tcepsa | An Autumn Frame of Mind

For me, Autumn this year arrived on Saturday night. That's the only explanation. It started with a run to the store to get some kale and green onions for dinner. I stepped out the door and as the brisk, crisp air washed over me I realized that I wanted my polar fleece jacket. That was my first indicator. The second occurred as, clad in said fleece, I walked through the breeze to the car: I wanted spiced apple cider. So I picked up some apple cider at the store and after dinner we spent an inordinate amount of time trying to find a recipe for mulled cider (we went through five or six cookbooks looking for one...) It was worth the hunt, though; the cider was delicious.

Ever since then, I keep getting little pings that my brain is parsing as Autumn. A candle lantern Saturday evening. My cold feet throughout the day on Sunday. The chill waking up this morning. The angle of the sun as I drove into work this morning. Wearing my fleece. My continuing cold feet. Someone heated up their lunch and the smell of it made me think that it seemed like a good thing to be having during Autumn. Anticipation of the aroma of woodsmoke in the air. Leaves beginning to fall from the trees. The candleflame scarf that I intend to finish this week and which looks like those leaves gathered into a huge pile of reds and yellows and browns. A mug of hot instant oatmeal and another of tea for breakfast.

I know that officially it doesn't start for another week, but for me, Autumn is most definitely already here, and it is off to a wonderful start.