Maiden's BowerWhile I love fall, I also love these days when I can begin to ANTICIPATE fall. Because half the fun of a thing, is looking forward to it. Hmmm. Maybe more than half the fun!

As I get out and take Thistle for walks, or open my window on a cool morning, I’m definitely seeing signs that autumn is stirring, sifting through her closet, and debating which of her russet skirts to wear this year. So I thought I’d take a moment to count the signs of autumn approaching in Appalachia:

  1. Unexpectedly cool, crisp air that makes me want to breathe deep and turn my eyes to the sky.
  2. That suddenly brilliant, blue sky!
  3. Apples! Apple pies, applesauce, applebutter, apple cake . . .
  4. Goldenrod, joe pye weed, ironweed, maiden’s bower, and asters growing along dirt roads.
  5. Thistles aflutter with butterflies.
  6. Milkweed pods!
  7. Cleaning out the garden and preserving the last of the season’s bounty.

I could go on. What signs of fall are you seeing in your neck of the woods?