Autumn

The Sprout is at nursery and for the first time I feel like I have some time off (except for the half painted bathroom hanging over my head and all the boxes that still need to be unpacked but won't).  I can finally get a bit of writing done and I think I will ponder Autumn since I don't think any other season brings about such memories.

For some reason Autumn brings my most vivid childhood memories.  The other day we were graced with a Sky Sports Channel Open Day so I got to watch the Saints v. Colts game, and surprisingly, I watched it.  It was a good game.  But while I was watching the game I felt there were atmospherical elements missing such as the smell of chicken stock and the sound of a vacuum cleaner and my parents rumbling feat and loud shouts at the TV.  I told Richard this and he commented "wow, there must be some specific memory related to that."  Of course there is.  Football is usually on TV on a Sunday which seemed to be my mom's cleaning and cooking day when I was little.  So, besides the sounds of the crowd on the TV and my parents cheering, was the sound of the vacuum and smell of chicken stock on the stove.

For some reason the chill of Autumn brings me to light a cinnamon smelling candle and if I had a real fireplace I would light that too.  I also get whiffs of Purdy Elementary and school supplies.  I don't know why it is specifically Purdy Elementary and not Harbor Ridge or Tacoma Community College.

I also get a hankering to knit.

The other day I was perusing Gig Harbor's Facebook Page and found that the Fish Bowl had already taken place.  I was surprised it was so early in the year, of course true to form, the Tides won 17 to 14.  Glad to see something never changes.  I also saw that there is a Gig Harbor Chowder Cook Off...yummm chowder (Mallard's Landing took all 3 awards).  I need to learn to make Clam Chowder because they don't have it in a can here.

Of course the thing I get most excited about in the Fall is Halloween.  I need to get moving on my horror movie-a-thon.

And now a new thing to get excited about, the Sprout's birthday.  We are going to have his first birthday party on the 23rd of October.

Did you know I have been in Bradford for 5 years?  Pretty crazy.

The start of Autumn also brings the snowball of the holiday season.  People start to go crazy getting ready for Christmas and I start planning for my British Thanksgiving party.  This year I want to go to a lighting ceremony.

So even though the growing darkness and cold, rainy weather is a pain in the backside, Autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I am looking forward to it this year.