I love Fall. The smell of crisp, musty leafy air. The crunch and skittering leaf sounds. Blustery wind that sasses. It is the only time of year that I orange is my favoarite color. Otherwise, I abhor it. It is the only time of year a black cat gives me pause.
Walking up the main street of my hometown every day to visit my aunt, my feet kicking through red, orange, and brown leaves that crackled. Robin’s egg blue skies and clouds, so white, so full as though they were heavy with the winter snow to come–the sky seemed like the roof of an old house, too low and me too big, like I could almost touch the ceiling–that’s autumn. Autumn is full of memores that wrap around you like a old, warm quilt made from blue cotton memories.
When autumn comes, I pull out my very favorite autumn children’s book, “When will the Snow Trees Grow?” by Ben Shecter. The little guys and I wrap up in our blankets, snuggle up with some hot chocolate for them and warm apple cider for me. Because the “lemonade isn’t as sweet.” The blankets feel just right. And the wind rustles around the house trying to find a way inside. Shector poignantly shows how tastes and needs evolve with the seasons.
Another favorite book pulled out, for the older, more adventuruous among us is The Oxford English Edition of Classic Ghost Stories. The stories collected in these pages are to horror movies what Belgian truffles are to cheap chocolate. No gimmicks, just stories passed own through folklore, sprung out of supersitition, imagination, and a dark night. It is one of my husband’s favorite books to read, too I heartily enjoy it, but don’t like reading it if he is out of town–BOO!
Of course, since lemonade doesn’t taste as sweet, it’s time to pull out the crock pot and stir up some mulled apple cider, topped with homemade whipped cream and Starbucks Caramel Sauce. My favorite hot chocolate recipe is the way my aunt used to make it when I’d spend the night. Milk warmed with Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa and made just like it says on the back of the box:
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/3 cup boiling water
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
- Homemade whipping cream
DIRECTIONS
- Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature. Top with real homemade whipping cream.
One of my favorite parts about autumn will be different this year. For years, the boys and the neighborhood kids would stop by in the midst of their afternoon play, no matter how cold the weather. I would pull out my S’More indoor grill. The gaggle would pull up the stools to the counter, and S’More Snacks for everyone-a regular autumn event! The neighborhood kids might be in another state, but the S’More Maker is with me!
The weather is cooling, the trees green, but have a washed out look about them. The sky feels like it is starting to press downward. The quilts feel snugglier. I’m getting thirsty for some yummy cider. The urge to curl up with a book that will make my hair stand on end, no matter how many times I read the stories, beckons, and, for some reason, the color orange is my very favorite color right now, a fiery, pumkiny orange. My scardy cat seems a little braver, her coat a little darker for some reason.
I so love the Fall!
Oh dear Maryleigh,
This post is so very American, and I can identify with it only through the American novels I read way back in high school, and in my university literature courses.
I will never know what the crackle of autumn leaves feel like under my feet, hundreds and thousands of them, or the mulled apple cider with whipped cream, or the S’Mores you talked about. I gather the S’mores are marshmallows that you grill on a small griller (like the one in the picture?)
Or pulling up a quilt, and reading ghost stories by the fire!
O have clouds hanging so low you feel that you could touch them?
How delightful that must be!
We don’t have autumn here… but somehow it is my favorite season of the year. Because of what it stands for. Stripping, losing everything, and bare trees standing ready for winter…
It is painful, but autumn is a reminder that God is always ready to give us a brand new start.
There’s been so much devastation the past days in the northern part of our country. I cry each time I see the news. Millions lost their homes to unprecedented floods — some up the roofs of their houses. They have lost everything. How can they rebuild? Many of them already had nothing much to start with.
It has brought out the worst and the best in us. Many died trying to save lives. Heroism you never thought possible.
Well…
Just wanted to share my heart with you. It sure is good to be back reading your blog posts, dear friend.
Love
Lidj
Reading this makes me long for a ‘real’ fall season where the leaves change colors…. *sigh*
Thanks for sharing the hot choco recipe. Sounds super yummy!
Psst! I have a little something for you over at my blog. Please do drop by and pick up your ‘award.’
http://buckeroomama.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-want-to-take-moment-1.html
This is also the favorite hot chocolate recipe at my home! We like as well the recipe for chocolate cake on the back of the hershey’s baking cocoa box(although not the frosting!). I am now officially wishing I was at your house. I love that you share the books you are reading. Thank you! I also read your post about your son and his mysterious stomach ache. Thank you for posting such an incredible story. I agree that we are meant to be God’s instruments in the lives of others, if we live and pray to do so. Such an inspiringly good blog! And thank you for stopping by mine. I just wanted to see how the bisquits and gravy turned out for you. Any questions? I’m here to help!
I am thrilled to have Fall arriving here! It’s my favorite time of the year……
Oh, that hot cocoa sounds so yummy, I may have to make it this evening 🙂
Fall is my favorite season too!
I love your blog!! Fall is my favorite season, too. I look forward to it all year long! Glad you found me so that I could visit you.
How lovely this post describes fall! I enjoy your writing so much.
Wish I were enjoying cider and hot cocoa, but I have a meeting to go to.
This morning as I stood crossing guard, I could see my breath and there was frost on the school roof. Brrrrrr!
Some of the Maple trees are getting real pretty with their multiple autumn colors.
I hope your boys meet some new friends in the new neighborhood. I’m sure some kids would love the S’mores. I bet the old neighborhood misses you all.
Take care
I absolutely adore Fall! I look SO forward to its return each year. It is my favorite time of the year, second only to Christmastime! I love the first crisp night of the season, the first fire made in our wood-burning stove, the beginning of football/marching band season, snuggling up my with my warm Slanket and wearing warm flannel PJs. Oh, there are so many things I love about Fall. However, my most favorite part of the season is watching the leaves change to their brilliant colors of yellow, red and orange. Isn’t is awesome to watch our Lord paint?!? It never ceases to amaze me. Never!
Thanks a lot for the recipe. I will save it and will definitely give it a try soon. :0)
Hope you have a fantastic week!
Many, many blessings,
Teresa <
The year we moved from WI to TX, I was pregnant with my oldest son (now 10) and was so homesick for Fall, my Father bagged up a bunch of colored and crunchy leaves and UPS’d them to me. Bet your buttons I spread them out in the greenest of lawns and felt better.
We’re back in WI now and Fall is every bit as beautiful as it should be. I loved this post! I can’t wait to track down a smores maker and the first book you mentioned. 🙂
Blessings, C~
Oh my gosh! This hot cocoa looks to die for! YUMMO!
I’m a huge fan of fall too. I love the colors and the activities and the fall fashion. But, I hate that it mean winter is coming because I HATE WINTER! It’s wet, it’s cold, the dudes want play outside as much, and it gets dark too early. Blech.
You got me craving smores…
This post was yummy on so many levels!!!
I the leaves have been turning red and orange quickly now. My recent posts show when the leaves were just starting to turn.
Did anyone else see the huge yellow orange harvest moon last night?
I remember a teen party where we were bobbing for apples and roasting marshmallows one fall long long ago.
Thank you for your recent visit to my Sharing Life with Lisa blog and for your comment. I came over to greet you and to pray for you and your family.
Beautiful blog. I look forward to visiting with you again soon.
Love and blessings.
Lisa
I love fall too. The way you described it was so beautiful and descriptive. Great post!
such a lovely post! thank you for sharing!
wish you a great day!
justyna
This sounds absolutely delightful. I too, love fall but not when I am sick with a cold ugh. And I do remember your prayer for your son’s wife. I read it back when they were married. Thank you for reminding me of it 🙂 Blessings to you! xo
Delicious! That’s what you’ve made fall sound, smell, and feel like, and I, too, am glad that it’s fall! Thanks for sharing the hot chocoate recipe. I’m waiting for the weather to cool a bit more here before we break out the hot chocolate, but I can tell that it won’t be too far away!
And…I just know that the Lord will bless you with new people to share those s’mores with this year! 🙂
Jennifer
I LOVE hot cocoa -any excuse to eat cream 🙂
http://mamaplaysmozart.blogspot.com/
Great post…. some things I missed – hot cider and hot chocolate, snuggling under blankets with the kiddos.
An Indoor Smore Grill… man I need one of those!