Did you know that autumn is my favorite season?

Always has been and likely always will be.

Fall conjures up such cozy, visceral memories for me!

As a kid growing up on a dairy farm in Upstate NY, fall always felt like a fresh start.

Crisp mornings meant sweaters and jeans covered my summer sun-kissed limbs. I loved heading back to school, mostly to reconnect with schoolmates.

Fall was also the time of year my dad would pause work for a Sunday afternoon so the family could pile into the car for a leaf ride.

I didn't matter that the 200 acres of hilly land he farmed offered both spectacular views and thousands of blazing trees to peep.

The man deserved a break and fewer things brought him as much joy as a scenic drive and the promise of a picnic lunch paired with steamy hot chocolate poured from a thermos.

There was something magical about coasting through the southern Adirondacks or the foothills of the Catskills to embrace the season in all its fiery glory.

On a few occasions, we combined our leaf ride with apple picking. Mark my word, you will never eat better apples than the ones you twist off a tree! I still enjoy this pastime and have shared it with my kids since they were toddlers.

Honestly, the REAL reason I pick apples is to bake homemade pie. And apple crisp. And apple cinnamon coffee cake. And roasted butternut squash and apple soup.

Give me a chilly October afternoon and a bushel of sweet-tart orbs and I'll fill my home with aromas of apple-laced love that will feed body and soul.

Leaf rides and food references aside, I also love nature's invitation to meld the lessons of autumn with our own lives.

Just look at the trees! In the fall, they remain firmly rooted and down-regulate their inner systems to prepare for rest in wintertime. They shed that which doesn't serve, trusting that the renewal of spring will gift them another season to grow and flourish.

As we settle into the new season,

• Where can you appreciate the bounty you already possess?
• What have you outgrown and need to release?
• How can you remain grounded in what most nourishes you and be flexible when the winds of life swirl around you?
• How would you like to feel this autumn?

Fall can also be a time when our bodies feel a little creaky physically or emotionally. If some massage or yoga TLC is in order, find me here.

Get outside and breathe!

Jennifer (she/her)

{P.S.: Who thought pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds were a good idea???}