The smell of autumn...

Every year, usually starting in mid-September, upon my first step outside in the morning, my lungs fill with a breath of morning air and I realize that it smells like autumn. It makes me smile. As a native Iowan, the smell of autumn instantly brings to mind so many things - fall festivals, marching band, school, raking leaves, coats, hearty stews, pumpkin pie, farmers harvesting their crops, halloween, funnel cakes, seeing your breath in the air, looking like rudolph with a red & chilled nose...it all rolls into a split second flashback of memories that have built up over the years until, to me, the smell of the autumn air is as distinctive as the scent of the first flower of spring. I'll be tempted to buy decor to celebrate the turning of the season and have to resist the endless supply of fall garlands, scarecrows, turkeys and other autumn paraphernalia. I always eagerly pull out my sweatshirts and sweaters from storage in anticipation of wearing them (although they're still a little too warm for wearing all day).

I've been watching the farmers harvest their fields for the past few weeks. I was surprised because I don't recall the crops have turned this early in previous years. I suppose the heat and lack of moisture during the early summer months caused the crops to ripen early. Hopefully the produce isn't too puny. It seemed when the farmers wanted rain, it was dry...and when they needed dry heat, it rained.

The leaves have begun to change colors. My backyard trees have halos of leaves surrounding the trunks as they turn to various shades of red, orange and brown and float to the ground. At first it was only a small section of the trees turning but now all have a highlighting of colors throughout their branches. As ever, I am in awe of the color palette before me.

I'll be attending my home county's fall festival this weekend. I do so every year and wander the flea markets and craft booths with my mother. We usually go in early on Sunday's to partake in the community-sponsored breakfasts, share conversation with other early risers and then shiver our way around the booths again. Maybe I'll catch some fantastic photos of the river again this year. I'll have to repost a few that I took last year...

Despite my enjoyment of autumn, I know winter isn't far behind and I'm dreading the upcoming heating season. My energy company is predicting a 70% increase in heating costs. Yikes! I do believe I'll be closing off the upstairs this winter and sleeping in the living room! *sigh*