Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fall Has Fell



This sixteen-second video clip is me walking through autumn leaves. I love that crisp, dry, rustling sound, and when I see leaves covering a sidewalk or in drifts along the curb, I can't resist dragging my feet through them.

Autumn is a favorite season of mine. After a long, hot, humid Alabama summer, the cooler temps of autumn are quite welcome. Autumn officially starts on the autumnal equinox, which falls somewhere around September 23 or 24. But in Alabama, it's still hot then. However, usually about three weeks later, things will change and we'll start having cool mornings and nights with warm days. And then slowly we'll slide toward cooler days too.

But summer won't give up without a fight. We'll have a bit of Indian summer, where the nights will stay cool, but the days will be abnormally warm. It's this time of year when you never know how to dress your kids for school or yourself for work. The secret is layers you can peel off as the day progresses.

Angel mentioned our retreat in her Monday blog and here are a few photos. The cool autumn air made for great walking (we didn't walk fast enough to call it a hike, no matter what Problem Child says *grin* ).





I loved this house. The exterior is filled with color and whimsy, and I can only imagine what the interior looks like.














This little carved statue was in someone's front yard. It's such an original and unusual depiction of St. Francis.













And isn't this a face only a mother could love?










Last, but not least, here are the Playfriends posed on the rocks over looking the valley below.




Does anyone else like autumn as much as I do?

19 comments:

PM's Mother said...

Now you've done it! The change of seasons is the only thing I miss by moving to the coast of south Georgia. Our spring season is absolutely beautiful and we have green trees and grass all year long - but I MISS THE LOVELY FALL COLORS! I guess I will have to make a pilgrimage to my beloved North Carolina mountains.

PS: The leaves from the live oaks fall twice a year here. Come visit in the spring and you can "crunch" some more.

Problem Child said...

I was a death march, I tell you.

:-)

It was lovely.

I love fall, even if I'm a bit chilly this morning and looking desperately for my fuzzy socks.

Angel said...

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the colors and cooler days. Cold nights make for perfect hot chocolate mornings. And crunching in leaves just sounds good! There's something for every sense.

And as much as I complain about how many times I have to go, I love watching my children enjoy themselves at the pumpking patch. And the beginning of "Christmas present buying" season.

Yay, fall!

Angel

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Autumn is my favorite. Coming to Alabama was great because I got to experience a full on Autumn. I got a taste of it in college, but then I moved back to Vegas, which really only has two seasons, summer and wet.

I just love everything about it. Digging out sweaters, drinking cocoa, watching the leaves change, celebrating Halloween... I love Halloween.

That was a great walk. I never imagined any of that was back there...

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I love fall! It's my favorite time of year. Perfect weather. Crunchy leaves. Watching the girls dress up for Halloween. They get so into it and it reminds me of my childhood.

Instigator

Maven Linda said...

I like autumn, but spring is my favorite season, with all the scents and rioting colors. When the cherry trees around the gazebo are in bloom, they're breathtaking.

On a personal note, we have the snow slide ready for sowing with winter grass -- and I finally have a title for the new book: "BURN." It took forever, kicking around title after title after title, but I finally hit on a keeper. Yea!

Playground Monitor said...

Oops! Made mama mad!

Come here and I'll take you to the mountains. :-)

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Linda, I love the title!

Instigator

Sherry Werth said...

PM, I totally missed the tree face! But with so much to see, I'm not surprised.

I'm more of a spring and summer person but I do enjoy all the beautiful colors of the leaves. Now if the leaves would just be able to rake themselves up, I'd be happy. :}

Rhonda Nelson said...

Marilyn, fall is my favorite time of year. There's something so comforting in the winding down of summer. It's fires and mulled cider candles, a crisp breeze and warm desserts.

Alicia Hunter Pace (aka Jean Hovey and Stephanie Jones) said...

Love, love, love fall--everything about it. Cooler weather, football, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, pumpkins on the porch. I only clean up the leaves in my yard when I feel the neighbors are starting to make fun of me.

Hate, hate, hate that I missed the retreat. That will not happen to me next year; I don't care who gets married.

Anonymous said...

Autumn and Halloween are among my favorite things. I love the splash of color when the leaves change and the scent of fireplaces burning wafts through the air. It's definitely time to get the mulling spices out and fire them up - what a wonderful aroma!

Lynn Raye Harris said...

That was indeed a beautiful walk. So pleasant and just cool enough. I love fall too, but spring is my favorite. I love the new colors of spring. Spring green really is different than any other green. I love it.

But fall, with leaves and pumpkins and cool evenings by the fireplace are great too!

What I really miss are the Christmas markets in Germany. :/ They start up around the end of Nov and go to a few days before Christmas. And you don't care how cold it is, you happily walk from booth to booth and enjoy yourself. (The several cups of mulled wine don't hurt my attitude, I can tell you...)

Playground Monitor said...

Oh yes! The Christkindlmarkt. I went to the Frankfurt one every year but only made it to Nuremburg once. We even went to one in East Berlin. What a difference. Instead of sweets and ornaments and candles, they sold pots and pans and house shoes. But I had the absolute best roasted chicken there.

Anonymous said...

I'm a spring and fall kinda girl. And as far as raking leaves - not, I cut them suckers up with my lawn mower and it has its mulching attachment on it. Only time I rake is to rake them away from the fence to cut them.
robertsonreads

Jane said...

Autumn is my favorite season, too. I love the cool comfortable weather. The foliage is gorgeous. I also love to go apple picking. I wouldn't mind some cider right now.

Katherine Bone said...

I love fall, leaves floating down upon the ground, crackling beneathe my feet, a gentle breeze lifting my hair, football, the World Series, snuggling under a blanket while watching t.v., sweaters and hot chocolate.

I so miss our walk through the Assembly.

Love the name of your new book, Maven Linda!! :)

Anonymous said...

any winner from christie craig

amy kennedy said...

Oh yes the fall. I read somewhere that great things start in the fall--I think it was The Lord of the Rings--all quests start in the fall.

It's always been my favorite too. The smell, the crunch, the color. But I never knew Alabama had a fall--I'm happy it does and I love learning new things. We are in our peak colors here in Minnesota and have had a lovely fall.

Last year I think it only lasted a week and a half--