Publisher’s Note
A favorite fall activity… helping with the sausage booth at the Valle Country Fair
I love autumn… period. My senses become heightened, not just because of the visual display, but also from the aromas of fall and the sounds made by crunchy leaves, combined with the joyful laughter of children playing outdoors.
Hiking in the woods is one of my favorite things to do, especially this time of year with the hues of autumn colors: the brilliant yellows, burnt oranges, and vibrant reds. I imagine the chatter that must have gone on before me while animals scurried down the trees and onto the path to gather their acorns and buckeyes for the coming winter. With each step I hear the cracking of a nutshell as evidence of their activity.
Cooler temperatures inspire me to pull out my favorite App State sweatshirt, wool socks, gloves and scarves that were lovingly packed away last spring. Have you ever noticed, as I have, that the fall sky seems brighter, and the air feels fresher? The autumn colors surround me, and I am literally in the middle of Mother Nature’s art palette.
As our communities prepare for all their fall festivals, calls go out to local farmers and wreath makers to help decorate each main stage. I can envision the haystack that I perch upon while watching Woolly Worms race up their respective strings. Another favorite activity is helping with the sausage booth at the Valle Country Fair, located right next to “the apple butter gang.” My mouth is already watering in anticipation of the aroma from spices patiently being churned into this treasured fair favorite.
I want to take the colorful leaves and press them, to somehow hold on to them forever, just like the memories of my kids piling leaves in a huge heap and jumping into them with wild abandon—of carving jack-o-lanterns with them (and now the grands), bobbing for apples, making pies for Thanksgiving from my grandma’s recipe. So many cherished memories and many more to create this season.
People comment on our carefully selected cover photographs and frequently ask where they were shot. The image that graces this issue was taken by our multi-talented editor, Tamara Randolph, and is viewable in an outdoor theatre near you. Just look out the window, down the roadside, or in your front yard—the display is everywhere!
We hope you will take CML with you and dog-ear the pages to remind you where to go and what to experience. See our extensive listing of fall festivals, fairs and events with your calendar ready and a pen nearby, knowing that we love hearing from our readers. Write us a note or drop me an email at [email protected].
~ Babette