, and nothing beats a midwestern fall…well, except a New England one, but I digress. Then we moved to AZ, and well, fall isn’t one of the two seasons (summer for 9 months of the year and “winter” LOL). Then I got married and moved to northern Japan which is much like upstate NY and got my change of seasons again….cool, crisp mornings, changing colors, etc. Then back to AZ, and a lack of fall.
Now, I’m in Utah and am glad to say that we have fall here, and a nice mild winter (at least, compared to Japan), so I can get all excited about fall again without the feeling of impending doom anymore.
At any rate. My favorite memory of fall, and the memory (or sound, rather) that takes me back, every single time, is football on tv. See, I don’t watch it. But, my dad does and even more, he used to officiate it when I was little. Every single weekend in my parents’ house, you can hear the sound of football from now straight through til the Superbowl, but the strange thing is that it doesn’t remind me of winter at all. And even stranger, it’s not fall in AZ (I was in the band there and attended football games in the fall, you would think that would be the connection) that it brings me back to, it’s even further than that.
No matter how far the Air Force ever takes me away from home, the sound of a football game not only can take me back home in an instant, but instantly reminds me of the fall growing up in PA. It’s really part of the reason why I like it here so much, the climate is almost exactly like it was there, and I can be back at my parents’ house in AZ in 12 hours.
NerdGirl said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:00 am
I *heart* fall! I love the smell of the leaves when they have fallen and the crunchy sound they make when you walk through them. I love how the air gets crisp and cool so you can bust out the long sleeves. I love making my grandma’s apple crisp and eating soups, stews, and casseroles. When I was a kid, I loved the fall festival that we put on in my small (population 400) town. Also, even though it is totally shallow, I love the start of the new TV season.
Laura said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:08 am
The best things about fall? College football (Penn State fan over here!) and soup weather. I love making chicken noodle soup and I’m really excited to make Italian wedding soup sometime soon!
the Procrastinatrix said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:58 am
I love fall for lots of reasons, but I’m focusing on the birthdays just now. We just celebrated my son’s third birthday, my BIL’s birthday, and my husband’s is in the beginning of Oct. Fall is birthday season for us! Perfect days to enjoy the barbecue and the back yard just a little more before it gets to cold. It’s also a great time to start getting out all the socks I’ve knit and start wearing them again, plus hurry to get a couple more done. mmmmm, hand knit socks with Birkenstocks in the cool weather…love those snuggly toes!
Donee said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:58 am
My favorite memory of Fall is walking from school to work every afternoon and choosing a different fallen leaf to adorn my outfit. I was in German class then and chose the name “Herbst” as my German name since my Parents weren’t going to switch to calling me “Autumn” anytime soon. I don’t think it translated in to German well, but I didn’t care. I was 15 and filled with the cool beauty of Fall.
Theresa in Italy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:11 am
In Italy it’s all about the food—fall means porcini mushrooms, beautiful deep golden squash (looks like a squat green pumpkin but tastes more like a butternut squash), apples and pears, and big hearty stews and soups. One of our fall traditions is to visit a restaurant that offers two pasta dishes during this season only. One is homemade pasta with fresh porcini mushrooms; the other is a local variation of ravioli with a squash filling. Both are delicious, and I don’t ask how many calories!
Marsha said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:26 am
3 favorite memories:
Dressing up one halloween for an adult party when I was about 7 months pregnant with twins (sons #3 & 4). I raided my dad’s closet and got a pair of his denim overalls, a flannel shirt and his old work boots. I had short hair at the time – and painted my face like a hobo with fake beard and blacked out some of my teeth. My SIL followed me around all night (party at their house) making sure no one hurt me because no one knew I was pregnant or a woman – the costume was so real with the huge babies bump and all!! I was supposed to be on bedrest – to keep from having an early delivery – but not to worry – I delivered 2 healthy babies THREE days after their due date by c-section. A puny 8 lbs 4.5 oz EACH!! Can you say ouch – I did?!!!
Picking pumpkins with my 4 boys at Lum’s. These folks lived in the city limits only about 3-4 blocks away from our Mall. They actually grew the pumpkins in their back yard. They put out hay and had all kinds of other stuff for sale too. Teacher’s would take their kids there for field trips to pick pumkins. They’re gone now.
Being a cheap mom but mostly a procrastinator. I was usually thinking up halloween costumes for the boys at the last minute. One year on the 31st, I still hadn’t done anything. I had the boys get me some of their old clothes. I took a can of black spray paint and sprayed the tires on our Suburban, ran over their clothes
and painted their faces ghoulishly. We were the “Night of the Living Dead” that night!!
Fiona said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:39 am
Fall was always the time when my mum (who is no longer with us) used to get out her knitting needles and start one of her fantastic aran jumpers for one of the family. it was always a sign that the nights were getting colder & Christmas would be here sooner than you think!!
Connie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:23 am
Fall means that sweater class begins again. We have a great LYS, and a great teacher (who’s been published several times!) and fall means new classes. Now my husband says can’t you make sweaters without a teacher by now? Of course I can! But our teacher keeps us challenged and makes sure we’re always learning new things. I have met so many new friends at these classes that it’s more of a girlie gigglefest than a traditional class setting. Fall also means it gets darker earlier so there is more time to knit! And of course, I always have a pair of socks going (currently working on some yarn pirate yarn I purchased from Loopy Ewe)!
KarenJoSeattle said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:30 am
When I lived in Northern California, Fall was when the weather finally returned to a comfortable temperature after our very hot summers. We would have a mini-Spring as some plants went dormant during the summer heat and then had a little burst of bloom when the fall weather arrived.
Here in Seattle Fall means going back to working your plans around the rain, but also not having to water the garden. We’re in the low to mid-60s this week with rain the first couple of days and clouds with occasional showers for the rest of the week. We should have at least one more round of our traditional beautiful September weather breaks, though it could be short. The light on a clear and sunny early fall day, especially this far north, is beautiful and noticably different from the light of Summer.
Ruth-Ann said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:03 am
Hi Sherri! I love your site. What I love most about this time of year is the changing of the leaves and the DECORATING that I can do. I love being able to sleep with the windows wide open and hearing the crickets chirpping away peacefully. This time of year just puts me into the mood to bake, decorate and think about the upcoming holidays that will be here before we know it. Thanks for having this contest!
Kari said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:24 am
I love fall…
Fall means the air is clearing. it’s fresh and crisp and there’s a hint of woodsmoke in it and the smell of fallen leaves.
Then there are the sounds, the sound of crunching leaves, of children laughing as the jump in a big pile of leaves.
The world is busy preparing for winter.
Then there is football, both college and professional. I love football season!
limedragon :-: Harriet said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:38 am
Like everyone else, I love Fall, my favorite season. It’s time to dig out the sweaters, and do the back-to-school shopping (new paper supplies, new clothes). The air smells better and the trees become gorgeous.
In October or November, I usually bake a batch of pumpkin-white chocolate chip cookies.
Yardgnomes said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:39 am
I’m a huge fan of halloween and therefore of fall. (That probably has something to do with my birthday being in October) Other than Christmas it’s the only time of year that I put out seasonal decorations. I am a sucker for those little magazines at the check out line in the grocery store. Every year I buy as many as I can find.
Tasha said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:39 am
Fall is my favorite season. I suppose it’s because my birthday is Sept. 24, and I have a wonderful memory of my 8th or 9th birthday. My grandmother, mom, and I spent some time at Myrtle Beach. We had so much fun walking along the beach. I don’t remember many other tourists. And my grandmother baked my favorite cake (chocolate pound cake, no frosting) and toted it on the 5-6 hour drive.
Shari said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Fall here in Nova Scotia is absolutely beautiful. I love going apple picking with the family. We make it a huge family event with about 30 family members meeting up in the valley. We pick apples, pumpkins and visit the farmer’s market. I also love baking in the fall. I open up the windows to let in the cool crisp air which mingles beautifully with the smell of cooking apples, spices and pumpkin pies.
Now I can’t wait to go apple picking next weekend!
Heddy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:07 am
I love fall … the crisp clean air, the produce – nothing says Fall is here like a crispy apple or driving by the veggie stand and seeing pumpkins, gourds and the last of the Summer Corn. I live in Nova Scotia and we have some of the most beautiful displays of Fall colours in the world – the colours of the leaves are so vivid – reds, oranges and golds – that I am always up for going for a drive in the country to see the beauty.
rasa chambers said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Fall is always a special time of year for me – my birthday falls on the first day of fall!!! Fall to me, is the most beautiful time of the year. It’s filled with great beauty , sounds and smells: the crunch of leaves under your feet, the smells of all the comfort foods, the sight of trees filled with all my favorite colors! It doesn’t get any better than that!!!
Lois said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Fall is my favorite season as well. I remember always looking forward to going back to school. I lived in a fairly remote area with no other children nearby. School was such fun!
As an adult, fall officially arrives when I make my first batch of chili. I’ve been working on the recipe for several years and usually tweak it every season. It’s almost cool enough here in Georgia to get out my crockpot!
Beth said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:18 am
Fall IS the whole reason to live in New England. It’s been my favorite season since I was a small child. We’ve brought our boys apple picking every single year. They’ve been in backpacks, slings, the arms of grandparents, strollers, wagons, and on foot. We’ve been to places where they have corn mazes and places where the apple trees are too far away and you need to ride the tractor to get there. Our current favorite place is small but it’s close by and we can go several times.
Once we have bushels of apples I’ll make gallons of apple sauce that will feed us all winter. I also like to make about a dozen apple pies for the freezer. Some we eat and some we give to neighbors.
This year I have a fall bounty of sock yarns from Wollmeise, Dream in Color and Shibui to keep my hands busy knitting fall inspired socks for the winter to come.
Holly said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:27 am
Fall sets off my baking binge gene. So far since the weather cooled off a week ago, I’ve managed 3 batches of cookies, caramel apples (homemade caramel, of course), pumpkin cinnamon rolls with caramel icing, and a Dutch apple pie.
Hmmm, maybe I should get back to knitting…
Isobel said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:38 am
Cool weather.
Autumn sunsihine.
Crisp leaf piles to jump in.
Orange, red, and gold, everywhere you look.
Warm soup, and fresh bread from the oven.
Lots, and lots, of autumn/winter knitting projects.
My favorite season of the year.
Pamela B. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:42 am
What wonderful traditions and memories everyone has – I’ve enjoyed reading them.
I live in apple country in New England. Local orchards are overflowing with families and other apple pickers; the town hosts the annual agricultural fair – but I grew up in warm climates in South America and Mexico and for years I didn’t enjoy fall because I dreaded winter, which inevitably follows autumn, no matter how lovely the foliage, deep blue skies & cool nights..
This year for the first time, with my aging metabolism, to the surprise of friends and family, I welcome cooler temps (got to love those “power surges”) and I’ve always felt that the best day of the year is when it’s cool enough to put the flannel sheets on the bed! Yum.
Victoria said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:46 am
Fall is my absolute favorite season too.First, I live in upstate NY and the colors are amazing. And I like the cooler weather- I like having to put on jeans and a sweater. And then there’s the crunch of the leaves when I’m out walking. And the smells – cinnamon and clove and pumpkin. And the cooler weather meals. And the knitting on wool, which always is different somehow than any other part of the year. But I think my favorite part is that every day seems like a gift, because I know that in a couple of short months it will be winter. So every day, when the sun is shining and the leaves are changing, and the mums in the garden are flowering, it reminds me even more of how lucky I am to have that day to be living in.
Kinelle said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:55 am
I love the change in the air! That brisk feeling, prelude to leaves falling, pie baking and sweater wearing. The world has started to feel a little stale at the end of summer and the fall tinged air is just what we need.
Amanda said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:01 am
Like you, Fall is my absolute favorite season. Some people get energized by Spring, but it’s in the Fall that I start wanting to be outside, and I do Fall Cleaning instead of Spring Cleaning.
Something about the start of school meaning starting fresh. I’ve been that way as long as I can remember – which is probably why I’m like that even though it’s been awhile since I was in school!
Since I’ve been married – actually, the fall before – hubby and I have made an event of pumpkin carving. We just about always have another couple over, spread out all over the kitchen, and carve pumpkins for Halloween. And what kind of party would it be without food? We have a fantastic, super yummy chili recipe that we got from a friend and edited a bit that makes its annual first appearance at the pumpkin carving. No beans (for hubby), and it has a cup of red wine (meaning we have to drink the rest of the bottle ourselves). What could be bad??
stacey said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:07 am
One of my favorite fall things is apple picking! we go to the same place every year, pick way too many apples and a few pumpkins and have a wonderful time. Then i go home and get to baking pies, crisp and anything else with apples in it!
Nicole said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:08 am
Crunching leaves beneath my feet…..leaves blowing behind your car/truck down a less traveled road…..my eight little faces looking up at me with delight as they trample to the next house for more candy on Halloween night…..oh, I could go on..but gotta get them on the bus for now!
Emilie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:10 am
I love EVERYTHING about fall. It’s my favourite season. When I was little I remember playing outside as night fell, my dad would start a fire in the hearth and when we could smell the sweet woodsmoke in the air and see it curling over the roof of the house we knew it was time to come inside. My mother would make stew and spiced cookies and let us drink hot apple cider. Everything was warm and cozy. When I was a child my favourite colour was orange, yellow and brown were close second and third. I loved the rich warm colours that permeated the whole season. The leaves, decorations, just the feeling of warmth still speaks in those colours to me. I can’t stress enough how comforting and delicious fall is.
It reminds me of making dried corn wreaths and cornucopias at school. Of pilgrims, and native americans, and Thanksgiving parties. It reminds me of my famly, all together, all happy, gathered at our house for a big meal. There were lots of us…the food was plentiful. Everyone (all my aunts, my grandma, and my mum) would all make their “special” bread. They each had several special breads that nobody else did just right…it was such a treat to have them all in one place. My mother usually did the turkey, my grandma usually did the ham, and my Aunt Jean usually brought a supplemental bird or joint of some kind. People piled around three different tables eating mountains of food. But my favourites were the pies.
I had my own first Thanksgiving here in England two years ago. I stayed up all night, I nearly ruined every thing I cooked, I stressed way too much. Now I can manage the whole thing with very little stress. The things I make are things my mum and grandma have made for years. The recipes are in my brain. I even make my own pies from scratch. My favourite is pumpkin so I always make two. But sometimes I throw in an apple or pecan pie. (Apple the first year, pecan last year). It’s harder in this country because I can’t get the canned helpers…no pumpkin pie mix, no canned cranberry sauce. This makes autumn into an even bigger deal. Every year I decorate with fall leaves. It’s the only season I bother to decorate for. Hallowe’en is a big deal too and I decorate with my slowly growing collection of spooky bits and bobs (I’ve started knitting and crocheting some more decorations already!). I celebrate American/Mexican fusion style with calaveras (dulce or de azucar which means sugar skulls) and pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and (galletas de) huesos (bone cookies) as well as the European-based tradition of pumpkin carving. I bake, blend, and cook the pumpkin innards and then freeze them for pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. I also cook the pumpkin seeds.
The season is something I prepare for months in advance…
I don’t know why but this time f year always feels like new year to me…like time to start over. Time to move on and bring change. I enter into that spirit wholeheartedly…it’s the only season here in England where I don’t mind being here instead of back in Seattle. Autumn, Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving, it’s the only time of year when I feel just as home here as I do back home. It’s so important for me. I’m so excited for this year!! We’ve got a great little Mexican shop in Camden Town Market nearby where I can find great Mexican skull and skeleton decorations.
This year celebration of El Dia de los Muertos is especially important. My great Aunt Juanita (Janie) died last month. She was born in Mexico and raised in Texas and Alabama. So proud of her heritage and never ashamed of her Mexican accent. She held onto it long after my grandmother shed hers. She always spoke Spanish with my grandmother, even when my grandma pretended not to know how! My Aunt Janie was a strong woman. A proud woman. This year my altar will be a particularly special one, and I’ll make sure to set an extra place for my Aunt Janie at our table. I miss her so much. So this year autumn and the coming holidays mean a little bit more.
Thanks for posting this as your contest question…It’s really got me thinking of happy things, important things…and it’s made me feel a little better about everything that’s been going wrong latlely…It’s reminded me that this season of change can be positive change, as well as painful change.
Hillis said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Fall is really my favorite time because of my Wedding Anniversary!!! Fall weddings are beautiful and I am invited to one on October20th, I can’t wait to see the decorations for this time of year. Plus our favorite food item to eat is anything pumpkin. The kids like the tradional mix of one can of peanuts with one bag of the Halloween corn, scoop a handful in your mouth and chew, what a great combination…
Syd Tupaj said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Autumn is also my favorite time of the year! I love it so much I named my weaving studio Autumn Weaves!!! The colors of the season make my soul sing…so I surround myself in them. This is the time I go though my stash and make my plans for Fall and Winter knitting, with great joy and abandon. After living in Northern CA (Napa) I have moved to AZ and well, this time of year is different now….as is my knitting….smaller lighter projects in the spring and summer to keep from passing out from the added heat….so now I get to haul out my beloved wool and alpaca! I have to say, now being a sock knitter has saved me…I still get to use my beloved wool and not expire under a large project in 117 degree heat! It is also the time to start making home made bread and soup…and anything with pumpkin in it! Love the taste and the color!!!!!
Amy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:27 am
I love Fall for a couple of reasons, mostly though because it means that I can eat all of my favorite pumpkin-flavored foods (ice cream, muffins, lattes, smoothies, and of course pies and soups) without getting funny looks from people like I do the rest of the year
I also love it because it means that I can wear my knitting! It doesn’t get too cold where I live, but I take advantage of the slightest drop in temperature to grab the closest knitted thing and stuff it on my head, hands, feets, etc. Yay Fall!
Kathryn Sigman said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Fall is also my favorite season. The colors in the sky just somehow seem different and the clouds are fluffier and bigger. It’s time to get out the sweaters and make Halloween costumes and think about what to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. I have four boys and two new grandaughters so I am looking forward to the holiday season. Pumpkin pie smells, turkey, college football games! I love cool weather and the changing of the colors of the leaves. Yep. I love Fall!
Wendy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:36 am
Fall is my very favorite season because there are always a lot of fun events. Early October, Stitches East. Late October, birthdays of the KOARC and L-B. Early November, another fun treat — a long knitting weekend in the mountains. After that it’s just a few days before I take the entire week off from work for Thanksgiving. Ahhhh!
Carolyn said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Another fall lover here! My favorite things? The crunch of the leaves underfoot, the smell while raking them up, putting the garden to bed for the winter, apple cider donuts, a big pot of beef stew on a chilly night…the list is endless!
Kate said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:40 am
My dad has been the same way with us as we’ve headed off to college and university, I think he is at his worst now with my sister who just started at the Royal Military College – the picture taking is driving her nuts (and subsequently resulting in really bad looking pictures…)
I love fall (though winter is my favourite). The heat and humidity are on their way out (so my hair isn’t so big – a major plus). I love the cool weather, and the smell of fall (I think the smell – the earth, cool, crisp, wet smell is what I love best). Pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, are the primary tastes of the fall for my family.
I try to get started on Christmas baking, which means shortbread and ginger bread.
I also, having been a student for, well, forever, treat Fall as my New Year. It is the time of year I take a look at my life and priorities, set goals for the year and review the accomplishments of the previous year.
Jennifer said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:41 am
Another fan of fall. Not sure if it’s because of back to school, Rosh Hashanah or what but it always feels more like a new year than New Years does for me. I love the weather, the colors and the change to cooler weather. After buying our house I realized the glory of all the seasons (used to hate spring), but Fall will always be my favorite.
Diane said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Fall is my favorite season also! I love to turn the house over to fall with all my fall decorations and filling the house with scents of pumpkin candles and a pot of stew cooking all day on the stove……..enjoy your weekend with college guy…I’m off to Viva Las Vegas for a long weekend……I’m having more trouble deciding what Yarn to take than what clothes to take……Husband had the nerve to ask last nite…..You’re taking your knitting with you?????????? duh……5 hr plane ride are you even serious, I take it in the car for a 15 min ride……..
Blogless Diane
Gladys said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Fall means an end to the oppressive heat of summer. It means cool nights when you need to wear a sweater and bundle up. It means that we get to talk about Halloween costumes and make plans to go to the pumpkin patch with the kids. Oh, and it means gearing up on the gift knitting, on which I’m already behind!
Kelsey said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:47 am
I love the sweaters, and the perfect knitting weather, the Autumn leaves, the Renaissance Festival, and the Lace Society Class that I am taking at KnitWit, and Pecan Pie(Best pie ever), Thanksgiving at my Uncles, playing with his horses, and his dog, squirrels, and really…….. Every single thing about fall. Except the allergies. I can’t breathe properly for weeks. But it’s still my favorite season. Go figure.
Sarah said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Football games, tailgates, and the first cool days that you need to wear a sweater….Those are my favorite things about fall.
Anne said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:52 am
Autumn is my favorite season, too! My most favorite childhood memory is: Growing up not too far from Green Bay, we are all avid football fans. My brother and I would always play a game of touch football but instead of end zones, we’d rake up huge leaf piles (we grew up amidst 35 acres of trees, so finding enough leaves was never a problem!). When we scored, we hurled ourselves into the mountain of leaves!
Melissa B. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:56 am
Who wouldn’t love the fall season: football, warm comfort foods simmering on the stove or crockpot all afternoon, Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks, cool mornings and crisp evenings by the fire pit making smores or popcorn enjoying the conversations of the day, gazing at the stars on the clear nights, the leaves changing into those bright and brilliant colors, going to the pumpkin patch for a hayride to find that perfect pumpkin, getting fresh apple cider from the orchard, getting the fresh apple honey from orchard, picking apples from the orchard and making my grandmothers famous Apple Dump Cake (YUM, YUM!). Not to mention getting engaged in October and finding out four years later to the day we were going to be parents! We also love to celebrate Sweetest Day (also the day hubby found out about our 1st baby) in October. Our anniversary is in the summer and things are so hectic and things are more laid back in the fall. And wearing those warm hand made socks that have been sitting in the drawer waiting for the temperature to cool down. Hurry up fall, I am ready for you now!
Nancy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:57 am
I think the skies are bluer and seneses sharper in the fall. Perhaps a throw back to our more serious hunter gatherer days when fall meant the great winter was coming and we had to have what we needed to get thru til spring put away for safe keeping. All so we would be free to knit the winter away, or something like that, right? For me that means getting the freezer cleaned out for the great white hunter to fill, finishing the last of the tomatoes in the garden, planting the mums in the from flower beds and flower pots and planning holiday dinners and goodies. Of course, you get to knit inbetween. For a task completed, reward yourelf with a knitting break, an hour should suffice, and then, on to the next project. Work moves more quickly with the “break reward” calling to you.
Helena said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Fall to me means time to whip out the wool and knit scarves, hats and mittens to keep myself and my loved ones warm. It also means that I get to make yummy soups on a regular basis. My favorites…. Broccoli and Cheese Soup, and Cream of Red Pepper Soup. Yum!
Rebecca said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:00 am
Yes fall is my favorite season, so much so that my hubby and I decided to get married in the fall, we had the guest throw leaves instead of birdseed and fall type food. I love the colors and it means I can start knitting sweaters again. Sweaters and warm clothes are my favorite things to wear.
This year is our first year in our new house so I got some mums, and some cornstalks and a flag that says “Welcome Fall”.
Cheryl Walsh said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:00 am
Dear Sheri,
Fall is wonderful since it is cooler (but in STL it is 90 degrees) and apples! I love home baked apple crisp – it not only tastes wonderful but it makes the home smell so good.
Cheryl
Crystal said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:02 am
I adore fall as well. I love cooler weather, long sleeves but most of all I love Halloween!!!
Everything about Halloween is great, except pumpkin guts but I can certainly overlook that for costumes, candies and the smell of fireplaces in the air.
Debbie D said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:03 am
One of my favorite things about Fall has to be the beautiful colors; to watch the trees on the hillsides where we live as their colors change is simply the best!! My other favorite is the celebration of our oldest son’s birthday, which is 11/23; the year he was born was the day after Thanksgiving, so we really had much to be thankful for that year! Now, as he is grown, 500 miles away and SO busy with his job, he still comes home for Thanksgiving/Birthday during that week, so we still get to see him and celebrate; certainly makes for a great Fall Season here!!
Karen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Fall is my favorite time of year…the temperatures drop (wool sock weather is about to begin), the leaves change to their pretty colors, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Is there anything better? Well, maybe apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Mom would bake so many pies and the house would smell so good for weeks…and then the Christmas cookie baking would start right after Thanksgiving…it was so wonderful.
Tara said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Fall is also my favourite season. The colours, the crisp air (perfect sweater weather), the smells. One of my favourite things to do when fall arrives is to visit a few of the local orchards and pick our own apples, then come home and do a whole lot of baking! (what, and let all those apples go to waste?).
When I was a kid, I always looked forward to Fall because that meant school started up again (I loved school). I guess now that I have kids of my own, I’ll look forward to the start of the school year for different reasons! Luckily, I still have a ways to go (they’re 3 and 4 months old, respectively).
Happy Shopping!
Christine said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:17 am
APPLES! in Michigan they are ripening on the tree and my family knows there will be an apple pie coming soon and chicken soup on the stove. These smells and tastes signal the start of Fall in our house. When outside I can be found with my nose up in the air smelling the cleanness of it. I become energized!
Amy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I’m afraid I do not have kniterly reasons for loving fall. I love the smell of fall mornings. I love “back to school” supplies, new binder paper crisp and untouched, new pencils (these smell good too), and for the younger me a fresh box of crayons. Also my mom makes an awesome pumpkin cookie that is like a little round pumpkin bar. And most recently, my son was born late November 2005! I love fall, it is the best of all seasons.
Bronwyn said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:25 am
1. I love the start of school (even though I’m too old for it
) and the buying of new office supplies.
2. I love how it rains a LOT here after the dry summer.(TN)
3. All the leaves when I’m hiking at the park.
4. Halloween! And Thanksgiving!
5. All the fall vegetables and fruit, like apples and squash
6. I can actually wear my wool sweaters!
Phoebe said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Fall is also my favorite time of year. I love the cooler, crisp weather–the leaves falling and their pretty colors. I always loved school, so I looked forward to fall every year. One of the neatest fall memories I have was when I was in college in Warrensburg, walking across campus with the leaves blowing around. Just a perfect fall day.
We look forward to fall now too–football starting (for the DH), spiced apple cider, cool days.
Rebecca said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:27 am
I’m almost there. I told myself I could not start decorating for fall until the house was clean! My love for all things autumn should tell ya that my house has never been cleaner than right now! My favorite things about fall are the soup pot that is always simmering and getting outside finally to enjoy the brisk wind and the colors. I hate summer and don’t hardly go outside unless it’s to swim so I’m always ready to spend alot of time outdoors by the time fall gets here.
Cathy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:29 am
I’m mostly a summer person but the one good thing about fall is being able to knit with Kid Silk Haze again and not have it stick to my hands!
Oh and fireplace fires!
Heather said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Fall has always been my favorite season. Growing up in Vermont gave me many happy memories of fall, which all come back to me with certain smells. That first smell of woodsmoke on the crisp air. That little bite to the air that carries a smell of leaves and hay and apples with undertones of things starting to decay. The smell of the horse barns where everything is warm and cozy after walking across the cold grass covered with a touch of frost. Those are my favorite parts of fall.
Paula said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
My favorite fall memories are raking leaves with my dad and then burning them. I love the smell of burning leaves! Often my mom would be baking cookies and we’d have warm chocolate chips cookies after our labors. YUM!
Michelle said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Well, for me Fall means making PUMPKIN MUFFINS!!! my kids and DH love them. They don’t last more than a day, unless I hide some.
And my new fall memory began yesterday. It was the first time I wore a pair of handknit socks. That’s right folks, I have not been knittng yet a full year, nor making socks for a full 6 months even… so I was mighty proud of myself wearing my own handmades. While I was at the salon, I showed them off to my knitter stylist… so it was a blissfull day, knitting, getting my hair done AND talking about knitting.
Jamie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:34 am
My favorite part of fall has got to be the annual Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. This year will be my fifth, and I have no intention of ever stopping! A brisk, sunny October day, good food, sheep, yarn–what more does one need??
Kelly said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:38 am
Fall….what’s not to love? Warm drinks on cool evenings, knitting afghans and enjoying the extra warmth they bring. We also have 6 October birthdays in our family so the kid parties! My favorite is going to our local apple orchard with our kids which now are 9, 7, 6, 4, & 2. They love all of the pumpkins, scarecrows, and apples!
Carrie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:45 am
My favorite part about fall, besides the weather, is being able to make hot apple cider from scratch and NOT being too hot to drink it fresh from the sauce pan. I also LOVE to wear sweaters and its almost chilly enough to wear them….for a little while, at least.
Kristie Hammond said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:51 am
The very best thing about fall is the way the sunlight hits the patches of trees that are turning gold. The second best thing about fall is the fact that it gets cold enough to start wearing my handknit socks again!
Roberta said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:53 am
It always feels like fall when I first see caramel apples in the grocery store. That’s my signal that sweater weather isn’t far behind!
My mother also makes this amazing spice cake with an apple cider filling and apple cider icing that is simply to die for. One year, she froze some cider and made it for Easter, and none of us could eat it because it just felt all wrong to eat something so fall-ish in the spring! I asked my kids what meant fall to them, and they said when I start making soup, stew, and chili regularly. Guess we’re all about the food around here!
Amy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:58 am
I guess different parts of my life have different memories for fall. When I was younger and we lived in the mountains in VA, it meant the maple trees in our yard would fall and we would get new jackets. When I moved to AL it was different. It can still be pretty warm on into the fall, so no jackets yet. The last few years it has meant Saturday football for the husband and the boy, so the girl and I can go shopping or whatever without being missed. This year it will be my first fall to wear handknit socks. Since my sock knitting started in April and we have had incredibly oppressively hot summer, I am looking forward to WEARING the socks instead of just slipping them on for a try on.
I can’ t wait to make soups and other foods that just don’t seem right in the hot weather. And I love seeing all of the Halloween decorations in the store.
Yes, fall is fun!!
Amy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Okay , I meant the maple tree LEAVES would fall, Not the trees themselves. That would have been a real mess and not at all a good memory for fall. Sorry for the typo. Is it still Monday??
Meredith said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Fall is my favorite season of the year! I was born and married in September and being a native New Englander, fall can be just spectacular. The air dries and the nights are cool and comfortable. The leaves on the trees turn vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. When my children were small we used to go apple picking at the many orchards around. Everyone goes back to school and gets back into their routines. I just find it to be a pleasant, relaxed time of year.
ann said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Fall means Sunday coffee on the porch in sweats, followed by a hike or a bike ride before hunkering down to watch football. And fall means meals cooked in the crockpot all day, making the whole house smell hearty and rich. I LOVE fall – it’s my favorite!
Cindy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Fall is my favorite season! The smell of bonfires, leaves changing, pumpkin spiced everything, apple cider … its hard to pick my favorite, but going to the NJ shore with no one there anymore, getting on sweats and sitting on the beach wrapped in a blanket enjoying the sun one last time before winter (ideally with a pumpkin spiced latte!).
Bridget said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:25 am
I love the leaves – I live in Maine and we have a gorgeous leaf season. I even like raking them! I also like putting the garden to bed and getting everything all ready for winter. It’s satisfying to strip everything bare in readiness for the snow!
Carrie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Oooh, fall! I love it. Mostly because it signals the long-awaited break from the desert heat. I love all things fall. My two favorite things, though, are the scent of pumpkin spice (or taste of pumpkin, or cinnamon, or spice cake, or…) and scarecrows. I LOVE SCARECROWS! I have a few out now in my house, and my pumpkin spice candles around, and… Ahhhhhhh.
Wanna recipe for pumpkin spice muffins? Mix one 15oz can of pumpkin (straight up, not pie mix) with one box of spice cake mix, and one egg. Spoon into muffin pans, bake at 400 (I think) for about 12-15 minutes, and DONE! Yum….
Ak said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Fall has always been my favorite season. My birthday’s in fall, but that isn’t really why. Something about fall just feels like home to me! The air is crisp and the leaves are beautiful and there are pumpkins and warm sweaters and apple cider and! There isn’t anything else like it. Last year at this time I was living out in Texas– no fall there! It was very depressing. I can’t tell you how excited I am to experience fall again this year.
Castiron said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:38 am
When I was a kid, fall meant leaf collecting. I gathered all the pretty leaves I could and pressed them in books. (And if I found a pretty leaf that was too stiff to press, I soaked it in a container of water. I’m sure my mom shook her head over the random containers of leaf tea in my room.)
Where I live now, we don’t get much in the way of colored leaves, and what we do get won’t show up until the beginning of December. Fall now means that we’re probably not going to have more 100-degree weather. Fall means the second batch of summer squash from the CSA.
Dottie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Fall is my favorite season because it’s great time to be wrapped up in yarn. Nothing better than to be cozy in a favorite knit.
Sherry said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Fall is…picking berries with the kids, being warm on the side with the sun while the side away from the sun freezes, new school clothes and school supplies (especially pencils).
Megan said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:56 am
My favorite thing to do in the fall is to indulge my inner history buff. I love reading about Amerincan colonial history. But my all-time-favorite is a book called Constance. It is historical fiction and the targeted age range is probably middle school. But, it puts me in the mood for fall every year. My copy is literally falling apart. I have read it every autumn since I was 12.
Paulette said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Fall is great for so many reasons – fresh air/cooler temps (doesn’t have to get too cool too fast, however!), beautiful autumn leaves, pumpkin pie/cookies/bread/whatever, taking a nice crunchy walk through the fallen leaves, visits to apple orchards, apples and anything made with apples, our 35th anniversary this October, wearing sweaters and sweatshirts, hand-knit socks, but don’t need to bundle up in coats, hats, scarves, gloves yet. (I live in Wisconsin!)
Amber said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Wasn’t it Elizabeth Zimmerman who said that a knitter’s year logically begins in the Fall? Fall has always been my favorite season. The crisp air, loading blankets on the bed, eating hearty, warm soups and stews. The year is winding down and yet somehow seems so full of possibilities, possible projects, possible holiday celebrations…sigh!
Michele said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Fall is wonderful, if Florida had one. I guess it is Fall because it was only in the 80’s this week. I love that when i lived in California during Fall it would get that cold breeze in the air but it would be crisp and clean outside. I like the fresh air after the heavy hot air of the summer. I also love that Fall means Christmas will be here soon, my favorite time of year.
So soon i will have Christmas carols playing while making a big pot of soup… I love this time of year.
Bev said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Fall is time for sweatshirts, soft sweaters, flannel sheets and down comforters. It’s also time for those wonderful new socks I’ve been knitting this year!!
Morgen S. Daily said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Well of course it’s the time that the Thanksgiving Squirrel visits and leaves the children new warm pajamas and a treat of some new hot cocoa mix! What? You mean you’ve never heard of the THANKSGIVING SQUIRREL????
alyson said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Fall means fall vegetables, mmmm. And Halloween!
Fall is my favourite season, always was, but now it’s my favourite because it means that soon I’ll be able to set foot outside again! I can’t stand the heat, so I stay in the house/office as much as possible….late October means I can go for a walk again! (Florida has to be the one place where the phrase is “If you can’t stand the heat, stay in the kitchen instead.”)
(Fantastic prizes!!!!)
Frances said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:23 am
I love fall! There is something refreshing about the air turning crisp and bright again after a long, hot hazy summer, so i like to take stock of everything (much like people do for new year’s) and make list of my resolutions and goals for the year (I do this again in late Decmeber and in the spring). I also love to take inventory of my closets and clean everything out. It’s a good time to start over, i think. Did I mention how much I love fall/winter clothes?
Susan said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:23 am
My favorite thing about Fall is the end of the summer heat! But along with that idea is cooking again. It’s too hot in the summer to use the oven more than a few minutes but in the Fall I turn again to casseroles, baking bread, etc.
Chris said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Fall is the birthday season in my household, all but one of us are Fall babies.
I love the crisp mornings and the way everything smells so clean.
Early Fall is one of the best times to luck out on my favorite weather, a warmish day where it starts to rain while the sun is still out. It’s soooo beautiful.
Ps, you’re not the only one with both a mug & bag problem. The glass cupboard is bowed under the weight of my collection, even though I try to follow the one in one out rule now. I especially can’t resist the handcrafted ones, even more dangerous is the lady I see at festivals who will custom make pieces for us.
Kelly said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Ah the Fall. Admittedly, my favorite season of the year is summer, but in fall, I LOVE the cool mornings, being able to WEAR the socks I’ve made, the fireplace, making a big pot of soup and most importantly wearing my big warm, fluffy robe! Having lived in southern California all my life, it’s not too often we get to do this! It’s so exciting when we have to break out the sweatshirts!
Lisa said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Fall is my favorite season even though it is terribly short (2-3 weeks tops) this far north. Still, the Lower 48 does have nice autumns and this year I’ll be able to see some of the colors. Autumn is marathon season and I’ll be running in the Marine Corps marathon in Washington, D.C this October. With any luck, the trees will still have pretty leaves. Ours are all down now and we’ve had snow at higher elevations already. Sigh, its winter.
Amanda said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Fall is my favorite season, too! I love the cooling weather, and overcast days, and most of all, FOOTBALL! I love college football, especially, and I always root for my alma mater, LSU — GEAUX TIGERS!
Jenn said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:01 am
What is not to love about Fall? There is the crisp air, the red and gold leaves and a sense of excitement for the upcomng holidays. My Fall tradition is to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. We celebrate the loved ones who touched our lives and have passed away. it’s a time to make and eat the food that they loved, share our fondest memories of them and rejoice in their spirit. For me, Fall is a time of remembrance and celebration, making it my favorite season of the year.
Stephanie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:11 am
I’m a summer girl myself, so I am not a big fan of fall. However, I am a gourd artist and the big gourd festival in Northern California is always at the end of September. I love that event….I can stock up on gourds and supplies all in one place! And the very best part is Thanksgiving. I love cooking a huge dinner for family and friends. We all look forward to lots of turkey and champagne!
Emily said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Fall is my favorite. It usually starts right after our state fair, which I attend to celebrate my birthday. Fall is nature walks to collect leaves, pumpkin anything, soups and hand-knit wool socks. Ah, the socks. That is really my favorite part of Fall.
Lisa said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Fall is absolutely my favorite season. Fresh apple cider, giant leaf piles, the return of handknit socks. (How do people wear wool in the summer?!) Mostly though, I love that my family starts listening to Christmas music as soon as we start closing the windows. (The neighbors already think we’re crazy, they don’t need more ammo.) I know, I know, you’re not supposed to start with the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, but that’s what I grew up doing, and it’s not fall without it, you know?
TMTTYRR said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Fall? My favorite time of year!
First off, my favorite colors! Don’t get me wrong, I love gardening from the earliest crocus in the spring on through to the very last Rose that holds out to bloom until the end of November (it’s in a sheltered spot and always manages one more in the end), but give me the glorious rainbow of the turning leaves and the changing hues of greens in the grasses for true joy!
Then there’s the good food. Apples, and pumpkin things, and squashes of all varieties, and apples, and trips to the pumpkin farm for the last of the roasted corn and to pick a peck of fresh apples (yes, I like apples) and get the decorations that take us through to Thanksgiving. Did I mention food?
Then there’s the discussions of the Northwestern football season with my bff Liz (waving up the comments) and the energy expended by yelling at the TV or radio while watching or listening to my “Heart Attack Cats” play yet another game.
Oh, and don’t forget, the beginning of Opera season. This means I get at least one evening a month where I get to dress up and go out to dinner with a good friend and hear some great music and see some wonderful acting and scenery and costumes. At least until the end of the season, about which time the gardening starts again, so we’re all good.
Then there’s the approaching holiday gift giving season, which means the fun of plotting and creating things for good friends and family comes into play. I love going through my yarn stash to see what I’ve got for whom, and figuring out what I still need to acquire. I love the mad rush to try and get the stuff done that needs to be shipped while fighting off severe startitis to cast on the next thing which always looks more interesting, even if it is another pair of the same socks or another scarf in a different color.
And don’t forget, I can get out my sweaters and warm fuzzy shawls and wrap up again!
Yea. Fall. It pretty much has it all as far as I’m concerned.
Kat said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:18 am
The chill in fall mornings remind me of grade-school days when my knee socks slithered down my skinny legs to pool at my ankles, of running breathlessly up the hill to get to St. Joseph’s School before the loudly insistent buzzing bell sounded and the cruel nuns locked the school doors against all latecomers. Fall reminds me of “Sunday night dread,” that pit-in-the-stomach feeling when a bright weekend fades into a mundane week of homework and plaid uniforms. Even as an adult, I have a hard time embracing fall and letting go of the warmth of summer, trading the shredded pink sunsets for the stark purply gray sky that settles so quickly on a Tuesday evening. Fall’s crisp apples and rattly leaves remind me that ithis season will move past swiftly, toward Christmas, toward winter days and magically, far over the horizon, back to spring’s caress and summer’s heat.
Diane in Alaska said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Fall to me means raking, raking, raking and I love it!!! It’s so satisfying to work so hard and actually SEE the fruit of the labor. Praise God for His creation and His changing seasons! =)
Diane in Alaska
MaryEllen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Fall is my favorite season too! I love to leave the windows open at night and wake up in the morning to the chilly air (better for snuggling in the covers, even if it does make me late for work…)
For my husband, fall means apple strudel (which I learned to make from his mom last year – I’m still working on it…)
For me, the best part of fall as a kid was when my dad would take us on “adventure drives” on Sunday afternoons. We never really had a desitination, other than looking at the leaves and maybe finding an apple orchard for some cider. And of course cider donuts! if I had to pick one thing, I’d say they’re the best part of fall.
Karen in Toledo said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:27 am
Fall is my favorite season as well. Last year, my special someone and I went to a local attraction to see the Monarch butterflies released for their journey south to Mexico. This year, we’ll have that same date, but his son and my kids are joining us as a combined group for the very first time. It’s the end of summer on Saturday, but just the start of our families getting to know to each other. Wish us luck!
Diane Laughlin said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the colors, the falling leaves, the food, the outdoor activities, the warmth of wool and flannel and fleece, the texture of wool yarn as I knit and the lovely return of my wool, handknit socks!! It is the beginning of quilts and comforters, mittens and scarves, ghosts and goblins, turkeys and pumpkins, apple cobblers and butternut squash.
What an awesome time of the year!!
catspaw said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:45 am
So many things about fall – the blessed coolness, Halloween and Thanksgiving and preparation for Christmas, long walks and bike rides, snuggling under the blankets on a cool night, hoping for an early snow, new clothes and shoes, piles of leaves to rake and jump in. astoundingly beautiful colors (I grew up in New England), and maybe best of all, the new sweaters and mittens my mom and grandmother would knit for me. I stlll have some of them.
Janice in VA
Alison said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:46 am
I’m originally from Australia, and autumn there just doesn’t have the same links to Halloween and pumpkins that we’ve enjoyed in our two-and-a-bit years here in the US. I do have lots of fond memories as a kid of stirring up leaves at primary school (elementary school here) – a few friends and I would race around during breaks and scoop all the elm leaves into piles, and then either busy ourselves in the piles or start throwing them at one another. Made for some strange looks from the teachers when we came back into class looking like scarecrows
Rachel said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Autumn is my favorite season of the year, I absolutely adore watching the foliage!
I love the cooler, crisp air, playing with the kids in the piles of leaves. Baking, I love to get baking, cookies, cakes, perhaps some new receipe? Yum!
It is a calming time for me, in itself. I’m more relaxed. I may not have many decorations to put up and that would be because I’m busy enjoying EVERY MINUTE of it, truthfully.
Halloween is also a favorite of sorts along with the Fall Harvest intervals in between, I love the scarecrows, the witches, I love it all, lol!
It nicely ends in a most thankfull tone; Thanksgiving. A time where we gather together, cook tons of food up to go along with our turkeys, and just having a unified family time.
Knitting; I start to knit more, I think. Knitting is comforting, especially when its colder out, I love it!
Autumn, is the best!
Carol Lee said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Sheri, I live in southcentral Virginia, so fall doesn’t usually get started here until October (sometimes later than that). My birthday is in mid-October and frequently the whole family (Mom, Dad, DH, brother, sis-in-law, etc) will get together for a drive to the mountains to enjoy the leaves changing! It’s absolulety gorgeous!
And there’s the fall menus – I start cooking chil and lots of soups – potatoe, onion, …
Lastly, my knitting mojo usually improves and I feel like knitting something besides socks! Right now I’m trying to get a Baby Surprise Jacket done for a baby shower at the end of this month and you’d think I was working on the most complex pattern out there – I think I’m finally on the right track! it is my first BSJ (for my first great-niece!).
Carol in Prince George, VA
Leslie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I live in Michigan. In my humble opinion its one of the most beautiful states for fall in the U.S. The colors on the trees and shrubs, the smell in the air and the clear nights. I’m sure that comment will be debated. lol! Lets see if I can number why I like fall the best out of the seasons.
1) A return to cooking indoors. By the beginning of September I’m pretty tired of grilled everything. I miss the Pot Roasts, Roasted Chicken and pasta dishes I make in the fall and winter. I may not be the bestest cook, but I like to do it.
2) I live on an island and there is noticably less pleasure boat traffic and a seemingly increase of freighter traffic. Those guys trying to get there loads to where they need to go before the water freezes sometime in November.
3) Knitting (!) after dinner at night when its chilly. The radio on and I’m knitting away.
4) With work, there are less kids with broken bones from trampolines, monkey bars and skateboards. There are less broken pelvises. I always know its summertime because of motorcycle accidents and busted pelvises. Not pleasant. (I’m an orthopedic surgical nurse in the OR). In fall, there are more kids with ACL injuries and other injuries from school sports. Not pleasant either, but less dramatic for sure.
There are probably more reasons, but these are the most vivid for me. These aren’t in order of importance, either.
I love the change of seasons, in general.
Chan said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Pumpkin EVERYTHING. Pie. Cheesecake. Hubby’s favorite, the pumpkin roll (cake). My favorite – pumpkin bread pudding. Walking my dog along our tree-lined road with the variegated display of nature…
Apples too. Apple cheese crisp. Apple-carmel bread pudding. (Does bread pudding need its own paragraph maybe?) Fresh apples. Baked apples. Apple cider.
I could keep this up all day, but I think my new favorite fall tradition is pulling out my knitted socks!
Debbie M. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I like to take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The leaves are beautiful and commercial traffice is prohibited on the parkway. Another favorite drive is along US 26 toward Asheville, NC thru Sams Gap. Then, when I get to Asheville, there are some great yarn shops!
Sarah said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
hmm, there are so many things to love about fall! I love fall fairs with all the smells and delicious food, apple picking, being able to cook without overheating the house!, changing colours on the leaves, handknit socks and sweaters and that feeling of starting fresh (even now that I’m not in school, fall seems like a time for fresh starts to me. I’ve never made a new year’s resolution, oddly.) Hands down, my favourite thing about fall – is walking on crunchy leaves!
dana said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
fall is my favorite season too and always reminds me of vermont. my pseudo uncle would make this soup on our annual leaf peeping weekend! Here’s an excerpt from my cookbook in progress…
Uncle Jean’s Pumpkin Soup
My father’s long-time best friend had a wonderful old farmhouse in Bristol, Vermont. An avid pipe smoker, the house smelled wonderfully rich and spicy. He was never without his pipe and even turned it upside down to smoke in the shower!
I have so many good memories of his hospitality and his cooking. We could never get used watching this slim man devour such enormous quantities food at every sitting. This soup was my favorite. I am sure Uncle Jean is up there in heaven humming and puttering and smoking his pipe.
1 4-5 pound pumpkin
1 quart heavy cream
1 pint milk
4 ounces grated cheese (Gruyere and/or cheddar)
1 large tablespoon tomato paste
Seed and peel pumpkin, cutting it into chunks. In a heavy bottomed pot, put pumpkin in first, then one pint, 1 pint milk and 1 pint cream.
Cook on low heat until pumpkin is very tender. Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup.
Em said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
I used to not be very fond of autumn at all — it was cold, meant the end of fun summers and the beginning of school drudgery, and the waning year seemed to me very depressing.
But not anymore! Now, I find the shift from summer’s heat welcome, enjoy the crisp scent of the fallen leaves and woodsmoke (even in the heart of the city), look fondly on ‘back-to-school’ time with a bit of envy for new university students, and look forward to long walks outdoors that end in steaming mugs of apple cider with cinnamon. And of course, autumn is a great time to show off those hand-knits, and plan for new projects, lovely warm knits to pool on my lap as I curl up on the couch to knit and drink tea. What a good season this is!
Annie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Fall means football, and apple picking, which meams that there is a constant supply of the local apple farm’s apple cider in the fridge. It’s the best cider – I missed it terribly when I was away at college and even more so when I moved to Texas. Fall also means Chicken BBQ. Every year, the nuns at my old high school put on a chicken bbq. We (5 kids in the family) all had to work it as service hours (aka cheap labor) and we’ve been going for as long as I can remember (my mom also went to high school there). Gotta love their apple struedel.
Debbie O. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I am a cool/cold weather person through and through, so I love fall and winter. It is sweater weather, and time to do lots of baking and cooking. But, the best thing about fall now is my daughter’s birthday. Two years ago I had a rough September, spending many weeks in the hospital, first for me, then with a baby in the NICU. Now I have a thriving two-year old who I just adore! (Her birthday was yesterday.)
TrickyTricot said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Oh, that’s a tough one – there’s something about the craziness of summer melting into fall which is oh so soothing… I love these weeks when I can sleep with the windows open and experience just the right level of chill. Oh, and Halloween – these weeks leading up to Halloween – I love the spookiness!
Sarah said,
September 18, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Wow, it’s amazing who comes out of the woodworks for the contests! lol
Fall is my favorite season too, mainly because all the evil bugs die.
hehe And I can wear fun socks again.
Have fun visiting College Guy and a belated Happy Birthday to WH!
Cindy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Fall is just the best. It’s the return of sweaters, the return of warm drinks, the return of comfort foods without guilt or heating the house up too much. But the best thing about fall is enjoying the crisp, cool air. It’s espcially good when taking a walk in the woods to see the changing leaves, but it’s fantastic pretty much any time.
KT said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
I always say fall is my favorite season…until it’s spring, and then spring is my favorite season…until it’s fall again. So on and so forth. I love the clear blue skies you get in fall, especially against the technicolor leaves. But my absolute favorite part of fall is getting to leap about in piles of leaves. Yes, I go out of my way to crunch through an especially appealing pile on the street. Can you tell I’m a New Englander? I really missed fall in Cairo, so I’m just lapping it up now.
Melissa said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
Well, apple picking with friends is a great time always. Unfortunately, the farms in the area are dwindling, even though on the weekends tons of city folk (even a bunch of city folk who were never country folk) would love to come out and do the apple picking or the pick-your-own pumpkin patch.
I love Fall, especially walking in The Park, but the cooler weather sends mice and such looking for warmer places to call home. I saw one out on my fire escape last week, and live in terror of any breaches to the walls. I don’t think Duchess (surprisingly tough kitty for her name) would tolerate vermin, but hopefully we won’t have to find out.
Ah well, life in NYC…
Shauna said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
My favorite fall tradition: Every Thanksgiving (and sometimes earlier in the fall too!) we used to go to visit family friends waaaaaaay out in the middle of nowhere in eastern Oregon, and while my dad was elk hunting we girls would make turkey, stuffing, yams, green beans, four different kinds of pie… more food than all of us could eat in a week! Once my dad took me out hunting with him, and we snuck through the forest on a very cold and misty morning before dawn–all you could see were dark trees with grey fog wreathing around them, and elk-shadows slipping through all around us, and the only sound was the elk bugling and calling to each other. My dad is a crack shot but he didn’t shoot anything that day–I think he didn’t want to spoil it for me!
Lori said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Fall is all about apples and pumpkins and turning leaves! For me it’s a time of renewal. The end of summer and the beginning of my favorite season and I always make new resolutions at this time!
Jennifer said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Fall to me means long “conversations” about all kinds of things with the family. In Georgia, it’s too hot and humid most days to sit outside, so you know it’s fall when we start migrating outside to talk and laugh.
Katrina said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Fall for me means wearing all the hard work I’ve done all summer-sweaters and of course, socks! Halloween is my daughter’s favorite holiday, she gets to be a Care Bear (she’s almost 3!) and she’s so cute! This year is going to be different without her daddy around (he’s leaving for Iraq in a couple of weeks), but I know we’ll make lots of cookies and pies! She helps roll out the dough of course! And we’ll have to start some new traditions as well, like only wearing hand knit socks!
Theresa P. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. Living in Florida, it always meant the end of the oppressive heat, turning off the air-conditioner and opening up the house (not to mention saving on electricity!) Fall in Florida, while not very colorful, is the best weather anywhere. Cool days, crisp nights, beautiful clear skies, and an occasional blustery day to make you want to snuggle up and knit. There’s nothing finer. Fall now is tinged with sadness though as it is when I lost my mom, but I have so many memories of good times we had together, especially Thanksgivings when we would share cooking duties and then sneak out of town for the rest of the long weekend to start our Christmas shopping. I will miss those trips the most.
Sheri, tell WH that no woman ever shot a man while he was doing the dishes (or wearing an apron!).
Happy fall, everyone.
kelly said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
Well, aside from the annual baking of the pumpkin muffins, my 4-year-old son & I have a very special autumn tradition. We volunteer for Soldier’s Angels. Basically, we “adopt” a soldier and send him or her letters and car packages every month that he or she is deployed overseas. Since our soldiers have always been deployed to the desert, we drive around St. Louis County and take photos of the gorgeous trees after the leaves have begun to turn. We also pick a few leaves from every tree we photograph. We bake leaf-shaped sugar cookies (in fall colors) and put it all in a box to ship overseas. Our soldiers have always loved receiving “Autumn-in-a-Box,” and it makes the season that much more special for us.
Octopus Knits said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I love the colors! The lemon, pumpkin, tomato and nut brown of changing leaves splashing across the diminishing greens of deciduous trees and shrubs. The clear, intense blue of the sky on a windy autumn day. Lovely!
Lin said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
Being Chinese, we celebrate the moon festival in the fall and it’s a great time for all those fall harvest celebrations but my favorite are the moon cakes that are made and eaten at the moon festival.
tracy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
There’s not much I don’t love about fall. The cooler weather is wonderful for getting outside in. In KC, the Renaissance Festival is this time every year, we always try to get there one of the early October weekends. My kids love Halloween and costumes and stringing purple and orange lights all over the front porch. We always end up with more pumpkins that I know what to do with, considering one of my sons will not allow them to be cut!
Heather said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
My favorite fall tradition is to go the local ciderfest. This year will be the fourth year with my daughter. We always take a picture of her in front of the HUGE cider press and she usually gets a caramel apple. She’s even worn the same orange sweater with candy corn buttons for the past two years and it will probably fit this year.
beth said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
I live in Florida now and we don’t really have fall…
Growing up in West Virginia, fall was the most beautiful time of the year. I miss raking leaves and jumping in. I miss the smell of wood smoke in the air. Planting tulips! Football! Carving a pumpkin and waiting for the first snow.
Candice said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
The fall just yanks me out of the house and into the outdoors. I live in the south where summers are miserable. So fall gives me the opportunity to explore the outdoors without having to arm myself against heat stroke and pesky bugs. I spent yesterday evening outdoors with my knitting. I think wool likes to be outside too.
tabitha said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
For me, the thing I like best about fall is the cooling of the temperature. After enduring months of triple digit temperatures where you couldn’t breath outdoors, I look forward to being outside again. I can spend time on my porch swing and knit in the cool of the evening. I can play in the leaves with the kids or actually do a little gardening without fear of heat stroke. Of course, we also enjoy all the traditional trappings of fall – the turning leaves, the fresh apples, picking pumpkins, spiced cider. If it weren’t for the ragweed, fall would be perfect!
Nancy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Fall is my favorite season too. The very best memory from my childhood is the smell of burning leaves–that is the very essence of fall. Now I have to settle for the smell of my neighbors fireplaces on those crisp fall nights and that is pretty nice too.
Christy said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
Fall is my absolute favorite time of the yeah, although in Florida, we really don’t have much of one! (if we do, it get here in December!) I grew up in Louisiana and every Thanksgiving, my mom’s side of the family would get together at the local Woodman Hall for a pot luck dinner. It was huge! We’d have 50 or so people there who would travel to this tiny town in Louisiana to see family we only saw once a year. The food was magnificent. My Uncle Bob would bring his big bbq pit and we’d do chicken and then there would be fried turkey (before it was popular) and every kind of good Southern side dish and dessert you could think of! A fire would usually be built in the big fireplace because it had finally gotten cold enough to justify building one and we’d have someone play the piano and we’d all sing. Two of my cousins would play the violin or sing and the little kids would run around outside in the leaves and pinestraw. The fun thing is that we usually went there twice that day, we’d eat early around 11;30 (the older generation liked to eat early!) and then we’d go back later that evening for leftovers after watching the football games! I think that is what I miss about small town life.
Mary said,
September 18, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Fall is my favorite season too! Unfortunately, although I grew up in Kansas and Pennsylvania, I now live in Southern California where we don’t really have fall. How I miss it! Fall to me means sweaters, soccer games, soup, fires in the fireplace, the crisp smell in the air and, most of all, the changing leaves! Pennsylvania has the most beautiful fall colors.
Now I’m sad for all those things. Thanks a lot Sheri!
Jen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
Oh, how I love fall. My friends and I have a tradition of going to a corn maze. It claims to be the world’s largest, but how do you really measure something like that? Anyway, we go to the corn maze once it gets dark, get lost in the corn for a couple of hours and then go back to a friend’s house for a bonfire and s’mores. Can’t beat it!
Nicole said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Fall in New England is Apple-Picking time. Every year growing up we went apple picking as a family. Once we arrived at the orchard, each of us would immediately grab an apple to eat as we went. By the time we left, the four of us had eaten more apples than were in the bag.
But my all time favorite fall activity is the first fireplace-fire of the year. The smoky smell combined with the cool crispness of the air make me want to snuggle under a blanket with my dog and a book or knitting project for hours.
stacey said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
There are too many wonderful things about fall – but to narrow it down, hot apple cider, pumkins farms and petting zoos, crackling of leaves under your feet, warm sweaters on a cool night, highschool football games, good nights of sleep, jack-o-lanterns, my daughter in the sweetest chicken costume ever, snuggling to watch new fall shows, great jeans, handknit socks, fingerless mitts and more knitting. Fall is the best.
Michelle Martino said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Let me start by saying I LOVE HALLOWEEN! Love it love love love it! It is one holiday that is just for fun and fun for all…. no relatives…no cooking…no relatives… get the picture?! Its just a fantabulously fun time of year. I officially decorate inside and out on Sept. 15th so I get a full 6 weeks to enjoy my funhouse… A few favs… my bedding~its the bed in a bag ensemble from “domestications” featuring witches ghosts tombstones… the whole 9 yards… then my magic mirror… via AC MOORE… it temporarily replaces a real mirror in the entryway… but talks to you and shows a glowing ghost! fun fun fun stuff.
Mary Jane said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
When I was a kid we would rake the leaves into a maze pattern that covered our yard and our neighbor’s yard. If we didn’t have enough leaves we would bring bushel baskets of them in from the woods next to our house. You can imagine dad’s reaction!
Now fall means it is cool enough to go back into my pottery studio and work. If you pick me to win the yarn I might send you a mug of my making!
MJ
Rusti said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Summer used to be my favorite season by far but as I’ve ummm, “matured” Fall has become the season of choice. I enjoy the cooler days, outdoor festivals, comfort food cooking and Sunday afternoons spent watching football and knitting. Fall also means bonfires with friends and family, my birthday!, the migration of monarch butterflies and did I mention Sunday afternoon knitting?
“Summer makes me drowsy. Autumn makes me sing. Winter’s pretty lousy, but I hate Spring.”
Dorothy Parker
Sandy Ziegler said,
September 18, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Fall always brings back fond memories of my father, long ago deceased. He and I would go out to our garden, chop down the dried corn stalks and assemble Haloween decorations for our front yard. We would tie string around the bundles of corn stalks and finish decorating with pumpkins, also from our garden. My mother would always have pumpkin pies fresh out of the oven for our dinner that evening. You just can’t beat the smells and colors of Autumn!
tina said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
350 Comments! Good Gravy!!!
Fall—- it means pumpkin muffins and my newly developed pumpkin spice decaf chai latte that doesn’t have 410 calories, it means apple dumplings and decorating the house for fall (which I have also started).
So—– we’re doing family portraits when college guy is home next, right?
Tan said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
One day in late September I was hiking in the afternoon. The aspens were yellow, and the maples were red. A ray of setting sunlight burst through a maple tree, setting every leaf alight as if on fire. Who knew they were translucent? Give them all to me–leaves that turn purple, leaves that turn brown, leaves that explode in flame and gold and crimson–and then that surprising first snowfall, with flakes as big as Kleenex that ends it all. Yup, I’m an autumn, does it show?
Sharon said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Fall is special to me because I’m originally from Minnesota, but moved to Texas and discovered fall is very different there…no fabulous colors of leaves, no frosty air, no walking through crunchy leaves….so after returning back home from Texas, I truly appreciate the glories of fall each season…give me my colored leaves and I’m a happy girl
Melissa said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
I spent my pre-teen and teenage years in southeastern Pennsylvania. My favorite fall things were the amazing colors (golden walnut leaves against black trunks, flaming orange chestnut leaves, glowing red October Glory maple leaves, grass in hayfields turning golden) and the weather (silver-steel skies and dry, cold air–the kind of chill that hurts your lungs when you breathe in too deeply).
And then there’s Halloween. My absolute favorite decorating season. Funny for a girl who doesn’t like orange or earth tones, isn’t it? Love Halloween.
And then there’s the family insanity that is Thanksgiving. Turkey Day has always been at my parents’ house. Mom cooks, I help, Dad cleans. We have assorted aunts, uncles, and cousins over. I play waitress and never have enough to eat because I’m refilling drinks or gravy or whatever. We eat leftovers for three days, then I go home. Nuts, but in a good way. And Mom’s an incredible cook, so the food is great.
Valerie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Wow, reading your post and some of these comments is really making me look forward to fall more than ever!
We always go apple picking and pumpkin picking, and hiking pretty well every weekend. Of course the girls collect fall leaves and make decorations for the house. They also have a fall fair for their dolls and make mini apple and pumpkin pies.
This year I’m looking forward to decorating our new house with autumn things (I love the candle you got, by the way, Sheri) and especially to starting a new tradition of sitting (and hopefully knitting) around the fireplace in the evenings (we’ve never had a fireplace before). AND our new furniture is coming in two days, so I can’t wait to enjoy it and the fireplace on those cool autumn nights.
Natalie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
Wow! A ton of comments for your contest – probably because of the awesome prizes!
I love cuddling with my husband a little longer in the mornings, and then again, cuddling a little more with my kids. Something about the chill creeping in, and the darkness of the mornings that makes me grab on to the people I love a little more!
Ruth Carapella said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
I can’t believe you answer each and every blog post. Simply amazing!
Fall is not really my favorite time of year. Sorry. I’m more of a summer girl. But, I do enjoy being able to snuggle up under the light down comforter. It’s a lovely cozy fall thing. I also love Thanksgiving and trying new food! And of course, fall is the perfect excuse for knitting instead of being outside doing yard work.
Thansk for the contest!
Kat R said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
What’s not to love about Fall! The colors of this season are my absolute favorites. I much prefer the cooler weather to the heat of the summer, and my body responds with new energy that it lacked when the temps were hitting the 100 mark.
A favorite childhood memory always returns at this time of year, too, as I remember the many rides with my high school band to the various football games to perform during halftime. Good friends and good times!
I don’t necessarily decorate my home with autumn decorations (which I should!), but I surely do enjoy nature’s decorations a great deal. I can’t wait until the trees turn colors!
Debra in the San Francisco Bay Area said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Sheri, you thought you had a lot of emails before your blog entry — look at them now!! Ha! Well, Autumn is my favorite time of the year for many reasons, but I just love crisp Autumn mornings and the tint the sunlight takes — more of a golden glow. I remember frosty mornings walking to school — white lawns in front of the houses. It was a treat, because we Rarely Ever get snow here. I like spicey smells of home cooking. I love Halloween — have a little ceramic jack-o-lantern on my computer at work and a Gigi black poodle Beanie Baby in a witch’s hat and cape. Autumn is a friendly, coming together and enjoying friends and family time.
Kristen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Fall was always my favorite time of year growing up because it meant warm sweaters and time with all of the family at Thanksgiving.
Now that I’ve gone away for school autumn has been a rather disappointing time of year – mostly because I don’t get to see the family for the holidays anymore. Something about that crisp air makes me miss them even more. So now I’m working hard to create my own fall traditions that don’t rely on me being with others to enjoy. Yarn helps immensely.
Joan Callaway said,
September 18, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Fall doesn’t come very early here in Davis, California. We’re just now beginning to have weather in the mid-80’s, but even so from long family traditions learned in the State of Washington, I transition to soups and stews, a favorite being the following:
Roasted Corn and Sweet Potato Chowder (a recipe I gleaned from the Heartline Cafe in Sedona, Arizona a few years ago)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and toss the following in a large mixing bowl:
2 cups corn kernels
1 sweet potatoe, peeled and diced
1 white potato, peeled and diced
1 T. olive oil
1 tsp. chili powder (or sometimes I use Thai red pepper with garlic)
1/2 tsp. coriander
3/4 tsp. cumin
black pepper
kosher salt
Roast for about 25 minutes, turning occasionally…until golden brown.
Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, saute a medium onion, large carrot, a couple of stalks of celery – all peeled and diced – in 1/2 c. of butter. Add a couple of teaspoons of minced garlic and 1/2 cup of roasted red bell peppers. Saute for a few minutes. Add 4 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups of (I use half and half, but I’m sure Heartline uses heavy cream). Simmer for a few more minutes. Add another 2 cups of cream and simmer until volume has reduced. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
If you want a thicker soup, you can make some equal part butter/flour balls to add to the simmering soup.
Another favorite is Butternut Squash Soup…yummm! Hungry just thinking about either one.
And, of course, fall means the grandchildren disappear…but look forward to a big family Thanksgiving celebration when they return home.
I’m looking forward to first visit from our College Girl, who has been at UCBerkeley for a few weeks now…semester system. We go to watch her run in Stanford Invitational cross country race on Sept. 19th…looking forward to it.
Joan
Carol said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Jeeze Sheri, you have more comments than the Harlot today! Fall, living in FL I miss Autumn the most. I miss the crisp air that smells of dry leaves and wood burning and the sharpening of the senses it brings. Raking every leaf withing a mile of the house just to make a gargantuan pile to dive into! The fresh baked cranberry pear cobbler with oats and almonds, mmm. The pumpkins in bloom with the promise of Thanksgiving and even the holidays not far behind. Time to get cozy. I also share your bag fettish
Happy fall!
christine schnabel said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
I too love Fall but hate how many calories one consumes with this time of the year. I love and am addicted to pumpkin . From pumpkin pancakes, to pumpkin pies, I love the mall!!! I especially love to make a pumpkin/cranberry bread. The tartness of the cranberries makes this dessert ever so yummy.
Then the day the students ( Iam a teacher) leave for their Thanksgiving break we always have a pumpin day where we do experiments and decorate our pumpkins. I like to take some of the seeds and toast them for the students. it is always funny to watch their expressions as they eat something new to them. We also make individual no cook pumpkin pies.
Betty-Jean said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Wow!! The first time I visit your site and you’re holding a contest! Cool!
Well…a fun fall time for me was when my sisters and I were supposed to be raking the leaves. (I’m originally from RI so we always had a lot of leaves.) I say supposed to because we played more than we raked. It took us hours!!
I remember having contests. One of them was to see who could balance the rake the longest on your hand….so that the “teeth” were way up in the air. I won of course.
I got so good I could walk with it on my palm and go all around the house. We lived on a corner lot so that meant a front and back yard and 2 sides!
Funny the things you remember.
Michelle in North Carolina said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
ChristyH loves fall because she can close her windows, while I love fall because I can *open* my windows. Ahh…finally, a breath of fresh air! That sweet, breathable air carries signals of imminent change, and I get a little flustered at the prospect of new things on the way. I feel like a kid again, as if anything is possible!
Marsha said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
My favorite thing to do in the fall is sit in my front yard under the aspen tree when the yellow leaves are falling all around me, listen to my ipod, and knit! When not knitting, I still sit there and read and drink a glass of wine. Since I live across the street from a small college, on Saturday afternoons, I can hear some of the cheers from the football game, if the wind is right. Also, fall is when we can have our first evening fire in the woodstove. That’s always the harbinger of cooler nights, as we move toward winter. One fall tradition we have is traveling from Lake City CO over Engineer Pass to Silverton to see the leaves. Right at 12K ft at the top of the pass, and the view of San Juans is spectacular. Finally, on Sept. 22, I’m going to begin re-reading The Lord of the Rings triology. Perfect reading for sitting under that tree!
Juliet said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
I LOVE pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie with a dollop of real whipped cream. So I look forward to fall to endulge in those. I probably won’t make them until Thanksgiving, but the smell and flavor of those are just yummy.
I also enjoy the colors of fall. Now that I live in Phoenix, I must travel somewhere to enjoy the changing leaves and crisp air. However, living in Phoenix, I also look forward to cooler temps and opening up the house. It’s funny how opposite my life has become moving here (from the midwest).
As far as knitting goes, I’m really looking forward to knitting up some wooly sweaters, which is something I avoid in the summer.
ringer said,
September 18, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
The air – the temperature, the smell, the crispness is wonderful. It’s new and it gives me flashbacks to past Falls at the same time.
karrie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
My favrite thing about fall is food related, of course.. Apple Cider. YUM! and Squash. I love cooking and eating squash and I am always happy when it shows up in the store.
Kelley said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
Fall has always been very special for me, not because of any great family traditions but because of the colors. Fall is when I got married, October will be my 2nd wedding anniversary. The oranges and reds and yellows and golds ……aaaahhh just thinking about it is breathtaking. Another reason I love Fall is the change in temperature, I’ve never been fond of the heat so the lower temperatures are always something to look forward too.
krayolakris said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Fall in North Florida means less humidity, beautiful sunny days, college football and colorful birds we don’t normally see passing through to points further south. And sometimes a big old bunch of ‘liquid sunshine’ like now!
Michelle said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
As others have said, I love watching the color of the leaves change and the cooler, crisp air!
Laura D. said,
September 18, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
hmmm….well other than being my favorite season of the year. Sweater season…lol. I remember fresh pumpkin pies, potato soup, homemade apple cider and hayrack rides with our church groups. But the one thing I really enjoyed was making crayon leaves in school. We would color our little brains out in school (second grade I think) then take all our left over crayons sharpen them saving the shavings and place them between two sheets of wax paper we then covered them with construction paper (I always took the green and yellow ones) and then pressed them with a hot iron till the wax melted. When they had cooled we cut them into different leaf shapes and hung them on the classroom windows. It creates a cheap stained-glass effect. I remember sitting there drinking hot cocoa eating my graham crackers and falling in love with the autumn colors. It has been 32 years since second grade and my mother now tells me everytime I take on a new hobbies (spinning, weaving, scrapbooking…..a new sock pattern..lol) It would be cheaper to by a box of crayons. She has known for years my creativity comes from being exposed to different color combinations not hobbies. (wait until she discovers my texture fetish……LOL!). I still have my crayons and after all this time I still drink my cocoa every autumn. (I switch to peppermint and hot tea at thanksgiving..lol). Hark……I hear a sock calling my name……..!!!
Sharilyn said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Fall means going to the local farm market with my kids to go through the giant corn stalk teepees that are decorated with jack-o-laterns and kitchy Halloween decorations. (My mom used to take me, my sister and brother to the same place.) The kids love it !! And so do I!!
Fall also means getting out the crockpot and making extra hearty meals. Making soup and homemade bread.
Fall means much discussion and planning for kids’ Halloween costumes.
Fall means buying yarn for planned Christmas gifts. The gift that gives twice — once when I buy it and again when I give a finished piece to a loved one.
inky said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
So many things, so much abundance!
Very simple choice for me: Crisp mornings, where I make my breakfast oatmeal and stir in spicy pumpkin butter made in Amish country. Mmmmmm. . . . .. . .. .
Kelly said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Fall is my aboslute favorite time of year! The smell of the crisp clean air here in Maine overwhelms me – I actually get a little gitty when fall first hits! lol. But I think my favorite childhood memory has to be of me, my mother, and my grandmother riding on the back of a wooden wagon attached to the tracktor collecting the harvest’s pumpkins, brining them back up to the house, and painting funny faces on them.
Karen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
My favorite thing about fall — like my favorite thing about yarn — is color. I love how the nature of fall takes the warmth and the cold from either side of it and just puts it all out there for us to absorb, treasure and appreciate in our own way.
Lee said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
I love the change of seasons, so I like them all… but spring and fall are my most favorite. Fall air is so crisp, and the sky can be so clear, and the wind can get all wild and crazy. It is nice enough to go outside, but not stifling hot. And when I was a child our family used to camp a lot in the fall.
Laura said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Fall is cookie season! My mom has certain cookie recipes that only come out at Christmas. I, on the other hand, must fight the temptation to start baking now. I don’t think I’ll be fighting it much longer, I am ready to bake.
Of course, I have other reasons to look forward to fall, like my birthday, my husband’s birthday, and the anniversary of our first date (Halloween).
amanda cathleen said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
I love the crisp that is in the air come fall, the bright blue skys of Autumn. The yummy apples! When I was a kid all my Aunts and Uncles would gather at my Grandparents house and we would all go their apple orchard and pick apples. Later in the day we would make apple cider with an old apple press. I can still remember how darn good it was, and all the bee’s that where just as interested in the cider as we where!
We take the kids to a local farm that has a pumpkin-fest. We ride a “hay ride”, scurry rides, go through the hay maze and pick out our pumpkins. And I usually talk Mike into buying a few mums. Best thing about fall we get to wear our hand-knits! I love Fall, its my favorite season too : )
Anne said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
We love fall in our house –our wedding anniversary (and my birthday!) plus several other birthdays and anniversaries, apple-picking and the subsequent pie, apple butter and cider bonanaza. Blue skies and amazing New England foliage. But the real thing I love about fall is that my 2 favorite sports are happening at the same time–it’s the height of baseball season (Red Sox fans just LOVE this time of year) and the beginning of the hockey season. Joy! (and knitting time!)
Sarah said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Fall has become my favorite season ever since I moved to the east coast. In California, there wasn’t a fall. But now that I live in New York, fall means it stops being unbearably hot in the city and the stench of the subway isn’t that bad. It also means a return to hot showers and sweaters and jackets and most of all boots!
I have a shoe problem.
Bronwyn said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
What makes fall special for my family is.. well, birthdays. Fall is the season for birthdays in this household- and I don’t care what anyone says, I’m from the NORTH and I count September as fall- because that’s when leaves turn and whatnot! Fall is when all the fun holidays happen, too- getting dressed up for Halloween, eating TURKEY on Thanksgiving (I love thanksgiving.. turkey is the best).. It’s also a time when I really think about “Home” where i grew up- New York. There’s all the “closing down” you do in the fall- when I was in college fall was when the dining hall got fresh apple cider and my classes revolved around apples and fall orchard fruits, going to wineries to see new wine being made, making grapevine wreathes from the pruned vines… It’s such a fun time!
Linda said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Fall is my favorite time of year. We’re big apple and cider fans around here, so nothing beats a trip to the orchard. I love the cool days and the return of sweaters, sweatshirts and warm socks. While I do regret the shortening days, it’s wonderful to hunker down on the couch with a quilt and a project to work on.
Nicole said,
September 18, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
There are lots of things I like about fall. One of them is that it gets cool enough for us to start using the wood cookstove again (something I really miss when I’m away at school like I am right now). It seems to make the biggest difference in the morning – it’s so nice to wake up on a crisp morning and lean against the stove for a bit to warm up, and then to eat a good hot breakfast (often courtesy of my dad) instead of just whatever’s handy. Also, the wood stove is way better for baking than anything else I’ve tried.
Kathi in Fenton said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Fall always brings back memories, mostly of my Pop, who was a baker for 47 years at a local bakery. He would have my 3 sisters, me & sometimes my brother (& in later years my kids & husband were pressed into service) squeezing grapes for grape pies, baking pumpkin, fruit & custard pies & starting to take orders for Thanksgiving, in addition to our normal baking/wedding/catering orders. We baked turkeys, made the stuffing & gravy & sold all the dinner rolls & pies for Thanksgiving dinner, we even sliced the turkey if you wanted it really ready to go. We usually were booked by the first week of October. Fall usually meant my Pop would work 7 days a week 14 to 16 hour days & not a one of us could keep up with him – & he was usually singing while he worked!!!
aimeedewar said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
Fall is by far my favorite time of year. I live in southern Indiana, and the rolling hills are absolutely stunning in there beauty. I love the crisp air, I feel more alive than I have in months. Fires in the woodstove on cool nights. Earthy and radiant fall colors are my favorite, and I can start wearing more wooly goodness. Oh, now I’m all excited and can’t wait for it to actually get here! (We went shopping for a different woodstove today, even though it was 84.)
Miranda said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
Fall is undeniably my FAVORITE for sooo many reasons:perfect hoodie weather. Leaves changing. Caramel apples, apple cider, apple pie. My mother’s famous Autumn Soup, which is now treasured by my DH & stepdaughter. Curling up under a blanket with the windows open in the house. Fresh baked bread. Seriously, need I go on?!
Angie said,
September 18, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
I love the fall time! What I love? I know it’s not the best for the environment but I love the smell of leaves burning, logs crackling while we sit around a campfire roasting a hot dog or making s’mores.
I bring out my favorite fall candles. Smells of cinnamon, baked apple pie (home interiors!), cloves and pumpkin fill the house. And aromas of chili and soup beans fill the air.
Janice said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
I love apples and Fall is when apple picking is at it’s best. For many years we would pick apples and make lots of applesauce to can or freeze for the winter. (It tastes so good in the middle of winter!) I love the cooler weather and the changing colors of the leaves. I love everything Fall. (Except for the fact that it precedes Winter, and that it is always too short!)
Jennifer said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
For me, it is all about pumpkins….pumpkin bread (we go through about a loaf a week – my son and I make it), pumpkin candles, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin shakes, pumpkin ice cream…you get the idea. We also make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with our boys to pick out our pumpkins to carve. I love the little ones myself – so cute. We usually make it home with a rather large pumpkin family. And, of course, I love halloween night and watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Simpson’s halloween episodes. I really do love the fall! Can’t wait to decorate. We have hit Target’s halloween section on a daily basis waiting for new merch!
Erin said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
I am a native New Englander (Connecticut!) who has relocated to the South (Georgia!), and while I absolutely love my new home, September is always the time of year that makes me miss New England. Everyone starts talking about leaves changing and crisp, cool evenings and breaking out the sweaters and meanwhile it is still summer where I am. Which, don’t get me wrong, really has its benefits! But for my raised-in-Connecticut self, September should be for scarves and hot chocolate and curling up with good books and freezing your fingers off at the beach.
Every fall growing up, we would go apple picking one Saturday and spend the following Sunday making every apple recipe imaginable – apple pies, apple tarts, stuffing with apples, apple cider, yum! That’s something I still try to do ever fall, but apparently it’s pretty uncommon in the South because it’s always hard to find a place that’s open and lets you actually pick your own apples!
So every year now that I live in Georgia, come September I start asking my husband if he might ever want to move back up North (he is from New Jersey), AND THEN. Around mid-to-late October, the first day it gets cold here, I am standing outside with my dog freezing and wonder why in the world I spent the last four weeks wishing it was colder and so very glad winter only lasts three months here…
I am SO with you on the pumpkin, though. I wish pumpkin was an all year round thing, it is so delicious – the ice cream is one of my favorites, and pumpkin pancakes! There is a bakery here that makes a Pumpkin Cake with cream cheese icing in October/November that is out of this world, so that should be coming back pretty soon!
Vicki said,
September 18, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
I’m in southern California now, so fall means there is a chance it might rain and the temps dip down to a chilly 68.
) But I grew up on the east coast where we would go apple picking every year which meant we had cold storage apples all through the winter and yummy dehydrated apple slices until I ate them all. Oh, and baked apples. I miss hot baked apples which somehow taste so much better when you spent the day picking them yourself. My strongest memory of fall and the thing that most says “fall” to me is taking a walk at dusk and all of a sudden smelling a wood fireplace burning. You know the smell, right? The air just changes and smells so good and somehow you feel warmer even though you’re nowhere near the fire.
Pam said,
September 19, 2007 @ 2:30 am
My favorite memories revolve around the annual “costume hunt.” Much conversation would be had with the kids and their dad picking out the favorite theme for each year — one year it was a Wizard of Oz theme; the next found us making tubes of toothpaste and mailboxes out of moving boxes. I can still hear my four year old say “This sure is fun,” as he ran from house to house. Now those kids are thirty and twenty-six, but the memories made and sewn those Falls remind me about what fun in a family forges. Now I just make costumes for the occasional party but one of these days I hope to be called into action again — either sitting at my sewing machine or tearing into the stash of costumes just waiting for a grandchild to slip into. Thanks for the jog down Memory Lane.
Heather said,
September 19, 2007 @ 3:48 am
I love fall for 2 reasons. One, You get to pull out all your wool socks and put them on without people looking at you funny, like they do when I wear mine in the summer
(I love my socks!!)
And Two, Fall reminds me of my Uncle David. It was his favorite time. Especially Halloween. We would have a Halloween party every year and make apple cider and go trick-or-treating. His birthday is in October too…Man how I miss him!
By the way love the bag and the mug…it’s always nice to treat yourself to some goodies!
Debi B said,
September 19, 2007 @ 6:42 am
Fall is not my favorite season I hate to say. I love Spring and Summer with all the flowers and green everywhere. I live in western New York and our Winter season lasts about seven months and everything is grey, grey, grey for so long. Fall is just a precursor to Winter. I try, though, to enjoy the beautiful leaves and how they crunch under my feet when I walk in the woods. I do enjoy pumpkin pie (got to love those pumkin spice lattes at Starbucks!!!!!) so I guess I’d say that was my favorite thing about fall! I do get to wear my new knitted socks now, too!
fbz said,
September 19, 2007 @ 6:54 am
fall for me is all about thanksgiving, after spending my first thanksgiving away from my family in the fall of 2001 in new york city (you may remember what happened in nyc in sept of that year) my best friend started a tradition where she visited me wherever i was in the world and we made a huge amount of food. we have carried on the tradition every year since and have celebrated friendship in nyc, paris, berlin, and california over the years. i guess thanksgiving is more than just a meal for me, it’s a way to create memories with her each year.
Michelle said,
September 19, 2007 @ 7:38 am
I love the fall also. Every September my sister and I have a big party to celebrate all the birthdays and anniversaries. My sister, my brother-in-law and my husband all have September birthdays. Both of our wedding anniversaries are in September. After taking the kids apple picking (7 between the 2 of us) we head back to her house for BBQ and apple pie baking. I peel and slice, she rolls the crust and bakes, the husbands (and us) eat! It’s great fun.
Babs said,
September 19, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Oh, words fail me. Autumn has always always always been my favorite season, even as a tomboy who practically lived outdoors during the summer. Something about the intense intense blue of skies here in West Virginia, paticularly in October, just grab me. Even the harsh, icy winds that other people hate? I open my jacket and run into them. Our winters are somewhat disappointing, normally, not much snow, so it’s cold and grey. Fall is a riot of wind, blue, and leaves. Hmm. Need to write poem.
Babs said,
September 19, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Oops, and I forgot to mention one of my favorite fall memories, which is very simply. My older sister bought some colored construction paper, and sent us younger ones out to collect leaves. I remember practically fighting over some leaves! Then, we glued the leaves to the paper, and she took a picture. Childish, but I still remember the excitement. And another ‘glue related!” memory; which is of a freakishly beautiful Thanksgiving Day, when we had the doors wide open for the spicy breeze, and my older sister and I cut out pictures of jewelry from a catalog and named them, before pasting them onto paper. I still remember the perfect weather.
emily said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Autumn is my favorite season as well. I love the colors and the cooler days. It means taking out the wool yarn and knitting cozy things. It also means that I can use my oven again without dying… and I LOVE to use my oven. I try to eat what’s in season, so we are starting to eat more squash, pears, and apples. I have a great recipe for pumpkin muffins up on my blog. They were SO good!
Have fun visiting College Guy.
Mea said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am
For me, the biggest fall tradition is school supply shopping!!!! I’ve always loved, LOVED school supplies so I guess it was inevitable that I become a teacher. This way, I’m guaranteed school supplies for the next 25 years or so! I don’t really have a favorite fall recipe per se, but I do see it as a return of “soup” weather. I try to expand my soup recipes each year.
Virginia said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:20 am
My favorite thing about fall is my daughter’s comment – fall makes my heart open up. I know exactly what she means.
Julia said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:24 am
Fall to me means apples and burrs. Going to an apple orchard, seeing/tasting all the different varieties of local apples, and coming home with WAY more apples than I should.
And burrs? I know the end of summer is near when my dog comes out of a meadow with a few little burrs on her coat. And it’s definitely fall when she carries burrs and those little stickies that look like wood ticks. Fortunately, she’s a lab so her coat doesn’t hold on to the burrs; they either fall off or are easily combed out. But it’s such a joy to see her leaping through the dried grass of a prairie – I swear she’s smiling!
Linda said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:34 am
Fall is all about the apples for our family. Nothing beats a trip to the orchard for a bag full of apples and a gallon of cider. While I don’t like the fact that the days are getting shorter, the longer, cool nights offer plenty of opportunity to snuggle on the couch with a quilt and a project to work on.
Anniebananie said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Fall is a big season in our house. DH’s birthday, both of my sister’s birthday, and a cousin’s birthday are all in October, so we go over to mom’s house and have a Fall birthday party for everyone. Lots of wine, lots of food, and really funny gifts.
It’s also the season of leaf jumping for the kids (which is one of my favorite memories as a child as well). We don’t have many trees around our house, but mom and dad do – so we take the kids over there, rake up the leaves, and jump! I love getting pictures of the kids with leaves in their hair.
Finally, it’s the season of pumpkins and Halloween. This year Master G and HRH are going to be Thing 1 and Thing 2. I”m going to knit them blue fun fur caps for their hair. Master G is old enough to really get into the pumpkin carving. HRH loves her “Mr. Halloween Potato Head” pieces that she can use to make her pumpkin face.
This is my favorite time of the year – leaves changing colors, cool mornings, sunny days and the Montpelier Fiber Festival (which, by the way, you should do some year!)
Heather said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year for many reasons. First, I love cool but not cold weather. I love the changing color of the leaves, and the appearance of pumpkins on the porches of my neighbors. I love to go to a nearby farm with my kids for a hayride to the pumpkin patch. I love the faces of my kids when they find pumpkins almost as big as them. But most of all, I love the newness that fall seems to bring….new clothes, new shoes and new pocketbook…just to mention a few.
liz said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:29 am
I love it when winter squashes start appearing in the stores. My husband is a big fan of roasted butternut squash soup and has half a dozen recipes in his repertoire. It’s fun, because I am not allowed to make the soup. It’s his soup, it’s the only soup he makes, and by golly he’s going to make it and I’d better not. I always know it’s fall when he starts making squash soup!
Nancy said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:35 am
What in the world is the Thanksgiving Squirrel??????
Wannabe said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Fall is a really hard time of the year for me. I live in Phoenix which means we really never experience fall. I grew up in New England (the heart of the fall season if you ask me) in Connecticut. Crawling with large oak trees, sugar maples and covered bridges…huge pumpkin patches, scarecrow stuffing places and well, REAL apple cider. I try each year to go back to visit my sisters. This year I can’t go back which makes me sad and I wish I was there to celebrate the season with them. Fall tops Christmas for me. The smell of the burning leaves, the taste of pumpkin chocolate chip bread, jumping in a pile of freshly raked leaves….ah, fall…..may we meet again someday.
Amelia Garripoli said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:05 am
School clothes! It was always hard work going through my closet to get rid of things that didn’t fit — I certainly didn’t enjoy trying on everything I had. But the reward was a clothes-shopping trip with my mother, which was terrific — we’d get a big pile of clothes on our arms and as I was trying them on, my mom would be running back and forth between racks and the dressing room with other outfits and other sizes for me to try. It was certainly a labor of love for her, and I always had some spiffy new outfits for school each year!
Tracy H. said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:09 am
What’s not to love about Fall? The weather cools down from stifling hot to cool comfort, rain comes to relieve the parched plants, and Mother Nature decorates in my favorite color – orange!
Fall also brings Halloween ( my mom’s birthday) and our local sci-fi club’s annual Halloween party. My first date ever was to one of those parties my freshman year in college (1985). I wore a pair of elf ears and the dress from my high school graduation; my date went as Cronos, Father Time from Piers Anthony’s “Bearing an Hourglass”. Turns out his costume was more appropriate than either of us knew – twenty-two years later we’re still together, married for eleven years, and bringing our three boys to this year’s party.
Robin said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:55 am
When we moved to Minnesota four years ago we started a tradition of playing in the leaves every year. One day after school we rake the leaves up and just play in them. I usually take some pictures and send them to the family. I also look forward to hot chocolate, chili and pumpkin pie.
New Jersey Laura said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:56 am
We decorate our yard with ghosts, trick-or-treat with the neighborhood kids, and eat lots of chocoate!
Tola said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:59 am
oh that wollmeise is pretty! (although i had to google to find a pic) in fall i like to drive up into the canyon and admire the beautiful colours.
Dawn said,
September 19, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Fall means nice warm sweaters and lots of yummy smelling candles for the house.
Dawn
Jill said,
September 19, 2007 @ 11:26 am
As soon as that first crisp breeze hits my nose, I start thinking of big pots of soup. My favorite first fall soup is an Italian Minestrone that uses all the fresh vegetables that are still in the farmer’s market. And then, baking. Apples, plum, pears, things with nuts. Speaking of which, fall makes me go kind of nuts!
Jo Anne said,
September 19, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Fall in Hawaii means the days are shorter….the weather starts to cool. It’s the start of the “cold” season for us…..we start wearing covered shoes, light sweaters….and drinking more coffee and tea!
Of course…since our tradewinds are getting stronger…we have more indoor hobbies such as knitting!!!!
Yippee! You really know when Fall is here when you can smell the pumpkin…Starbucks pumpkin flavors, pumpkin pie, pumpkin candles…..yummy!
Patricia said,
September 19, 2007 @ 11:59 am
I grew up in the desert southwest- fall was still hot. Most years we could sunbathe in December. No leaves, pumpkin patches, etc.
As an adult, I lived a few years in northern New Mexico. Fall was great- hillsides of golden aspen, dusting of snow on the peaks, and best of all, the smell of roasting green chile. Heaven. I was a wilderness manager at that time and fall also meant cold fingers and stiff leather- saddling horses for horseback patrols during hunting season, saying farewell to seasonal employees, and putting things to bed for the winter.
Now in the Pacific Northwest, fall is a bit gloomier for me moodwise- seasonal depression. I notice the shorter days in August. I like how the quality of light changes- a little flatter, not so bright, but there’s just not enough of it. I’m on the east side of the Cascades, and there are plenty of fall colors and little rain. Other than the loss of light and the bit of melancholy and dread that accomany it, I like fall- that feeling of getting settled in for the winter, the colors, the quiet, the cat wanting to crawl under the covers…a cozy time.
tori said,
September 19, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
I absolutely love the fall! Every year we all go apple picking and then spend the next few weeks (months?) baking wonderful apple things. Every time I smell an apple candle, or see an apple colored yarn I think of the wonderful memories of the season.
Cabe said,
September 19, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
My favourite Autumn memory is from a few years back. My parents and I went out into the dead-leaves and hint-of-winter-winds smelling forest to pick mushrooms. Something we did all every autumn weekend through my growing up. It was amazing to wander the rustling leaf-beds in the still warm sun and feel my whole past concertina in and out. I was three – on my first self-propelled walk there, ten and happily skippety-hopping, a sulky teenager kicking leaves (pleased to be there but one just can’t admit that..
) and a grown woman all rolled into one, but also very distinct and separate phases of me. The frequent finds of bright-yellow or comfortable brown treasure broke the kaleidoscope only briefly then set it off again. This is where one of my brothers fell into a nest of morelles, this is were we saw the bear.The four hours of mushroom cleaning and chopping was a good continuation, the three of us gossipping about family and trading adult-opinions. The taste of the soup we made just summed up the scents, colours and warmth of the day.
I had long moved away when I visited, not only from my parents but from the country as well, and it was grand to reconnect with my roots, my past selves and the two best parents in the world.
Joan said,
September 19, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Fall is my favorite season. I love the filtered light, the cooler days and nights, and the back to school “new-ness” of it.
It also marks my return to cooking and baking. As soon as it’s cool enough to use the oven without overheating everyone in the house, I make apple pie. With McIntosh apples. And huge pots of chili. And pot roast.
My kids are already planning our Halloween decorations and costumes. My third grader is planning on putting up bats EVERYWHERE he can, while my 3-year-old twins pretend to be ghosts with their blankies over their heads.
Jackie said,
September 19, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
I love fall because the days are warm and the nights are cool. I get all fired up to start baking cookies and bread. Nothing smells better than coming into the house with that smell.
Shannan said,
September 19, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Add me to the list of people who said “Fall is my favorite season”. My favorite things about fall are:
- The air is cooler and crisp.
- Apples and pumpkins (and the pies that they make!).
- The leaves changing.
- Halloween!
- And with Halloween comes lots of scary movies on TV. I love scary movies!!
- No guilt for not weeding the garden.
Elinor said,
September 19, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
I love fall because the moment it shows up the hot-hot-muggy-hot weather in Baltimore ends, and it gets cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. It’s no longer humid, either, so we can actually enjoy the sun and not melt into puddles. I also love it just before the leaves all turn, where just the edges are orange and red. Plus, the cooler it is in the morning, the better to drink hot tea and wear wool socks. I think autumn is my favourite of the four. I can sleep with blankets on and be cozy, but not wake up with frozen toes. Also, pie.
Lissette said,
September 19, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
I live in Miami, so as far as Fall goes, it’s pretty much the same thing as Spring and Summer around here, but I do notice that the air gets a bit crisper, especially around Halloween, the night takes over quicker then it used to, and people seem to be just a little happier about life then if it was the usual 210 degree summer we have out here. It also makes it harder for mosquitoes to reproduce and drain all the blood out of me, so that’s always a nice perk about it getting just a bit cooler.
Something that I do absolutely love about the Fall season is that everywhere you go there is always this incredible smell of food in the air during the evenings. It’s as if in the Fall all the amateur chefs come out and start to cook, and it smells GREAT! And the best part……HALLOWEEN!!! I LOVE Halloween! I love being able to dress up like a freak without having people stare and point. I love watching the kids get all dolled up in cute little costumes and beg for candy. And what I used to absolutely love about Halloween were the marshmellow popcorn balls my grandmothers neighbor used to cook up for the kids before she passed. OMG, those things were like a slice of heaven on earth! I used to con my brother out of his as a kid, and eventually he caught on to it and that stopped, so I was down to one marshmellow popcorn ball for Halloween, but they were good while they lasted.
Elizabeth said,
September 19, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Pumpkin Bread! And buying waaay too many apples and baking things.
Also, that blue color that the sky only gets in fall.
Debbi said,
September 19, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. My birthday being in October might have something to do with it; but mostly it’s everything else about fall that I love. The leaves turning, the smell of fires in my neighbors’ fireplaces, apple cider, and my favorite things – apple and pumpkin pies! My tradition every fall is to make pies. My uncle has a pumpkin patch, so I get lovely pumpkins every year for baking. I also love to go pick apples with my family. Then, I spend a weekend making pies – big pies, little pies, tarts, and breads. The smells are amazing in my house! And of course fall means I’m that much closer to my favorite holiday – Christmas! The decorations,..the tree,…I could go on and on….
Laurie said,
September 19, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
I have to agree with all that said school supplies!!! I have to buy them! (Even when I don’t need them.) I can’t pass buy a shelf with notebooks without stopping to look. I think I am possessed! My teenagers think I have cleanned out staples!
Also getting back to routines, knitting, cooking, knitting, baking, knitting more… you get the idea!
Chrissy said,
September 19, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Fall is apple baking season: apple pies, apple crisp, apple dumplings, etc.–all from scratch.
Kathy said,
September 19, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Returning to the blessed coolness! When hot flashes occur one only has to step outside to cool down. (sorta giving away my age,eh?)
Melissa said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Oooh I forgot apple cider. And hot spiced apple cider. And the Caramel Apple Ciders from Starbucks!
I think I might be just a little hungry…
Maja said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Fall means that it’s time to start baking bread again! Sunday afternoons are for bread-baking, and knitting is the perfect way to pass the time while I wait for the dough to rise. Mmmm… the smell of fresh-baked bread in the house is heavenly!
jaci said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Fall for me means putting on my wonderful knit socks again with a sweatshirt. (Shorts,too!) I love being able to make desserts with the apples from the local orchards. Decorating with leaves, candles, and bittersweet is fun too.
Barb said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
I love fall. It all starts with apple picking. I make apple sauce, apple pie and apple cake. Then we rake the leaves. I jump in the piles of leaves. Yup…I am 40 and I still love to jump in them. I am a 5 year old at heart. I love cooking and after the hot summer it is fun to get into the kitchen and cook and cook.
It’s also fun to curl up and knit without sweating;-)
Lacey said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
I love Fall. My family has always loved Fall. My mom would pack us up in her little blue escort when I was little and we would go to the North Georgia mountains. We would pan for gold, buy the best apples in Ellajay, go to a huge flea market outside of Helen, explore caves, and just glory in the middle time between Summer and Winter. My favoorite memory was when my little brother who was probably about three at the time fell into the cold creek behind a mill. He was wearing his favorite cowboy boots and a tshirt my mom and I had painted him. We told him to back away from the rocks, that they were slippery, but he wanted to splash.
And then, quick as anthing, he fell in all the way. It was just the funniest thing ever. He wasn’t hurt and our whole family laughed and laughed. Even he laughed after we fished him out of the cold running water. It just felt great to be a family that day. My parents divorced when I was fifteen, so things weren’t always this way. It’s still one of my favorite memories.
I have now managed to move far enough out of the Southern part of the state to see the leaves actually change. I’m only a few hours’ drive from the places we frequented when I was small.
Anon. said,
September 19, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Add me to the “fall is my favorite season too” club! I love the crisp, cooler air, the leaves changing, the shorter days, apple cider, pumpkin pie, and soup. And of course, being able to wear wool socks again!
And I just LOVE the colors of fall.
Oh, and I don’t have to mow the lawn every single week anymore
Charmaine said,
September 19, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
I love because it gives me such a snuggly feeling. It is also my favorite time of year.
I love to bake & make lots of soups & stews. I love to decorate. I have these cute scarecrows & pumpkins. Also I put up these cute little wooden “kids” dressed in different costumes for Halloween. My friend painted them. I love the smell & making apple pies. Enjoy this time of year!!! whooo hooooo
Cindy said,
September 19, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
I love the leaves changing
Just not raking them up.
Kim Bradley said,
September 19, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
My favorite thing each year is the first fire that we have in our fireplace. It’s so cozy–we can’t wait for the evenings to finally get cold enough.
Lacey said,
September 19, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
Hands down, Halloween!
Susan said,
September 19, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Fall is definitely my favorite season too!! I love the crispness in the air, the turning leaves and for my family and I a trip to the pumpkin patch was always such fun. Coming home with pumpkins and apples for pie and gourds!! I love to have a basket of gourds on the table. I enjoy choosing them… it’s almost like choosing yarn, picking colors and shapes and sizes that compliment each other.
emicat said,
September 19, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Fall is my favorite time of year and all about baking, which leads to me gaining a little more weight around this time of year, but oh well
Halloween is also my favorite holiday, so I start to prep for that and try to think of some kind of interesting costume to wear. It’s also wonderful to just be cozy around a warm fire with a good cup of coffee and great reading material. I just love fall!
Alison L said,
September 19, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Apple picking, apple cider, and anything with pumpkins! Whole Foods’ website has a great pumpkin muffin recipe.
chris said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
ice cream!
no, seriously. the local ice cream shop around my place makes everything fresh and by hand and once Fall arrives, they bring out their specials like apple pie ice cream and pumpkin pie ice cream. SO yummy!
Laurie said,
September 19, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
The last few years, having kids in high school, fall means high school football. I love to go and watch all of the kids interact (and some of the game, too.) We watch the daughter play her bass drum in the marching band, and when the moon comes up across the field on a clear night, it’s just beautiful.
Lori said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
When I was (very) young, I would walk home from school with my brother. Once the leaves fell, we would take a different route home — the one by the slightly busier street, which had leaf collection. Most of my childhood memories of fall involve walking home along that road, tromping through the crisp (or soggy) piles of leaves, many of which were nearly as tall as I was. I would invariably come home with my shoes full of leaves and dirt and twigs, which my wonderful mother dealt with with minimal complaint — but at least it was only store-bought socks which got abused so bady!
Melinda said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
I love the colors of fall, all that beautiful orange, rust, and cinnamon colors. I always burn the pumpkin spice candle and get those wonderful smells in the air and no calories with candles.
I have a collection of acorns and squirrels and keep them out all year long because I like to look at them through all seasons.
Growing up in Texas we didn’t have the changing of the leaves or crisp air but somehow we always knew when football started it was fall and maybe some cool air would soon follow.
Happy Fall Everyone
Angela said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Fall for me seems to be a time of change. School starts, the weather gets crisp, the leaves change, our wardrobes change. . . we buy and sell houses
The last time we bought a house it was fall, and we’re getting ready to do it again. Which means I’m sitting on my fingers trying so hard not to buy yarn (so I don’t have to move it)!
hopalong682003 said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Fall has a special meaning for us. We live in southern California and fall means that we can open the windows, turn off the fans/air conditioning, and step outside without frying our feet. Now, if I only had some socks.:-)
Deb said,
September 19, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Fall activities go back to early childhood. We raked 1 1/2 acres of leaves, oaks and maples. Then we would pile them high and jump into them for days or until the first rain after the gathering. We lived in the country and burned them slowly. I remember the smell even today. Fall is my absolutely most favorite time of year.
Wannietta said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Pumpkin pie baby!!! I buy them (yes, I can and do eat multiple pies) at Costco. I can’t make them any better and I just love them.
Lisa Kay Wilson said,
September 19, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
I love the crisp air in the morning, wearing a jacket, and then having it be warm in the afternoon. My wedding was in September, the 18th, and we had an outdoor wedding in Highland, IL. We held it at the Laetzer House, and they have a craft fair there the second weekend in September each year, so that is a great way to celebrate and bring back memories. (Sorry, you just missed it this year! You’ll have to wait until next year to check it out!)
Lisa Kay Wilson
Linda said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:16 am
I love the nip of cold in the morning and evening. ..the rush to get the garden chores done before the rains start, clean the gutters and fertilize the lawn. Put away the summery decorations and drag out the Fall and Halloween boxes.And we so look forward to driving to the nearby farm to get fresh ears of corn. We usually travel over the mountains to Eastern Washington to get fresh apples and pears – and on the way stop at Leavenworth for OKtoberfest.
Terri said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:47 am
Fall for me is the sound of dry leaves blowing down the street. Days of cold before I break down and fire up the heater for the year. (Every year I say “not until October”. That will be the day. ) Making hot chocolate for the kids for breakfast. Delighting that when the school bus drives by in the morning we are all in our jammies, happy as can be.
Robin said,
September 20, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Fall is my favorite time of the year too! It could be because my birthday is in October, or, could be because of the nice crisp fall weather, the leaves changing colors, the smell of apples, and pumpkin pie. My favorite holiday is Halloween!
My favorite childhood memory of fall is raking the leaves into a pile at the bottom of a hill, then rolling down the hill into the leaves-what great fun!
Patti said,
September 20, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Love Fall – cooler temps, the landscape colors, the smell. One of my favorite things about fall is Stayman Winesap apples. We can only get them for a few weeks and have to make my favorite dessert, apple crisp, with them at least once. And real apple cider, which is getting harder to find all the time due to food safety laws and regulations. One of my favorite family traditions is carving pumpkins with my boys. Not a regular jack o ‘lantern, but the detailed halloween scenes (we use bought patterns) that allow hours of sitting together and chatting.
Sara said,
September 20, 2007 @ 8:37 am
My favorite thing about fall is leaf peeping… some of my favorite memories of growing up is when the family would pile in the car and drive north… and just take pictures of the trees. We’d stop periodically for food… and to stretch our legs… but it was just so beautiful. I love living here in Maine so I don’t have to really travel to see such amazing colors!
Erin in Minnesota said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
My favorite thing about fall is the trips my family used to take in late September (right about now in other words) to the northern edge of Minnesota to see the fall colors by the shores of Lake Superior. The drive up is amazing as you watch the trees become steadily more colorful over the course of a 5+ hour drive; by the time you reach Duluth or Grand Marais it’s like an explosion of color. We would spend a few days up there, my Dad would skip rocks for my sisters and I and try to teach us how, we would visit a ski resort and ride gondolas up the side of the “mountain” (most people would say it was a really big hill) with the colors spread out below us. We had to stop going when I was far enough in school that my parents couldn’t pull me out for a week, but I can’t wait until I come out of the other end of the school system, and maybe we can go again.
Antoinette said,
September 20, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
My favorite thing about fall is baking again! I try not to bake all summer since it gets so hot, but the first day our air conditioner gets turned off, I am a baking machine! My favorite are my own recipe for chocolate chip cookies, and Amish Friendship Bread! I also like to get back into knitting more in the fall – right now, I’m trying to figure out what sweater I want to knit this season!
Marlena said,
September 20, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
The following is a blog I posted two weeks ago about fall. It is kind of a long blog, and you have so many comments posted here, so if you would like to skip ahead to the real meat of the subject, see paragraph # 6. Also, at the botttom, I am going to include my favorite pumpkin recipie. Happy Reading!
~Marlena
I was sipping my perfect Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte while on my way home this evening when a collection of thoughts were unleashed in my mind. A combination of things began my passionate thought process and made me want to write tonight. I haven’t written for a while, but my thoughts have been such a constant, forceful hemorrhage swelling to the point that I can’t sleep at night.
It was idiotic of me to go to the mall over Labor Day weekend. Bath and Body Works was having an outrageous sale and I bought some gifts for my husband that he won’t see for another 7 months due to his current residence in the swirling sandy land. Harmony and I pushed through the crowds and waited patiently in long lines and managed to accumulate a couple of heavy bags to take home.
Before we even reached the glass doors of the mall, I saw the rain pouring down outside. It never fails to rain when I am leaving the mall in this town. Being Labor Day and all, I had parked the car over the river and through the woods away. Harmony and I had a nice sloshing wet journey ahead of us. It’s a good thing I come from Seattle and I love the rain like I do. It just doesn’t get to me like it does to some other people. I even think it is blasphemy to use an umbrella. It’s against my religion.
So Harmony and I make our way through the rain towards the car. It didn’t take long before my pants were soaked up to my knees and the rest of me resembled a drowned rat. Still, I didn’t mind and we were in no hurry. But we should have been… The bag that held my many Bath and Body Works bottles became soggy and every bottle fell into the middle of the parking lot and rolled around, spreading like a burst bag of marbles. I could have felt embarrassed as Harmony and I scrambled to pick up our yummy, smelly goods from the wading pool parking lot while several hoopties full of disgruntled black people glared at us. Instead, I felt good. Logic found me and told me that I should laugh at myself, so I did all the way to the car as the other larger paper bag was now weighed down and about to tear open.
We were in the car and not a spot on us was dry and the feeling of the soaking wet clothes against my skin reminded me of so many times I had been soaked like this back home in Seattle. I used to have to walk to school in the rain and my clothes would stay wet all day long while I sat in school. All these memories made me crave Starbucks like a junkie craves cocaine. Lucky for us, there was a drive-through Starbucks on the way home.
When we pulled up, there was a sign announcing the seasonal special Pumpkin Spice Latte. I knew what I was going to get. And when I got it in my hands, the first thing I did was smell it. They topped it off with a few shakes of Nutmeg that greeted my nose and again, I was lost in memories and a freeway of ideas and thoughts. It tasted perfect, and just then I knew that hypothetically, if I knew I was going to gain 300lbs if I drank another latte, I would have to take the latte anyway.
I LOVE Fall with a passion that compares to sexual bliss. If I had to use a season to describe myself, I would BE Fall. (If that makes no sense to anyone but myself, I am okay with that.) The latte was the catalyst for my Fall tangent. I started to think about the cold nights of my life that I have spent wrapped up in comfy sweaters and thick socks, nuzzling into my husband and a warm beverage to save my bony hands from freezing. I remember taking walks outside in this season all bundled up, with the wind blowing through my hair and in the trees. When it rushes through the trees, it makes the most amazing sound and causes the leaves to fall as if they were giant snow flakes. Just writing about it makes me want to be there now.
My parents used to take me out to the country in the Fall and we would cut our pumpkins off the vine in a pumpkin patch. I like the green veiny and oddly shaped ones as apposed to the annoyingly symmetrical round buttery orange ones. But that was a long time ago. Before I moved here, I made a point to take my daughter to the same pumpkin patch I used to go to as a child. I take even more pleasure in going now, pulling my daughter in a red waggon through the pumpkin patch and dwarfing her with my huge hideous pumpkin selections. I always pick a small one to bake and eat. It’s my own tradition.
I LOVE FALL. I love the colors, the smells, the food, the holidays within the season. Don’t think I would forget to mention the clothes! I love the coats and scarves and boots that come out just before the season, during the waning days of summer. I love the Fall with all of my soul. Which brings me to a possible direction change in life that I have been thinking about.
My dear husband called me the other day from Afghanistan. He mentioned his intent to re-enlist with the military to become a recruiter. They are offering him a bonus and this career choice would make it less likely that he will get deployed again for at least a couple years. It was a difficult idea for me to accept for the first five minutes. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from those lying sack of shit recruiters that signed him up when he went back in. In general, I lament those people that sell their souls to get people to join the military and will do just about anything necessary to get their precious commission. I don’t want my husband to be one of those guys. But the figure he gave me for the bonus they are offering in combination with the possibility of getting the **** out of this horrible military town I currently reside in makes my mouth water and the wheels in my head spin.
There is never a guarantee when you deal with the military. Until my husband actually signs the paperwork, I can’t get to excited. But if it works out the way I hope, we will be able to request a few places we might want to relocate to. There is no guarantee for that, either. But……. The state of Maine is breathtaking in the Fall!
I am currently obsessed with the idea of moving to Maine. It would be next year before any of this would be possible. And I’m sure that my husband has his share of places he wants to go too. But even the smallest possibility makes my heart skip. I was looking at pictures of places in Maine last night online and almost cried because of how beautiful it is there. And that is where I have had another revelation…
I no longer want to go back to Washington. I love it there. I have family and friends there, it’s beautiful there, I know my way around and the culture and class are unbeatable. There is never a shortage of things to do… But I never thought I would feel this way. For the longest time, I have held on to the Northwest, thinking my heart was there. But I am realizing now how possible it is to fall in love with a new place. I thought I wanted to settle down and retire back at home in Washington. I think I have been limiting myself. I also think that all this time away from both home and from my husband has liberated me slightly. It has made me less afraid of moving somewhere new. I know I will survive no matter what. Especially after living here!
All the thoughts about moving have made me think of where I want to go and not just physically, but with life in general. I have really felt like this last year has been really stagnant. I haven’t had much adventure or excitement. There have been a lot of difficult things to deal with, the hardest being the absence of my husband. He has always balanced me out and brought stability to my life. So I have been left with a lot to desire and have been day-dreaming lately about the life I want.
Most importantly, I want my husband in my life. I want to be more in touch with nature. I want to have the wilderness as my playground, be it the mountains, forests or sea. (In Main there is all of those things) I want to live comfortably. I do not want an enormous house or the most expensive vehicle and all of the finest things. I want to have the time for hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, rock climbing, snowboarding and a rewarding career. I don’t want my career to be about making obscene amounts of money. I want it to be rewarding on a personal level. I want a dog, a jeep and some property in the woods. I want the wind back in my hair and the chill back in my bones.
I feel like I have been asleep for the last 8 months. Just waiting for my life to change, waiting to feel passionate about something, anything again. It won’t happen overnight, but there is a clarity that I am beginning to have. I am really starting to get a sense of who I am and the kind of person I want to be. I have more to write on this subject, as my thoughts are like a free flowing stream lately…
MARLENA’S FAVORITE PUMPKIN RECIPIE
Stuffed Baby Pumkin (for dinner or desert)
Ingredients:
One small “pie pumpkin”
desert version:
Frozen Berries of choice
Brown Sugar
Honey
Butter
Cinnamon
Whipped Cream
Or:
Wild rice
flavored cous cous
nuts
butter
Instructions:
Carve around the stem and scrape out the insides of the pumpkin as if you were going to make a jackolantern.
(save the seeds for baking)
Decide weather you want to stuff the pumkin with fruit and turn it into desert, or with rice or cous cous and serve it for dinner.
put a couple teaspons of water inside.
wrap with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, or until almost cooked. (you should be able to stick a fork through the pumkin and have it go through easily)
Take the pumpkin out of the oven and stuff with desired filling, replace the stem on top and wrap with foil again.
Bake at 375 degrees for 1/2 an hour or more until the pumkin is fully cooked. (nice and soft)
Remove from oven and cut it like a pie in fourths or eights. Serve the desert version with whipped cream on top
Karin said,
September 20, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Hi Sheri, This is so far down in the comments but still wanted to share. My favourite seasons are spring (Easter) and Christmas. But I married a Halloweenie! We love the Autumn season and do a little natural decorating (gourds, pumpkin candles, etc). But the All Hallows week, my Hubby goes wild! Graveyards, moats, bubbling cauldrons appear. If it’s scary, squishy or weird – it’s probably on our lawn. I think the kids thought their Dad was Jack Skellington for a while there
. We have a fondness for Pillsbury Halloween sugar cookies (ugh!) and use my Great Gran’s pumpkin pie recipe alot over the season. My own specialty is pumpkin cheesecake with praline topping – getting hungry just thinking about it!
Rachael said,
September 20, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Fall means Indian Summer (though I”m sure that’s not politically correct now), apple picking, apple pies, watching the leaves blow on the wind, snuggling in the bed at night after long hot summers of throwing blankets OFF the bed, and comfort food. Soup, chili, roasts, anything that needs to cook for a long time, all those rich and savory flavors. YUM!!
Beth said,
September 20, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
I absolutely love the spicy scents associated with autumn – mulled cider, pumpkin pie. I also love having “soup” and “tea” weather again.
One childhood memory that has really stuck with me is going out to gather leaves and ironing them between sheets of waxed paper. I can’t wait to do that and leaf rubbings with my daughter this year. This will also be the first year that she will really care about her pumpkin.
Nicole said,
September 20, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
Each year, my parents would load us up in the car and take us out of the city to go apple-picking. As we got a little older, we both hit a phase where being with your parents just wasn’t “cool”, so we would often ask to bring a friend along. One particular fall, my younger brother brought a friend along (of course the most rambunctious boy on the street – those are the fun kind, right?) to keep him entertained. The boys went off searching for that perfect tree and after a while, we noticed they had been missing for nearly an hour. Our bushel basket was full, so we headed back toward the entrance, only to find my brother and his friend sitting on the fence next to the owner, looking awfully smug. It turns out the boys had started an apple-eating contest and were causing quite a scene! That was the last time the “rambunctious” boy was allowed to come apple-picking!
Sarah said,
September 20, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
Fall means…. FOOTBALL!! , no more humidity, crisp air, beautiful colors, no more ants
, fires in the fireplace, wearing hand-knit socks and scarves, cuddling with hubby and son, son’s first birthday (10/28). Fall invigorates me… Even though everything is dying and going into hibernation… I feel most alive in the fall. it is my favorite season without a doubt!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend~
Angeluna said,
September 21, 2007 @ 12:09 am
Fall, how I love it. Married to an Italian, late September meant we headed for a few weeks to his birthplace, the isle of Capri, when all the obnoxious tourists were gone for the season, the heat was over, there were no cars, and that special wind began to stir. Mists over the islands, one could almost hear the Sirens singing. The heartier fall foods started to appear, the fruits of the summer were being preserved, wine was being pressed and we were offered tastes of the new wine from every private maker. Everyone on the island knew us and stopped us to talk at each curve in the path. How is your mother? father? uncle? children? Have you tasted the Pepperone CampoLazzaro at the Arco Naturale? Come in and let me fix you a quick pasta a la Putenesca? Sitting on a quiet terrace drinking that last espresso under the stars. Life as it had been for thousands of years, a slower time sequence. It was very close to heaven.
Knittin' Diva said,
September 21, 2007 @ 5:03 am
We (my husband, my 2 boys, and myself) go apple picking every fall. We make a day out of it, and eat more apples than we can stand while we’re picking. (We usually come home with a belly ache from eating so many apples.) The following day, I make apple crisp and serve it up with vanilla ice cream. It always makes for great scrap booking pictures every year
Lou said,
September 21, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Sheri, I’m a scrapbooker too!!!!!!! ( Aside from being a yarn collector, I’m also a collector of scrapbook supplies.
))
Okay, my favorite fall thing is the colors I see in the changing leaves — I find them so inspiring. I just love seeing the colors of fall. And next to the colors, I love Pumpkins and Halloween. I pretty much like anything with pumpkin in it!
BTW, I had a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks the other day and thought of you!
Jessie said,
September 21, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Fall is my favorite season! I love everything about it. All the pumpkin-scented (and flavored!) items that are available this time of year, and visiting the pumpkin patch, and getting to pull out all the fun fall decorations. There is just nothing bad about fall!
Jennifer said,
September 21, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Well Fall brought good and bad for me… It was beautiful to see all of the leaves change, but then they would fall and guess who got to rake them all up
Fall weather did bring relief from the heat and I remember that mom seemed to bake more. The weekend were filled with popovers, special peach coffee cake, pancakes and once Thanksgiving came around mom made the best pumpkin and apple pies!! Yummm…
betshsu said,
September 21, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Pumpkin, yum… pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and now pumpkin lattes =).
Though, to be honest, I am much more of a warm weather type person (I wear sandals for as long as I possibly can through the fall)… too bad I don’t live in Austin anymore
Faith said,
September 21, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Fall is hands down my favorite season. The only tradition we have is the annual apple picking day. It is always very special to me.
Faith
eleanor said,
September 21, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
An old Celtic belief in Scotland is that the new year starts on midnight of Samhuin, Halloween for us. This date celebrates the end of the old year and the coming of the new and the hopes that the sun will return again in six months. For them, autumn is a fresh start, and so it is for me as well. I’m a student still, so one part of autumn that is still my favourite is the start of a new school year. I anticipate with excitement my new classes, smelling new textbooks, and opening up a crisp new notebook and filling the pages full of notes and equations. It also means the return of friends and new students to school and the beginning of sleepless nights spent studying and hanging out in the kitchens of the dorm (usually filled with the scent of freshly baked cookies) and preparing recitation notes for teaching. Fall term is always a special one because the university is filled with the bouyant energy and excitement of a new crop of freshmen who have not yet fallen prey to the hours of physics and math and chemistry sets.
I go to school in LA but am from Connecticut originally, so autumn now means that the smog clears from the sky and and I can again see the mountains from my campus. It also means that the temperature dips below 80 degrees, which in my opinion, is a fine reason to start wearing my favorite sweaters and corduorys and socks. The return of autumn is also usually accompanied by a wave of homesickness for fall colours and pumpkin patches and the actual smell that accompanies autumn back home. It is the season that always makes me feel most in tune with nature, which is something I really enjoy while it lasts.
Stephania said,
September 21, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
I miss the autumn colors of New England.
I enjoy watching my husband go back to school every year to teach college students, some of whom I get to meet. Despite being fall, it always seems to be a fresh start for us.
jessica said,
September 21, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
I hope I’m not too late to have a chance to win!
My family(when I was a kid) always went apple picking, I jsut loved it, being able to eat them as you pick and the clean crisp air…mmm
This year I did it with my family, my kids love it too!
Terri said,
September 22, 2007 @ 12:38 am
I love fall and miss it dearly living in Texas. I lived in Connecticut as a child and remeber fall from there. We had Macintosh apples, the leaves changing colors, dad cussing in the backyard because we kept jumping in the piles he just made, mom’s apple pie.
I always try to get the fall spirit in the house now, but because it’s usually 90+ F, it just doesn’t feel like fall. And I do silly things like put away my shorts and start wearing jeans despite the heat. It’s September, by gosh, and it’s supposed to be a little chilly!! I start getting ready for Halloween, too, dragging out the decorations and putting them up. And I start knitting the kids’ annual sweaters. They don’t get to wear them much, except at the in-laws, but that’s my fall traditions.
BethC said,
September 22, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
My father taught at a small liberal arts college and one of my favorite fall memories is going to football games with dad. I would run around with my friends, sit with my dad, watch the cheerleaders stunts in awe, and just generally have a good time. I realize now that it was a ploy to get my mom some time alone… but I loved it!
Megan said,
September 22, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
I love watching the leaves change! I remember raking up tons of leaves with my dad when I was a kid; we would load up the back of his pick up, and it was my job to trample on the leaves and pack them down so we could fit more in. Even with all of that, though, we had to take at least one truck full a week to the community compost pile for most of fall.
weezalana said,
September 23, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
I love the crisp, cool air that turns my nose pink and takes my breath away.
I love the crackle and smell of a real fire in the fireplace (well, as real as you can get with a Duralog, anyway!).
I love snuggling on the couch under one of many throw blankets with a good book or my hubby (not necessarily in that order. Most of the time.).
I love the warm, tingly feeling of holiday anticipation, the kind only Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s can bring.
And I love wearing all the fun, fabulous, and even some not-so fabulous things I’ve made since learning how to knit last year!
heather c said,
September 23, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Fall means football and marching band it also means that it is getting time to turn indoors and spend more time with family and friends. It also means that the rush of summer is over and you can have more time to knit the things that you have put off because it was too hot and sticky. I just love to gather all of my knitting supplies and snuggle up in the couch and knit something warm. My mom loves fall because that means more warm socks to get her though the winter, and i enjoy every bit of it. I also love fall because of all the colors we get to see in nature and I just want to turn it all into beautiful yarn to knit and capture the moment for all year long.
Denise S. said,
September 23, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Fall has always been my favorite season…all of my favorite colors are fall leaves – green, orange, brown. I love the crazy variety of fresh apples that are available in the fall. Mostly I think I love the back-to-school shopping season – new notebooks and pens, new sweaters and shoes, new “school” bags…and I don’t even go to school anymore (and I don’t have children who do, either).
Jen C. said,
September 23, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Since I’m from San Francisco, some weeks in early fall is when it gets kinda warm! Warm for the SF Bay Area that is. (In July I was still wearing flannel PJ’s!) I enjoy my last chances at wearing shorts then I welcome in the sweater weather.
Doreen S. said,
September 25, 2007 @ 7:35 am
I grew up in South Florida so there was virtually no change of seasons. But 14 years ago I moved to North Carolina and found the smells of fall. That’s my favorite thing. I love the smell of the fresh crisp air in the mornings , the fireplaces, stews and soups cooking. I even love the smell of leaves burning – although I could do without the raking part. Another great things is being able to open all the windows in the house in the afternoon and let in all that fresh air. Fall hasn’t quite arrived here yet but just writing this has got me dreaming about it.
Kathryn in Minnesota said,
September 25, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
My favorite fall tradition is Mountain Day. I taught for a year at a small college in western Massachusetts where the college president would wake up one fine fall morning and cancel classes. Literally. No classes. You were supposed to go hiking or horseback riding (it was an expensive college) or to one of the local orchards or a nice patch of lawn somewhere, just to take in the loveliness of the season. I went hiking. It was such a gift, a whole day, unplanned, when the weather was beautiful and the trees were at peak color, that I’ve tried to observe it annually even though I no longer live in New England or around anything that could be remotely considered a mountain. My personal Mountain Day, though mountain-less, usually involves hot cider, a good hike with a canine buddy or two, butternut squash ravioli garnished with fresh sage, and knitting (of course). I’m a sucker for fall veggies (especially pumpkins and squash) and the marvelous variety of local apples that abound this time of year. Watching the nephews and nieces choose their Halloween costumes is a highlight too. : )
JR said,
September 26, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so I love that this is the time of year that my mother and I start planning the Thanksgiving menu. Hopefully this fall will also include some good quality apple-picking–who doesn’t love apple-picking?–that will lead to some delicious baking–baked apples, apple pie, apple bread. This Rosh Hashanah I discovered how delicious honey-butter can be with my apple-nut muffins! Yum, autumn!
Jenny Girl said,
September 26, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
I love the Fall because of the change of season. The crisp cool feeling and smell of the air. Football season. The fall smells of apple cinnamon or pumpkin spice. My mom would always burn candles with those types of scents, and now I do the same. The nights get darker earlier. That’s fall to me. Plus it’s close to Christmas. My favorite time of the year.
Leigh said,
September 27, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
When falls comes back around, I remember being in college. My favorite moment – the trees had turned those beautiful shades of red, orange, and bright yellow. I went to bed thinking, “Wow, I’m at the best college ever!” I wake up the next morning to begin my trek up the mountain to class, and lo – it had snowed (yes, snowed!) overnight. Too wonderful. At times I think I don’t deserve such a great life.
Kathy said,
September 28, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
One of my favorite times of year is the fall. It’s football season and the apples are ripening — and that means homemade pie. And we can’t forget the sounds and smells — especially when running through the just-raked leaves.