Karen Zimmerman – Photographer
Ahhh! Fall, my favorite time of year.
Some prefer spring, a time of new growth and fresh starts. A joyous time when vibrant hues of green push away winter’s bleak shades of gray, and bulbs awaken and stretch through the earth’s sleepy soil. Summer garners its share of votes with fireworks, festivals, and fairs. Exhaustive hours are spent swimming, hiking, biking, watching ballgames, and having picnics, spying butterflies, or watching the stars while catching lightning bugs. And a world splashed with warmth, sunshine, and color. Even winter deserves a shoutout with its dormant interlude when the world is a quiet display of grays and browns. And nothing like the silence of falling snowflakes blanketing the gelid ground with a white masterpiece. Tranquility. Time for snowball fights and snowmen, sleigh rides and sledding, and angels in the snow.
But for me, all that is fall is mine. The crisp, chilled air lends itself to bulkier fashion. An oversized sweatshirt is perfect with a pair of capris, and boots add style to jeans and a cozy sweater. The aromatic indulgence of a spiced latte makes for a delectable treat. Pumpkins and apples, corn mazes and haunted houses, farmers markets and fall festivals, bonfires and hayrides. Pumpkin spice flavored everything oozes out from everywhere. Autumn brushed trails, with a palette of warm, golden colors, are ready to enjoy and explore. Halloween sends trick-o-treaters out in the evening shadows to fend off ghosts and witches for a confectionary jackpot. Comfort foods are the norm when darkness creeps in at dinnertime and nothing beats home cooking. Chili, soups, or stews simmer all day, inviting everyone to warm their bones. Cookies, pies, and muffins entice the pickiest of eaters with an alluring sweet and spicy aroma, drifting from room to room and beyond the doors.
Karen Zimmerman – Photographer.
Nothing beats cozying up in a favorite comfy spot with our favorite people or pets, while relishing a cup of hot tea, cocoa, or coffee, and a good book, or movie or show, playing a game or simply relaxing in the warmth of home. Grab a blanket and unwind!
Fall also reminds us, as trees release their leaves to the wind and colors race to the ground, letting go is a natural process, even in nature. I find myself using the start of each season as a chance to clean out the old and cluttered, and continue our journey of simplifying. Fall adds a gentle reminder while I clear space to make room for a medley of holiday decor – seasons of Fall decorations, Halloween fun, Thanksgiving gratitude, and next up; Christmas joy and holiday cheer – that less is more and inspired. As I breathe in that sweet autumn fragrance of crunchy leaves and bare trees, how invigorating it is to relinquish the excess and rejuvenate the soul.