sea·son (noun): one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided

We are entering into my favourite time of the year…well one anyway. Fall must be the top of my favourite season list. Driving through the backroads is heavenly. The corn is high. The fields dotted with the fresh cut hay and straw bales. (And my allergies on high alert!) The cows and horses enjoy munching on the grasses and beautiful wildflowers in whites and purples splashed along their paths on the farms. My gardens are getting full of the ripe foods I have tenderly babied throughout summer…the tomatoes are plump and starting to turn to feed us now and throughout the winter season. My cabbage is growing again steadily…looking forward to cabbage rolls soon! Potatoes are now ready, nothing better than a fresh spud I tell ya! THe carrots are fresh and sweet from the cold nights. AND, It's pumpkin everything time, and yes I am one of those people. Hot cocoa, chai tea galore and pumpkin spice muffins! Mmmmm. Comfort foods.

The flower gardens are slowly changing from their vibrant bright colours to muted and getting ready for all the seeds to feed our birds through the cold seasons. The maples have tinges of red and orange started, getting ready for their gorgeous colourful show in the next month or so. The weather, cool nights, and warm days…perfect!

The world gets back into the normal swing of things as summer holidays are over, kiddos back to school, routines are back. And the countdown to my next favourite season, winter and Christmas is on! A lot of people dislike the winter, but I love it. Especially when it snows (I can do without the freezing rain and ice we now get) I love being able to get outside with the dogs, shovel the walkways and driveway, and enjoy that fresh cool air! Then there's the making lots of comfort dishes…lasagna, soups, chili’s, cabbage rolls and casseroles! Probably the only time I enjoy cooking. Time to snuggle under cozy blankets, “sweater weather” sweaters, fluffy socks, hoodies and of course flannel!! Then comes the decorating for winter and Christmas…so fun and I truly enjoy it! Getting my winter planters done, lights up, and decorating the house to make it so cozy inside and out while we hibernate at home until we all emerge from our caves and its spring again! Things come back to life and we wake up again after the darkness and dormancy of winter.