has begun.  Yes, it is now Autumn here in West Virginia, and the leaves are at the beginning of their time of changing.  They’ll go from their lovely green colors and almost overnight will transform into gorgeous displays of reds, yellows, and oranges.  In some areas it will seem that these hills come alive and just glow, giving a wonderful show for any spectator blessed to see them! 

As you can tell, this is my favorite time of the year.  I go into my *nesting mode* and want to clean and cozy up my home for the winter.  I put the light colors away, and pull out the heavier fabrics and darker colors, soft and nubby textures, and enjoy the scents of my own baking emanating from the kitchen.  The charcoal grill is cleaned and put away for next year, the oven is cleaned and made ready for the many pies, cakes, cookies, breads and casseroles that will pass through it, the heavier comforter replaces the lightweight bedspread of the summer.  I harvest the last of my fresh flowers before the first heavy frost hits, and adorn my home with their loveliness.  Soon, they will be replaced with silk flower arrangements placed strategically here and there.  The air conditioners are turned off and the windows thrown open wide to allow the cooler breezes to blow the summer air away, and bring in the crispness of the Autumn season.  Oh, yes, this is my favorite time of the year!

This is also the time when I begin to take stock of my tea stash.  I like to have hot tea-lots of hot tea!-in the cooler months, and there are many that I like.  I’m not a fan of green teas, but I do like Bigelow’s Vanilla Chai, Celestial Seasonings Blueberry, Bigelow’s Vanilla Caramel (I think it’s by Bigelow?), and a few others, such as Peach and Berry (the Berry is by Lipton, I think, and is in a triangular tea bag). 

I also make preparations for the upcoming Winter weather.  I make sure I have an ample supply of flour, yeast, powdered milk, powdered creamer (~gasp-but yes, I do use it in an emergency situation!~), and lots of canned veggies, soups, meats for stews and casseroles, and dried beans and pastas.  You see, every few years, West Virginia gets a big snow.  Oh, perhaps nothing major to some parts of the country, but our region cannot handle large amounts.  We don’t have enough salt trucks to keep the roads clear, nor a large enough supply of salt if we did have enough trucks!  I’ve never quite understood this, but I suppose since it’s only about once a decade that we actually get *snowed in* for a few days, it’s nothing to complain about.  This gal enjoys those times–the joys of staying home and hibernating are immensely pleasurable to me!  I fix a cup of tea, or hot chocolate, have some yummy soup and homemade bread, and spend my time quilting, sewing, and writing.  I occasionally pop a movie in the DVD player and allow myself to be swept into another time and place via the television.  I’m not a big fan of television, but I do like a few shows every now and then.  The weather forecasters are predicting the *big snow* this winter, so I’ll make sure I’m ready!

So as I settle down more and more with the season, you’ll probably find me posting more and more–that is, if I can leave my needle and thread long enough!

Hugs,

Cynthia Robin