A Season for the Senses by Rose Anderson

It’s official. The seasons have changed. In my neck of the woods, yesterday’s early autumn storms brought heavy rain and cooler temperatures. I’m good with that. Of all the seasons, I love fall the best. What’s not to love? To me, autumn is a treat for the senses.

First off, autumn is filled with pleasant sights.

I think it safe to say most people are familiar with the colors of autumn. Shrubs and trees of all kinds don bright yellows, blazing oranges, and an array of reds and browns. In my area, if conditions are just right, even the oaks will turn bright maroon.

How about pumpkins? I was a city girl for the first twenty-three years of my life. Back then, any pumpkin came from the grocery store. I experienced my first pumpkin patch after moving to the country with my husband and young daughter. There were acres of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes there and I was thrilled. Next to trees in autumn finery, nothing says fall better than orange pumpkins piled high next to bushels of multi-colored gourds.  Add to that clusters of Indian corn hung here and there. Their hard colorful kernels remind me of mosaics of semi-precious stone.

I love Halloween decorations in the small towns around me too, but I’m more of a traditionalist. No zombies or horror for me. I like my ghosts, skeletons, and pointy-hat witches amid the jack-o-lanterns. And I absolutely love seeing mobs of little kids Trick or Treating with parents in tow.  :)

It might just be me, but clear autumn days always seem to have brighter skies – bright blue skies or grey mackerel skies just appear more stunning. One of the coolest things overhead has to be the V’s of geese heading south for the winter. Another favorite of mine – those massive flocks of migrating songbirds that roll and shift through the sky like waves. 

The night skies this time of year are pretty nice too. Away from city lights, I have skies dark enough to see the constellations. Aquarius, the water bearer, and Pegasus, the winged horse, both have their place in the sky now. They’ll soon make room for Orion and the rest of the winter stars. If you have a telescope of eight inches or more in aperture, you’ll be able to see Neptune and its largest moon, Triton. Go out on a clear night. The planet Venus starts to climb the night sky and gets brighter by the day. By the end of the month, it’ll be one of the brightest “stars” in the sky.

Autumn has great sounds.

As the leaves fall, the sound of the wind in the trees becomes sharper. Those stubborn leaves that refuse to let go rattle and rustle with each blast. Who doesn’t like the crunch of leaves underfoot? It’s like shuffling through the dried memories of summer.

One of the best sounds of autumn has to be those migrating geese, ducks, and sandhill cranes flying overhead. I hear them all day long this time of year and never tire of it. Canada geese often stop at the wetlands around my home. They fly low to land and are anything but graceful as they careen and slam into one another. The sound they make is reminiscent of styrofoam chunks smacked together. Second to that, those huge flocks of passing birds I mentioned above. They often stop and rest in the trees in my yard and chit chit chit as they talk to one another.  When they leave their roost they do so in a loud whoosh. Sometimes they come in such numbers even Alfred Hitchcock would have been inspired.

On a smaller scale, this is the cricket time of year. Salamanders are chirping too – the sound somewhat similar to a fingernail running down a few teeth of a comb. I also enjoy the sound of logs popping on a campfire. Occasionally we’ll build a fire at night and drum with friends.

Autumn also comes with great scents and tastes.

A favorite of mine is the heady scent of burning of leaves or the lingering smokiness from a log fire. I love the accent smoke leaves on everything. It's a scent made even better when the air is crisp and clean. 

I’m a soup person – I love making them, love eating them, love smelling them simmering on the stove. I especially love when my husband comes home and raves over the wonderfully delicious aroma at the door.  I’ll add another sense to the rest ~ Autumn is a perfect time for snuggling! Here's an autumn favorite to get you started.

Butternut Squash Bisque (soup to snuggle with)

I large peeled and cubed butternut squash.
1 48oz carton of chicken or vegetable stock
1 medium onion  minced
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1/4 t. fresh ground black pepper
Salt to taste
3 t. butter
1 1/2  bricks of Neufchatel cream cheese (also known as Light)
Optional topping - a dollop of crème fraîche, sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt 

Prepare your squash. (Wrapping the squash in plastic wrap and microwaving until it feels soft to the touch is much better than fighting the hard peel with a paring knife. Let the squash cool, then scoop out the cooked pulp. Discare seeds or bake with a little salt like pumpkin seeds) Sautee onion in butter until translucent. Add squash pulp and stock  Simmer until squash is cooked through. Add cayenne. Cube the cream cheese and stir in until melted. Puree with a stick blender or in small batches in a food processor. 
Serve it in a mug. Add a grilled cheese sandwich alongside. Then go snuggle under a cozy blanket with your puppy, your kitty, or your sweetie.   :)

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About Rose 
Rose is multi-published award-winning author and dilettante who loves great conversation and discovering interesting things to weave into stories. She lives with her family and small menagerie amid oak groves and prairie in the rolling glacial hills of the upper Midwest. 

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