By Judy Stephan

After the long hot summer when the warm days seemed they would never end and the summer flowers are over bloomed and all the summer fruit has been harvested, I realized that Fall was suddenly upon us in mid September on a shopping trip to Superstore. A monumental display of blazing orange pumpkins greeted me at the entrance.

The day before, there was a gaggle of Canadian Geese, at least fifty, bobbing about on Long Lake… as if they were meeting to make last minute travel plans; while overhead a flock of migrating birds wheels through the sky like a living ribbon, folding and unfolding upon itself in fluid motion. It ripples, a shape-shifting cloud that contracts, then blooms outward, only to curl back in tighter again, as if breathing.

I love Fall. It arrives as a full symphony to the senses. Trees ignite in blazing hues of scarlet, amber, burnt umber and copper, their brilliance deepening as the days grow shorter and twilight paints the sky in smoky purples. The air carries the sweet sharpness of apples mingled with cinnamon, nutmeg… and pumpkin spice! The earthy musk of damp leaves and sodden vegetation is enhanced with the aroma of woodsmoke drifting lazily from chimneys.

Underfoot, leaves crunch and crackle, each step a soft percussion to the chorus of crows overhead and the whisper of wind through thinning branches. The season tastes of crisp apples bitten fresh, mulled cider steaming with warmth, pumpkin pies rich with spice, and roasted nuts salted just enough to linger on the tongue. Coffee shops boast their unique spiced lattes sipped while the chill in the air brushes skin with a teasing coolness. It’s the season of cozy sweaters, wool scarves and boots, and fingertips explore the brittle edges of leaves, the smoothness of gourds, and the rough textures of bark. Fall is touch, taste, sight, sound, and scent entwined, drawing you into its embrace.

Happy Thanksgiving!