Friday, September 01, 2006

Fall is almost here!

I have this giddy feeling in the pit of my stomach. No, silly ... I'm pretty sure it's not the chicken sandwich I had at lunch. The giddiness is due to the rapid approach of my all-time favorite season -- Fall!

This morning, it was cool, dark, and dripply (drizzle, rain, drip, etc.) thanks to Ernesto, but it just served to remind me that the crisp fall weather and the scent of burning wood is just weeks away. I love everything about fall. Fall weather. Fall foods. Fall scents. Fall festivals. Fall candles. Fall clothing. Fall colors. There isn't much I don't like about fall!

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to go on Saturday drives through the mountains, and into the little historic villages surrounding the city where I live. The fall foliage is usually on proud display as the trees gracefully drape their limbs covered with reds, yellows, oranges ... We have one particular little village only 25 to 30 minutes away from me where three states intersect, and two rivers converge. It's just breathtakingly beautiful in the fall. The mountains that flock the rivers on either side are riddled with color.

It serves to remind me of God's majestic beauty and power, and brings to mind Psalm 8 -- here it is in the Message version -- I just love how it reads:

"God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs That drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?

Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, Made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world."


Isn't it true? Our God is brilliant!

I mentioned that I love fall foods. I do. Oh, how I do. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin cookies. Pumpkin rolls. Pumpkin soup (yup - love that too). Apple pie. Fresh-pressed apple cider and apple-cherry cider (did you know you can freeze fresh cider for later on in the year?) orange-cranberry bread, cran-apple pie, oh ... the list could go on, and on, and ON! And, really, who can argue with Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and all the trimmings? I also love walking into the house when I have a pot of soup simmering, or a chicken roasting. Mmmm -- comfort foods.

I was on my way home from work yesterday, and I was following behind a truck towing a wood chipper. They must have just cut a pine tree down and shredded it, because my car was filled with the scent of pine, which reminded me of my second favorite season (winter), but ... that might be rushing things a bit, and we won't go there!

So -- what is your favorite Fall scent, sight, and food???

23 comments:

kpjara said...

I love the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon! I love the scents of fall...but I hate winter! I'd like to go straight from fall to spring.

Anonymous said...

Believe it or not, I'm not a big fan of fall. Mostly because I don't like winter, and I feel like fall is one big pre-winter. But I'm learning to love it more as I get older, and especially this year after such a wicked-hot summer.

Donnetta said...

Fall is heading to the Pacific NW as well. Just the other day my son came in from outside and said, "It smells like fall out there."

I love the changing colors. I also love the crispness in the air (notice I did NOT say cold air... I get cold way too easily). I love that I can layer (not have to wear a heavy winter coat) and be warm, outside, and enjoying a bonfire or two.

Shalee said...

I love the smell of an apple pie baking (lots of cinnamon), bonfires and rainy days.

I love to see the changing colors, kids jumping in the leaves and football games.

Food would be apple pie (of course), beef stew, and caramel apples. Actually there are MANY more foods to list, but I shall play nice and share your comment space!

Laura said...

Why do I all of a sudden feel very very hungry?

Jennifer said...

We don't get much of a fall around these parts, maybe a week or two of nice weather. The leaves don't change to beautiful colors, and the air doesn't really get that "crisp" feel for very long. *sigh* We "fake" fall with pumpkin scented candles and decorations inside the house! I love everything pumpkin, although I've never tried pumpkin soup. I wish I could travel this fall somewhere to where they actually have 4 seasons and see what the fuss is all about! :-)

Eagles Wings said...

ohhh you are making me miss the fall weather / colors...I don't see a bit of all in FL....
I miss all the cooler weather, cooking and eating!!!!Thanks for the beautiful photo's and post!

uuu said...

Fellow fall lover here!!! Fall is by far my favorite season -- and when we lived in the Smokies, we loved taking drives through the Mts. to see the beautiful leaves. However, that is a weekend trip these days and pine trees (the majority of what we have here in Eastern NC) aren't pretty!!! :) My scents though - pumpkin, cinnamon, cranberry....all that and so much more - the crisp air and oh yeah, did I mention COLLEGE FOOTBALL?!? ....I love FALL!!!

Katrina @ Callapidder Days said...

Oh, Fall...sigh... I can feel it - it's right around the corner. Mornings have been cooler, with just a touch of crispness in the air. School has begun. I'm getting the urge to organize and plan and bake and (gasp!) clean (and trust me, that urge does not come very often!). Although I'm not a big fan of winter, I truly love Fall, and look forward to it every year. Jeans and sweatshirts, comfy sweaters, apple cider, baked goods galore. Good stuff.

So, my favorite things about Fall?

Scent: Too hard to pick. Apple cider? Pumpkin pie? That scent you only get from going on a hay-ride? A bonfire on a cool night (complete with the scent of roasting marshmallows, of course)?

Sight: The leaves. Definitely the leaves. Or possibly my son jumping into a gigantic pile of them.

Food: I think that pumpkin bread and pumpkin cream cheese squares top the list.

Kristen said...

Oh, man. Everyone is writing about fall this week and it's making me yearn. I'm so anxious for fall I can barely stand it!! Luckily, it seems to be on its way here.

Susanne said...

I am so with you! I've always said that God is such an amazing artist and yes, brilliant!

Fall is my fave too and I love everything about except one thing. The wasps. I'll have to ask God about that one when we get to heaven.

someone else said...

Homemade soup simmering on the stove in my kitchen.

Anonymous said...

I love it when the air turns cool and I can get my sweaters out--of course, that is November where we live. It has cooled down to the upper 80s here so we know it's coming. I love to have a pot of chili on the stove and an apple pie in the oven!

Kacey said...

Hi from Ohio! My favorite sight are the red maple trees outside my deck ---they are gorgeous. I wish I could smell the cinnamon in my Amish Cinnamon bread, but my smeller is broken. I do love apple picking time here near Lake Erie. And, for you who posted about fall today ---check our my son's crazy holiday --- www.unoseptembo.com/ He really loves fall. (The whole family loves The Lord!)

Dawn said...

Fall is also my favorite season. I loved it as a kid because I loved school. It was also the time of my birthday. I love pumpkin anything except pie - is that weird, or what?

Here we don't have the variety of colors that we did in the midwest, but the aspens are gorgeous as they dot the mountainsides and quake on the trees.

One thing I don't like - the dropping of thousands of tiny little locust leaves right outside my front door! And I wish it lasted longer. Spring around here is weird and short, and usually has snow way too late, but fall is usually wonderful.

Carol said...

It might brand me as a pyro or something, but a fire in the fireplace, lit candles and anything in the oven, which I don't use much in the heat of the summer 'cause it just sends my kitchen temp soaring.

I figure I've got about two more months of summer, but I will definitely welcome fall's arrival.

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

You did such a great job engaging my senses!!! And I too love fall because of all the beautiful sights, sounds and smells. Oh and tastes too:) You must live in a beautiful place. The Bible verse was just perfect. God is so creative and good to us!

Stacey said...

I'm in AZ so fall hits a little later here. We do enjoy fall festivals though! I love Pumpkin bread, Apple pie candles and so much more!! I loved your list!

Pam said...

I am so with you on all the fall scents, foods and clothes.

My favorite is a bonfire smell with a side of pumpkin anything. You mentioned just about all of my favorites with the exception of pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin ice cream. Love those, too!

I also love cranberry with anything.

I wish fall could last twice as long as the other seasons. I especially love leisurely rides through the mountains and hiking through crunchy leaves.

Theresa said...

Sorry it's still 107 here (today) so I can't get in the fall mood yet. But, I'll take Apple Cider anytime of the year!

Anonymous said...

being that I live in Vermont and my favorite season is Fall as well I got all in the mood just reading your entry! I love fall! Love the tress colors, like kisses of color from God...

love everything about fall!

GiBee said...

Wow! I can't believe all the comments!

Thank you so much to all of you for commenting about fall... you have helped build the excitement!

To all my new friends, nice to meet you, and I hope to see you around again!

Anonymous said...

Fall is my favorite season too! I love the cool crisp air and the beautiful color of the leaves. My favorite time to be outside is in the fall. I love to just sit outside a feel God's presence.