I love Autumn: those deep reds and golds, reflecting the sun’s warmth. That chill in the morning air, that makes you wish you’d worn a coat. The evenings drawing in, giving you an excuse to light the fire and put on your pj’s at 4.30pm. It’s not as cold or as dark as Winter. There’s a glow to Autumn that is still hanging on to the heat of the Summer.
On our dog walk this morning, the grass looked as if it was covered in frost, but of course it wasn’t. It was covered in tiny spiders’ webs that were glistening with dew. Partner was suddenly the font of all knowledge on spiders and told me that in every square foot of grass, there are hundreds of them busying away. He saw a programme once – I was almost impressed.
I was more impressed than I was with the professional leaf blower, who was shifting leaves yesterday on our estate, with his powerful machine. They billowed up in all their gorgeous, golden glory. A feast of autumn confetti for those who were lucky enough to be twitching their curtains and watching the show. Then they settled back down, a mere few feet from where they started. Perhaps I am missing the point. Perhaps someone who may have seen a programme on leaf blowing can put me right. I have always seen the job of the leaf blower as a thankless task. One undertaken by retired men, who need a purpose while their wife is at pilates. One of those jobs that is further down the list than mowing the lawn and strimming the hedge, but that they eventually get to with a sigh. My mum used to use a rake. Every Sunday in Autumn she would be out in our garden with her woolly hat on and a rake. I can clearly remember asking her why she was bothering, because more leaves will fall during the night. Besides, I liked kicking the leaves up at my sisters and smelling their earthy, rotting smell.
I love Autumn. Especially when we have got through the horror and drama of Halloween and we can look forward to fireworks and huge bonfires. Collecting chestnuts, despite no-one actually liking them when they are roasted.
Autumn has the anticipation of Christmas hanging around it, without the stress. There is a frisson of Christmas excitement in October. It builds-up in November, reaching fever pitch and drunken parties by mid-December: hangovers and too much Camembert. By Christmas day, you are wondering how you actually ever drank mulled wine without feeling repulsed, but in the Autumn it is pure nectar, as it is symbolising the start of something, that like childbirth you have forgotten how it ends.
I love Autumn. I looked at the spring bulbs on offer in the supermarket this morning and I thought how lovely it would be to plant them now and see them spring into life in February, when we are feeling at our lowest ebb. When we are so low that we grab hold of Valentine’s Day by its balls and thrash the hell out of it, because we all need an excuse to drink champagne in the depths of Winter. But today, I resisted the urge to buy. I resisted because I want to be mindful and live in the moment of Autumn. I want to indulge in the richness of the colours and maybe, in December when it is too late, I’ll plant those bulbs.
There are so many things I love about your post! You had me giggling at ‘almost impressed’. The anticipation that you mention, it is my favorite part about any festival/vacations/birthdays. I enjoy the feeling of having something to look forward to and all the preparations get me super excited. The post was so descriptive that I could see the colors, smell that earthly smell and taste the champhagne!
I am a huge fan of the hues too and I enjoy drinking hot apple cider on a cool Saturday morning!
What wonderful comments – thank you so much! Hot apple cider sounds amazing!
I also love autumn and this has to be the most beautifully written blog post I’ve ever read!
#BloggerClubUK
Thank you! That is the most beautiful comment I have ever got!
I love this post. Especially Partner becoming an inst-expert on spiders…who knew? I fall in love with every season when it’s just starting.
I certainly didn’t know! The other half’s hidden knowledge 🙂 Thank you so much for your comments.
I love autum too its kind of magical. Though I also love planting bulbs, it will be a little late in December but you never know and if not they will be a surprise the following year #bloggerclubuk
Ah, lovely 🙂
I can’t think of an excuse NOT to drink Champagne! I loved reading this post, you really captured the feeling of Autumn. I’m a huge fan of Autumn too, but it has been so mild that trees we overlook from our house are still very green and it’s just not the same! #brilliantblogposts
Well, I must admit that my front garden still looks really summery: geraniums, clematis…I’m actually with you on the champagne – Friday tomorrow, crack it open 🙂 Thank you for your comments.
Oh yes Autumn is absolutely the best season! Plus the clothes – more layers, less shaving – what’s not to like? 🙂 (I don’t get the leaf blower thing either, surely a leaf sucker would be more useful?? I’m patenting it before Dyson gets wind of it!) #brillblogposts
As I write this, he’s blowing away again…suck man, suck 🙂
Too funny, oh well as long as he’s happy! 🙂
I defy anyone to love Autumn, the crisp air, sun and beautiful colours, I would rather have Autumn than Summer any day of the week. Also with you on the leaf blowing. We have a huge oak tree outside our house and each week the council workers come and blow the leaves that have fallen on the path outside our house onto the road. They then leave then until the next day for a fellow worker to come and sweep up. Uummm – but where are they? Back in our garden of course. So what was the point of all that? #bloggerclubuk
It gives someone a job, I suppose! Thank you so much for your comments.
I love Autumn too, although I never plant bulbs – I don’t think Ive ever so much as watered a plant in my life, I am utterly clueless!! The favourite thing about autumn for me is snuggling up in my pyjamas drinking hot chocolate! #stayclassymama
I once watered a plastic plant for a fortnight when I was house-sitting and ruined the floor. Luckily the kid I was also looking after fared better!
My husband is obsessed with raking the leaves…which kind of drives me mad as he never picks up the pile…so I send the girls out with wellies and coats to kick them all around (it’s a pile of leaves darling, what did you THINK they’d do?!)
Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub Alison xx
This made me laugh! Kick, don’t blow is what I say 🙂 x
Oh yeah this is so true! I’m loving Autumn – because its getting colder and you know Christmas is coming. We moved to the countryside earlier in the year and Autumn here is so beautiful. I have a garden full of leaves lol I can’t be arsed! #stayclassymama
When the colours of the leaves are so beautiful. it’s like a lovely blanket over the garden, so it seems silly to be arsed! Thank you for commenting.
We collected a load of chestnuts last week but have no idea if we even like them yet so that part did make me chuckle! Autumn is a beautiful season and has so far had some wonderful weather. #brillblogposts
We’ve been spoilt this year 🙂