Favorite Things - September 7

Autumn. Although from a strictly astronomical standpoint, autumn is still two weeks away. Its crept upon us though and it is making its presence known. Its in the air. Summer is drawing to a close. Today is Labour Day and tomorrow, school starts again for another year. There is a crispness in the air, and the temperature has cooled. The light has become clear and bright, and the sunsets are vibrant and breathtaking. The haze of summer days has migrated, making way for the new season.

This year, summer seemed an all too brief event. For many, the cooling temperature and shorter days are cause for anguish. For myself, however, this is the time of year when I feel most alive. I don't know if this is because I am a child of autumn, and this is the season when my conscious being was first introduced to the world.

I eagerly await the tinge of orange on the maple leaves, the gathering of the geese as they prepare to migrate, the annual ritual of pulling sweaters and socks out of the back of the wardrobe and pulling them on to greet the chill of night. I love adding the extra duvet to the bed, welcoming back its comforting weight, and snuggling under to warm my nose and toes.

I love that it is the season when a hot bath begins once again to beckon... so much more welcoming than a brisk, cooling shower. As the day grows cooler, soups begin to once again simmer on the stove, lending a homey aroma to life once again.

I find that I stop to inhale more deeply. The scents of autumn are so intoxicating: the slow curling and withering of summer wildflowers, which while signalling their death, smells sweetly of a short life well spent. Hay is mown and rolled, apples are ripened, and if one passes by an open window at the opportune time, there may be the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting from a fresh pumpkin pie.

Autumn in its ascent is the perfect time of year. Lucky for me, the past week has been sunny and temperate. Blessed with a three day weekend, I have made the best use of the available time to fill my lungs and indulge my senses in this early autumn splendour.