I have a favorite memory from childhood. It involves leaves, fire, eating, family, cool weather, work, and last but not least, potatoes. I spent the first six years of my life in Salt Lake City, UT. Every fall my parents, two younger siblings, and I would rake the lawn, piling the leaves into the street gutter. We’d each then bury a potato in the bottom of the pile and set the leaves on fire. Yes, they were allowed to burn the leaves in the middle of the city back then. While the leaves burned we’d go off and do other things – I can’t remember what exactly. I do remember waiting rather impatiently for the potatoes to cook so we could eat them. Sometimes we’d take them inside and eat them with all the fixings. Other times we’d devour them right on the front lawn using our hands. I’ve often wondered why this particular memory is so fresh in my mind. I like to think it was the fun we had working together and the unusual way our afternoon would end. Who knew you could bake a potato while you burned a pile of leaves?
The smells, sounds, and sights from that memory contribute to my overall appreciation for autumn, my favorite season of the year.
I love witnessing the color transformation of leaves to deep reds, browns, oranges, golden yellows, and fading greens – my favorite colors. Around these parts there aren’t many trees but the golden flowers of rabbitbrush can be just as beautiful out in the desert sand.
I look forward to all things pumpkin: pie, bars, sheet cake, soup, muffins, cookies, and jack-o-lanterns. We grew Jack-Be-Little pumpkins this year to use in decorating for fall. I can’t wait until it’s time to carve pumpkins and toast seeds again.
The smells of cinnamon, cloves, and apples are heavenly! Whenever I can get bushels of apples I enjoy canning apple pie filling. Sometime I want to get an apple press and make apple cider with my children.
The law of the harvest is brought to pass. Seeds sown in spring and early summer are now mature plants with fruits and vegetables ready to be gathered in. “For whatesoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) It feels good to restock my pantry with beautiful jars of jams, fruit, and tomatoes and my freezer with peaches for smoothies, corn, and green beans.
I enjoy curling up in a blanket out in the cool night air with a mug of hot cocoa or wassail in my hands. It’s even better when I can hear the laughter of my children as they try to get in a few more minutes of kick-the-can before bedtime.
Summer’s hard working days give way to a more leisurely work schedule here on the farm. There is still a lot of work to do but it is not at a frenetic pace.
Yes, I love autumn!
What is your favorite season? Write a post, come back here and sign the Mr. Linky, making sure you remember to link with the url of your POST not your main blog page.
beautifully autumny
I have to agree, Fall is so crisp, colorful and flavorful. I love the smell of autumn.
hello!
What a fun topic! Thanks again.
What a fun memory. I am going to get a burn permit to burn our leaves then my family can cook a potato under the leaves–fun!!!
Fall is a feast for all our senses.
I’d like to try that potato trick!
What a fun thing to do!! I’m sure we could find a nice empty place to do that in (considering we live in the middle of a little desert town!)!! It would be interesting to try! What a vivid picture of Autumn you created! Thanks for this topic!
I love this! Fall is my favorite season, at least until spring rolls around… Wordfull Wednesday is such a great idea. I’ve been out of the loop too long, but maybe next we I will try to participate. Thanks for all of your inspiration!
Hope it’s not too late, but I decided to join your wordfull wednesday. I enjoyed reading yours too, the potato thing is so neat!
What a very neat memory you shared. I didn’t know you could cook a potato that way…..If I had trees and leaves to rake, I would give it a try…….=)
I almost didn’t get my post done as we were in town all day……now I’m off to read some others before I hit the hay……
who knew that you could cook a potato like that. What a fun memory
This reminds me on Almanzo in Farmer Boy when he roasts the potatoes and burns his eye. This time of year I always feel like reading that book and Ox Cart Man.
I agree……we should plan a fall celebration for bookmobile. That would be a lot of fun……..I could make those caramel apples that Ginny likes so much…….=D
What a beautiful post. I tried burning leaves once, but never having done it before, I was so concerned about catching anything surrounding the pile on fire that I was timid, and it took so long that I got bored and put the whole thing out. Baking potatoes that way sounds much more fun. 🙂
Yes, Autumn is the best.
I had no clue you could cook potato’s that way. Genius.
I love Autumn too, but it has already gone here and we’re in the depths of winter, boo hoo!
Ok, this is late, and probably a little off topic, but there ya go.
🙂
Thanks for the topic and bringing all these posts together!
I know I’m a week late – but I just posted about my favorite season.