Saturday, September 26, 2009

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

From RevGalBlogPals:
"There is something so nostalgic about this time of year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. The nights grow cooler, crops are harvested, for some of us the leaves are beginning to change colors. The scent of smoke is in the air, pumpkins are in the stores (or on wagons, or in roadside stands for those of us in the country). I'm thinking of putting away my summer clothes and pulling out the sweaters. And I have a tub of Fall-themed items that my husband just lugged up from the basement. I'm looking for my scarecrow."

For this week, let's share some memories along with some hopes and expectations.

1. Share a Fall memory.
Each fall, my mom would take one Saturday to make applesauce with my sister and me. We would stop at Blessing's Farm Stand to buy Granny Smith apples from him (a stand that is now defunct; he has passed away and his farm has been sold; the barn torn down and the silo in ruin), then we would go home, stew the apples on the stove, and then mash them through a conical masher-thing, into a very fine applesauce below. I used to love to eat the sweet-tart applesauce while it was still warm, just freshly made. Delicious!

2. Your favorite Fall clothes--(past or present)?
I LOVE Fall clothes of all types! And favorite fall colors would definitely be the oranges and golds that mark the season, though I don't wear those colors in clothing! When the seasons turn, you can find me in greys, browns, plums, and blues, just like most of the rest of the year, but I love getting the sweaters out! I MUCH prefer fall dressing to the clothing that is required in the dog days of summer -- boots, and jeans, and sweaters, hurray!

3. Share a campfire story, song, experience...etc.
My favorite campfire experience would have to be of making s'mores. My parents live on a farm, and each fall they find a way to host a hayride of some sort. When I was growing up, they'd have one for their adult Sunday School class at the United Methodist church we attended; then it was for the youth group at the UCC Church we transferred to; one year I had a hayride gathering for my friends from school; another time it was my parent's "card club" (or social group, as it were!) I LOVE toasted marshmallows and s'mores, so campfires always meant that for me!

4. What is your favorite thing about this time of year?
I love so many things about fall. My favorite seasons are fall and spring--I love the "in-between" temps and the transitional feeling, though I'd be happy if the seasons lasted all year, and that we could just skip summer and winter! Probably my favorite favorite thing is the food -- I love eating heartier meals and stews, I love that apples are in season and all that goes with that, and I love pumpkins and spice-flavored breads, cakes, and pies. Ah, not a time for dieting!

5. What changes are you anticipating in your life, your church, family...whatever...as the season changes and winter approaches?
I am not sure of many "new" changes, more just continuation in my new call, where I began in July, and increased involvement as we get into the programmatic time of year and away from the rest of summer. I'm looking forward to continuing to bond with the people in the church, and hearing their stories and grower closer to them.

Slightly off-topic: I'm also looking forward to my son's 3rd birthday in a month or so, and hopefully soon he will be potty-trained!

Sadly, I am not much of a cook and so I don't have a recipe to share, other than to encourage you to eat apples and pumpkin pie!

1 comment:

Curate Karen said...

Hi - good to read your Friday Five. Seems lots of us have s'mores in common!

I like your blog. God bless!

karen