What's your favorite thing to do in fall?

[Penthesilea]

We're in the last third of September, summer is undeniably over. Which I find always a bit depressing, because I looove summer and it's such a long time before we'll get another one.
But fall also has its positive sides, especially when the weather is good and you're lucky to have wonderful golden autumn days. Nature is beautiful with the bright foliage.



Fall in the Grand Tetons, Wyoming


So, what's you favorite thing to do in fall? Savoring the last rays of sunshine, being outdoors? Walking the dog early in the morning when every sound is subdued by deep hanging, misty clouds? Or packing away the garden furniture and putting up fall/Halloween decoration? Thanksgiving and Halloween are not far away for our American Brokie friends.
Maybe you live in an area where it's always warm and you love to go to the beach after the summer tourists are gone? Do you have a favorite fall picture? Are there specific traditions connected with fall where you live?

I'll share some of my favorite pasttimes in fall, and hope you'll share yours .



Fall foliage in New Brunswick, Canada



Fall in Austria

[David In Indy]

Well it's not raking leaves, I can promise you that! 

  

I hate raking leaves. 

Chrissi, what are you doing? We still have at least 1 more day until Fall arrives! How dare you! 

I guess my favorite thing to do in the Fall is to appreciate the blazing colors of the trees, the scent in the air, the cooling down of the outdoor temperatures and of course Halloween! I love Love LOVE Halloween! It is my favorite time of year, except for Christmas. Christmas is my number one holiday!

[Penthesilea]

Well it's not raking leaves, I can promise you that! 

  

I hate raking leaves. 

 
I easily believe you!

Chrissi, what are you doing? We still have at least 1 more day until Fall arrives! How dare you! 

What can I say? I'm just ahead of the times!

I guess my favorite thing to do in the Fall is to appreciate the blazing colors of the trees, the scent in the air, the cooling down of the outdoor temperatures and of course Halloween! I love Love LOVE Halloween! It is my favorite time of year, except for Christmas. Christmas is my number one holiday!

Christmas? Now talk about being ahead of times!

Thanks for sharing David . I also love the amazing colors nature produces in fall.

[Monika]

One of my favorite things about fall is that it´s not winter

It´s still pretty warm here and my jacket is still tucked away in the closet.

The fall is pretty, though. I´ll to snap some shots of our trees as they start to change colors.

great thread!

[Penthesilea]

One of my favorite things about fall is that it´s not winter

It´s still pretty warm here and my jacket is still tucked away in the closet.

The fall is pretty, though. I´ll to snap some shots of our trees as they start to change colors.

great thread!

Thank you .
Yay, I'm looking forward to your pics!

[Penthesilea]

Three things I like about fall are coming to my mind. One are the many fairs we have in our region. Every weekend there's a fair going on in one of the villages and small towns. We mostly go only to one or two (they're fun, but expensive).

Another favorite thing about fall is "Neuer Wein und Zwiebelkuchen" (=new wine and onion cake) in so-called "Besenwirtschaften" (=broom taverns). This is something which is traditional in the southern wine-growing regions of Germany. A broom tavern is a pub/restaurant/tavern which isn't one for most of the year. Therefore it doesn't need a restaurant-license. Its purpose is to merchandise the products of the wineries directly. Thus a great deal of the offered goods must be self-produced and they are not allowed to offer any alcohol except wine and self-made liquors. No beer!
Usually the wineries just open their yards and barns, put some tables and benches up and that's it. They offer only simple, but solid and traditional food, self-produced wines (and sometimes liquor) and a speciality: new wine and onion cake.

New wine has very little alcohol, it tastes almost like grape juice. You can get it only a few weeks in early fall each year, then you have to wait another year. And onion cake is just what its name says: a non-sweet cake with lots and lots of onions.
Here's a picture of both:




The new wine is cloudy(?) because it's not  filtrated.




Typical broom taverns. The name comes from the broom which hangs outside as a signal that the tavern is open. They are restricted by law to open a maximum of only 40 days a year.











I have sweet memories from last year, when I was at a broom tavern with Leslie and her daughter. We'll have one on you this year, Leslie!


Just for the record: the pictures aren't by me, I've found them on the internet. I'll post some of my own pictures with the next favorite thing of mine in fall.

[Berit]

New wine.......sounds fine, must try that sometimes.......but the onion pie   I think I'll skip that. Onions make me....eh.....fart.........."blush".......

I love onions but if I eat too much my family "happily" remind me of the big catastrophe in Bhopal, India and compares with that before they evacuate......

In my part of Sweden the annual hunt for moose has begun. We pick berries in the woods. School has started and we as a family are back in order - the son, age 15, get to bed at night and get up in the morning and not the other way around....... . Fall colours ar beatiful. The mosquitos die, HURRA!!! The air seems to be full of oxygen.

Fall is nice  

[Jeff Wrangler]

I think fall is a particularly beautiful time to travel. Once the equinox is past, and the weather "settles down," the heat (and, in the Northeastern U.S., the humidity) of summer is past, and the damp grayness of winter hasn't yet arrived. I think October is a particularly good month to travel--October is my favorite month, actually--and I will be doing some traveling again in the first half of the month (but not for as long as the Rail Odyssey). 

[CellarDweller]

I love Autumn!

the fall colors, the cool, crisp air.....apple and pumkin picking, Halloween and Thanksgiving, which starts the "parade of holidays" as I call it.

[dejavu]

I love to watch the leaves turn colors,    where they do that without just turning brown and falling off the trees. 

Nice, pretty round pumpkins are pretty to look at, especially at roadside markets (less so at other more commercialized gathering spots like supermarkets).

Sometimes I even enjoy the exercise of gathering up leaves and shoveling them into recycling bags, but I pay somebody to do that if I'm not going to be home.  Mostly, though, I agree with David:  I don't like having to rake the leaves.

Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday.  Being with friends or family is great, and having a home-cooked turkey is super!  If I'm not with other people, I go to a restaurant and order a turkey dinner the day before, since the restaurants close on Thanksgiving.

Fall is just a nice time for taking a ride in the country, whether there are lots of trees or not.  I like the color of the sunlight in the fall...more golden.

[David In Indy]

New wine.......sounds fine, must try that sometimes.......but the onion pie  I think I'll skip that. Onions make me....eh.....fart.........."blush".......

I love onions but if I eat too much my family "happily" remind me of the big catastrophe in Bhopal, India and compares with that before they evacuate......

Berit!! That is too funny!

[belbbmfan]

I like the fall. The air smells different, the leaves are turning red and golden. I love that.

But above all I love the fall because of this:

FRESH WALLNUTS!!



Yummy. 

[sel]

Hi everyone!
What I like about fall, it takes me back to my childhood, is the lovely smell of roasted chestnuts. Won't be involved in any raking of leaves as where I live many trees, mainly olive trees, don't lose their leaves.  Over the years autumns have got warmer and warmer. I do miss the colourful foliage of my autumns spent in the UK though.
After a very long, hot and dry Italian summer this year I am particularly happy to see the beginning of autumn.
Talking about wine apparently this year it will be excellent for wine, shoud be top quality!

[optom3]

I  miss all the russets, oranges, and other glorious colours of autumn in England, I don't miss the grey and damp drizzle. I positively am delighted not to have to cope with mountains of leaves, particularly when they turn all slushy ands slimy on the pavement/side walk.
What I love here, is Halloween, and Thanksgiving, plus the general feeling in the air that Xmas the best time of the year is around the corner. l can feel the anticipation in the air. I am not mad keen on doing 2 turkey dinners !!!!
We are starting to see Halloween decs. going up already, ooh and I love roast chestnuts and being able to stand in the sea in the fall.That never ceases to fill me with awe. A couple of beers on the beach in the evening, knowing it is cold and wet back in England.
I go so over the top with my Halloween decs. I will post pics when they are up, it is all so new to me.We have an amazing Hallowen night here.The club hires out golf carts and all the kids go round in amazing costumes.All the residents take part and there are beer stops, Margarita stops etc for the adults, it is really a sight to behold.Some of the real big houses have bands in their yards and all sorts going on. Even after 3 years my eyes are still out on stalks. Then there is a big party and dance up at the club, which is decked out as a dungeon and haunted house.Then we just walk back to the house. It is gated so it is so safe, and yes it really is an amazing night.

[Berit]

I like the fall. The air smells different, the leaves are turning red and golden. I love that.

But above all I love the fall because of this:

FRESH WALLNUTS!!



Yummy. 

Never had fresh Walnuts....another "must do" on my list.....

[Kelda]

lovely thread - nothing to add at the mo but just wanted to say that!

[southendmd]

OT, but I heard Christmas music  yesterday.  Bah humbug.

[Jeff Wrangler]

OT, but I heard Christmas music  yesterday.  Bah humbug.

   Jesus H.! Ain't even Halloween yet!

[Jeff Wrangler]

We have an amazing Hallowen night here.The club hires out golf carts and all the kids go round in amazing costumes.All the residents take part and there are beer stops, Margarita stops etc for the adults, it is really a sight to behold.Some of the real big houses have bands in their yards and all sorts going on. Even after 3 years my eyes are still out on stalks. Then there is a big party and dance up at the club, which is decked out as a dungeon and haunted house.Then we just walk back to the house. It is gated so it is so safe, and yes it really is an amazing night.

That sounds like so much fun!    I've always really enjoyed the make-believe aspect of Halloween. Since it falls on a Saturday this year, I can only imagine what our local gay bars will be like that evening. I have to be a bit careful myself because I would also hate to miss the feast of All Saints in church on the Sunday morning. My parish--and I guess Episcopalians (and maybe Anglicans?) generally--seems to make a great to-do over All Saints' Day. The music is usually something special on that Sunday.

Halloween really seems to usher in the Holiday Season these days. When it arrives, you know Thanksgiving isn't far behind, and then Christmas. 

[Ellemeno]

We are still having very warm weather here, but every day I'm noticing some new tree that didn't have color before.  One of my favorite things happened for me two falls ago, and I was able to repeat it last year, and hoping to this year.  There is a winding street in Seattle with one kind of tree planted all along it at frequent, regular intervals on both sides.  One day two years ago, I happened to drive down it on just the right windy, sunlit day when the many very small bright yellow leaves, were swirling and blowing all around over and around the street.  It was like wonderland.  One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.  I hope that happens for me again this year.

We are spending a lot of time outside with various friends these days, since when the weather does turn, we'll probably get a lot of rain.  So for now, each clear day seems extra precious.  We were outside yesterday from 1pm to 8pm constantly, except for a half hour break in an ice cream shop and later an hour in a restaurant.  We watched a beautiful orange sunset and tipped our hats at the equal night and day.

[Kelda]

Clarrissa.. when you're talking about time being precious..it reminded me... how is your friend?

[David In Indy]

I  miss all the russets, oranges, and other glorious colours of autumn in England, I don't miss the grey and damp drizzle. I positively am delighted not to have to cope with mountains of leaves, particularly when they turn all slushy ands slimy on the pavement/side walk.
What I love here, is Halloween, and Thanksgiving, plus the general feeling in the air that Xmas the best time of the year is around the corner. l can feel the anticipation in the air. I am not mad keen on doing 2 turkey dinners !!!!
We are starting to see Halloween decs. going up already, ooh and I love roast chestnuts and being able to stand in the sea in the fall.That never ceases to fill me with awe. A couple of beers on the beach in the evening, knowing it is cold and wet back in England.
I go so over the top with my Halloween decs. I will post pics when they are up, it is all so new to me.We have an amazing Hallowen night here.The club hires out golf carts and all the kids go round in amazing costumes.All the residents take part and there are beer stops, Margarita stops etc for the adults, it is really a sight to behold.Some of the real big houses have bands in their yards and all sorts going on. Even after 3 years my eyes are still out on stalks. Then there is a big party and dance up at the club, which is decked out as a dungeon and haunted house.Then we just walk back to the house. It is gated so it is so safe, and yes it really is an amazing night.

I love Halloween too!

Those Halloween activities in your neighborhood sound like so much fun! I wish my neighborhood did that. The house down the street throws a party each Halloween but that is about it. I've been a couple of times. Mostly the party is for the neighborhood kids with some alcoholic drinks for the adults. Generally what ends up happening though is the kids rushing through their trick-or-treating so they can get to the party in plenty of time, which means some of us on the other side of the neighborhood don't get as many trick-or-treaters as we used to.

Over in Speedway there are no Halloween parties at all in my neighborhood (that I'm aware of anyway), at least not on Halloween night, but we do have lots and lots of kids trick-or-treating. I like what your neighborhood does much better. And since it is a gated community everyone stays safe.

The haunted houses around town are always lots of fun and I love going to some of them each year with friends. They are getting pretty expensive though. Some around here charge upwards of $20.00 per person. It's only once a year though so it is worth it imo.

[Ellemeno]

We are still having very warm weather here, but every day I'm noticing some new tree that didn't have color before.  One of my favorite things happened for me two falls ago, and I was able to repeat it last year, and hoping to this year.  There is a winding street in Seattle with one kind of tree planted all along it at frequent, regular intervals on both sides.  One day two years ago, I happened to drive down it on just the right windy, sunlit day when the many very small bright yellow leaves, were swirling and blowing all around over and around the street.  It was like wonderland.  One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.  I hope that happens for me again this year.

We are spending a lot of time outside with various friends these days, since when the weather does turn, we'll probably get a lot of rain.  So for now, each clear day seems extra precious.  We were outside yesterday from 1pm to 8pm constantly, except for a half hour break in an ice cream shop and later an hour in a restaurant.  We watched a beautiful orange sunset and tipped our hats at the equal night and day.

That day came today.  We drove down that sun-dappled golden street today.  I'm going to try to remember to do it again tomorrow.  After that we'll be away for nearly a week, and I think the leaves will be off those trees when we come home.

Kelda - thanks for asking, my friend Jana is doing remarkably better.  She is still having a lot of confusion, but she is getting stronger each day.  A big miracle.

[southendmd]

Hey Elle, so glad you got to see your golden street, and that Jana is doing better.

I have a favorite fall tradition.  Every year, a friend and I schlep down to Rhode Island for a little reunion with friends we used to work with.  We visit their little town and hang out with their two great kids.  I'm in charge of bringing donuts on the way:  a pink one for Talia, and chocolate for Max.

The big event is apple picking, in a special, famly-run orchard that has more than a dozen different varieties, plus some ancient trees that "have always been there" with their mysterious, unknown, unnamed apples.  We grab a red wagon, a bunch of bags, and these lacrosse-like sticks for picking the high-up apples.  Most of the trees have hand-carved wooden signs announcing their variety, along with a colored spool indicating the best time to pick.  It's never crowded, the smell is intoxicating, and we sample along the way.  The kids have a blast, helping choose just the right apple, or simply getting a ride in the wagon.  Last year, the quince were abundant too, and my friend Joey made some chutney.

After the apples, it's time for a little treat for the adults.  We visit a nearby vineyard and winery, hang out on the beautiful grounds, taste a little wine (Rhode Island wine is often very bad), and listen to the jazz trio in the tasting room. 

Then it's home for cooking something vegetarian, and something with all those apples! 

[Sophia]

Thank you all for sharing your lovely autumn reports.. I loved them, makes me think autumn do have a purpose.

[tampatalon]

Fall is my favorite season in Florida because the weather is most beautiful. The highs are in the low 80's and the nites are in the 50 and 60's which makes great sleeping weather. Also the humidity is gone so this is my favorite time to do outside work like trimming and painting.

TampaTalon^">

[optom3]

Fall is my favorite season in Florida because the weather is most beautiful. The highs are in the low 80's and the nites are in the 50 and 60's which makes great sleeping weather. Also the humidity is gone so this is my favorite time to do outside work like trimming and painting.

TampaTalon^">

I 100% agree with you, I will never get over the fact that I can sit outside in the fall, in lovely balmy temperatures, it is such a treat. Some weekends I have even stood in the sea to watch the sunset, which is truly spectacular, and to a Brit. nothing short of miraculous.

[Wayne]

  Fall is pretty much my favorite time of year, although the rest of the year is great too.

I love the smell of the fresh air, crisp and clean, like apples, leaves and pumpkins.

[milomorris]

Fall is always an exciting time of year in the performing arts world. Every theatre company, orchestra, ballet company, and opera company starts its season in September. Its always a time of great performances, and gala receptions. This year in particular, the galas have proven to be fertile networking ground for me from a business perspective, I have made some good connections that have potential to turn into sales down the road.

Yep...I LOVE Fall.

[shortfiction]

It's fall?    We just got over a heat wave here in So Cal.   But we're weird that way.

[David In Indy]

It's really cooling down here in Indiana now. Most days are in the upper 50's and nights in the low to mid 40s. Most of the leaves are already on the ground. You can easily tell winter is not far off...

It's been rather gray and dreary around here, but the past couple of days have been sunny which helps a little. The ONLY good thing about this time of year is that it means Christmas is getting close! Ho ho ho!

[Kelda]

The ONLY good thing about this time of year is that it means Christmas is getting close! Ho ho ho!

 

[CellarDweller]

Ho ho ho!

Who you callin' a 'ho'?   

[Front-Ranger]

The Autumn Equinox is tomorrow, September 22. What will you be doing to celebrate?

[Jeff Wrangler]

The Autumn Equinox is tomorrow, September 22. What will you be doing to celebrate?

I'll probably just do what I do every Saturday night, go out and get drunk. 

[Lumière]

Hello gang!

missed you guys.   

These days, life has taken me to a small town in the canadian priaries.
It is a scenic drive to and fro the city this time of year.  Beautiful with the leaves changing color.
 For Autumn Equinox, we are heading out to some friends' cottage - there'll be a large gathering of people, as they are hosting a 'fire' and an art/music celebration event.  Looking forward to it! 

[Front-Ranger]

Milli, we've missed you too, and your art! Have a wonderful time!

[Jeff Wrangler]

Milli, we've missed you too, and your art! Have a wonderful time!

Sure enough! And that sounds like a lovely way to celebrate the beginning of autumn! 

[Penthesilea]

*bump*

Any new favorite pastimes in fall? Become a Halloween fan over the years? Love taking walks when it's foggy outside?

[Penthesilea]

One of my favorite things in fall is our second family vacation. Okay, vacationing is always my favorite thing, no matter the season, lol. But the kids always have two weeks of school holidays in October and we use it by travelling somewhere fun. This year it's Greece, which means we can escape fall and extend summer for a week. 

So this year my favorite thing about fall is escaping it

[CellarDweller]

going for walks outside in the cooler temps.  Seeing the leaves changing colors.