The Feeling of Fall
For me it’s always tough to see summer go. It really is bittersweet. I love fall and all of the things that it brings. Like the pumpkins, cozy weather, holidays, and decadent food. Though can’t it wait a bit?
If I had my choice, I wouldn’t want summer to be so short. I would prolong it by an extra month or two.
Summer for me is the time of warm days that never seem to end. For instance, I know I am in summer when I drive to work and the sun has already risen. I am then reminded again when I drive home in the sunlight. Summer is the time of sleeping with thin covers and still waking up sweating.
I know when these things end that fall is upon my part of the Earth.
The signs are everywhere when fall is here. The first sign for me this year caught me off guard. It felt too early. I was in the parking lot of a book store when I saw the red and yellow leaves clinging to the trees. The trees even seemed unsure. Some were still green, others were half green, and still others were all wrapped up in red, orange, and yellow.
For some of you readers, you may deem that Fall is here when the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte is sold at your local coffee shop. I grew up in a place where the seasons were less drastic, so this was my sign that Fall was transpiring.
Bear with me for a moment, but I really wish with all the coffee shops out there that there was a sugar free pumpkin spice latte that tasted like the real thing or better. My wife and I found pumpkin spice flavoring made by the brand Cooks that we have tried a couple of times in lattes at home. The flavoring is really good, but we are searching for that extra something or somethings to add to give it that zing. So, we are still perfecting the recipe. If we get it right, I will let you know.
Fall also brings decorations. I love the idea of using nature’s signs for Fall as in home decorations. Using strings of autumn leaves, placing pumpkins by the door, and using window clings are some of the things that I have done in the past.
Last year, my wife and I were visiting some friends, and they had orange garlands that they made themselves. This is one of the things that my wife and I have been waiting to do in Fall.
In fact, today I bought some oranges, grapefruit, and lemons and started drying them in the oven. It can take a while as I learned, so the plan now is to borrow my mother’s food dehydrator.
So, fall means a lot of things to me. The decorations, pumpkins, and the lattes that are made with them. Oh, and of course the cozy weather.
These were just a couple of the things that fall means to me. Also don’t forget that the Fall equinox is on Tuesday next week, the 22. It technically starts at 5:05 PM PDT. I’ll see you around, dear reader.
-Abe
