Things I love about Fall

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and decided to take up Angie's invitation to consider my favorite things about the fall.  Like her, I love autumn--it's the best time of year, and I live in the best place in the world for it.  New England may be full of looney-tune moonbats, but man, it is gorgeous this time of year.  Here is my list:

1.  It's not summer anymore.  I can breathe again.
2.  No more AC, and no heat yet, though I can just hear the pellet stove brewing and clinking in my mind.  The windows can be open and all that fresh air can blow through.

3.  I can finally cook things that I love:  pasta, stews, roasted chicken, all manner of baked-goods . . . no more menu limitations on account of not heating up the house!
4.  Cool nights that make sleeping with the windows open perfect.  The sun goes down earlier, the day cools off more quickly, and I sleep deeply.  Ah, I love bedtime in the fall!
5.  No more sweaty-ness just from being alive.  I can put on socks if I like and not be too hot.

6.  The smack of cool air when I get out of the shower is a nice way to get the day in gear.
7.  The schoolyear begins, routine returns, and the family gets into a happy groove.  By fall, everything is smooth sailing.
8.  Halloween, Halloween candy, costumes, goofy decorations, candy corn . . .
9.  Autumn moons--big, delicious orbs glowing in the sky.
10.  Clear, cold nights with all the stars out and the reminder that cold weather is blowing our way soon (which I love, too).

11.  All the birthdays!  Of six, five birthdays in our family fall in the fall!  It's cake after cake, and how can you go wrong with that?
12.  Thanksgiving!  Pecan pie!
13.  The new crop of sweet potatoes, God's greatest root vegetable.
14.  Fleece returns.
15.  Knitting is much more pleasant--cool night and a wool sweater?  Perfect.
16.  Off-season vacations.
17.  Everywhere the maples, oaks, birches and poplars in full array.
18.  Corn mazes and orchards and pumpkins.
19.  All the bugs a'dyin'.  Bye-bye, mosquitos!  So long, ticks!
20.  I no longer mind playing outside with the kids.  No more outdoor playtime restrictions--any time in the fall is a good time to get outside.

It's my season for sure, and I'm so happy it's back again.