In love With Autumn.

The time of year is here, when pumpkin and apple flavors are stuffed into everything. Gloves, scarves and britches get washed and ready for their debut. Making coffee early in the morning becomes a struggle as your feet, fearing the chill of the floors, beg you to stay in the comfort of your bed.  Slippers swish across the ground whispering thoughts of autumn. Cookies, roasts, stuffed peppers and pies heat the house with delicious smells of fall. The morning dew procrastinates its evaporating off the blades of grass till late morning, slowing its growth and need for mowing. The sun, is so inviting, though armed with bitter shards of cold. It plays tricks on our eyes for as we walk out the door we turn right back in for a sweater refusing to put a coat on “this early” in the season. Mittens created with love by grandmothers everywhere snuggle up around your hands and the leaves paint the hills with change. Yellows, oranges and reds, what a fiery collage. As we layer clothes on, the trees undress. Twisting and dancing they put on quite a show. The world becomes overwhelmed with deadlines of snow. Shopping begins, snow tires are purchased, trail cams are put up and all of the children rush with excitement back to school. With a bite in the air football fans arm themselves with foam fingers and chili. Decorating themselves with their favorite team’s accessories. They gather in the masses. With food, drink, family and friends they tailgate, sharing their predictions of the games. Hunters smile a little bigger as they mark the days of their calendars. They help to maintain a natural, healthy balance in the forest and proudly feed their families all winter. They pull their camouflage out of storage and litter the woods with blinds and tree stands. Flocking to sporting goods stores, they share stories of bravery and unbelievable experiences. Turkey calls and grunts fly off the shelves faster than they can be replenished. Farmers scurry about with their choppers stuffing their silos with delicious feed for their critters. Arming themselves with Carhartts, long Johns and Muck Boots, they challenge the weather. It’s a race ageist time with Old Man Winter. With the days getting shorter and the list getting longer, they push through the most trying of feats. Fighting allergies and hay fever, even the toughest of hearts will shed tears.  Admiring the beauty of the autumn, smiles break though as geese forge the freshly cut corn fields preparing for their journey south. Scarecrows that were placed to guard the harvest, often have crows mockingly perched on their arms.  Fall festivals and homecomings are filling weekends across Western New York. Haunted houses, hay rides and corn mazes are mobbed with people that are anticipating Halloween. Farmers present their harvest with the community with smiles and pride. Gourds, Indian corn, apples, squashes, cider and pumpkins piled high on tables. Homemade signs display reasonable prices and seasons greetings. It all makes you appreciate the few nice days we get at the end of September just a little more. As much as my children dread this, I must mention the endless stacking of wood. Cords upon cords we build a wall of readiness. I love the smell of wood burning stoves. The crackle of the fire burning deep inside, tells me stories of my childhood. It reminds me of holiday gatherings at my grandparents’ house with family and friends. It always helped to pass the long boring days of snow and ice. With change as far as the eyes can see, we brace ourselves for the freeze. Everyone blabbing their opinions of how harsh or mild the winter will be. Regardless if it becomes the coldest winter to record or the deepest snow to date, now it is, just as it should be. With all the hustle and bustle across the land it’s easy to lose focus on how beautiful fall really is.  So gather your recipes and trade them about. We live in one of the most amazing places on Earth and are blessed with the ability to watch it change in awe. So don’t forget to stop, and enjoy the view.