(image, which is my current desktop, from this free wallpaper site)
Quite frankly, I cannot either, but, temperature be damned, Autumn is here.
Leaves
How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.~Elsie N. Brady
Though temperatures ranged from nearly autumnal to blazing hot this past week, a number of wonderful things conspired together to help boost my autumn mood. And almost all were delivered, not on the wind, but on the back of my friendly neighborhood postman.
My dear friend Debi and her wonderful family surprised me with an unexpected but much appreciated box of goodies. Last year Debi had mentioned something about cinnamon tea on one of her posts or in an email and when I mentioned just how great that sounded she sent me a card with a small bag filled with cinnamon tea bags. Being the sentimentalist that I am, I did not drink the stuff. Instead it was like a scent talisman that I kept on my desk throughout the season, grabbing when needed to inhale the very essence of fall and winter (both seasons that I associate with cinnamon). When I was cleaning out my basement the other day and going through my boxes that house my little collections of important things, I came across this bag of cinnamon teas and of course promptly added it to my special box, where it will stay forever.
Imagine then how great it was to have that moment and days later to get a box with goodies in it including cinnamon tea–which my wife and I will drink this time! (After all, we can save the canister!) 🙂 This tea smells amazing!!! I passed it around to the rest of the family when they were visiting this weekend and we were all drinking in the scent. The sour jelly pumpkins exceeded expectations. They have a perfect balance between sweet and sour, so they don’t pucker up your face to the point you want to spit them out, and they just melt in your mouth. We are trying, hard, to make them last. And of course the little ghost is just a delight. Debi’s hand-made cards are great too, and her penmanship is jealousy-inducing.
Thank you Debi and family for thinking of me (us). This was the perfect fall mood setter.
Those of you who know me well know that I am a big Martha Stewart fan. I almost entitled this post, The Bitch is Back, as a funny nod to what some think of her (and which happened to be in my head because it was the title of the last episode of Veronica Mars, Season Three, which we finished a few weeks back). Every year I purchase the two Martha Stewart Fall/Halloween issues because they are chock full of ideas which inspire me in my fall decorating and in the Halloween party I host for Mary’s friends. This year I subscribed to the magazine as a fundraiser for the elementary school attended by the child of a friend. I couldn’t have been more happy for this to arrive the other day. If this isn’t the true sign of autumn for me, I don’t know what is. I only wish I could make my stuff turn out as well as hers does.
The bitch is back indeed!
Though only autumn-related in the sense that Cherie Priest’s Locus Award Winning Novel, Boneshaker, was released at this time last year, I considered it a season blessing to receive a copy of her latest book, Dreadnought, in the mail this past Saturday from TOR Books. Dreadnought is set in the same universe and has some characters in common, but is a stand alone novel. I am already 100 pages in and am enjoying it a great deal. A review will be forthcoming.
I have been eyeing a trade paperback copy of this book for the past year at my local Barnes and Noble. The only thing saving me from spending the money is that the one copy was beat up. I also felt like it was a book that I wouldn’t dip into until fall anyway, so why bother trying to track it down before then? I am thrilled that I waited.
I’ve been wanting this book for a combination of reasons: 1) I love short stories, 2) I haven’t experienced Rudyard Kipling’s work that I can recall, 3) Neil Gaiman intro, nuff said, 4) Gaiman used Kipling as an inspiration for The Graveyard Book, and 5) What a cool cover!!! I even like the spine!
But my greatest excitement about finding this book at Barnes and Noble was that it was a hardback with no remainder marks and the price was excellent.
With autumn becoming “official”, and the arrival of the fall Martha Stewart Living magazine, self-permission for fall decorating has been given. These characters are ones that I picked up recently at the Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival and they have been patiently waiting to be joined by the others who have been stored downstairs, awaiting the season. I also purchased the tag below as a new decoration to go on my Halloween Tree.
Though just a day on a calendar, the official start of Autumn is a happy time for me. The next three months, autumn through the Christmas holiday, will be one of decorating, eating seasonally appropriate food, a heightened appreciation for the weather, a rekindling of interest in the night skies (not sure why, but I look at the stars more in fall and winter than any other time of the year). A time of reading and blankets and my favorite long-sleeved shirts. A time of football and family and friends. I couldn’t be more pleased that today has come. In addition to all this goodness, I get to share the seasons with all of you!
Autumn Fires
In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!~Robert Louis Stevenson
Thank you so much for this post! I was just thinking how much I am going to miss Summer but you have reminded me of all the wonderful things about Fall and Winter :o) Now, time to curl up with a good book under a blanket with some hot chocolate (I don’t have that cinnamon tea but it sounds delish!)…happy 1st day of fall!!
Carl, what a lovely autumnal post. I love this time of year too. You are way too funny with the “special box.” Mind you, it is funny because I also have a “special box”! That tea, in the canister that will go in your special box, smells heavenly. I came across it the other day and got a nice long sniff. Mmmmmm. Now I think I must go and buy some. Lucky you to find that Rudyard Kipling’s Tales of Horror and Fantasy on the remains table! I’ve been eyeballing it for awhile too but have yet to make the purchase.
I wish I could feel the fall coming…I really do…
I love all those goodies! I can’t wait until my Martha magazine comes in the mail.
It’s very fallish where I am. Cool, cloudy and the leaves are falling.
what is this fall you speak of? we hit 93 today here in Nashville and tomorrow should get to 95. we went swimming at the pool!
Thank you for this awesome post! You always help me feel fallish even when it’s so hot here (supposed to be in the 100s through next week ::sob::) Your enthusiasm is contagious.
Halloween Tree? Really? Is it just what it sounds like,a tree like a Christmas tree except decorated with Halloween stuff? Really? Do you also hang little pumpkins from it? I have never heard of such a thing. But then there’s no real Autumn here, just Santa Ana Winds & Fire season, which isn’t the same. This is the time of year it starts getting hotter here.
I can’t feel it 🙁 Not in the air at least. But you’re totally helping me along with posts like this, Carl!! I swear you need to do an autumn post every day!! And we need Debi to be the official craft person of autumn 😀 What a wonderful little package 😀 That tea really does sound amazing!! And that ghost is adorable!! You should take pics of the halloween tree! I’d love to see it. And that Kipling book looks amazing! I’m going to have to see if my B&N has a copy available too!
Oh, I wanted to tell you too…I have tickets to the Saints vs. Falcons game this Sunday 😀 Should help bring my Autumn mood on!
Chris: Too cool!!! That is so awesome, congrats. That will definitely put you in the mood. Fingers crossed that they win the game…but let Roddy White score a few times because I need those fantasy points. 🙂 Debi is definitely the official autumn craft person, I agree. Hopefully your BN has them, they were all over a display on the end cap of the bargain books up front in mine.
Richard: I pull interesting branches off my bradford pear tree and decorate them with Christmas bulbs every year. Last year I decided to use the same concept to decorate for Halloween. I hang old skeleton keys and Halloween decorations from it. I’ll take pics when it is done.
Amy: That makes me want to cry! Boo to hot weather in late September!
Melanie: Exactly!!! 🙂
Chrisbookarama: I hope yours comes soon. And I’m jealous of your weather.
Amanda: You are not alone!
Terri B: Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m getting to the point where I have several “special boxes”, but thanks to the big clean they are now much more organized than they used to be.
Book Worm: 🙂 I’m ready for hot chocolate weather, I really am!
Although we get beautiful foliage here in the Pacific Northwest, I’m especially excited this year to be heading to the Poconos shortly for a wedding. I’m hoping the weather turns just in time to give us some beautiful leaves!
Carl, thank you for such a beautiful seasonal post. You are so right and I shall no longer mourn summer’s passing and welcome in autumn instead!
What a lovely post. And two wonderful poems.
I cannot tell you how hard this made me laugh…seriously, tear-producing laughter! The visual of you sitting there picking up those tea bags and just getting a spicy high. 😛 Of course, I’m able to laugh because I *know* just what you mean–I would love to know how many times I’ve taken the tin out of the cupboard just to smell away for a minute. And I am so very happy that you guys are actually going to drink it this time…don’t worry–even after the tea is gone, the smell lives on in the tin. 😀 Anyway, I am so very glad your little package arrived safely, and that it put you in that autumn mode. You add so much to this here family’s life–it’s just nice to be able to return that now and then. HAPPY AUTUMN!!!!
Oh my, and will I be keeping my eyes out for that book now!
I do miss the fall! 90 degrees, and humid as hell is NOT condusive to fall dammit! Ok .. i got that out of my system. But, but.. i miss the sound of leaves under my feet and the rides into the “country” to find apples and pumpkins and drives thru places that could remind one of Sleep Hollow!.. ok.. got that out of my system. Or did I?
Happy Fall Carl.. I know this is your most favorite time of the year and it’s so nice to know a man who enjoys things enough to talk about it and decorate and just get into it as you do.. :o) I hope for you and Mary the best Fall Season yet!
Deslily: I feel your pain, believe me. And thanks, I do throw myself in to the season. I hope your autumn season ends up being great in spite of Mother Nature conspiring against you.
Debi: A proper thank you card was sent out yesterday which will probably repeat a lot of this stuff, but thank you again, it was all very wonderful. I have no doubt we’ll be sniffing the tin for months to come. 🙂
Caroline: Thank you. 🙂
Peta: I don’t mourn the summer’s passing like I did when I was a kid, but with each season change there is that bit of melancholy over time passing and looking back and wondering if I could have gotten more out of the time. But now is the time to look forward and enjoy.
Kristen M.: I hope you get your wish, that would be wonderful to see. Best of luck to the bride and groom and I hope the entire thing is magical for them and for everyone who attends.
My tulip tree has been papering the back yard with leaves for about a month now. Of course it’s because of drought and not fall yet…it’s still in the upper 90’s here! but still, the kitties are enjoying rummaging thru the leaves immensely and the weatherman ‘claims’ that we’ve got a cold front coming in next week (in the 70’s!). I’m sooooooo ready for the actual autumn to kick in!
My sister-in-law bought me a blown glass halloween tree for christmas several years ago, but i’ve been to afraid to put it out because i KNOW the inside cats will just break it! Need to find a display case for it. Thanks for putting me in ‘more’ thoroughly in the mood for fall!
This was a great post, Carl! I am actually happy that it is autumn and am getting into the mood for it by reading some great books. It takes me a bit to get going with the season, but once I am prepared my mood changes entirely!
I love Debi’s little crocheted figures! She send some to people last year, too, right? They are cute! Enjoy your gift and books!
I am, of course, familiar with Kipling’s “Just So Stories” (we had an audio tape of them when I was a child and I can still hear the narrator’s voice when I read them now), but I did not know about these tales. I am looking forward to reading your review. Thanks!
What a stunning post! The poetry and pictures are perfect, a grand way to welcome the season of red and gold. What could be better than to wrap up in a blanket, sip a hot drink, and read an enthralling book?! Autumn is an introspective mood.
P.S. I wish TOR loved me. I want to read the sequel to Boneshaker!
When I think of autumn, I always think of your blog! We don’t really decorate over here in England, so I have to visit your blog to get my fall fix.
Aye, I feel it, through the thick heat and stale air. In the breeze I can hear a faint humming song of Autumn, and my body longs for it. There’s something wonderful about October, November, and the rest of the season, and I’m on the Fall-train with you Carl.
I hope Dreadnought is good. I liked Boneshaker well enough, and it looks like my library has this one on order!
Logankstewart: There is always room on the Fall-train! So far Dreadnought has been interesting and I hope it continues. I really enjoyed Boneshaker and have been looking forward to this release.
Vivienne: The one thing I hate about blogging about the seasons is that I do feel like I’m excluding half the folks who either aren’t fond of the season or who don’t have the same season pattern we do.
Kailana: Well, we love you, that should count for something.
Susan: Nothing could be better than that, absolutely nothing. Unless of course someone is making you the hot drink and bringing it to you! 🙂
Mosker: I wasn’t aware of them at all until I saw the book for the first time. Its funny how you get some authors stuck in your mind with just one or two books, which was the case for me with Kipling, and then suddenly you find out they wrote all kinds of other things. That has been the case over the last few years with readers pointing out Daphne du Maurier books that I never knew existed.
Kailana: Yes, her crochet figures are great. She did some for giveaways last year that were wonderful. And I thankfully have some of my own to join ol’ ghosty soon.
sgist: I agree entirely, glass object d’art and kitties do not mix!!! 🙂 We had to cut our big tulip tree down this year and though I miss it all the rest of the year, I don’t miss cleaning up those massive leaves.
I am so ready for Fall, sweating my proverbial balls off in 98 degree classrooms with drenched eight year olds looking pitifully at me. This post helped tremendously, as I’m always inspired by Martha Steward (or Hoople, as my husband calls her, after some rock band?) and those ginkgo leaf pumpkins rock my world! Great deals on your books, fun decorating, (trust you to have a Halloween tree!), thanks for reminding me of the cool days ahead. Literally as well as figuratively.
Wait a minute…where are your poppets? 🙂
duh, of course I meant Stewart…
Bellezza: The temperatures are supposed to drop around here starting today. Not much, but in the 70’s as opposed to 90’s, which is good. I hope your area’s temperatures break soon. And no worries, the Poppets are always out in full force on my bedroom bookshelf and will be making their way into the decorating scheme.
It will be in the 90s this weekend here in sunny dry SoCal. Gasp.
Richard: Ugh!
My absolute favorite season!! I need to start collecting fall decor now that I have a house to decorate!
I have been eying Cherie Priest’s other book, Boneshaker. It looks like a fabulous read, and this one, Dreadnought, looks intriguing. Actually, Dreadnought’s cover is really drawing me towards it.
I must say, you have most certainly have waited long enough for Kipling’s book; hope you enjoy it!
Decortaing is not my thing. I just don’t seem to have the inclination for it, nor the time, or resources. I should put some effort forth with seasonal decorations; I bet the kids would like it.
How are you about taking the seasonal decorations down? Are you prompt? That is probably my biggest seasonal decorating problem; taking them down. :\
I love that photo at the top of your post! Fabulous colors. It would be cool if I could find an outdoor scene similar so I could take some photos. Autumn colors are beautiful; rich tones. The smell of autumn is fantastic, and the crips air…love it!!! I always go back and forth between Fall and Winter as my favorite seasons. Winter tends to win out for me though.
Happy Fall to you Carl! I hope it is a fabulous season for you…a fun one!
Ibeeg: I’m about 100 pages in and am enjoying it quite a lot. The main character is a Civil War nurse and thus far she is an interesting protagonist.
I spent some time getting my Halloween Tree done this afternoon while watching football. Just a few more things to do and my Halloween decorating will be done. I’m pretty good about taking inside decorations down promptly. It is a bit hit and miss with outside decorations. Taking inside decorations down just means I get to redecorate with stuff to fill the gaps of what I’ve just removed, so that is just as fun.
Finding beautiful fall photos is one of the easiest things to do online, and yet I suspect one of the hardest things to capture. I too wish I could find similar outdoor scenes. This weekend has been very much perfect autumn weather. Today it has been cool all day, wonderful for watching football and for being in the autumn mood. Love it! Winter is a favorite season of mine as well. I think the combination of Halloween, my birthday on Nov. 21st, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas and New Years made autumn/winter my favorite back when I was a kid and it remains my favorite time of year now.
Happy Fall to you and yours as well.
Daphne: Yes you do! Hooray for you having your own (beautiful) home.
Lovely, lovely post, Carl! I fully enjoyed reading it, and now want to rush right out for Martha’s Halloween issue:) I love to collect all things ghost so am totally enraptured with the ghost you received. Jealous!
Jessica: I need to go pick up her Halloween special myself. This fall issue was fun, but wasn’t full of enough Halloween goodness for me. That ghost is really fun. 🙂
What a lovely post. You always remind me to appreciate autumn more and to try not to grouse about the rain. You have some lovely goodies there and I’m looking forward to your reviews of Dreadnought (Boneshaker was so much fun). Your little ghost is cute too 🙂