You can feel it, can’t you?
It’s not quite fall yet, but it’s coming.
The mornings are a little cooler. The evenings are getting darker just a little earlier. The garden is starting to look like it has given up trying to impress anyone, and every once in a while you catch that smell in the air.
Fall.
And I LOVE it.
I know there are people out there desperately hanging onto summer. They’re still wearing flip-flops, sitting on patios and talking about how we have “lots of summer left.”
Those people are in denial.
I’m over here mentally unpacking the sweaters.
Bring On the Sweater Weather
There is something wonderful about that first morning when you walk outside and think:
“Ohhhh… I need a sweater.”
Not a winter coat.
Let’s not get carried away.
Just a sweater.
Preferably a big comfy one that hides everything you enjoyed at the summer barbecues.
Fall clothing is very forgiving.
Summer says, “Here are your arms, legs and every lump you own.”
Fall says, “Here. Put on this oversized cardigan. Nobody needs to know anything.”
Fall understands women.
The House Gets Cozy Again
This is probably my favourite part.
Once fall arrives, suddenly I want blankets everywhere.
Blanket on the couch.
Blanket on the chair.
Blanket folded over another blanket because apparently one blanket cannot possibly handle the enormous responsibility of making a room look cozy.
Then come the candles.
Apple.
Cinnamon.
Pumpkin.
Vanilla.
Anything that makes the house smell like I’ve been baking all day when, in reality, I’ve done absolutely nothing.
That is what I call efficiency.
And Then There’s the Food
Oh, fall food.
We’ve missed you.
Soup suddenly becomes exciting again.
Stew comes back.
Chili returns.
Fresh bread with butter becomes practically a food group.
And the Crock-Pot comes out of summer retirement like an old employee who knows exactly what needs to be done.
Throw everything in at 8:00 in the morning and by 5:00 the whole house smells amazing.
You walk into the kitchen feeling like some kind of pioneer woman.
Meanwhile, the Crock-Pot did all the work.
Pumpkin Spice Takes Over the Country
Whether you love pumpkin spice or think it tastes like somebody dropped a candle into your coffee, you have to admit one thing:
Pumpkin spice has incredible marketing.
September arrives and suddenly pumpkin spice is everywhere.
Coffee.
Muffins.
Cookies.
Candles.
Creamer.
Cereal.
Probably motor oil by now.
I don’t even need everything to taste like pumpkin.
I just like the idea of pumpkin.
Put three little pumpkins on my porch, toss a plaid blanket over something and I am ridiculously happy.
Fall Decorating Is the Best Decorating
Fall is also when the house starts getting dressed for the season.
A wreath goes on the door.
A few mums appear.
There are pumpkins on the porch.
Maybe a lantern.
Maybe a cute sign.
Maybe one little scarecrow.
Then somehow you go to the store for milk and come home with another pumpkin.
Because apparently the seven pumpkins you already own weren’t quite enough.
And don’t even get me started on those adorable little velvet pumpkins.
Nobody needs them.
I want twelve.
The Trees Put On Their Big Show
Living in Canada, we sometimes forget just how beautiful fall really is.
For a few glorious weeks, the trees absolutely show off.
Red.
Orange.
Gold.
Yellow.
Entire roads look like paintings.
You can drive the same road you’ve driven a hundred times and suddenly find yourself saying:
“Look at those trees!”
And whoever is in the car with you says:
“Yes. I see them.”
Then five minutes later:
“OH! Look at THOSE ones!”
Because apparently we have never seen leaves change colour before.
But it never gets old.
The Bugs Finally Leave
Can we also take a moment to appreciate this?
The mosquitoes start packing their tiny suitcases.
The flies calm down.
The wasps stop behaving like they own the patio.
You can sit outside without becoming dinner.
Thank you, fall.
Your service is appreciated.
The Best Sleeping Weather Returns
There is nothing better than crawling into bed on a cool fall night.
Window cracked open.
Fresh air coming in.
Warm blankets pulled up.
Maybe you can hear the wind outside.
That is sleeping weather.
Summer sleeping is just lying there with one leg outside the blankets, flipping the pillow over every fifteen minutes and wondering if putting your head in the freezer would be considered unreasonable.
Fall?
Fall tucks you in.
Of Course, We Know What’s Coming Next…
Now, as Canadians, we understand that fall comes with a slight problem.
It doesn’t last nearly long enough.
One minute we’re admiring colourful leaves and drinking coffee on the porch in our cute sweaters.
Then we wake up one morning and somebody has apparently replaced the entire country with a freezer.
The beautiful leaves are gone.
The pumpkins are frozen solid.
And we’re standing in the driveway scraping the windshield saying words that probably shouldn’t be printed on the Arctic Blonde website.
But we’re not there yet.
Right now, we have fall.
And I intend to enjoy every minute of it.
The cool mornings.
The sweaters.
The colourful trees.
The candles.
The soups.
The pumpkins.
The crunchy leaves.
The cozy evenings at home.
And that wonderful feeling that comes when the seasons start to change and life seems to slow down just a little.
So goodbye summer.
You were lovely.
You were hot.
You were sweaty.
And frankly, you stayed long enough.
Arctic Blonde is ready for fall. 🍁
Now excuse me.
I need to go buy a pumpkin I absolutely do not need.
— The Arctic Blonde
