[ an autumnish dress I thrifted around this time last year. ]
Thank you all so, so much for your lovely comments on the ball gown post!!! I really, really appreciate them. It feels like I basically cut myself off from the ‘net the past week or so, since I was so engrossed in sewing! It’s definitely good to be back in the blogging world again. lol.
I knew autumn is beginning when I stepped outside the other morning, and the air was perceptibly cooler. The breeze whipped around my bare arms (so used to the humid, hot weather first thing in the morning, I put on a sundress that morning), creating a bit of a thrill inside me. I adore fall, and I think it is one of the things I miss most about living in the northern part of Virginia and growing up within spitting distance of western Maryland and Pennsylvania. Fall is so beautiful in that region; especially the closer you get to the Shenandoah Valley. One of my favorite things to do as the autumn season deepens is to drive out towards the mountains, grab a cup of coffee at one of my favorite local cafes, and spend the day thrifting or just walking around the picturesque old towns. I’ve been suffering a lot from homesickness lately, as I realize that I won’t be able to enjoy this quiet, visually stunning part of the year.
I’ve been celebrating autumn in some little ways, trying to infuse the days with bits and pieces of what I love best! Spicy, herbal teas in the evening (or afternoon, though I generally prefer a black tea for a pick-me-up around then). Pumpkin and apple scented candles burning. Listening to my favorite “autumn” bands like Beirut, The Be Good Tanyas and Iron and Wine (does anyone else find they have seasonal music tastes?). A couple weekends ago I stocked up on several large bags of apples when we went to the commissary and proceeded to spend most of my Sunday morning peeling and slicing them up for applesauce! We now have a freezer stocked with plenty of the yummy stuff. Sailor Husband has requested a homemade apple pie, and I’m starting to crave pumpkin pie (I’ve already indulged in one Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks–that only whets my appetite for pumpkin things! hehe!). We’ve started buying acorn and butternut squash on the weekends and grilling it for a delicious autumn side (I’m curious to try grilling a pie pumpkin too… Lately my mantra has been “let’s just try grilling it!” lol.). I’m holding my breath for the day when I can pull out some light cardigans!
One thing on my agenda this week is to track down some fresh gourds and decorative squash. Our dining room table is in sore need of something suitable for October, and I’m envisioning a small arrangement on a beautiful wood tray I have. Perhaps I’ll hunt through my boxes of vintage linens and see what pretty table clothes I have that I could use too… I’d also love to find a festive wreath to hang either on the door or inside. This year I’m partial to berry wreaths, and am just waiting to find one that suits our home. What are your favorite ways to celebrate the fall season? Am I the only one who gets “nesting fever” this time of year? What are your favorite fall memories?
I love Autumn too. The colours are always amazing, much like your lovely dress. Sadly here in the Southern Hemisphere we are heading into Spring.
your dress is perfect for autumn! that time of the year always makes me more interested in classical music, i just filled my ipod with beethoven stuff
I more find that different sorts of music goes with different chores and at different times of the day. But jazz basically always goes =) I find Movitz great for cleaning and doing the dishes, Ella F for creative work and Norah Jones for late in the evening.
I love fall, but sadly fall is a pretty short affair here. Although you might all say thet we simply don’t have any real summer… This morning I took my bike to work in 21 degrees F (-6 Celsius), luckily it’s a short ride or I would have had to dig out the real winter clothes =) I have my fingers crossed that the snow will wait until november!
i also have been filling my life with fall this week. nice round orange pumpkins, cinnamon and pumpkin spice candles, chai spice lattes. love fall. and yes! my music preferences totally change as well.
I love love love fall! Which means I’m especially lucky to live in New England. This weekend the Mr. and I are going on our annual apple picking trip after which apple pies and sauce galore!
this dress is so so pretty! i have seasonal music tastes too! generally more upbeat stuff in summer and more downbeat relaxing stuff in winter.
no you’re not! I was just thinking how comforting this time of year is! Last Spring when I was entering my exam crunch it took all the will power I had to stay in and do homework but with the weather being sort of cooler I find nothing more pleasant than opening a window, pputting a big sweater on, pouring myself a cup of coffee and reading my school work!
I just bought nine little decorative gourds and pumpkins and wrote Halloween going up my stairs on them! I’d love to see pictures of your place all beautified for the Fall!
Take a little trip into north Florida (I dunno how far south you are…but anything a little higher than Hillsborough/Polk will start to be “north”). Go out to Cross Creek (of Marjorie Kinan Rawlings fame), hit Micanopy (which is literally a ONE STREET TOWN – but the whole street is cafes-antique shops-and a B&B, lol)…go up to Gainesville…all smaller, quiet spots that have a little bit of fall to them (although you may want to wait until a little further into the month, or even the start of November). Tallahassee is also a great place to see fall.
And the reason I mention those towns specifically is b/c they have the types of trees that will start to turn colors, unlike towns near the coast like St. Augustine or Jax. Anything up the middle of the state is good. 
Oh Casey, it’s so good to read a from a fellow Floridian about fall. I also find myself doing things that make me feel a little more like it’s fall…fall scented candles, some fall decorations, squash and apples, and dressing in plaids. It helps, but it’s not really enough! When I talk to my northern friends and they tell me about apple festivals and fall colors and cool crisp days, well, it’s enough to send me into depression! I love Florida. I really do, but every year at this time I start to long to be anywhere else. There were a few “cooler” days last week (mid 80s instead of low 90s…I’m down in southwest Florida), and it was nice to actually be able to breath a bit. Still, I miss the days of my childhood in Michigan and my college years in Missouri when I reveled in the beauty of of the autumn.
I definitely like to listen to things like Simon and Garfunkel in Autumn! The folk revival is great for Autumn, I think.
-Andi x
So funny of you to mention the Shendandoah Valley; I’m going to school here in Harrisonburg! The scenery is indeed beautiful here, but it already went below forty degrees last night, and I imagine soon I’ll be longing to be where you are!
Florida sounds like a lovely place, but I couldn’t stand to not live wear there was a true fall and I suppose I would even miss winter (though I could do without the bad snowstorms
) Fall makes me want to bake every day! Haha, please take pictures if you end up grilling a pie 
Oh, and I adore that dress, it’s such perfect warm fall colors.
Hope you get some lovely cooler weather soon!
I always think of opera when I think of fall since the Met’s season starts at the end of September. I also start to look for new recipes to add to my Thanksgiving arsenal, and even if they don’t make it to the final cut for dinner, I really enjoy trying them out!
Long-time reader, first time commenting…
Currently litening to Live 365 station Cladrite (30′s, 40′s and 50′s tunes, very fall-ish), and breaking out the cd collection of 30′s & 40′s swing and such at home. I guess you could say I have “seasonal” music tastes too!
Thank goodness I’m not the only one that loves autumn! Here on Toronto (Ontario, Canada), the leaves are really starting to turn along the Don Valley Parkway (the major highway into the city itself), and I’m positively giddy
BTW – LOVE the ball dress!!!
Hi there Casey!!!
I have been visiting your blog off and on for a bit now, and I must say I really enjoy it. You always have something interesting to offer, and with such a cheery disposition!
On a more related note, I too go for more mellow music (I adore Iron & Wine) during fall, unfortunately “fall” for me is an understated summer being that I live in San Diego. Haha. If only palm trees changed colors for the fall!
I am currently having a love hate relationship with fall, since I adore apple pie and pumpkin pie, but loathe being sick.
I love reading everyone’s enthusiastic fall posts. I haven’t seen one autumn hater yet! That dress is beautiful (and so was your navy ball one!! dang girl! ps, I saw it featured on whatiwore.tumblr.com, in case you didn’t see that) and the colors are just perfect.
Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. There is so much about it that I like: the chilly weather, spiced drinks, trees adopting their seasonal reds and oranges, scarves, coats, stockings, evenings spent indoors with a good novel, pumpkin pies, the list goes on.
I think I have seasonal music tastes too. I prefer mellow songs and instrumentals (like soundtracks and classical music).
Just love the dress. I cannot live without my pumpkin cheesecake candles or others this time of year.
haha… I have an seasonal music taste, too. in summer I really love to listen to lovey dovey music and electro (just like laura marling, noah and the whale and familjen), but when the year draws near fall, I tend to listen to “darker” music, a lot of middle age, rock music and heavy metal. It’s weird, but I guess I prefer music fitting my mood.
(-:
Oh nesting fever for SURE! It will truly be frightening if I’m ever pregnant and due in the fall.
I love that dress and I didn’t comment on your last post but your ballgown is STUNNING! You did a wonderful job! My ultimate favorite fall memory is from October 2 years ago when Mr. B and I eloped to Boston. Being from Texas I had never gotten to experience a true fall and it was lovely, everything I had imagined it to be and more!
Oh, I DEFINITELY get all nesty in the Fall. I just want to curl up in my big down blanket and read in front of the fire. Preferably till spring!
I’m hoping to really celebrate the fall in a way I haven’t done since I was a child – go to a pumpkin farm, find the best pumpkin out there, and carve it. And maybe actually use those innards for something delicious!
Here’s crossing your fingers that you do get to visit Virginia!
I totally understand that ‘nesting’ feeling you get this time of year. I think it’s because of the upcoming holidays, a chance to focus on the gathering of family and friends, and hence the home. Plus, with the weather being so terrible (I live up north, way up north) more time is spent indoors.
So far the only seasonal culinary change I’ve made is ditching the G&Ts for Irish Coffees. And tonight I’m making this soup: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/green-soup-with-ginger-recipe.html
Not sure about the “nesting”, but I do change the decor a bit in my house to reflect more autumnal colors and pull out the winter blankets and warmer clothing. In California we have a more moderate climate, but it still gets a bit nippy here in the desert. I wish I lived in a place were there was a real “Fall” season. I would love to see the leaves change color on the trees and have it rain a bit. But we are really dry here.
Oh, how I love autumn!!! I’ve been quite in the “nesting” mood as well! On Monday I had the craziest urge to bake cookies…so I did! I also went on a walk to collect fall leaves & get a Pumpkin Spice Latte (mmmmm!)! I love getting into the mood of a season, and fall is one of the best! Just walking outside to be greeted by crisp, cool air is so refreshing after summer! As for music going along with seasons, I at least have very distinct listening habits that change with the weather! haha Lately I’ve been enjoying James Taylor, Van Morrison, and some Bing Crosby (cozy music hehe). =)
thanks for the wonderful autumn post! =)
You have been looking so gorgeous! Take the time away from the internet as a refreshment… sometimes I forbid myself off the internet just to get things done and come back refreshed
The internet is lovely, but stressful all at once…
That Autumn dress is AMAZING, I cannot believe you thrifted such a unique, pretty dress… great find!!
That dress is amazing. Such rich colours! Autumn is here in the UK without a doubt – no need to wish for cardigans here – they are essential. I also find autumn is the time I want to clean, re-organise and nest for winter. Warmer clothes out of the wardrobe, the lovely handknits out. I just want to knit warm things for everyone I know in rich autumnal colours.
Autumn is my favorite season, and yes I do get nesting fever as well. It’s the time of year when I get back into knitting again and stockpiling woolen fabrics for warm-minded tailored skirts (to wear with tall boots!). This weekend we will be heading to a farm in MD for pumpkin picking, apple butter tasting and animal petting. If you have any suggestions for thrift stores in the NoVa area, please share! I’ve lived in DC for over two years and have not had the opportunity to seek out such wonderful places.