Autumn

I absolutely love fall! It's slowly starting to get cooler here and trees are starting to loose their leaves. There's just something about it. I don't know. It just make me feel warm and cozy. You get to start wearing long sleeves and sweatshirts again. It gets darker sooner.

Honestly I think one of my favorite things, about this time of year, is the food. It's just soooo good. I can remember how on Halloween my dad would make his chili. Mmmm... So good and how I miss it. Mom's taco soup. Thankgiving. Yum. Dad's stuffing is the best and nothing compares. His turkey, no matter which way he does it, is phenominal. Mom's sweet potato casserole. Tried making it last year, but it just wasn't the same. I haven't had Thanksgiving with my family for 4 years. Every year it comes to that time it gets me a little depressed knowing it's another year I'm away, but sadly I still remember how everything tastes. Mmmm... My mouth is salavating! Anyway....moving on...

I love baking during this time and the way it makes your home smell. All the spices you use. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger... It's just all so comforting. I can't wait to start making pumpkin pie or my cinnamon chip cookies. Unfortunately Todd doesn't care for pumpkin pie and I can't find my cinnamon chips anywhere up here. (So mom if you're missing your daughter oh so dearly and you feel like sending her a little package, cinnamon chips would be mighty nice to add to it.)

And the best part, the fall leads you into Thanksgiving and Christmas. These have always been my two favorite holidays. In between both we usually get to celebrate my mom's, sister's, and my birthday. But my most favorite of each is that during both I'm usually surrounded by family. I love the feeling of everyone getting together. Since I was in 5th grade there has always been someone gone. Now that we're all out of the house it's fun and exciting to go back to the place where everything started. The traditions, memories, and laughter.

So here's to another fall that will again encourage my love for baking, bring new traditions while we use those we grew up with, and most of all bring us all together.