HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!
Yesterday, September 22, was the first day of Fall, 2013. Just saying the word "Fall" brings a sense of excitement. A minister once said to me, "All things are parallel" and I've measured his words against many areas of my life, only to say his statement is very true. A new season not only brings a welcomed change in temperature physically, it brings other changes as well. 
I always experience a heightened sense of emotion when the Fall decorations begin to fill the retail aisles. Sadly, they've been reduced in price to make more room for the displays of Christmas trees, cards, and decorations that have already started to dominate the shelves.
Today, my mind rewinds to fond memories of Autumn. After the leaves changed color and begin their slow dance to the musty earth below, my siblings and I would grab rakes and design a maze of paths through the front and back yards, leading to one huge pile of leaves. The paths made fantastic "roads" for an imaginary city, or boundaries in a game of tag. But the infamous leave pile gave reason to spend a whole afternoon raking without one thought of that being a chore.The bigger the pile, the louder the squeals of laughter! Sometimes, we would get a ladder from the garage just to have a higher platform from which to jump. This occupied us for days until my dad had enough and the landscaping design returned to normal.
Forlorn children were seen everywhere raking Fall fun into bags, only to be set to the side of the road for the garbage truck's disposal. A raise in allowance money was the only medicine that could take away the pain of saying goodbye to the leave pile. That is, until someone mentioned a bonfire or S'mores!
Question of the week: What is your favorite thing to do in the Fall? Please describe in detail!
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32 comments:
I SO agree with you about the s'mores. I love the feeling when you bite into a s'more. I think that the gooey, melted chocolate, and the warm, marshmallows, are the BEST MIX EVER!!! I remember also when I used to hurl myself into piles of leaves, that was, until I learned FROM EXPERIENCE just how many slugs their were in them... I remember when I used to play hide and go seek around my neighborhood with my friends then come inside to a plate of hot lasagna. Incase you didn't know, I LOVE lasagna!!! I also like to play ultimate frisbee. It is the best feeling in the world when there are three people guarding you, you make an escape to the end zone, the frisbee is several yards away and about to touch the ground, you dive trying to get it, and you barely catch it one handed, scoring your team the winning score! As you can see, fall is my favorite season.
Connor
Connor,
I can certainly tell that Fall is truly your favorite season of the year and you are right about S'mores! Where I grew up in Wisconsin, we never worried about ticks or slugs, but since moving to Florida, I have new critters to look out for.
As far as lasagna, coming in hungry from a long afternoon of play to a plate of one of MY favorite foods would be absolutely bomb! Especially if it were a bit chilly outside. Great suggestion for an up-coming supper idea!
Thanks for sharing your love for Fall!
Chrissy
My favorite thing would be the crisp autumn weather and the clothes that come with it!! I love wearing boots, big sweaters and scarves. I also love things like hot chocolate, s'mores and sitting around a toasty campfire. Hearing the crackles and sizzles of the flames is really the most calming thing in the world. Fall also mean lots of youth group events at my church and Halloween! I love getting to dress up in crazy make up and goofy costumes with my little sister.
Autumn is defiantly my FAVORITE season! I mean come on, I’m named after it how could it not be. ;)
But my FAVORITE thing about fall would have to be Halloween or as my family calls it reformation day. We go out to dinner with are friends the Smiths at Sticky Fingers! After dinner the guys and girls split up as we run around Walmart buying each other gifts. We try to stay clear of each other as to not give the gifts away. Once we have the shopping done we eat ice cream at Cold Stone. After that our parents talk while we through the football around, making Halloween my favorite holiday even though I’ve never been trick or treating. I haven’t even dressed up on the 31st unless you count wearing a gator tee-shirt for the Florida Georgia game
Grayson,
It sounds like Autumn is your favorite season as well.
Where I came from, we had plenty of time to wear big sweaters and boots, and owned several sets of hats and scarves. Here in Florida, you better wear those items the first chance you get or you may not get to wear them at all!
Chrissy
Hi Autumn,
You win the prize for Fall enthusiasm just by virtue of your name alone!
I am a big fan of holiday traditions and I have to say, I love the idea of Reformation Day. I sounds like you have established some fun your family can count on for years to come. I have a feeling one day, you will carry this on with friends of your own.
Chrissy
I love the diversity of fall! The weather is cool enough to wear sweaters and thick scarves, but also warm enough to wear shorts and a short sleeved shirt. When it's rainy and cold(er) outside you can stay inside and drink chai lattes or if it is really sunny and warm, you can still go to the beach! Over all, I think fall is the best season!
I love Fall! It's so much fun when you rake a huge pile of leaves and then you jump into it, and when your done for the day its there for you tomorrow to jump in. Fall has the perfect weather because it's not too hot, and it's not too cold, so it's the best weather to play soccer. You can go camping without the mosquitos biting. So yes, I would say Fall is my favorite season of all.
Briana,
We are very fortunate to have such diverse weather here in Florida, although there's still a part of me that longs for more seasonal weather. But like you, I wouldn't trade anything for a chance to go to the beach... any time I want.
If I really miss changing leaves or snow, I can always drive North until I find it!
Chrissy
Evan,
Did you say camping? Yes! Fall is one of the best times to camp. I love sipping a cup of cowboy coffee on a chill morning. Before you know it, temperatures rise and the air warms to a typical Florida day, minus the bugs.
I guess this would make for good soccer weather as well :)
Chrissy
My favorite part of fall is going up to Georgia. We would go to a clearing in the back of my grand mothers woods and make a tent and make a fire and have s'mores. In the morning if we're lucky the ground will be covered in a small film of frost. Another activity we have is playing the first airsoft game of the Fall.
What’s up you all – Ok so my favorite thing about Autumn is she always helps me. And as much as a hate her telling me not to do something is because she does not want to be at the hospital for the rest of the day. JK it is because she does not want me to get injured. But my favorite thing about the fall would be that my youth group all was plays games like ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag, football and many more. We do this because it does not get dark as soon and because it is the best weather ever. It’s one of the things I could not live without sports! I WOULD DIE IF THERE WAS NO SPORTS!!!!!!!! I E3 SPORTS $amuel T.
Jared,
The property your Grandmother has is in Georgia sounds intriguing! I know there is quite a bit of history attached to it and I look forward to finding out more as you and your siblings write.
For me, sometimes frost is almost as good as snow. It looks so beautiful on the ground. I pretend it's the remains of a snowfall that has melted away. This might sound silly but sometimes fooling myself works to satisfy the longing for my northern roots.
Chrissy
Most of my childhood was spent in the tropics; where only two seasons exist, sunny season and rainy season. I did not even own a sweater until I was at least 15 and my family moved here. However, every fall, like clock work, the same thing always happened. SCHOOL STARTED!! I love the energy, excitement and newness that is cultivated with the beginning of school. For me, the smell of new (or new to me) books, binders, paper, and pencils brought with is a sense of excitement. More frequent communication with friends, and the opportunity to know all the wonders my older siblings had told me about was just an added bonus. But the most awesome part of fall that has made it my favorite season since before I even knew what seasons were; is my birthday. I love how everyone decorates their houses just for me, with colorful leaves, pumpkins, and hand print turkeys. God has blessed us so much and fall just makes me even more thankful for what He has done for us.
Samuel,
I love the fact that you first spoke about your sister Autumn rather than the season we call Autumn. How considerate! You should be awarded "Sibling Points" for that!
You, along with many others, have referred to the fact that playing outdoor sports during this time of year is so much more enjoyable. I'm sure veryone looks forward to a season with a little bit less sweat!
Chrissy
Jenna,
I will affirm you and say that I think people who's birthdays land in the Fall are extra special people. And I love that you know they are decorating just for you!
As a mom of four, I've had to plan my share of birthday parties. Some of the best party venues are only available in Autumn like hay rides, corn mazes, and bonfires. Maybe next year I should consider postponing my May birthday celebration to the Fall!
Chrissy
My favorite part of fall is when Graham and/or Ashley come to visit, and we will sometimes rake all the leaves into a giant pile in front of our swing. After we push each other really high, we jump into the leaves. When we come inside, I love to have a hot bowl of chili. And on a cold night, I like to wrap up in a blanket and have a Disney movie marathon. Those are some of the reasons why I think fall is the best season.
My favorite things about fall is that it's perfect weather for short selves and shorts durning the day, but cold enough to have a fire at night. It's also when the fair comes to Callahan and all of my friends go and hang out there. Last but not least, that's when Halloween comes. Me and friends always love Halloween, we are always having fun being in mature and dressing up silly.
My favorite thing to do in the fall is, when the air is getting cold and thers a fresh patch of leaves on the yard from the tall trees, rake a maze though the front and back yard. Then we used to invite a bunch of friends over and play tag in the maze that would lead into hide and go seek and we would do that for hours. Then when we where done with the maze we would rake the yard into a giant 6ft mound of leaves then we would all jump in it. Those are some of my favorite joys of fall.
My favorite season would most definitely be fall! Fall is a welcome reprieve from the insane heat of our Florida summers. Fall excites all of my senses: smelling the sweet aroma of cinnamon and spices, drinking pumpkin lattes that warm your insides,feeling the cool wind against your skin that create goosebumps on the nape of your neck, and watching the leaves change color and glide to the ground. Everything about fall is so cozy and inviting; I guess that is what I love most of all!
Abbey,
There's no better combination than cold weather and hot chili!
I think I hit a chord when I mentioned jumping in a pile of leaves. Everyone enjoys this and it doesn't seem to matter your age, as long as there's plenty of leaves on the pile :)
Chrissy
Preston,
That was a good plug for the Callahan Fair! I still remember the first time I went there and it reminded me so much of what fairs were like when I grew up.
As far as dressing for the Fall, we're fortunate to be able to still step outside in our flip-flops through much of the season. Many of us NEVER put them away!
Chrissy
Garrett,
I'm proud to see that the tradition continues!
At our house, we have to get outside, rake the maze, and make the leave pile before Dad gets the machine out that vacuums the yard and mulches the leaves. I'm always so sad when he does that. My yard looks BARE!
Once that happens, it's over until next year :(
Chrissy
Mallory,
Your comment was very poetic and made me want to walk away from my computer and make a Cinnamon Latte! I'm SO ready for cooler weather and the chance to cozy up under a blanket.
Luckily, there are a few tree species here in Florida that change earlier than the rest. It's just enough to put us in the spirit of Fall splendor!
Chrissy
Lily,
I remember when Dad ordered the white rock for a project he was doing in the back yard. He ordered the rock in the Fall of the year and all I remember was it left a white, powdery dust everywhere! I was annoyed because everyone was tracking the dust into the house.
I didn't realize you and Garrett were pretending it was snow. Well, now you know where you got your imagination from. Your Gramma still does that too!
Chrissy
My FAVORITE thing about fall is everything. From the big sweaters, leggings, boots, hot cocoa, and coffee, to the colors, just about anything that has to do with fall is my favorite.
One of my favorite memories
as a small one was just like yours. Garrett and I would make a trail out of leaves, take our bikes, go on the trail,and jump off our playhouse, diving into a big leaf pile.
Another one of my favorite memories includes a time when Dad ordered a bunch of white rocks. I cant remember why he ordered them but we thought it was snow and tumbled down that hill for hours.
I just cant wait for what this year's fall memories will give me.
When me and my family lived at our other house we would always take all the leaves and pile them up into a giant pile and throw them around at each other:) and run around in the front yard. This is my favorite fall memory!
Glen lll :)
Glen,
I'm guessing you maybe don't have as many trees on your new property, OR, this is your first Fall season at your new house.
Whatever the case, you might be establishing a few new family traditions this year and that's always fun and exciting. There's a corn maze not far from where you live called Sykes and Cooper Farms. Maybe you and your family can go there this year :)
My favorite part of Fall is definantly Thanksgiving! I love congragating with family at my uncles house in ever balmy south florida! The fiahing is great, nit to mention all the thankgiving meals! I love staying up at night watching movies or sports, or talking with my cousins and relatives! Thats my favorite part of fall.
Zach,
I was waiting for someone to mention football and in this case, the last shall be first!
I have never been much of a football fan but played flag football in school, if that counts. I grew up in Green Bay Packers territory where green and gold still runs tried and true. Cheese heads can be found in most stores just like Gator merchandise is popular here.
There's nothing like a good outdoor game of football played with family this time of year!
Chrissy
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