A lovely Fall morning

Today truly feels like Fall has arrived. It is around 70 degrees outside, and I was so chilly when I woke up this morning that I put on a long-sleeve shirt and closed the window behind me a little. It looks as if a storm might hit any minute, but no rain is supposedly in the forecast. It seems that autumn is simply announcing, "I am here now. This is MY season." I welcome it with open arms as I do every year. I am more than happy to bring out my sweaters and jackets. I want to go and buy pumpkins and begin carving away, even though I know they won't last until the magical night of Halloween. Maybe I'll just buy one and carve it just so I can enjoy that wonderful smell of burning pumpkin flesh! I'll place it in my room, on the bedstand, so that the flickering shadows will bounce on my walls at night. That feeling of magic that always comes with the arrival of Halloween is already in the air.

A poem to welcome the autumn season

Fall does not technically start until the 22nd, but I couldn't help but offer it an early greeting with this lovely poem that I found.

'With the Flaming Shades of Fall'

Colors burst in wild explosions
Fiery, flaming shades of fall
All in accord with my pounding heart
Behold the autumn-weaver
In bronze and yellow dying
Colors unfold into dreams
In hordes of a thousand and one
The bleeding
Unwearing their masks to the last notes of summer
Their flutes and horns in nightly swarming
Colors burst within
Spare me those unending fires
Bestowed upon the flaming shades of fall.

- Dark Tranquility, With the Flaming Shades of Fall

Martha's 'Halloween'

At the grocery store yesterday, I noticed Martha Stewart's annual 'Halloween' magazine and had to have it. Not only did it show her in an awesome ghostly equestrian costume, but it also included one of her gorgeous black Friesian horses, which I thought was just super cool! (I ride horses, and the Friesian is my favorite.) The magazine is full of wonderful recipes and craft projects, including how to make the costume she is shown wearing. I have never bought a Martha magazine before, but I must say, I was impressed with her Halloween one. It includes a link to a website where you can purchase all of the props and decorations online. I really liked several of the huge, inflatable decorations. I'd love to have the horse and carriage on my front lawn, lit up with black or red lights. I'll be trying some of the recipes this year, for sure. The magazine has a lot of stuff to give you some wicked Halloween fun! I would definitely recommend it.