Autumn, when senses come alive

By Jeff Salter

This happens to be my 249^th post on 4F1H, which began in late January 2011.

This week we’re welcoming fall weather by discussing the look, sound, smell, feel, and taste of this season.

Not sure why, but (for everything but the LOOK) my mind went back several decades.

The Look of Fall

I love the color of the leaves as they change on the trees — reds, yellows, oranges… and several shades in between. This fall, most of our foliage is still green, for some reason. Maybe it’s all the rainfall we had over the summer.

Here’s a photo of a recent autumn in Possum Trot.

The Sound of Fall

The most distinctive sound I associate with autumn is the sounds of high school bands practicing and playing for their home football games. For some 26 years, we lived just across a ditch and field from the Airline H.S. Stadium and I loved that sound every Friday night that they played at home. Did not attend all that many games in Bossier City, but I certainly went to several when I was in H.S. in Covington LA. Go Lions!

The Smell of Fall

Don’t misinterpret this as implying I’m an arsonist, but I love the smell of burning wood. In the fall, especially, the smell of burning dead leaves and dead branches is a lovely memory. I also remember high school bonfires before homecoming games. I bet the fire marshals don’t allow bonfires these days, but when I was a teen, we had some that were 50 feet high and had to be guarded overnight to keep the rival team from tearing it down before we could light it.

Also love the smell of wood-burning fireplaces. And the crackle and pop of the flames as they catch certain bits of wood.

The Feel of Fall

I love the warmth of those fires – whether bonfires, campfires, or fireplaces – and how it feel so much warmer than if you had a dozen blankets over you.

I love the crunch of brown, crispy leaves — a covering nearly a foot thick on the trails in the woods.

I love temperatures that are just right for my favorite leather jacket, but not cold enough to freeze my face or ears.

The Taste of Fall

I needed help with this one because I could only think of pumpkin pie. But my wife had these to offer: apple cider, candied apples, popcorn balls, and Halloween candy (especially wax lips and wax mustaches).

Question:

What about you? What looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches do you love about Autumn?

[ JLS # 249 ]