Autumnal Anthem

simple joys of the season in no particular cadence

• twilight & twinkling star

• geese honking overhead and crows cawing

• the especially spectacular Blue Hour of dusk

• sunsets of splendor

• n o s t a l g i a —fall fairly reeks of it— many memories of campfires in days of yore when the boys were little and WHEN did they get so big?!

• crisp juicy apples & homemade caramel dip

• easiest snack recipe: cocktail peanuts and candy corn, mixed. You're welcome!

• cooking cosy food: Indian Butter Chicken, Enchiladas, Soups & Stews¹

• fall smells in the diffuser—Pumpkin Pie and this

• bluebird sky & golden light

• colorful confetti on the ground (from the abominable popcorn tree²)

• last of the wispy wildflowers in the ditches

• weather warm enough for the occasional swim without sweltering!

• the first of many batches of hot cocoa mix

• ice skating after hockey games—one thing this family of four can all enjoy

• continuous, monotonous hum of the cotton gin-sometimes I do despise the relentlessness of it

• scents of the season: the peculiar odor of cotton being harvested, earthy smell of peanuts freshly dug, pungent pine needles…

• second chances— to yet make a change in this year of our Lord, twenty-twenty four 🍂

-rjk

1. creating little family traditions of serving your family's favorite foods each season is so much fun

2. invasive and hard to eradicate in our area—the true trash tree—but basically the only one to boast fall color!