“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” — J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
This is another scent that I associate strongly with autumn. Even when we lived on the prairies, apples always arrived in autumn and neighbours always had them falling from their backyard trees. I remember the neighbour across the street from my mom — his name was Ed — always shared bagfuls of his apples with her. She couldn’t let anything go to waste and knew she’d never eat them all so her solution was the best. She painstakingly peeled every one of those tiny apples, cored and sliced them, made batches of pie dough, and spent hours on her feet in her cramped kitchen making apple pies. They were the best. Funny how the smell and thoughts of apples bring on such warm and luscious memories.
From my kitchen window and also from our backyard, I have full view of the giant maple tree belonging to a neighbour two doors over. It eventually turns a brilliant red with hues of saffron and gold intermingled amid the crown of leaves. But what I love the most about that tree is that it begins to lose it’s leaves early and bit-by-bit, a single leaf at a time until maybe a month or more from now it will still be losing leaves but they’ll begin floating down in masses. As each one is released it flutters butterfly-like and then takes on a swinging zig-zag fall all the way until the leaves rest upon the other neighbour’s roof, various yards and driveways, including our back yard. Today I found one single leaf from that tree – the first of many to come. I’ll be watching, or rather I’ll be mesmerized as I witness many of those leaves in the coming weeks as they swing and sway their way down.
The season is ripe; the leaves soon will be wild and free.
Tell me what memories, thoughts, sights or smells you relish at this time of year. I’d really love to know.
I’m heading back to the midwest tomorrow, where I grew up, so I’m hoping to see some vivid leaves. I love fall in Phoenix, when the heat goes away and the quality of light changes and we have tons of flowers and butterflies, but I hope to see a more “traditional” fall when I’m back there. However, it’s supposed to rain everyday I’m there 🙁
It’s my favorite time of year, there are so many things to love. The way the sky seems bluer than it ever does in the summer, the smell of the leaves and damp on the ground, and bird hunting. Autumn always brings to mind the smells of bird hunting, even though I didn’t become a hunter myself until I was an adult I grew up with it. There is nothing like the mingled smells of wet, muddy dogs, bird feathers, gun powder and a bit of gun oil on a cool crisp day to bring a smile to my face. Oh- and if when your tired legs and tired dogs make it back to the truck you throw in a Diet Coke and Milky Way? Perfection! 🙂
I am happy that you like watching all those millions and millions of leaves fall!
I have raked bag number 1 with many more to come.
I am teasing you, yes they are pretty but there are a lot and raking leaves gets old fast!!
I am always sad when fall comes. I love long hot summer days and don’t like the short days that fall brings.
Autumn is my favourite season, I love everything about it, including that it’s when I celebrate my birthday!
We usually have a good bit of wind here in the fall, and I love to hear the leaves being blown along the ground. Other favorite fall things? Boots. LOVE boots. Not the keep you warm, snow kind, but just boot boots. 🙂
Last, but best of all, PUMPKIN. I love anything pumpkin, especially pumpkin pie with tons of whipped cream of course!!!
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! xo.
Autumn is, and has always been, my favourite season.After all my years in the tropics, the 4 distinct seasons are what I miss most.Autumn takes the sting out of summer’s heat.Autumn brings those sharp tastes and smells.A time to fetch the big soup pots from back cupboards.A time to stew windfalls.To light a fire.So much to love and remember about autumn…