Autumn has always been one of my favorite times of year. I remember the crispness in the air, the changing of the leaves and school starting. After all, I grew up on Long Island in New York.
But since I now live in Phoenix, I need to choose to be more creative.
Did you know we have to wait until about November before it feels like fall weather here? But I have to say that I don't miss the cold winters in NY. That's when I remember why I've grown to ...love Arizona.
There are ways to experience autumn while living in Phoenix. Did you know we can drive two hours north and experience the changing seasons in Flagstaff? And it can be done in a day or a weekend very easily.
Greg and I used to own a home in Flagstaff and made the drive every weekend for about 8 years. We loved lighting our fireplace and cuddling under our down comforter. But then we'd drive back to Phoenix, returning to warmer weather for the week. It was a great mix while it lasted.
But now I enjoy decorating my house for this season, even though I still have the air conditioning on. I unpack the candles and arrange a centerpiece on the kitchen table. I especially love the scented candles that smell like fall.
Have you ever made Paula Deen's recipe for her Pumpkin Gooey Cake? It's so delicious but ...oh so many calories.
I love to pull out some of my favorite photos of friends. BTW, today is my friend Jamie's birthday and this is a picture of four of her kids. She now has five.
Happy Birthday Jamie!
As a blogger, I get to visit many friends from all over online. Some of you may already follow Beth in North Carolina of I'm Heading Towards My Destiny.
But did you know that she and her husband have a corn haze? I may not be able to visit their Green Acres in real life but ...I can visit online.
I'd get lost in that corn maze! I told Beth it would make a great jogging trail. If I lived closer, I'd be by for some fun and a visit. But thanks to the internet, I can almost experience a personal tour.
So, no matter what's going on in your life you can ...choose your response.
It may still feel like summer in Phoenix, but I'm choosing to still get into the spirit of fall. Apples, pumpkins, scented candles.
How about you? How do you experience autumn?
Of course I identify with this post although I grew up in southern California so didn't have cold weather there. I did, however, spend 3 years in Oklahoma (high school) and one year in Colorado were we had plenty of cold weather. I love AZ too, and I especially love it when it gets cold enough to turn the fireplace on. We used to burn wood but changed it to gas logs.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love autumn in Phoenix.
Charlotte
Oh Debbie! I think this post was written just for me. How I am longing for fall days and that crispness in the air that you describe.
ReplyDeleteBut we are still splashing in the pools and soaking up the summer sun!
I love the reminder that how we respond to our circumstances is up to us!
I am going to check out the pumpkin cake recipe today and bring at least the aroma of fall to Hong Kong!
Thanking Him for your faithful friendship!
Love & Blessings,
Kim
I enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteWell, in Tromsø, we have been 'experiencing' fall with a month of rain! The trees turned yellow over night. We've had a very short Summer this year. I hope I've stored up enough sun for the Winter.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a pumpkin in the shops yet :( - been waiting a long time to make pumpkin recipes. You know they don't have pumpkin soup in Norway? Pumpkin here isn't seen as human food - they grow is as a treat for their pigs. But it is Halloween that has made the pumpkin popular in Norway - and the colour orange...lol.
Hi Precious Friend,
ReplyDeleteI am experiencing Fall right now and LOVE this season. Could be one of my favorites for sure!
I love that you shared it is up to us how we respond to everything - AMEN!
Love you and big hugs!
Jill
I love fall :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not real big on winter - but I do enjoy autumn!
How do I experience autumn? I usually bake. My husband LOVES all things pumpkin - so I stock up on my nutmeg and canned pumpkin - and then I spend lots of time in the kitchen :) I also bake many batches of my mini Pecan pies and give them away to friends and family. (Like Paula's Pumpkin Gooey Cake - they are loaded with calories!)
I hope you had a great weekend, friend!
Hugs,
Kate :)
Oh ... I got the recipe and cannot wait to bake the Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake this week! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
I really like photos with pumpkins! They're always so cheerful. I'm also a lover of fall--here in NM, we get a little more traditional autumn than you may get in Arizona. :-) But it's all about enjoying wherever you are...
ReplyDeleteFall is my favorite season of the year! Good to see you and Rosslyn connected. wb
ReplyDeleteFun post. I've lived in California almost my entire life, so I can readily identify with the summer-until-December season.
ReplyDeleteI drove through Flagstaff last summer with my family and was pleasantly surprised to find it so green and cool. It's amazing that it is so close to Phoenix.
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteWell, living in So Florida, we really don't have a fall season. We have summer...3 weeks of winter...a month of spring and then we are thrust back in to summer. lol
But I do choose to pull out my fall colors and make soups that are warming and put out decorations that say fall and candles that smell like fall.
Loved this post...thanks for the reminder about mindset being so important in our everyday life!
Love you!
Hi there Debbie...I'm a fellow phoenician and when I read your comment on Melissa's The Inspired Room about the difficulty to "get into fall" here in the desert, I thought I'd just have to come on over and say a big HELLO.
ReplyDeleteI second that struggle to bring in the fall...gosh, wasn't yesterday 104 or something :-) soon, soon, soon, I keep telling myself.
Anyway.....great post you've got here....
blessings...lylah
It has actually felt like fall here in Texas the past few days. Over the weekend it warmed up but cooled off tonight with a nice breeze. I love this time of year and all the pretty colors and decorations.
ReplyDeleteI have a fall question for my tomorrow's post for "As Long as it is called Today."
I SO enjoyed this and especially the photos. I must say I don't like pumpkin pie. I'm a sweet potato pie girl (smile).
ReplyDeleteI wish I could visit Beth's corn maze! Looks fantastic.
Love ya and thanks for sharing with us today.
Awww, you are so sweet. Ha. I'm glad our little farm can bring you some fall joy. :o)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine living somewhere that is even hotter than HERE. God bless you Debbie.
Have a wonderful day!
Love you!
Beth