~ The Smell of Autumn ~
Labor day is just around the corner and soon to follow will be autumn. I love autumn. Notice I prefer to call it autumn rather than fall. It sounds sophisticated. I say the word autumn and memories flood my mind instantly.
First I envision the colors; the fiery reds, the golden yellows, deep browns and vibrant oranges. The trees are stunning that time of year here. The air is crisp and the breeze of autumn is an old and welcomed friend. An autumn wardrobe is warm and cozy, but a heavy down coat is not yet required.
There are pumpkins everywhere you turn and the stores are filled with festive decorations for the up coming months. Speaking of festivities, autumn marks the beginning of a long line of festive events that continue through the remainder the year. Labor day weekend is a last escape to the lake, a family/friend bar-b-que or just a long weekend spent a home sleeping in and watching movies. The Kansas City Irish Fest takes place over the holiday weekend and provides beer and bands, what could be better?
Then there's the kick off of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, which runs through Columbus Day. Several "Oktoberfests" take place during September, go figure. Haunted Houses open for those who dare and those of us who love history of the 1800's in our area can attend Missouri Town 1855 for several activities throughout autumn and winter.
For my mom and I, autumn also marks the fall home tour. We love to see new designs and ideas for homes exterior and interior. Then we have an extravagant lunch and a drink while we chat about everything.
Autumn is the end of pre-season and the beginning of another hopeful season to end in February.
Of course autumn begins the holiday season as well, which if you know me at all you know that I am a huge fan of the holiday season. First, and separate really, is Halloween. I, of course, no longer participate in trick or treating, but I love passing out candy to the neighborhood kids. Then there are the costume parties with way too much drinking.
Thanksgiving comes next with its ridiculous amounts of food and yummy pies. I love spending time with the family, although until our twosome Thanksgiving in California last year I had been spending this holiday with my boyfriends’ family. It's nice to have somewhere to go though, getting in the car for what is suppose to be a 3 1/2 hour drive that turns into a 6 hour trip due to holiday traffic on I-70. You know with me in the car we are listening to holiday music all the way there. Not just Christmas music, I throw Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving song into the mix. I help decorate the tree with his mom and put lights up outside with his brothers. Peppermint Schnapps in my hot cocoa to get me through the big family get together...
Then there's the best holiday of all, Christmas. I don't love it because I of the gifts or the gift cards or the envelope of cash from my dad that will pay my personal property tax before January and any bills I have around plus a big after Christmas shopping trip with my best friend. I love it because it means I'll get to see most of my family at least once that year granted we're all alive and no one got married that year. I love the tradition of going to my Granny Ruth's on Christmas Eve. I flew half way across the country last year that day just to get there by dinner at 5pm. I love the tree, the smell of pine and apple cinnamon candles, the lights on the houses, the scarves, hats and gloves and the candle light service. Now on my own I spring for a real tree while my parents disappointingly enough have purchased a fake one. Finding the corresponding color for the corresponding hole isn't as much fun, but still I help thus I end up decorating several places, but of course I don't mind.
The thought of that time of year, even starting with autumn makes me blissfully happy. Maybe I'm extra sentimental this year since I missed out on so much last year. It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving when it's 70 degrees and sunny everyday and palm trees are swaying outside your window in the green grass. That fact that there was no family to share it with accentuated the lack of holiday spirit even further.
So as I said, I can't wait for autumn to officially begin. Hey that's about when all the good TV comes back on too (The Office!). Plus the humidity will die off!!! Don't get me wrong Spring and Summer are great too with the hiking, the float trips, the swimming, tanning, boating, tank tops and flip flops, but there's just something magical about the latter part of the year.
First I envision the colors; the fiery reds, the golden yellows, deep browns and vibrant oranges. The trees are stunning that time of year here. The air is crisp and the breeze of autumn is an old and welcomed friend. An autumn wardrobe is warm and cozy, but a heavy down coat is not yet required.
There are pumpkins everywhere you turn and the stores are filled with festive decorations for the up coming months. Speaking of festivities, autumn marks the beginning of a long line of festive events that continue through the remainder the year. Labor day weekend is a last escape to the lake, a family/friend bar-b-que or just a long weekend spent a home sleeping in and watching movies. The Kansas City Irish Fest takes place over the holiday weekend and provides beer and bands, what could be better?
Then there's the kick off of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, which runs through Columbus Day. Several "Oktoberfests" take place during September, go figure. Haunted Houses open for those who dare and those of us who love history of the 1800's in our area can attend Missouri Town 1855 for several activities throughout autumn and winter.
For my mom and I, autumn also marks the fall home tour. We love to see new designs and ideas for homes exterior and interior. Then we have an extravagant lunch and a drink while we chat about everything.
Autumn is the end of pre-season and the beginning of another hopeful season to end in February.
Of course autumn begins the holiday season as well, which if you know me at all you know that I am a huge fan of the holiday season. First, and separate really, is Halloween. I, of course, no longer participate in trick or treating, but I love passing out candy to the neighborhood kids. Then there are the costume parties with way too much drinking.
Thanksgiving comes next with its ridiculous amounts of food and yummy pies. I love spending time with the family, although until our twosome Thanksgiving in California last year I had been spending this holiday with my boyfriends’ family. It's nice to have somewhere to go though, getting in the car for what is suppose to be a 3 1/2 hour drive that turns into a 6 hour trip due to holiday traffic on I-70. You know with me in the car we are listening to holiday music all the way there. Not just Christmas music, I throw Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving song into the mix. I help decorate the tree with his mom and put lights up outside with his brothers. Peppermint Schnapps in my hot cocoa to get me through the big family get together...
Then there's the best holiday of all, Christmas. I don't love it because I of the gifts or the gift cards or the envelope of cash from my dad that will pay my personal property tax before January and any bills I have around plus a big after Christmas shopping trip with my best friend. I love it because it means I'll get to see most of my family at least once that year granted we're all alive and no one got married that year. I love the tradition of going to my Granny Ruth's on Christmas Eve. I flew half way across the country last year that day just to get there by dinner at 5pm. I love the tree, the smell of pine and apple cinnamon candles, the lights on the houses, the scarves, hats and gloves and the candle light service. Now on my own I spring for a real tree while my parents disappointingly enough have purchased a fake one. Finding the corresponding color for the corresponding hole isn't as much fun, but still I help thus I end up decorating several places, but of course I don't mind.
The thought of that time of year, even starting with autumn makes me blissfully happy. Maybe I'm extra sentimental this year since I missed out on so much last year. It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving when it's 70 degrees and sunny everyday and palm trees are swaying outside your window in the green grass. That fact that there was no family to share it with accentuated the lack of holiday spirit even further.
So as I said, I can't wait for autumn to officially begin. Hey that's about when all the good TV comes back on too (The Office!). Plus the humidity will die off!!! Don't get me wrong Spring and Summer are great too with the hiking, the float trips, the swimming, tanning, boating, tank tops and flip flops, but there's just something magical about the latter part of the year.
