7 Reasons why I love Autumn

It is the time of the year to pack away your summer clothes, get out your wooly sweater and fall in love with colourful trees. I’ve always had a special relationship with trees. I’m sure in my previous life I must have been a huge oak tree, if not I really want to be one in my next life. The beautiful colours on the trees are one of the many reasons why Autumn is my favourite season of the year.

Here is a list of a few of my Autumn pleasures.

1) Playing in autumn leaves

Taking a slow walk in the neighbourhood or local park always put a smile on my face. Children laughing, kicking and rolling in the autumn leaves. With my little girls there is always lots of giggling and rosy cheeks. I love the sound of leaves crackling underneath my feet and the smell of the crisp air.

“Autumn, the year’s last loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant

2) Reading in front of the fire

Flickr.com – Dennis Wilkinson

When the season starts turn there is nothing as good as reading a good book in a cozy corner. If I have 5 minutes (which is not all that often), I love sticking my nose in a book and disappearing into a different world. I have favourite autumn reads like a true bookworm. Two of my best re-reads in Autumn is The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen and Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel.

3) Hot Chocolate

I am a self confessed coffee addict and in Autumn an absolute indulgence is salted hot chocolate with cream. If you have a bit of time the best way to make hot chocolate is to start with boiling the milk in a small saucepan. Take good quality chocolate and let it slowly melt into the mixture. Bring everything to a boil and a pinch of salt. Serve with cream and a dash of cinnamon. The warm indulgence feels like a cozy hug from a friend you have not seen in a while. The best Hot Chocolate I have ever had was in Paris at Angelina, directly across from the Tuileries on rue de Rivoli. If you ever have the chance it’s the perfect place to visit on a rainy day in Paris.

4) Reading my favourite children’s books to my kids

As a kid I used to love the stories of Victoria Plum written by Angela Rippon.

The illustrations is exquisite, unfortunately the books are very hard to get hold of today. In Autumn we always read Victoria and the Prickly Hedgehog (Autumn). Victoria Plum is a tree fairy that wears a flower hat and makes friends will all the little creatures in the forest. As the nights are starting to be a little bit longer, and it is warm and cozy inside there is nothing like having a little body snuggling with you listening to a story that you both love.

5) Halloween

My favourite things about halloween is scary movies, free candy, cool costumes and haunted houses. Playing dress up with 5 kids can be a exercise in patience. My 5 start talking about the halloween dress up party months in advance. For one night you can be anyone you want to be, the only limit is your imagination. This year we will have a witch, Harry Potter, Einstein and possibly a ghost or a Hawaiian hula girl. The kids are excited and I take the night of as ‘perfect mom’ and do not lecture about healthy eating or how sugar is bad for your teeth.

6) Comfortable, warm clothes in cozy colors

Autumn always makes me feels cozy. Lots of extra blankets or snuggling under a fuzzy quilt with my family. I love autumn clothes. Knitted hats, boots and scarves. I love my comfortable black coat that I can dress up with a bit of color, but nothing beats the comfort of coming home and putting on a big wooly sweater and worn jeans and hiding from the world with something warm to drink.

7) The Colors and Beautiful Light of Autumn

I admire and love the gorgeous, vibrant colors of Autumn. The reds, yellows, browns and purples. With the changing of the sun’s angle you get a soft, beautiful light which always makes me a bit melancholy. It is a time to say goodbye to the joys of summer, snuggle up warmly and reflect on the past year.

These are just a few things I love about Autumn. I also love pumpkin flavoured everything, autumn berries, autumn rain, children playing in puddles, the smell of wood fire.

What do you love about the season of colorful leaves and warm fires?