Hello Happy Autumn

Yesterday morning’s air had a chill that stuck around through most of the day. It was delicious. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and hugged myself a mug of steaming coffee. I was giddy with the thought of packing away the miserable swelter of summer’s heat in exchange for the crisp bite of autumn days. I know some of you adore summer, the tight squeeze of heat against a sweaty skull, the ripe smell of children left outside a little too long, but it’s just not for me.

With school beginning mid-August I had to wait for other signs to tell me it’s time to pull out the thick socks. Signs like this:

That’s Dave on the roof of the shed, harvesting our apple tree. Apple trees produce in full every few years, and this is going to be one of those years! The first batch was impressive, the apples are tart and tasty and have already been boiled down into scrumptious apple sauce. And the tree is still heavy with more. Added bonus? With a pot of simmering apples on the stove the house smells so good that I can barely hear the dust bunnies scuttling around. Besides, they’re almost cute when coated in the intoxicating scent of warm apples and cinnamon.

Another sign of fall? These gigantic sunflowers that are just now coming into their own.

The girls begged for the packet of seeds a million years ago (well, back in the spring) and you know how it is when the kids grab stuff as you’re leaving the store. I broke down, and they planted them all along the side of the driveway. They are amazing. Taller than me, some plants host four or five of the brilliantly bright yellow faces. One plant is inexplicably covered in these cool red striped flowers.

Ah yes, the signs of autumn. I had all but pulled on a hat and written off summer when the girls plucked these from the garden. Raspberries? In September? Drat. Foiled again. Looks like summer is not ready to go quietly into the night just yet.

8 Replies to “Hello Happy Autumn”

  1. I’m with you Daph — the fall can’t come soon enough. Have you considered making a little home brew hard apple cider with your harvest? Bring along some of those tart little beauties tonight at flag football, will ya?

  2. Wow I am impressed and drooling..who is this garrulous gardener..she couldn’t be the sa who turned down everything that I produced?me persom

  3. apples, sunflowers.. yeah yeah. i love summer. wish it would never end.

  4. That said, you almost got me jazzed up for fall with all your enthusiasm and awesome pictures.

  5. I love the sunflowers!! I am going to have to try the applesauce recipe (minus the home grown apples). I like summer, fall and spring – I would just like to skip through winter. . . Great post, Daph!

  6. No sign of fall yet here in the desert. I’m told there is a marked change in climate in late October or early November when the sky clears of dust and temps only reach 85. For now, it’s 110 every day with a varying humidity index of 50-90. God bless AC!

    Though we don’t have home-grown apples, we are taking one bag of frozen dates out of the freezer at a time, and are enjoying Pakistani Mangoes for about 50 cents.

    Thanks for this season update – makes me wonder how the sunflowers we planted are doing in our old Louisville back yard. I do hope Dave is careful when he’s climbing trees for the sake of fresh fruit..

  7. tis the best season of the year! So when shall I expect to receive my care package 🙂

  8. We just went apple picking, which to me is so Fall. But yesterday, it was so hot, we were sweating from just standing in line. I cannot even imagine turning on the oven to make an apple crisp. I am ready for fall weather, but summer is holding on strong with a hot and steamy grip!

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