#thoughts on fall

I am not really the "outdoorsy" type. What I mean by that is I have a threshold point for how much time I am willing to spend isolated in nature, Thoreau-style. I'm not physically (or mentally) prepared to tough it out on an extensive camping trip, and after a while, getting my hands dirty seems to be more stressful than enjoyable. I'm not saying I never will; it's just that for now, brief stints in a park seem more realistic to me. That said, I do have a fondness for (and appreciation of) the outdoors (hence the hike photos--don't worry, I'm not being deceptive!). I am thankful for mountains and hiking trails, trees, leaves, branches, grass, plants, streams, lakes--pretty much anything that creates a halcyon environment with a scenic view to match. I'm a sucker for aesthetics, what can I say? I am also thankful that I have the ability to see, hear, smell, and touch these things, when unfortunately, many others cannot.

I've been using short nature walks and neighborhood excursions as the antidote to the blues. I've been a city girl for a while, but sometimes I need a break from that fast city livin', and fall is the perfect time for this. The autumn palette incites such an awesome idyll that it almost draws me in without much effort. My mind immediately becomes a reliquary of all things fall, in my world, of course: hot Haitian cocoa with star anise and cinnamon; images of fireplaces; colorful trees; plaid and flannel and fleece; nighttime bonfires with friends and cousins; raking leaves and jumping into the pile(s), only to rake them up again; pretty wool scarves, hats, and gloves with rustic leather jackets; tall boots; the playful winds that kiss your face and tousle your hair as soon as you step outside...there's really nothing like it.