20 More Things I Love About Autumn!

After my initial list of 20 things I love about Autumn, I just couldn't stop thinking about all the wonders the season holds.

And after reading so many great lists at The Inspiried Room, I decided to just keep going!

So, here are 20 MORE reasons to love this time of year!

1. Cattails. The lake down the hill is filled with them, as are all the marshes that line the road into town.

2. Turkeys. Wild Turkeys. Wandering through the back yard. This year's flock is down a bit from last year's turkey brigade when we had 11 every day. They drove the cats bonkers!

3. Marching Band! Yay, band!! I just keep wondering why those guys in tight pants are chasing that ball around the marching field?!

4. Squirrels busily gathering Black Walnuts for Fall; scampering across the road with winter stores.

5. The sound of Canada Geese & Sandhill Cranes.

6. Sunrise. The black velvet cloak of night giving way to the rosy shades of dawn, often with the moon & a planet (or two) still lingering.

7. Chai. Warm, spicy & inviting.

8. Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Yum!

9. The Alba's Annual Halloween Party

10. EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival

11. Burning Bushes in all their glory.

12. Deer. With full racks of antlers. Standing regally by the side of the road.

13. Indian Summer.

14. Scented tea lights flickering.

15. Ring Neck Pheasant. They just LOOK like Autumn!

16. The morning mist that makes everything seem like it is lost in Faerie world.

17. The Oireachtas. The Regional Irish Dance Championships held at Thanksgiving. The dresses, the dancing, the excitement. I miss the months of preparation & friendship getting ready.

18. English Toffee. I need to dig out that recipe!

19. A Vanilla Latte slowly sipped on the patio of Alterra on the shores of Lake Michigan in the crisp morning air.

20. Walking through the park, crunching the leaves underfoot, picking up acorns. Finding Queen Anne's Lace & leaves to press between pages.

And I probably will think of 20 more things as I drive into work today!!!

Why do I love Autumn?

Let me count the ways.

Or at least let me provide a list of 20 things I love most about Autumn, because after reading Maven's blog The Good Life this morning, I couldn't resist whipping up my own little list & joining the fun.

And, as luck would have it, I needed to drive into the sleepy little town we live near to drop off a panful of Lemon Bars for the Choir Booster booth at the Fall Festival. The sights & sounds helped me remember the countless reasons why I love it when Autumn rolls around.

My 20, in no particular order:

1. The crisp "snap" in the air; warm enough to lift your face to the sun & glory in the warmth, but cool enough to need that jacket you couldn't pass up from the latest sale.

2. Fresh Pear Crumble Pie with the smell of ginger that fills the kitchen. This brings back the memories of the HUGE Bartlett pear tree that towered over my childhood back yard.

3. Boots. You can never have enough pairs of boots. Soft, supple, go with anything, boots.

4. Caramel apples. "Designer" caramel apples. Cut into wedges, with a generous topping of homemade, buttery caramel, warm fudgey chocolate sauce and pecans.

5. The changing colors of the leaves; the waves of colors on the hillside as you drive into town. The rich reds, golds, oranges and browns with a smattering of green still holding on to the memories of summer.

6. Comfort food that takes hours to simmer: stews and sauces, filled with the goodness of "fresh from the field" produce.

7. Bonfires. Complete with S'mores.

8. Snoogly sweaters pulled from their summer slumber.

9. A nice cup of Earl Grey while curled up on the couch with at least one of the cats after a long day.

10. Soups. I could live on soup. And a crusty French baguette.

11. The Full Harvest moon that seems to take over the entire sky.

12. Migration time. For birds & monarchs alike. Just the other morning, as I drove past the corner stables, the horses had gotten a bit frisky & were chasing a flock of blackbirds around the pasture, racing up & down the hill, not letting them land for more than an instant before they needed to take flight again.

13. The first night that it is chilly enough to light a fire.

14. Stargazing, as Orion begins to take its winter place to watch over me.

15. Hot apple cider. Fresh apple cider, warmed with cinnamon, ginger & cloves.

16. Sleeping with the window open & the blankets piled up.

17. Wooly bear caterpillars.

18. Farmer's markets. With the sights, sounds & smells that surround you.

19. Back to school. Even though I have been long gone from having to report for classes, I still pick up something new to learn.

20. Preparation for the Holidays.

And I could probably list another 20 more!!

Go to The Inspiried Room to make your own list!