Hello Girlfriends! I just want to say, your touching comments about our Dads (!), the Peter Rabbit Room, Domesticity City, and the newest recipes, plus all the connections we’ve been making with one another have made me so happy; I’ve been trying to think of a way to show you how much I’ve enjoyed reading them! This Fall Giveaway is the result! xo
Plus, October arrives this weekend! So let’s celebrate all us kindred spirit vagabonds and our wild gypsy blood with this . . .
. . . gorgeous quilt, which will soon be in the hands of some lucky winner! All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment at the bottom of this post, and answer one simple little question: What’s YOUR favorite thing about fall? ♣ Here are some hints and possibilities, to get your clock a tickin’ . . .
If you win, you could do this with your new, old, vintage quilt, and that might be your most favorite thing about fall this year. Putting the sweet in Home Sweet Home.♥
Or maybe you love outsmarting the first freeze and getting the last of the tomatoes in from your garden to ripen on the window sill… because they look so darn cute up there!
Or is it the cozy quiet back-to-school kind of morning when you’re alone in the kitchen with the cinnamon toast?
Or is it the way your house smells with your little dinners of acorn squash and homemade chicken and mushroom soup? That could definitely be it! ♣
You could eat that soup in front of this wonderful old movie, which if you haven’t seen, you would love. Have dinner with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. Bring your twelve-year-old daughter. ♥ ♥ ♥
Or maybe the change of season is so wonderful because we get to have more fires, turn off all the lights and pretend it’s 1840.
Or could it be the sound the leaves make when we crunch through them and kick them into the air? Don’t we just love it when they cartwheel down the road, tip to tip? Or, when we get to make wishes on the ones we catch in mid-air?
Or is it this, the smell of cedar, juniper trees, bayberry, musky rotting leaves, thick dampness in the air, salt and ocean; being swept along the dirt road by the wind filled with flying leaves; looking at Joe, cute in his black beret, the woodland around us laced with spider webs sparkling with dew on foggy mornings . . . could this be it? Yes, it could!
Or, it could be when we reach under the leaves to discover the freebies in the compost heap, volunteers we didn’t plant? We even got a spaghetti squash this year!
♣ ♣ ♣
It’s a season of the little things in life that make it so special. Let the fun begin! What do you love most about the sweetest season? And btw, not to forget, Hellooooo down there in Aussie Land and everyone south of the equator! Tell us all what it is about spring that makes you fall in love all over again??? Inquiring minds want to know! xoxo Have a wonderful Day! You have until midnight tomorrow night (Wednesday Sept. 28 est.) to comment and be entered!
With Love from the Heart of the Home and Me! ♥
Getting out the canning equipment one more time to make pear preserves.
I absolutely love everything about Fall. I live in the south, so the first coolness after a long, hot, humid summer is what keeps me going! The beautiful leaves, the wonderful food, soups, treats that we seem to save to Fall, football, Halloween, pumpkins and mums. Just can’t get enough of this season.
Susan, you make my day. Please don’t ever stop what you are doing!
With love
xoxoxo!
Cindy
For as long as I can, and hopefully, that’s forever…because I sure do love it! xoxo
I love the vivid colors of the trees against the black blackdrop of a coming storm, while I’m inside making chili and cornbread. That’s just one of many things I love about Fall. 🙂
Living in Texas and experiencing 100 plus temperatures for months on end and knowing the devastation of so much of our state burning (many folks dying in the fires ,thousands of folks losing their homes, pets, and cattle not to mention all the wild animals)….what I like is just knowing fall is about to arrive. On the calendar it has, but here—not just yet. I will be thankful beyond words for the need to wear a sweater and knowing that maybe our prayers for rain will be answered.
I’ve been watching your weather, we have family in Texas, and sending prayers for RAIN your way. It has looked very tough from over on the other side!
I love a walk with my best friend, my husband, down a leaf-covered dirt road, followed by a picnic on a red plaid blanket complete with vintage thermoses full of piping hot tea and soup.
Oh my! Coming home at dusk ,chilly breeze…trees are black silhouettes…house smells like roasting rosemary chicken…switch on twinkling mantle lights twined amongst bittersweet and pumpkins (the day ends with me in the bath looking out at the rising moon) …but it’s 8 a.m. right now looking forward to dusk!!
Fall is smoke in the air drifting from Tennessee tobacco barns, creating a sparkling silver mist over the early morning countryside. Birds twitter, squirrrels scamper, and deer peer over my fence looking for the stray sunflower seed left by the little bushy tailed thieves of the bird feeder. Coffee smells better in the morning air, and tea (with milk and sugar, the British way) comforts in the cosy afternoon sun streaming in my back windows. Evening brings out the old soup pot, steaming up windows in the kitchen, announcing to every face that comes in the front door the undeniable aroma of autumn.
Fall is delicious. It treats every sense with a gift. The colors, the sounds, the beautiful clouds that we have in the Midwest, every thing is a gift. My favorite thing is when it is an “Arsenic and Old Lace” day. The scene with Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane in the cemetery. The leaves are falling. the lights inside are turning on, and you can just feel it. It’s perfect.
What is not to love about FALL!!! The cool crisp air, clothes blowing in the wind on the clothesline, hayrides, the leaves…….. My favorite of all is apple picking! The taste of those apples right off the trees is perfect!! Here in Massachusetts we are very fortunate to have so many places to go apple picking.
Thank you, Susan for the beauty you put on your website and books!! They always make me smile!!
Joanne
I love the fall colors and the nice weather.
I love fall and have been looking forward to it since last spring. I love the cooler air, the warm colors of the leaves changing and the fun Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations. Tis the season for s’mores cooked in a fire on the beach, chili in the crockpot and all the fixins. Yep, it is my favorite time of year.
Each season is so special – for Fall I love the colors and walking through the leaves that are just fallen and the smell of chimney smoke on a brisk evening. Reading your blog floods me with memories of growing up in the mountains now that I live in a city – it helps me keep my country girl roots!
If you’re a fall person, you can’t just “love” one thing! It’s everything rolled into one ~ kinda’ like a favorite aunt coming for an extended stay ~ bringing with her all her favorite things to share. Her tapestries of glorious color, her personal collection of “music”, her “homey aromas”. She wraps you in all of it! Ahhh, sheer bliss.
On a side note: love, love, love the quilt. I loved it the moment I saw it on your prior post ;). It is so girly ~ and I have a plethora of girls – 2 grown daughters, 7 grand-daughters, and 1 great-grand-daughter. Their “room” here would house that quilt well! Quite well.
🙂 I need more quilts!
Yes! Yes, you do! 🙂
I love the cooler weather and the all things pumpkin and spice recipes.
My favorite thing about fall is the pumpkins. My daughters and I would go to the Halfmoon Bay Pumpkin Festival and fight our way through the crowds, pick a pumpkin from a certain pumpkin patch they have there in Halfmoon Bay, CA. We would have a slice of pumpkin pie too during the festival, but you know, my kids would say, “It’s not like your pumpkin pie, Mom!” That made me kind of happy. (I make my pumpkin pie from scratch, even the crust.) We have quite a lot of memories there.
Love those kids!
Hi susan! first i would like to say that i love your blog and when i first saw the pic. of the quilt i let out a sigh!!!! how beautiful and how beautiful of you to give it away! my favorite thing about fall would have to be everything! it is so much fun! it just puts a smile on my face! Have a happy day!
Oh What do I love in the fall….I was born and loved in San Diego and lived there for 40 yrs, living in Connecitcut now, it is so hard to pin piont just one thing I love about fall. I love hay rides, pumpkin patches, soup, snuggling with my children on a quilt on the lawn and then trying to catch leaves, fires inside and outside with friends, sending a box of beautiful leaves to someone in California. I could go on and on I am a very lucky person to have fallen in love with New England. Happy Fall everyone take time to enjoy the colors!
Growing up in the south, made me appreciate the fall so much. The very hot temperatures are going away and the cool fresh fall breeze begins moving in.
All the weather changes makes me love EVERYTHING about fall, the apples, the leaves, the smells, the holidays ahead. Fall is my all time favorite. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin spices, oh, the wonderful smells. Also this is the only time of the year that I can find pumpkin coffee creamer and pumpkin cream cheese!!!!! LOL, cannot do without these two things. Fall brings Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. The turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, oh my!!!! Love it. Then Christmas, time to thank our Heavenly Father for sending his precious son for us.
Although I am thankful for this everyday. Fall just means everything, just like spring does. The new life, fresh grass, leaves, flowers, birds. Fall has so much meaning and it’s really hard to describe one thing when you just appreciate everything. I love fall and EVERYTHING it brings with it.
My favorite thing about fall is October. The sky is usually so blule and clear and the air is nippy — it all reminds me of a crisp apple. Can’t wait to put on a sweater and enjoy the ride!
What a gracious idea! My first thought when I read about your contest here is that I have waayy too many fall loves to pick just one! But (with the hope of not being immediately disqualified) I had to respond, as I also, LOVE the fall and all it brings.
Warm toasty cotton blankets
My SB Autumn book and all my fall cookbooks
Picking up discarded sewing projects
Rich colors –leaves, pillows, quilts, tea towels, cusions, and the sky
The geese flying overhead
Turning on the stove for muffins, roasts, cookies, and breads and pies and warmth to my little house
Pulling out all my favorite flannel shirts
Talking walks to kick the leaves and collecting acorns for cute displays
Watching my ‘fire bush’ in the yard slowly turn a brilliant red and saving the best leaves
New crayons
Fresh basil from the last of the garden to freeze for winter soups and stews
Punkins, and watching for the first ‘frost on the punkin’
Indian corn and colorful strange twisty gourds
Visits to farmers markets and apple orchards for all the autumn goodies and hay rides
So to sum it up…
the sense of renewal and celebration of home this treasured season brings.
Fall is my favorite season! Love the smell of woodsmoke in the air, the mist coming off the lake in the morning, adding an otherworldly look to the mountains in the distance, the clear, cool air after a long, long hot summer, getting my sweaters out, the beautiful fall colors that last so long here in East TN, and Volunteer football!!
Hi, Kathy…I enjoyed reading your post…my husband was born in NC and his family was from Greeneville, Greene Co., TN….it is indeed BEAUTIFUL in your corner of the world. : )
Have a great day!
Fall gives me a sense of urgency to finish up the tasks and odd jobs that I put off during the heat of the summer. I love the quiet mornings with it’s subtle changes of the trees turning colors, the wild asters and golden rods in bloom, my garden giving me the last of what it took so long to produce. I’ll be out picking apples for applesauce and the last of my blueberries this afternoon ~ if it not raining, that is.
Love the cool temperatures, wearing sweaters, leaf peeping, baking ginger snaps, decorating for Halloween!
Mmmmmm Ginger Snaps would go so well with my tea this morning!
Hi Susan!
Lovely post, almost makes me wish it were autumn here, but I do love spring:)
The thing I am loving at the moment is the chance to get out into the sunshine with my garden club buddies and to visit beautiful gardens. The colours, the lush greens and the deep blue sky are almost too good to be true after a long and dreary winter.
I really enjoy the wonderful comments of your readers. I’ve learned so much about folk in other countries since I started blogging last year. Makes the world seem smaller and more friendly:)
I love it too! I get excited when Japan writes, or France, or you, where are you?
My favorite memory about fall is picking blackberries on the way to school. We lived in southern Oregon where blackberries grow EVERYWHERE! The path to our little school ran along a wonderful patch of blackberry bushes before it crossed a log walking bridge to the school. By the time I reached school in the morning, my lips were blue with blackberry juice! It was wonderful!
Happy Fall!
Celebrating all three of my beautiful children’s birthdays in October with homemade pumpkin cake and cream cheese icing <3
I love decorating for Fall, since I live in so-cal and don’t really get to see a true fall each year. I also love the yummy comfort foods of fall!
Oh glory a chance to testify of my favorite time of year!!! (Or is it winter?) I have never been able to decide. Oh how I love the crisp, cool air that smells like childhood. Many things crunch but not like dried leaves do. There is a sound they make that sends me back decades. Walking to school on crunchy leaves and kicking them up in the air to be caught and carried away by a breeze that defines fall!!! The colors that make you so thankful that you can see! The sounds that make you glad you have ears! The burning leaves and freshness in the air that assault your sense of smell long before you see the smoke. The textures of pumpkins and gourds and cornstalks that thrill your fingertips. And then the tastes!!! Pumpkin pie, turkey, cranberries, caramel apples, hotdogs over an open fire, apple cider!!! Then there is the coming of Thanksgiving and the joy of family and friends gathered around the fireplace making more plans to get together soon. And then knowing that snow will soon be here. I’m almost 52 and I still stand with my nose pressed against the window and do a happy dance when I see the first snowflakes. And we live in Northeast Ohio so I KNOW there will be a million to follow!!! Oh happy day! Thank you for letting me share.
We have a Harvest Festival each year at our church, and I’m responsible for the baked goods table. I love seeing what all the ladies in the church bring in to sell. Your Autumn book is one of my favorites! So many wonderful recipes and ideas!
Gratitude !! A season of being Thankful!! For my 78 year old dad who goes to the public market on Saturdays to bring me bushels of crisp apples because he knows how much we enjoy them. Thankful that even though a flood has caused so much pain and destruction in our tiny village 3 weeks ago we are rebuilding as a community. Thankful for so much!!! And you Miss Susan thanks for the joy your talents have brought into my life.
Fall breezes, pumpkin patches, falling leaves, chunky sweaters, a trip to Salem MA…my daughters birthday, my birthday….your corn chowder recipe!!!! ALL WONDERFUL!!!! Thank you!!!!
Happy Birthday to you both! Happy Fall to all!
Pumpkin Spice Latte!
Soups, stews, pot roast and all the other slow and slow favorites. All enjoyed in front of a fire in the fireplace!!!
Oh my over 1000 comments so far, I didn’t want to read them before I put down my thoughts.
I love the feel of a chill in the air, and the first signs of the leaves turning colors. I gathered-up some fall leaves and pressed them in a book between two paper towels. They will be my name tags for the pumpkin breads that I will bake as a treat for my neighbors, and my way of welcoming in the season. Thank you Susan for being you, and for keeping me always thinking why I’m so “glad “.
We are Pollyanna personified…we are so lucky!
I am so blessed to have been born during my favorite season! Soon to celebrate the big 6-0 on October 8th. Fall has always been in my heart and soul! Living in Southern California we rarely get the cool crisp days, the beautiful colorful leaves, and a reason to don a favorite cozy sweater! BUT, in my heart I feel and see all of that. Fall isn’t just a time of year … it’s a BEING! The scents of a fireplace, the crunchy leaves under my feet, just the coziness of it all, and an excuse to drag out big soft blankets and also to just BE … slow down a bit in my head … I am “doubly” blessed to have an opportunity to enjoy my coveted SUSAN BRANCH autographed AUTUMN book … that when my sister reached out to you, you so thoughtfully sent me when I lost everything when our home was destroyed in the fires of November ’08 (in the Fall nonetheless!) I didn’t let that fire destroy my love for this season … I am enjoying starting new collections. Your quilt is beautiful, and it made me smile as it reminded me of one that I HAD … My new guest room AND guests would love to snuggle beneath it when they visit. SUSAN … your daily blogs are the brightspot of my day, and I thank you so much for taking the time to share a little bit of yourself with us … Wishing all of the entries the best of luck … it’s been fun just reading others thoughts. GOOD LUCK everyone!
Thank you Pam, and Happy Birthday!!!
Oh Autumn comes on the last sweet breezes of Summer. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. I love the coziness of home and seeing the home lights when returning in the late afternoon when the dusk has already fallen. The sights and smells and beautiful sounds of the crunching leaves and crickets chirping. I love the way the house smells when drying the apples to savor on a cold winter’s day. Hot teas and good books. Getting out the warm clothes and putting away the summer things. Washing the blankets and hanging them to dry knowing we will be smelling the sweet smells of Autumn when we get into bed at night. Snuggling with my sweetheart in front of a cozy fire. The sounds and smells that bring back the memories of childhood. The Halloweens past when we would trick or treat with our coats on because we would have snow flurries spitting at us as we went from house to house to scare our neighbors! I am from upstate NY and I have such wonderful memories of Autumn there. I could go on and on but had you asked what we didn’t like about Autumn I would not have been able to post except to say there is nothing I don’t love about this beautiful season!
You have a wonderful blog Susan and I so enjoy coming here to visit and getting to know you through your posts! You are a kindred spirit.
And vice versa to you Denise …. this quilt is going to have a very hard time choosing which of all these wonderful people she wants to go home and live with!
As a Southern Californian who has had the opportunity to move to the Northwest and again to the Northeast, Fall is the COLORS! As a school teacher years ago, I didn’t know how to REALLY teach the concept of seasons to first graders (we basically have two seasons-green and brown, or warm and cool, or summer and winter!). I was blessed to see the beautiful colors of the changing leaves-a whole forest of leaves! I didn’t know that the colors of Fall were REALLY that yellow, that red, or that gold-colors that look like they came right out of the tube of paint! AMAZING! Now imprinted on my So Cal brain!!!! Happy FALL, Susan and WELCOME HOME!
Hi Kris, I know what you mean. Growing up in CA, I would see New England scenes on gas station calendars … with all the colors? I thought they were using colored lenses, could not believe it could be real! But it is!
Good Morning Susan! I loved living in Ohio for 40 years and seeing by the roadside the sunflowers (as big as dinner plates) waving in the wind. Along with the fields of dried corn fields waiting to be gathered by the farmer.
Gorgeous word picture … can just see it!
The beautiful colors of the New England landscape in the fall has to be tops on any list. But the smell of wood smoke on a chilly, misty morning brings a timeless quality to the air and makes me feel part of a much larger scene, painted from above. As the days become cooler, I love getting out my old quilts (A new red and white one would be a good addition!) and cooking soups and stews in my grandmother’s cast iron pots. It is also a time for voicing my thanks to my garden for providing my kitchen with a bounty of summer fruits and vegetables and thinking about what I will plant next year.
My favorite thing about fall is the colors! I just love the pretty oranges, yellows, browns and reds of the leaves and all the fall produce. The air is so crisp and cool and everything just looks lovely! A perfect time to cuddle in a quilt or throw in front of the fireplace and enjoy our home decorated for fall!
As the sun comes out from behind the mountains that surround our cabin, I see the bright yellows of the birch, the red of the fireweed, dark green of the spruce, the clear blue of the sky reflected in the glaciers and the dusting of new snow a sparkling white.
I hear the rushing of the stream down the road as it rushed down to the bay.
I smell smoke from woodstoves as neighbors begin their day.
Fall is a delight to the senses ! I smile in wonder and joy !
Oh goodness, I can’t possibly pick just one! There are too many wonderful things about Autumn. First and foremost, the fall foliage and the bright colors of the leaves- bright yellows, reds, and oranges! Then, there’s that first fire in our wood burning stove! We celebrate Thanksgiving here in two weeks, yet another wonderful thing about Fall! I always make a pumpkin pie to take to my Mom’s special Thanksgiving dinner. It’s all so wonderful! Good luck to all!! Happy Fall, Susan!! xoxo
Thanks Rosinda! See you in Twitterville!
I love everything about fall, especially living in beautiful Iowa, but really love my October birthday that I have celebrated with pumpkin pie, instead of birthday cake, since I was a child!
Yum — Happy Birthday!
FALL….F is for falling temperatures and falling in love all over again w/ the golden color of the Colorado aspens.
A is for the awesome apple picking and amazing treats to be made w/ them…and sharing those goodies w/ family and friends with love.
L is for lounging by the outdoor fire and longing for a few more minutes of light to read by and gaze at Pike’s Peak.
L is listening to the sounds of Fall…the nearby high school band practicing for the next football game, the sounds of laughter from the children at recess at the elementary school down the street, the chatter of the squirrels as they gather their winter treats, and of course…the crunch of leaves being walked upon.
You got it!
I love so many things about Fall, it is hard to pick just one. I love all the colors of the leaves on the trees as they begin to fall. Sitting in my den with a fire going, all cuddled up with a quilt (and my hubby…lol) and cup of hot coca . The tobacco barns that have the fires going that you can smell from miles away. I even like the cool chill that is in the air in the mornings and late in the evenings, but I guess my favorite part of Fall would have to be all the wonderful recipes I have for different hearty soups that my family enjoys this time of year, and I like to search for new soup recipes too. I just love all the wonderful comfort food that everyone cooks up in the Fall!
What a charming giveaway…
Since it seems that many listed all they love and not just *one* favorite thing, I will too.
I love the cottonwood trees turning the brilliant yellow in the Bosque, the pilgrimage to see one of the few stands of maples flame out in red (a lovely day trip to the mountains), a visit to McCall’s pumpkin patch, getting apples from a local farm, apple cider (perhaps with a shot of spiced rum?), it being cool enough to bake again, decorating my mantle in an autumn theme, sweaters, football, hot cocoa from scratch…and I think that’s about it.
My favorite thing about the fall is everything!!! The cool, crisp air, clothes blowing on my line, crimson leaves, apples and apple cider, Halloween, pumpkin pie, zucchini bread made from fresh zucchini from my garden, Thanksgiving and anticipating seeing my grandchildren dressed for trick or treat as a dog and a box of jujubees are just a few of my favorite things! As a matter of fact, speaking of my favorite things, watching the Sound of Music again is also on my list!
I’m learning to love autumn again. I am looking forward to the beautiful shift in our earth to another atmosphere. One of my favorite sights is when the cranberries are water harvested. The bogs are flooded and then the workers move through them on tractors with paddles. They beat through the water to release the berries from their vines. The berries float to the top of the water. Then the workers use a boom to gather them to the shore of the flooded bog. Finally, the berries are lifted by conveyor belt into waiting container trucks and brought to the plant for processing. The cranberry color is amazing! The process takes about 6-12 hours, depending on the size of the bog.
This one of the most enjoyable scenes around here in southern Massachusetts.
ORANGE
I was born in October, so the first air I’ve breath was the Autumn one…It’s my favorite season, I’ m crazy for pumpkins (zucca in italian means pumpkin) and I’ve a pumpkin tatoo on my right arm…I also love the beautiful colors of the trees, the smell of smoke in the chilly air, Halloween (even if in Italy is not so “famous” as in the U.S.A.), the golden light, I can say everything ! Some weeks ago I’ve bought your wonderful book “Autumn from the heart of the home”, it’s really fantastic. You’re able to give voice and color to the magic of this season of the heart. Thank you.
With love,
Valeria.
Happy Birthday Valeria! Thank you for writing!
Two of my favorite things about fall are the “wee nip in the air”–so invigorating–and the gorgeous colored leaves all about town and where ever we travel. For years I lived in an area without much change of weather or foliage each season. Now I live in an area where I can delight in the change of weather and scenery! I must add that I love pumpkins and the warm decor of autumn, as well. 🙂
How I delight in your blog, Willard, you and the heart of the home! Thank you, Susan.
More than welcome Paula…happy fall!
I’m in an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne, from where I can see the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, Susan. And it’s time I was in bed, nearly 1.00am on the 29th!
I’ve been continuing to read more of the wonderful comments about Fall:) This must be a record for the number of comments on a blog post!
Feels like it!
I, too, am a fall girl! I love so many things about it…the colors, the smell of wood fires, spices, and the wind. It is so intoxicating to me!
I will share my most favorite part of fall. It is sitting out on my front porch with a hot cup of coffee and waiting. Waiting for a particular sound…honk! honk!…their almost here….the geese flying above, making their yearly trip ! I love the perfect vee’s, the gracefulness of their effortless flight. I love this more than anything about fall. I live near the Ohio River and the geese always make a pitstop nearby on their trip…it really amazes me that they do this every year without fail. Thanks for letting me share.
OOps! The most important thing is my wedding anniversary…30 years in October!
Happy Anniversary!!!
I love the cool crisp air in the morning. I love the quiet moments in the morning when the kids have gone to school. The routine of the school year when everyone is home for dinner. Cooking warm soup, and the aroma that fills my home. Fall picnics with my children in the beautiful Utah mountains, minutes from my home. Fall brings a certain feeling of comfort that makes you curl up in your favorite chair, with your favorite book, your favorite “blanket”, and hot mulled apple cider. If I’m really lucky one of my children can’t resist and will join me. Reading your blog has not only inspired me but has added to my enjoyment of this fall season.
Hmmm. What [em]don’t[/em] I love about fall. I love that with the cooler temps I fall in love with baking and cooking all over again. 🙂 Apple pies, pumpkin pies, bean soup…Today I’m trying a new recipe I found: “Caramel Apple Cake Pops”. BTW, I made your Ginger Crisps this week and everyone [em]loved[/em] them. TY so much for your inspiration.
I discovered your recipe for cherries and walnut fudge more than 25 years ago
from Country Living Magazine. I’ve been a fan ever since. Your blog is full of domestic bliss and when I need a good idea, recipe or just a good dose of bliss,
I park myself on your blog. What could be better than a chance to win a beautiful
red and green well-loved quilt. I’ll be back for more recipes and I have to see
your latest pictures again.
Love, domestic bliss parking place!
Fall is really my favorite time of year here in Washington State. I know it comes around every year like clock work, but I am still always in awe of how beautiful the leaves are when they start changing colors. I think my boys will talk about it years from now. How every Fall Mom would go on and on about just how beautiful Fall is! I hope they do at least. And that they repeat the same to their children. Or better yet maybe I’ll get to say it to my grandchildren some day 🙂
Only one? Blowing leaves, pumpkins, the hint of chill in the air, apple pies and oatmeal cookies, pumpkin bread, candles, leaves crunching underfoot on a walk in the park, sweaters and sweatshirts and bonfires and chili, to name but a few of my favorite fall things!
The smell and the sound of leaves crunching under my feet. The leaves falling from the trees twisting and twirling. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Pumpkin rolls. Covering up in a warm toasty quilt with a cup of coffee and a good book. Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins. Just everything, it enlivens all of my senses.
Making my pumpkin cheesecake with the window slightly open, letting in the crisp air, and gazing out at the leaves falling. Oh, and my birthday! 🙂
Happy Birthday Jen! All these October Babies . . . you need to have a party!
APPLES, APPLES AND MORE APPLES. Sadly there are no apple orchards left in our county. It is also a bit of a travel to the produce stand. But I will find them, those fresh picked apples. I love the old variety names but they are getting harder to find. I went in search of the apple trees Johnny Appleseed planted. Then I found an orchard with that very apple. The Rambo apple. They made wonderful applesauce. Apple Crisp, pies, sauce, apple butter, cider, baked apples, apple streusel cake, or just eat them. I could go on. I LOVE fresh picked apples.
What I love about Fall, is the ever changing kaleidoscope of colors. I live in the country & get to witness daily the changes. Corn & soybeans turn yellow, & brown in anticipation of harvest. The variety of trees become ablaze with hues of red, oranges, & golds. Even the once green fruit of the apple & pear trees, begin to show signs of ripening as the air turns crisp. And the garden of summer with its once dense green foliage of leaves, slowly starts to wither & reveal where the reddish tomatoes have been hiding from view. Not to be out done the sky even gets in on the act, with intense blues on clear chilly mornings, to the black velvet of night dotted with stars, & even the skies on stormy days are a hodgepodge of grays. It just renews my soul.
My favorite thing about fall…it’s got to be the “walk in the woods” my entire family participates in. No matter how busy everyone is, we find some woods and walk together and talk and laugh. We kick leaves, inspect animal tracks and try to find the perfect walking stick for my mom. My parents started this tradition when my sister, brother and I were small. We’ve continued it in our own families. It’s wonderful to spend time together, enjoying each generation’s take on “nature.” After our “walk” we enjoy a meal together, usually with hot chocolate. Good times.
Very good, wonderful memories.
I think Fall is my favorite because I was born in November ! So as a child, my birthday cakes were always decorated in Fall themes and colors…even the cake itself…spice cake! I always looked forward to my birthday and I knew once Fall arrived it wouldn’t be long until the day …the day all about me (#4 of 5 girls) :Until I got old enough to realize…that my birthday fell on or around Thanksgiving…hence the theme & colors…hmmm…two birds…one stone? (No pun intended)…it still didn’t matter…you can have your pumpkin pie & apple pie…as long as I get to have my beloved birthday cake (buttercream frosting please…whipped!?!?ewww) Even last year my cake said “Happy 6th Anniversary of your 40th Birthday” thanks to my sister 🙂 and decorated in beautiful buttercream sunflowers and mums. So , one month soon down…2 to go! In the meantime I’ll enjoy the leaves, pumpkins, smells of fireplaces burning and our annual pumpkin carving party and patiently await the Macy’s Day Parade & my birhtday cake! Which this year…is on Thanksgiving!
Wow, lots to be thankful for!!
Jolene, well girlfriend we share a birthday, since mine also falls on Thanksgiving this year. Love it. These are thee best birthday dinners, & I don’t even mind the turkey jokes. LOL BTW it’ll be my 9 year anniversary of my 40th……
I will have a toast to you on “our” birthday Cynthia!! XX
Oh Susan, what do I love about Fall??? I love gorgeous sweaters, not sweating!!! Yay! :o) The beautiful colors and smells outdoors, the chance to bake yummy apple things…snuggling with the grands under a warm blankie and reading special stories! It also is a little bittersweet as I lost my Dad last August and he LOVED Fall! We always have celebrations for no reason in our family, especially this time of year… four sisters and a brother + lots of kids and grandkids…and everyone missing him terribly…I’m sure he is smiling down at us though!! Your post about your Dad brought back such memories! The picture of his hands… I can still feel the softness of my Dads hands! A little hole in my heart that will never heal…
anyways… off to enjoy the beautiful day! Hope yours is gorgeous!! Hug your Dad!
You make me smile!
Teri
You said it just right, I also have a little hole in my heart because of my grandma.
Enjoying that first Honeycrisp apple of the season while anticipating the start of a new quilt project…so many pleasures…impossible to choose just one!
A-h-h-h Autumn!!! Watching rain come across the fields as I harvest the abundance of God,s bounty in my own little plot..the last of tomatoes, biting into one as the juice runs down my arm and I look up to see the geese flying south bidding me farewell for another season as they continue their long journey..watching the fArmer harvest the fields..the tractors roaring..the smell of fresh overturned earth, orange, yellow, gold, russet, red leaves exploding on the trees above me with glimpses of an azure sky, kicking up my heels as I walk thru the leaves and act like a child again., football, sweaters, fires..BLISS!!
Fall means the smelling of wood burning outside in the crisp clean mountain air in the mountains of North Georgia. Of course, the house is decorated to the hilt with pumpkins, Indian corn and fall leaves….. It means listening to the soulful sounds of Etta James singing “At Last” my love has come along…. while sipping hot chocolate & marshmellow dripping down the sides of the big ol’glass mug while I’reading the latest issue of “Southern Living” magazine. Fall is smelling my fresh oranges, clove & cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove now thru the Holidays. Fall is flickering candles all aglow with smells of fresh apples or balsam & frasier fir in the air. I can’t wait till dark to turn on all my little colorful antique art deco lamps I inherited from my mother to capture the spirit of romance in the air. Grab my cozy quilt, cover up & cuddle with the one you love for that perfect fall evening by the wood stove. This is worth more than silver and gold!
It sure is … love Etta James “At Last” — very soulful!
I am a “Fall” baby…November…a redhead that wears fall colors, decorates with delicious fall tones, and loves the season! I love walking on the first day that I smell someone’s fireplace smoke in the air…it’s a thrill every year!
Love you redheads. So lucky to be so colorful all year round! Did you ever read Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins? He loves redheads too!
The smell of baking apples and pumpkin bread. Making my home all cozy. Curling up with a good book, blanket and tea and that is what I love about fall!! Happy October everyone!!
Fall is change. The change of colors, smells, tastes and of our lives. The hope for a new start, the memories that flood your heart of both the joy and sorrow, the roar of football games, the touch of a warm cup, childhood memories of playing in the leaves, walks on sidewalks filled with newly fallen leaves or the crunch of old ones, the smells of cinnamon and pumpkin, the colors of apples and their crunch, and burning bushes, of Maple and Oak reds and yellows…and soft worn quilts to hurry under all the while cherishing these moments of change.
What I love best about Fall is celebrating my birthday on October 12th!
That’s a good reason! Happy Birthday Bella!
There isn’t anything I DON’T like about Fall! But to be specific, I like to bake with apples and caramels, pumpkin and spices, enjoying a nice cuppa any time of the day because it’s so cool outside that you need to warm yourself up! I just started making your Bean Soup last year and so I will be making that at least once a week this Fall! (BTW it’s delicious and easy!). Sitting outside in the cool air wrapped up in that quilt would be quite wonderful! I could wrap a grandchild or two in it with me! It will be our first Fall without the Husband, Father, and “Pop” we all loved so much, so it will be a bittersweet Fall for us this year, I’m sure. But we are so thankful we had him as long as we did. Fall will be the same but different.
What I like best about Autumn?
Putting on my wellington boots and going off into some woodland and stomping about in the fallen leaves – listening to the lovely crackling sound as I transform myself back into a 5 year-old, taking in big, deep breathfuls of air that is infused with the scent of the leafmold and being aware of the mystery of God’s creation turning on its axis. Bliss ….
I love all season changes and welcome them gladly but maybe Fall the most because it’s the end of blistering summer heat. It also means complete meals of delicious soups and warm bread… and someday soon I hope to enjoy both in front of a wood burning fire. Thanks for the chance at the lovely mug, quote and quilt.
There are simply too many to choose from for me, but at the top of the list is figuring out costumes for my 5 children, my husband and myself.
That sounds fun! Good Luck!
There are many things to love about the autumn season. One autumn memory I have is of walking home from school on a cold, drizzly, autumn day with grey sky hovering above, feeling cold and wet, walking over a carpet of gold and red fallen leaves, then opening the door to HOME and it’s warmth and comfort. It is one of my favorite memories. Today, I walk to and from my job. On those cold and damp autumn days I still love opening the door to my home and it’s comforts.
And, of course, I love cooking and baking all the great, hearty fall menus in my ‘cooking library’.
California may not jump to mind as the perfect place to be in the Fall, but it is wonderful to visit the Central Coast and make our first visit to the Avila Barn. The snap of Fall is in the air blended with breezes from the ocean while we shop for pumpkins, apple butter, and baskets full of squashes, gourds and grapevines for decorating. For lunch, pumpkin chili. How California is that?
How wonderful it must be to send out a note and get 1,017 replies from kindred spirits.
Avila Barn is so wonderful, can’t wait to get there! I can’t even begin to tell you how it feels to hear from so many kindred spirits … I LOVE it. I’ve always loved our connection. I just wish I had a bunch more quilts!!!
I am a lover of fall. Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower. I love those cooler temps since we do have hot Summers here in South Mississippi!. But the fall time of the year always seems to trigger something inside of me. I feel an urge to do my “fall cleaning” in preparation for all this time of year holds. I decorate the house with little pumpkins and window clings of colorful leaves on the doors. I hang out my fall wreaths on the front and back doors, I change my mailbox cover from the Summer-flower one to the orange and yellow fall leaf cover. I also can’t resist pulling out (and buying more!) fall scented candles and burning them all day long and into the night. As it gets cooler all my flowers get a second life and I enjoy being outside with a cup of homemade Spice Tea…Mama’s old recipe. Excitement seems to linger in the air as I start making mental notes about fall festivals and Thanksgiving. I even begin making Christmas lists as I get ideas. What a glorious time of year for me!!!
I LOVE everything about fall! I love the way fall makes me feel inside…fresh, warm, comfy, safe… I love the colors and decorations and PUMPKINS! Pumpkin everything! Pumpkin spice lattes, Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin candies :), Pumpkin spice candles lit everywhere! My ideal fall day is the windows open with the fresh fall breeze coming in, Susan’s yummy ginger cake in the oven, candles lit everywhere, snuggled up in front of the fireplace with a quilt made with love by my grandma and a cup of pumpkin spice latte reading my Autumn book! That is a little heaven on earth!
My husband and I unknowingly started a family tradition 18 years ago. We took our then seven month old son to Amish country in Ohio. We now have three kids (15, 16, 18) and the tradition is to go to Amish country EVERY October. They literally beg to go. It’s beautiful, peaceful, relaxing. And it’s just our family of 5! They don’t want to bring friends (which we thought was odd!), but they’ve all said that October is our family time to spend there-all the food, the smells, the crisp weather, the AMISH! I’ve always wanted to buy an amish quilt, but could never afford one. Maybe I’ll win the next best thing! A Susan Branch quilt. 🙂 Regardless, I’ll always have “my October with my family”. Sounds like a good title for a great book!
Sure does!
I guess my favorite part of fall is all the wonderful memoirs I have of my parents and the way they lived through the fall. Both of them are gone now, but I remember my dad burning leaves in the backyard and cooking Thanksgiving Dinner. I remember baking apple pies with my mother with apples from our own apple tree, dressing up for Halloween, she would dress like a witch and chase the kids in the neighborhood. I remember watching her clean the windows so she could tape the Halloween decorations up. I loved walking in the rain with galoshes and holding my mother’s hand while jumped in puddles. That’s what I love about fall, all my memories.
Just beautiful, thank you … look what an amazing stitch you just made into this quilt!
I love, love, love every season for their individual special reasons. So difficult to pick one favorite thing to love about Fall. Here are some that come to mind as I ponder…. jumping in a pile of leaves with my sister’s grandkids and grand-dogs and inhaling the scent of the leaves and fresh air; cooking comfort foods, i.e., homemade apple pies and soups; having friends over for warm evening dinners and ultimately curling up under a hand made quilt with a good book! Being a quilter, I so appreciate the talent and love that is entwined with every stitch. Thank you for the opportunity to recall these special things:)
Let’s pretend that each stitch in this quilt is one of these wonderful comments …. so this quilt of “ours” will be made up of the good thoughts of all our kindred spirits! ♥
Can we talk about Cider Mills and Sugar donuts fresh out of the hot fryer…some with powdered sugar some with cinnamon sugar…Yates Cider Mill in Rochester, Michigan changing leaves and sunshine. it is all perfect fall…
Thank you on behalf of all the lucky people that live near Rochester Michigan! Mmmm Hot sugar donuts!
Fall is my FAVORITE time of year! I love the colors, the crip air. The decorating with pumkins and scarecrows–the list goes on! I am always inspired to shine the windows and the pretties throughout the house! The baking of breads and cookies and bars–the soups brewing on the stove! The fireplace warming the home—And, knowing that Thanksgiving with family is around the corner! I LOVE your books Susan–I recieved my first book as a gift many years ago from my sister..Christmas Joy. Since that day–I have been a fan of yours. I made sure I got every one of your books:) You have inspired me through the years in making every holiday POP with great food, atmosphere, decorating ideas. Not just holidays, but everyday !
Yay for fall…..and YAY for you in the talent you have and share with all of us!! Thank you!!
Thank you Rose, so sweet to tell me!
A few of my favorite things are: going on long road trips to see the fall leaves, and stopping at a parkk to go hiking in the woods. I also love turning on the oven to bake something.
Thanks for the giveaway.
My favorite parts of fall are the colors…and the way they all blend in harmony with each other. I’m not talking just about the leaves here..but also their vibrant ballet with the purest, deep blue sky..the sky you get from the frosty fingers of night to the fufilled promise of warmth in the day.The way the watermelon reds, burgundies, golds, tans, and every shade of orange, from the palest tangerine to full glow sunset, create splendid displays with juicy midnight purple grapes, still awaiting use on the vine, and accented by the “Caution yellow” goldenrod and the daintiness of wallpaper-pale lavender wild asters, tipping and bobbing their heads in the breeze, distributing seeds for both animal and bird delights. If you put all these colors together in a dress, you could feel that they might not work, but they have been blended on a palette much larger than ours. When I was young, and with my birthday (September 26th) always falling just as the nights turned chilly, that special smell of autumn in the air, approaching in all of its glory,I was sure that the leaves turned their glorious hues just for me..that every year, the colorful splendor was a special gift for me. I retain those feelings yet today, when I count my Blessings and stare in wide-eyed wonder at the Endless Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania which surround us. What a glorious gift we all have been given indeed! Happy Fall Y’All!!
My favorite thing about Fall is that life s-l-o-w-s down… here in NYC it is the calm before the Christmas “storm”… the north wind blows away all of those “Summer city smells”… WOOHOO!! (No way I would have made it here in the 1800’s – with the crush of people, animals and all that comes with it… I would be the one with the clothes pin on my nose!!!)
Also Fall kicks off Soup Monday: every Monday evening you will find homemade soup bubbling away in my tiny apt… keeps things cozy in my little corner of the big city 😉
Love New York! Love looking at old film of NY in 1800’s but you are so right, must not have smelled so good!
Dear Susan,
Happy Fall! Fall is may favorite time of year because of the Autumn beauty all around. The long shadows in the afternoon, the nip in the air and the garden is getting prepared for a long winter sleep ahead. My five hens even know Fall is here. They run with much more excitement! I am from Eastern Texas and it is still very dry here. The trees have been in survival mode for quiet some time now. Maybe we will get some good fall rains soon. Thank you for inspiring me!
God Bless! Rebecca
It means the horrible Summer AZ heat is gone and out come the warm quilts. It also means being outside with my little girl bug hunting!
I love the energy of fall. The cooler, crisper temperatures bring out the best in me. I watch the squirrels and chipmunks rushing around to get ready for winter and it inspires me to do the same. New Hampshire is beautiful in the fall and it never ceases to amaze when the colors become so vibrant. It is just wonderful to snuggle in, feel cozy, knit, sew, and cook all the wonderful dishes that make the house smell so “homey”. It is simply the best.
Love New Hampshire!
Fall – a huge yellow moon hanging in the sky; cozy warm sweaters; leaves crunching underfoot; fresh apple cider and warm freshmade donuts; chili; hayrides; sweet “autumn” smells; cornstalks bunched around lightposts; gourds and decorative corn hanging from doors; a crackling fire; raking leaves; mushroom hunting in the forest; sitting with a cup of tea and combing through my Heart of the Home cokbooks – again; hanging sheets out on the line just to soak in the fresh scents of autumn and then snuggling into them at night… Wow! The memories you’ve stirred are marvelous, and there are so many more! Thank you for asking!
I love opening my Willard each time it comes. I wait for those quiet uninterrupted moments when I can spend time looking at every little corner of them. Thank you so much for making my autumn, winter, spring and summer more fun. You are a treasure!
Thank you so much Debbie!
Oh, Susan, if only I could put on paper, my thoughts and memories as you do so wonderfully……………..But, I can say my past memories and the beautiful colors and smells. My very favorite time of the year.
I tried to post twice last night and my posts did not appear so I will try again! Fall is my favorite time of the year for many reasons so to narrow it to one would be difficult. Fall involves all the senses from feeling and smelling the cool, crisp air to seeing a pop of brillant red or orange amongest the otherwise green landscape. The sound of crunching leaves beneath your feet to tasting the yumminess of fresh apple pie or pumpkin muffins – it’s all so wonderful! Happy Fall!
How I looooooooooooove the fall with its beautiful leaves that end up so crunchy under my feet, the feeling of comfort and “hominess” the first time I put on my favourite cozy sweater that reminds me of a grandpa and homemade soup made from veggies from the garden of the summer. What’s not to love about fall?! Oh, and how about a cozy vintage quilt to curl up with next to my fireplace…love,love,love – thanks for the chance to win something that would make my fall even more cozy.
So welcome! Thanks for your contribution to Fall!
I love everything about Autumn…cool nights sleeping with an open window; trips to the Farmers’ Market for pumpkins and apples; walking in the woods to collect leaves, buckeyes and acorns; making soup or stew for dinner; Halloween and Thanksgiving; baking apple pie and pumpkin bread; putting the wool blankets and quilts on the beds; wearing my favorite sweater; Homecoming. It all feels like a nestling in to enjoy the comforts of home.
What I love most about Fall are the beautiful Autumn Colors and the bountiful harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables to be found in our gardens and at the Farmer’s Market…. Reminds me of God’s love and goodness to each of us.
I love the smell of Apple and Pumpkin Butters, with cinnamon, simmering in an iron kettle on my stove. Taste wonderful on whole grain bread for breakfast or an afternoon treat with Earl Grey Tea.
Ahhhhhh, Fall, our pause to savor the earth before we rush into Winter. I love it!
Hi Susan,
I am neither a writer nor articulate but I CAN express myself on paper. :P…
My most favorite thing about Fall is both the fabulous and brilliant colors AND the wonderful smells of soups, molassas cookies and pumpkin Whoopee Pies! Oh, Joy! This has to be my most favorite time of the year. God is the ultimate artist and has blessed us all with these wonderful joys in life!
BTW, how do you pick the winner from all these wonderful posts????????
Thank goodness it’s a drawing!!! I could never choose!!!
Fall is THE season for all the senses!! Not hot anymore, but not too cold yet;my lungs don’t feel like they’ve breathed all year till they take in the first crisp air of Fall.The smell of pumpkin burning in a jack-o-lantern, gnat fires with burning leaves,I take cues from my Golden’s and let my nose go on over drive.
The trees take me by surprise every year, till i just have to stop the car and pull over to stare-blink-and stare some more that what i am seeing is REAL. A camera just doesn’t begin to capture the magic.
Everyone is tinged with an air of excitement as BOO bags begin to appear overnight on neighbors doors and the guessing who brought who’s begins.Maybe a Susan Branch bookmark perched on a bag of candy corn?! THIS is the most wonderful time of the year!
Thanks for everything Susan! From one of your gals!!
xoxo!!
Fall brings back all those wonderful childhood memories,,even thou fall is tempered here in so.cal,,I still can smell the wet leaves and wood smoke of my childhood in Pa. Enjoy the earlier darkness and drawing in and real cooking again,,,thanks for rekindling all of my great memories,,,,Judy