[Gothikren]

I thought I'd take a second to write out a few things that I'm looking forward to in a place where most if not all others will appreciate them, and not just think I'm a bit nutso...

The crisp scent of a cool breeze in the air
The giddiness of seeing the trees change color
The joys of walking down aisle after aisle of fall and halloween decor.
The smell of leaves burning.
The bright smile on my children's faces as we chose costumes
For that matter the bright smile on my face chosing costumes
The twinkle and glow of my halloween tree all decorated in the living room at night
The glow of orange lights and smell of the fog machine in my yard.
campfires and hayrides, haunted houses, parties, masks and treats
everyone enjoying themselves and having fun it doesn't get much better than that.

So what are the rest of you looking forward to hearing or seeing or smelling this fall?

 

[Stranger With Candy]

I am totally looking forward to it, too. It's lurking just around the corner and I can't wait! It drizzled rain all day, the temps are low and cool (for Texas especially) I know the hot weather will be back, but, ya know, not for long!

My most anticipated things~
Cool days and even cooler mornings and evenings
Leaves falling
Pumpkin sightings
Finally Picking out Pumpkins
Hayrides
The first whiff of a neighborhood fireplace
Halloween decor and maintaining it
Soups, stews

 

[Gothikren]

those things sound wondeful...... mmm homemade soup or stew on a brisk fall evening with the smell of chimney's billowing in the distance.

 

[Laredo]

Those are some evocative images.

I love the fireplace smoke on a cool night, too.

A little one that I've come to enjoy is that first time you sit on a bench or other concrete object outside and it's cooler than you are; it feels as though sitting too long will sap the heat right out of your whole body.

In a similar vein, that first time you walk out of the sun's light and feel a chill in the shade.

There's an...anger...in the atmosphere when it's hot. The heat in the air, which might feel so appealing in the spring, becomes a constant assault on the soul by July. The days are so fiery that there's no relief at night, no respite. I've come to embrace this season, however, as it's the beginning of my favorite time of year. In the scathing and raw inferno of summer, such things as early Halloween merchandise on the shelves and carving a watermelon-o-lantern fly in the face of the heat boring into your happiness. Further, it also serves as the passageway to Fall. Sometimes, a day comes when the temperature drops 30 degrees from a cold front, and the angry heat never recovers its full strength. Other times, it's more subtle, and you find yourself outside on an evening realizing that the heat, like an old toothache, a pain by which you've been held hostage for so long, has quietly, mysteriously...vanished. The world is calm. The anger is gone. You can breathe again.

And then about 3 weeks later, you start seeing the stinking ads for the cruise lines and resorts, hawking opportunities to "get away from the cold dreary weather". Jeeze, folks.

 

[Gothikren]

I agree Laredo for myself summer is just too much too much heat too much emotion feeling like it is all being drained and with the coming of cool weather I feel a revitalization of my soul. I feel as tho my whole being is lifted to a much happier place. Perhaps it comes from a childhood where my brother and I shared a birthday both in September and celebration was in the air. We always went to the state fair to celebrate and the evenings were always full of magic wonder and cool breezes, and I always knew shortly after that I got to go pick out my Halloween costume going into the Halloween season then of course Thanksgiving, and last but not least Christmas. For myself it has always seemed as though Autumn brings delight and wonder to all.

 

[Pumpkin Torture Guy]

Laredo, that was very poetic. Are you a writer? Anyway, I agree with you.

 

[Laredo]

Thanks, PTG. This topic grabbed me. Fall is just...home.

 

[ntokheim]

Ahh, yes this why i love the Midwest having grown up here. I love the changing of the 4 seasons and the variety of weather it brings. This is why I refuse to move to Cali, which my best friend has been begging me to do since he moved. He says anything and everything to convince me its better while complaining of the unchanging seasons and constant sunny weather.

I look forward to the first cold day that requires the lighting of a fire in the fireplace and a nice dinner of warm chili. I look forward to the decorating and carving (and smell) of pumpkins. I look forward to the changing colors and the spookiness of leafless trees. Being a volunteer firefighter i look forward to getting more calls to help as the dryness and burning of leaves lead to more out-of-control fires. I also look forward to my other two favorite holidays thanksgiving and Christmas. There is nothing better to me than staying in on the first cold rainy Friday night and cozying up to a warm fire with hot chocolate and putting in a good movie. Although i don't care much for work there is something about being out in the cold splitting and stacking firewood in prep for the cold months ahead as I watch the animals prepare as well. I also look forward to the DVD releases of the summer's blockbuster movies. And in general I look forward to the feelings of nostalgia that the season brings I look back at my childhood memories of Halloween.

 

[Pumpkin Torture Guy]

I understand Laredo, I truly understand.

 

[Gothikren]

Ntokheim I love the days of fall when it's too cool to turn on the AC and not cold enough for the heater. Those days I love to snuggle under a warm blanket on the couch with the windows open and smell the fall air while I read a good book. Your post reminded me of that. I had almost forgotten, and now I'm looking forward to it immensely.

 

[MsMeeple]

Hmmmm the dutch autumns are cold, rainy and windy. Our summers are more like fall in the US.
Warm days that cool off quickly once the sun starts going down. Definitely a chill if you sit in the shadow so everyone seeks the sunny spots at the abundant outdoor cafés.
An outdoor firepit and sitting out till late in the evening with sweaters on.
Maybe 3 times a year that it gets hot enough to turn the AC on.
Dang! I'm experiencing fall right now! Only without the falling leaves...they are all still green

MsM

 

[Gothikren]

the changing of the leaves that's one of the best parts but you must be really close to that now MsMeeple. We all get to envy you I can remember taking my daughter to got TOT here in the snow one year. It was quite a bit of fun actually

 

[theworstwitch]

What beautiful images you all have brought to my mind, thank you!
Fall is a special time for all those reasons, and also because it seems like many other people don't get it, but we do, and I don't know why. I always go out to walk, look at peoples decorations, breathe the crisp air, and my mind is at it's clearest in the fall. I see alot less people out enjoying the weather than in the summer when they are out sweating like pigs!
Maybe the door between the worlds is really opening? Maybe it's a bit of magik?

 

[pumpkinman]

Fall is a great time of year for all the reasons mentioned. I can hear the football whistles of a high school football game on a chilly night and smell the hot chocolate from my thermos...

I remember when my wife and I were first dating in College we would drive to a wooded nature area and walk down a dirt trail by a river under large trees full of golden, red, and orange leaves. I remember the day.. A cool breeze, cloudy but pleasant day, both snuggled up in sweatshirts, hand in hand, our first kiss...

We fell in love on those Autumn days..

Now 10 years later we live in the same town, walk the same trails with our kids, and "fall" in love all over again.

 

[KATZILLA]

Always NFL Sunday, cool mornings with frost on the ground & the smell of my turkey fryer. Deer hunting, pumpkin patches, watching my kids get excited as I do about decorating for fall & Halloween.
Crisp Fog filled mornings across the App Chain, playing Halloween video's on UTUBE for the family during the evenings.

I could go on & on....what is esp nice is that even though I'm not here on site all year...when I do come around for the season I have friends online that share the spirit of Halloween with me.

 

[xported]

I've always loved that first smell of a neighbor's fireplace too. That screams fall.

- Leaves turning color
- That first noticeably cooler night
- The first noticeably cooler day
- The shorter days
- The first frost (Rarely happens before Halloween for me)
- The smell of burning dust from your home's heater.
- Walking through Target's Halloween aisles
- Picking your pumpkin

There's many others. I haven't been on a Hayride in years, but I would like to make it a priority this year.

Now if I could only fast forward to September. I loathe August.

 

[EvilMel]

those things sound wondeful...... mmm homemade soup or stew on a brisk fall evening with the smell of chimney's billowing in the distance.

This is the one that really got me...simmering soup on the stove on a cool Sunday night. I love all of the mental images I'm getting!

 

[dippedstix]

Wow Laredo - I really enjoyed reading your post!!!

 

[Brewgirl]

I always get a big pumpkin each year. carve it, and roast the seeds in the oven. Can't wait for that!

Leaves falling
Cool nights
Haunted Houses
Warm ciders, soups and stews
Fireplace
Vanilla scented candles
Halloween movies and shows
Decorating

I could go on and on.......

 

[Gothikren]

As I live in Tennesee I was presently suprised by a sure sign that fall is almost here today when I was driving.

I smelled the smell of tobacco being dried in the barns that has recently been hung. The smell of the drying tobacco is sweet and reminds me very much of my childhood and crisp fall mornings. Roaming through the countryside here in Tennesse you smell that smell often in the fall and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. (For those of you who have never had that experience it is nothing like the smell of a cigarette burning, which I don't do and don't like the smell of )