It didn’t take the Farmer’s Almanac to tell me autumn was here. I could see the quality of light filtering through the oaks and pines. When ironwood leaves turn the color of home churned butter and sumac leaves turn sunset red, you fall has arrived.
People love fall for many reasons, my list would include autumn leaves. It is not only the color but also the smell of burning leaves.
One of my chores as a kid was raking leaves from under a gigantic cottonwood and sycamore tree in our yard in Sloss. I would rake up mountains of leaves and then leap into them like a Hawaiian Cliff diver.
I wasn’t allowed to burn leaves unless one of the older kids was around, usually my brother Neil would light the fire and we would sit on the steps for hours watching the leaves burn until there was nothing but embers.
Even today when I smell leaves burning it makes me smile. I close my eyes and I am ten years old again sitting on those steps.
I love the sky in autumn. The blue is rich and the full moon is its prettiest. Last fall we were driving home from our nephew’s house, when we saw a light filtering through the trees.
We came up to a clearing and it was the full moon bright as a spotlight on the horizon.
Soon Jilda and I were in a competition with a word that best described that moon. I said “it’s the color of orange sherbet but Jilda won the prize when she said, “ It’s a Dreamsicle Moon.” I conceded, I knew I couldn’t come up with anything that rivaled that description.
Autumn is the best time to walk. The dogs love to walk anytime, but in autumn when the sun is warm and the air is crisp, they run around like pups.
Our apples are harvested in autumn; they turn a deep crimson and are sweeter than penny candy. Anyone who has ever eaten one will tell you they are the best.
I enjoy all seasons. But thanks to football, Halloween and the aromas and tastes of Thanksgiving, autumn is my favorite.
