So I am pleased to report that Fall has arrived.

Truly arrived.

The sun is warm during the day but the undercurrent is cool and crisp. The radiators kick on during the night. Angus and I wake up in the morning curled against one another. The trees are changing and beginning to dump their leaves.

The mornings are brisk with chill and murky with English fog.

Each morning when we walk the dog, we understand why England is known for its haunting mystery and howling moors.

So it's Autumn here. Sweaters are being pulled out of lavender-lined boxes in our house (thank God, it'll be 6 more months before I need to think about slimming down for bathing suit season). No longer do we lounge about in drawstring shorts, now the evenings are pajama pants and sweatshirts. I have exclaimed in girly delight over my boots (my boots!) which I haven't worn yet, but any day now....

October is my favorite month. I love the fact that Fall lands on your doorstep like the Yellow Pages being delivered. The air changes overnight and fills with moisture so that mornings shine your shoes with damp.

Mumin comes in from a Summer spent outdoors, and she and Maggie curl up together for a winter of companionship.

Mostly, I love Halloween.

I didn't always love Halloween.

Halloween used to be a date I didn't like because it was the birthday of someone I hated very much (holidays, like names, get ruined. Although I have recovered from my Halloween dislike I still can't stand the name "Michelle".)

Halloween is great fun in our house. From 1 October I'm all about the pumpkin carving. Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin foods pockmark the home for 31 days-pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ravioli. Ironically, I don't like pumpkin pie but I absolutely love the smell of it, and as pumpkin pie is supposed to be one of the most erotic scents for men then, well...let the games begin!

So I'm big on the pumpkin carving. And Pumpkin Carving 2006 has already been kicked off here.

Although Gorby wasn't sure about it at first.

They soon became buds.

Naturally, Halloween is when I dust off my ridiculous head gear as well (this year, I'm into the bats).

Someday maybe I'll grow up.

For now, I love Fall, and I love Halloween.

In our house, we all do.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 09:22 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 409 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I'm so glad fall finally arrived yesterday, finally! Away with the icky humidity, welcome crisp beautiful days. Though it makes me homesick for the foliage in New Hampshire and we don't really get pumpkins here in Holland. Enjoy!

Posted by: Hannah at October 03, 2006 10:03 AM (5w+E2)

2 YES!! Halloween is AWEsome. From October 1st to 30th the house is Halloween 'cute'. On the 31st I take the afternoon off to decorate the house for the trick or treaters. Every year at least one child refuses to come up to the house until they see another kid get candy. Halloween is better than Chrstmas sometimes.

Posted by: ~Easy at October 03, 2006 11:34 AM (u8qrx)

3 I wish it were cool enough here to even pretend it's fall. I'd love to carve a pumpkin, but it would rot outside in the 90 degree heat within about an hour. I did find Mr. Potato Head pumpkin decorating kits - you can turn your pumpkin into a pirate and other things by sticking on hats and hears and eyes and such. Probably safer to do that here than attract the critters to my rotten pumpkin on the porch.

Posted by: donna at October 03, 2006 12:05 PM (J1nQO)

4 OH MY GOD-Mr. Potato Head pumpkin decorations? *rushes off to Google*

Posted by: Helen at October 03, 2006 12:44 PM (qtYRq)

5 i think that is the cutest pumpkin i have ever seen! and i will also have to find these mr. potato head pumpkin decorations - where are they?? i love halloween, but halloween around here is kinda sad - i haven't gotten a single trick or treater in the last two years! but that just means i have to eat all the halloween candy myself

Posted by: geeky at October 03, 2006 01:21 PM (ziVl9)

6 I never heard that about pumpkin being erotic. Hmmm... must get to baking! Mwhaa haa haa.

Posted by: sue at October 03, 2006 01:41 PM (WbfZD)

7 Your cats are so beautiful. Are they sisters? They look identical. I have a black and white cat with green eyes too named Zoe.

Posted by: kimmykins13 at October 03, 2006 02:31 PM (QW8XY)

8 Kimmie-remarkably, they're not related. Maggie and Mumin are both 7, but come from different parts of Sweden (Maggie is a rescue cat, Mumin was a farm cat). They are scarily alike in appearance though.

Posted by: Helen at October 03, 2006 02:44 PM (qtYRq)

9 I love the fall. Sadly, in florida, it doesn't get very fall-like. When I used to live way upstate in New York, we almost always had snow by Halloween. And, in my mind, it just isn't Halloween without a snowball fight. We decorated the outside of our house for Halloween over the weekend. I have pictures posted on my blog if you want to see them. How much do we love Halloween? We got married on Halloween! People will remember our costumed wedding long after they have forgotten us!

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at October 03, 2006 03:38 PM (5eGox)

10 you and your furbabies are terribly cute. as for pumpkin soup, I never thought I would like it and then I had it at the resort we stayed at in Jamaica and OH.MY.GOD. it was the best thing ever. I could have eaten bowl after bowl just for my dinner. care to share your recipe?

Posted by: girl at October 03, 2006 03:56 PM (ZIi+3)

11 I completely love those deely boppers. Where did you get them?

Posted by: Jane at October 03, 2006 04:51 PM (ntCeu)

12 I completely love those deely boppers, where did you get them?

Posted by: Jane at October 03, 2006 04:52 PM (ntCeu)

13 I see that Mumin and Magie have their tuxes on for trick-or-treat night! That is such a cute photo of them on the bed. I like your pumpkin; he has a sweet smile.

Posted by: kenju at October 03, 2006 05:45 PM (2+7OT)

14 I wish I was there instead of here! I miss fall sooooo much, and it looks so lovely at your house! Time to haul out the Halloween goodies!

Posted by: caltechgirl at October 03, 2006 06:12 PM (/vgMZ)

15 Jane, they're from the ever-reliable Sainsbury's.

Posted by: Helen at October 03, 2006 07:36 PM (q56qh)

16 You've already turned the heat on? I'm in Wimbledon and trying desperately to hold out. It seems way too early.

Posted by: Ursula at October 04, 2006 12:33 PM (JHiWV)

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