Cynthia’s Five Fall Faves

Fall is my all-time favorite season. It’s not an understatement to say I’m all about Fall!  Because I live in a rural area outside of Chicago, the poetry of nature plays into all the reasons I love Fall. It’s the beginning of an end. An end of the year, of a season in nature, and of life. Most of all, it’s a time to reflect and feel grateful for the year's blessings and successes thus far, and to sow for the future. I think Anne of Green Gables said it best: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

 

You can imagine how hard it was to come up with a list of just five things I love about Fall. I narrowed it down to those things that represent the sights, smells, and feelings of my Fall season.

 

White horse with dramatic sky
1.
The dramatic autumn skies. They’re always in flux, and I never know what my imagination will see when I look up. 

 

 

Red soup pot filled with vegetables
2.
Farmers' market soup. Being a health-conscious foodie is complicated, but not when it comes to hearty soups. My idea of fun is to set my beautiful red Dutch Oven on the stove, and either make a favorite recipe or make up a new one with whatever seasonal veggies and herbs I have on hand. The land rests, yet still produces. Here are some delicious soup recipes to inspire you, too.

 

 

cat napping - woman hugging cat 
3.
Porch naps and warm hugs. The moment I sit down or lay back in my porch swing, someone jumps up to join me. That would be my sweet cat, Bear. When the air is crisp, there’s nothing better than Bear’s warm body on my lap or in my arms while I drift to sleep.

 

 

Mum plants
4.
Mums. Spring gets all the floral attention these days. But Fall has its own beautiful blooms in rich colors that speak to my heart. Mums are one of my five faves for that reason. If you love them too, you can enjoy them year-round. Click here for information about planting and growing mums.

 

 

group of women wearing sweaters and scarves
5.
And, of course, sweaters and scarves! Not just because we make sweaters for women, but because they are the very definition of coziness and Fall-time layered clothing. We love to use cotton because we can garment dye the sweaters in our seasonal colors. Because we love layered clothing, the textures and colors in our fabrics make for a more unique, and very Cynthia Ashby look. As we like to say at Cynthia Ashby, Inc., “It’s all about layering!”