There aren’t too many things that make me happier than cool weather, wearing scarves, seeing pumpkins and mums on steps, and spiced EVERYTHING. I'll add a few more things to that list - collecting fresh eggs first thing in the morning to warm my hands as I walk back up to the house, the feeling of wearing a soft sweater and house socks, the crispness of the air and lighting beeswax candles at the supper table. So far this fall, I’ve made pumpkin spice syrup, spiced peach butter, cinnamon raisin bread, and a spiced plum upside-down cake. And I've tried (again) to make a batch of my own apple cider vinegar with apples from our trees, and it seems to be working this time! My tea has shifted from summer's green tea in the mornings to September’s Yorkshire Gold, and now I’m on to Tazo’s chai. I had a glass-walled thermal mug that I used every day to drink it from on my way to work, which I broke yesterday while trying to carry too many things into the house at once. Such is life!
Fall is a full time for us, as it is for most families. The boys are now settled into the new school year routine. The bus is going very well! I am really, really enjoying that part of our mornings – we all go out together to wait for the bus; it’s only a couple of minutes, but they’re sweet ones. It’s a little bit darker each morning when we go out; the moon has been in view these last few clear mornings. Adam’s coaching basketball again this year, and both boys are participating in that, as well as piano lessons. One thing we haven’t done as much as I would have liked by now is getting out to the camp. It’s always when I’m the busiest and need it most that I don’t make the time to do all of the things that make me feel alive. Note to self.
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In other fall loveliness, some fallish things I enjoy:
The Girl Next Door Podcast's fall enthusiasm, like in this episode.
Hannah Queen's Instagram feed.
Create a "To-Don't-Do List". You might want to grab the tissues before watching this one - fall also seems to be a time of more, more, more - and I want it to be a time of less, less, less.
P.D. James - I've gone on P.D. James benders every fall for the past several years, when the weather turns colder and the leaves are gone - usually right around the beginning of November. Fall seems to be the time of year that many of her books are set, and i love listening to them while I drive - the ones narrated by Charles Rogers are the best.
Happy Thanksgiving to you fellow Canadians - I hope you enjoy a restful weekend with family and friends!