I’ve always felt I would have a difficult time living in an area where the definition of seasons is not as keen and striking as it is here in New England. That being said, I am not as enthusiastic about the extremes of summer and winter, but I admit it, I’m a sucker for fall and spring. There’s something about the “newness” that is integral with each, and the incredible energy I get from these two seasons.
Allow me to share with you my ” Top Ten Reasons for Loving Fall “:
1. the inherent vibrancy that comes with the harvest and the changing colors of the leaves, the sunlight that plays off these colors and provides an amazing show – unmatched, for me, in any other season. Mesmerizing!
2. new plans, agendas, and rituals – a renewal, another fresh start. Patterns change, the kids are off to school, warm weather outdoor activities come to an end. We all must shift gears again, and I like the fresh energy I derive from it.
3. the closure to the garden season. I am an avid gardener and love every phase of it, but, for me, there is also a sense of completion when I put down the last shovel of mulch, do the last of the deadheading and trimming, and put the garden to rest for the winter months. With that comes the promise of a new season to come in the spring – full of new sprouts and a chance to correct or better that which I did the last garden season.
4. neatly stacked piles of sweaters on my closet shelves, and crisp jeans ready to go! I know…it probably sounds weird, but there’s a nice “feel” to getting up on a chilly Saturday morn and donning a pair of jeans and a “cuddle-in” type sweater. When the temps drop to zero for days on end, however, I might think it pure tiresome! Stay tuned!
5. a simmering pot of soup on the stove, something baking in the oven – things I don’t do much of in the sweltering heat of summer. The whole process of it. To say nothing about the aromas that fill the house – divine!
6. the change in decor in the house. Each season I make changes – don’t we all? In the summer, we lighten it up a bit. We change with the holidays and the seasons to reflect the nuances, and perhaps traditions, we’ve come to love.
7. the flurry of activity in nature as the squirrels scurry about gathering , the frenzy at the bird feeders, the change in the air….
8. “nestling in” with a stack of magazines and a bowl of popcorn watching some sappy or dramatic movie, wrapped in a blanket on those chilly nights.
9. the anticipation of the first snowfall – the sheer beauty of it, the glisten, the slowing down for a moment to take it in and appreciate its charm. The quiet…
10. making a list of wintertime activities around the house – those projects you just can’t (don’t!) get to when the nice weather beckons you out of doors. I’m already thinking of photos that need sorting, gardening catalogs to come, that garden journal I’m going to ready for next spring…..the list goes on.
Share with me – what do you love about the season???
