Autumn... the apple of our eyes

Autumn is just a few days away and I'm happy for its arrival! Sunday, September 22nd this year marks the first day of the new season, or fall equinox. Afterward, daylight hours will gradually decrease until the winter solstice. This new season of increasing darkness and decreasing temperatures creates a yearning for familiar, warm and cozy things.

Fall is a time to celebrate the ripening and fruiting of seeds sown in the spring. It's a time of fullness, maturity and harvest. In early autumn, the floral garden, although past its best, still has a few late bloomers to snip for floral displays: dahlias, zinnias and roses showing off their encore performances. However, the orchard, vineyard and kitchen garden are peaking now.

This bounty of ripe fruit and vegetables in September and October can inspire our culinary creativity. It's always satisfying to cook or bake when key ingredients are in season and plentiful. It's a time of slow roasting, baking and seasoning with spices. Many dishes are made in quantities to store aware for the winter, as squirrels do with their nuts.

September and October are still relatively warm in southern Ontario, so outdoor activities are something I like at this time. The climate is fantastic now for long runs and hikes. The mix of warm sun and cool breezes creates an enjoyable mix. There's also so much beauty outside to enjoy: the colouring up of apples and squashes, the busy creatures in nature preparing themselves for winter, and the changing tree canopies. The scent of wood fires. The harvest moon.

The coziness of fall makes me think of a warm cup of coffee and pulling out my sweaters, shawls and blankets. I enjoy a return to scented candles while I journal in my notebooks. It's a fun time to snuggle up with my husband and watch an evening movie or peruse magazines or get lost in a thick, atmospheric novel.