It has been such a busy time!

Oh my goodness, what is it about fall that makes us so busy? I think living in the deep south it is mainly because this is the time of year that it is finally cool enough to do something--anything--without sweating your pants off! With summertime temps over 100 degrees, and a heat index that often nears 120 degrees, it can be quite miserable! You get up, and thanks to the wonderful AC your home is cool, or at least trying to be cool, the AC is running anyway. You shower, dress, have breakfast, and head outside to start your day. You open your front door and WHAM! The hot, sticky humid air hits you like a big rig trucking down I-95. Your hair falls flat, your makeup runs off, you sweat like a man and you race for your car. You yank open the door after burning your fingers on the hot car body and and slide inside the virtual oven, all the while trying to breathe and jab your keys into the ignition to start the engine and get the blessed AC started. About the time you reach your destination, the car has reached a tolerable temperature. You pull into a parking space, climb out of the car, and the cycle begins again.

But oh, fall......

The air cools down.
The humidity leaves.
The plants look fresh and green again.
You can breathe.....

Slowly you begin to see your neighbors venturing outside. Everyone creeps out cautiously almost, as if to test the air and see if the weather channel really had it right. Ah yes...there is a crispness in the air. It is tolerable. Suddenly a bevy of excitement stirs as the rest of the community discovers this as well, as it is festival time, fair time, parties and hayrides and outdoor events. The Children's Book Fair, Halloween and the many activities it brings, Oktoberfest on the River, Jewish Food Festival, Picnic in The Park downtown, Cane Grinding and Sheep to Shawl at Oatland Island, many walks and marathons for charities, church festivals, yard sales, football practice, football games, cheerleading competitions, homecoming, and so much more make our schedule full of exciting dates scribbled on the calendar. (Let's not forget, after all, this is South Georgia, where football is more than a game, it is a religion)

So now, we have purchased our pumpkins and are planning for Trunk or Treat at church. The house is smelling like coffee and baked goodies and candles burning....and outside you can smell leaves burning and the occasional fireplace smoking at night.

I love fall, it is truly my favorite time of year.....