Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Is For: Autumnal Ruminations

Today at AlphabeThursday the letter is A. Here in beautiful Idaho, the seasons they are a changin'. It is officially the first day of AUTUMN. I love autumn. It is likely my favorite season. I am a bit sad though to say goodbye to summer. Those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer. Sunshine, fresh fruits and veggies, picnics, parks, playing in the water, breezy skirts and flip flops. (I love my flip flops.) I go into the garden and pick fresh raspberries for breakfast. I lie on my back in the grass and stare up into that endless blue sky. I read in the shade of the patio while the kids run through the sprinkler and dash across the lawn headed for that iconic summer contraption, the "slip'n'slide" wishing that the season would last forever. (And secretly wishing that they would stay my little ones forever as well.) Yet as the kids finish their fourth week of school, and I see the leaves beginning to turn and the temperatures fall, I know that another summer has come and gone. Did I appreciate it while it was here? I sure tried to, yet it seems gone too soon still. I feel that way too as I watch my four kids grow up right before my eyes. Do I appreciate each stage for its own wonder and excitement? I am trying to, yet the years too, seem gone all to soon still.
Before I fall off my chair and roll up into a soggy mom-ball of tears, I had better move on to autumn. I do love autumn. The air smells crispy. It is clear and cool. Just as the summer flowers lose their color, the trees begin to change and a whole new pallette is arranged. I just love the way it feels, and the sunsets are spectacular! It is time to don cardigans, scarves and cute hats to crunch the leaves on the sidewalk during my afternoon walks. I relinquish the barbecue for the big soup pot. Fall is the time to enjoy a giant batch of chili with a big, crusty loaf of sourdough...Yummm! The pumpkins in the garden are getting plump and I know that trick-or-treating is just around the corner. (I DO love to dress up.) I used to rush the passing of the seasons and celebrate each milestone in the kids' lives with a mad desire to see how it was all going to play out in the end. Now, though I just wish it would all slow down. I don't want it to stop, of course. I love seeing my kids grow and learn and develop into their own little people. They really are cool. I don't really want summer to last forever, nor fall either. It just goes so dang fast! So, I say, let's slow down.
The changing of the seasons really gives us the opportunity to reconnect with the earth and with nature. Go to the farmers market and see what is fresh this week. Taste the difference in food that is really ripe. Take a drive, or even a walk, and see all of the changes in the trees and flowers. Smell the air. Take advantage of all of it. Perhaps in your area Autumn lasts a while longer, but I know that here, winter is just around the corner. I will relish that when it comes too (only through March though), but for now I am love love lovin' Autumn! Although, I'm not putting a way those flip flops just yet...
Quote of the Day: "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~George Eliot author

17 comments:

  1. MMmmmm...I must admit autumn is one of my favorites. You paint such a clear picture with you words-I ♥ it...

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  2. I'm your newest follower from Alphabe-Thursday! I loved your post and I love Autum too! Have a great day.

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  3. I love falll too. The summers are just too hot here in South Carolina. Thanks for painting a picture of all the things I can look forward to this fall.

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  4. Ahhh, Autumn is by far my favorite time of year, and you have made me crave it even more with your delicious word pictures. In my neck of the woods, we're lucky if we get a full week of Fall, so I have to drag every ounce of enjoyment out of it that I can.

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  5. I am a winter girl but I can see many treasure the beauty of autumn...and I am sharing some soggy mom tears with you today

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  6. You have gotten me so excited about the new season!
    I need a cute hat...yes! And I've gotta find some yummy crock pot chili recipes to try!
    I miss the summer too...but as we know... it will be right back!
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  7. I was already looking forward to fall, but you've just sold me a hundred percent more on it!

    =)

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  8. You have made me wish I lived somewhere colder. I am a Utah girl transplanted to Arizona and really miss the seasons.

    I love what you wrote about your kids. It is a good thing to enjoy each season of their life. I think I wished myself through the toddler stage and then couldn't wait to have one older enough to babysit and then suddenly they started leaving home. Time just starts passing faster and faster. I have learned to just appreciate each day. I am glad you have learned that while your kids are still at home.

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  9. LOve that quote! I would love to fly around the world following autumn!

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  10. Your words made this summer girl look a little more forward to autumn!

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  11. Good morning! I'm not reading this yet for A-T cuz I have to stay in order or I confuse myself.

    Thanks for entering the sweet pea giveaway. Purple and yellow gardens sound charming.

    I wanted to let you know that your e-mail isn't linked to your google account. I think I've been e-mailing back to your comments for some time now and just realized they don't go anywhere!

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  12. I love autumn. It is the BEST time of year. Your post was so well written. I'm going to go home today and bust out my fall decorations and make some homemade soup.

    Stopping by from Alphabe-Thursday

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  13. I love fall! To me it is the perfect time of year. And your words paint a lovely picture indeed.

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  14. Liked your post, great quote at the end.
    Thanks for visiting Normandy.
    Maggie

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  15. What a lovely little Autumnal stop on our journey through Alphabe-Thursday.

    I really enjoyed the vivid word pictures you painted for us in this post.

    This is as close as I get to Autumn right now in Arizona. Still waiting for the temps to drop below triple digits!

    Thank you for linking!

    You are always such a joy to visit.

    A

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  16. Autumn is my favorite time of year. It is the beginning of all that is fun...at least for me. I love the colors, the changing leaves, the piles of them once they have fallen, Halloween, birthdays, Thankgiving, Christmas. Hot chocolate...wait, this isn't my blog. So sorry. Great post!

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