19 November 2011

My Favorite Season-52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History

Week 47:  Fall.  What was fall like where and when you grew up?  Describe not only the climate, but how the season influenced your activities, food choices, etc.

Fall is, and was, my favorite season.  Fall in Michigan is a beautiful site.  The crisp air, beautiful colors, and food bounty makes for a lovely mix. 

First, is the leaves changing colors.  The green leaves of summer turn to red, orange, yellow and brown.  They even have color tours that you can take to see the beautiful colors.  Leaves are also a good part of my childhood memories of Fall.  I remember gathering leaves in a pile and jumping in them.  Another favorite leaf memory is placing leaves in the shape of a house floor plan and playing in the different rooms.  A school assignment required collecting leaves and ironing them between wax paper.  Everyone knew where the unusual leaves could be found.

Fall weather is my kind of weather.  Warm, but not hot, days and cool nights.  The air can be crisp, but it is a great time to go to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch.  Windy days will cause leaves to swirl and an occasional rainy day can be found.

Fall activities centered around school, mostly.  I think of football games and homecoming.  I went to a lot of high school football games.  My dad was the defensive coach.  High School homecoming was a chance to get together with friends and float build.  One year we decorated one of our teacher's car as a ladybug.  We won first prize that year.  Homecoming culminated in a dance that every girl wanted to be asked to.

Other fall activities included going to an apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  I have fond memories of taking my children to the apple orchard.  Sometimes we would pick our own.  Other times we would buy a bushel of apples and donuts.  The kids loved the cinnamon sugar donuts prepared on site at the orchard.  Apple cider is another fall treat. 

Fall is the time to make soups, stews and chili.  Nothing tastes better after a day of football watching or leaf raking than a big bowl of chili.  Meat and bean chili is the norm at our house.  Other fall favorites include pears, squash, pumpkin, and anything made with apples. 

It would be hard to pick just one reason why Fall is my favorite season.  The weather, activities and food all come together to make it one of the most beautiful times of year here in Michigan.

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