A few of my favorite things

Fall might be my new favorite time of year.
I walked out of work last night, and it smelled like fall; that cold crisp scent was all over the air. There's something about that smell that makes me want to curl up in front of a fireplace with a book and homemade hot chocolate. Never mind that I haven't actually had a fireplace since the house we lived in when I was a baby. That, and the non-operational one in our room in the Bass House in college. It was really more of an entry point to let birds and bats and who knows what other wild life into our room.
I love the frosty windows and contrast of the cold air and the toasty down comforter in the mornings. And how Karma burrows into the covers in the crook of my legs. Those mornings require hot tea while I'm getting ready for work, the kind made in a kettle on the stove, not in a mug in the microwave.
It's the only time of year I feel outdoorsy. This weekend B. and I are going to Elephant Rock to do a little hiking and look at the fall foliage. I want to feel the crunch of leaves under my tennis shoes and make the most those last few rays of warm sun.
Fall makes me want to cook things from scratch. Mashed potatoes, cranberries, pies, mulled wine, festive things to share over dinner with groups of friends. I find myself walking through places like Crate and Barrel and dreaming up beautiful place settings for all the holiday gatherings I want to have one day when I have a house of my own, runners, center pieces, special dishes and glassware.
And my birthday is just 15 days away! All good things happen in the fall...