The Perfect Fall Day

Its not here yet, obviously... we still bake under the hot oklahoma sun, with temperatures ranging from upper 90's to well over 100. Grass is green and growing, trees are fluffy with leaves, birds are singing, and mosquitoes are eating us alive.... fall isn't here yet... but it wont be long.

Today I was sitting out back with Abbi and Kevin and mom after the sun set behind the rooftops, and shade set in. It became tolerable to be outside for the first time in a long time. Looking up I saw green bunches of pecans filling the trees along the north side of our property, and suddenly it hit me - the promise of fall... my favorite season ever.

The perfect fall day would be cool, not cold, and most definately not hot. i'd say high of 65* low of 45... just cool enough to be jeans and long sleeves weather, with a jacket on hand. There would be a light breeze during the day just strong enough to stir the leaves up into the air and back down again making them dance.

I'd wake up to the sound of the local geese flying south like they do every year. its always quite a sight to see them in their giant V formations flying away to warmer weather. I'd get up, the smell of apple-spice filling my house from the candles we always buy this time of year.

Abbi and I would have apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast, and watch Little Women while we worked on Christmas presents and homeschool art projects, complete with a handprint turkey that we would later save for Abbi's special thanksgiving placemat.

After we were up and ready and finished school for the day, we would run outside and play in the leaves, kicking up golden and red flights of fancy, dancing in the breeze. We'd walk over to the playground at the park behind our house, and play on the swings, run in the grass (now drying and browning a bit), and go down the slide. We'd come back and practice counting the pecans as we picked them fresh out of our yard.

After picking pecans, we'd come in and bake mini pecan pies, and the house would fill with the smell of karo syrup, country spice, and love. We'd wrap them up with festive saran wrap and make little love notes for when we give them away.

About then Kevin would come home from work, and I would put in a hot meal of baked chicken with rice and green beans... just hot enough and creamy enough to "stick to your ribs" and give you that warm cozy feeling and make you just a little bit sleepy.

We'd all snuggle together after dinner under a big homemade quilt, and eat some of the pecan pies, while we looked over scrapbooks, and talked about the future. As the night wore on, we'd laugh and play and reminisce.

When night time comes we'll tuck in our little one, and lay in bed, reminded of all the beautiful things in life to be thankful for.... the bounty we have...

I love fall.