embracing an autumnal pace

And the sun took a step back,

the leaves lulled themselves to sleep,

and Autumn was awakened.

-Raquel Franco-

Leaves of rusty red, sunny yellow, and warm orange will soon be falling from the trees, happily dancing in the street as the cool wind blows. Crisp temperatures are becoming more and more the norm and hopefully will continue to drop as the coming weeks follow. Pumpkins are gracing the front steps of homes and signs of Halloween are appearing on every corner. Soon, kiddos will be going door-to-door with hopes of filling their bags with yummy treats.

Autumn is officially here now, and soon will be well underway. With this season, comes a certain slowness and change of pace. The leaves teach us this lesson. They change color ever so slowly, taking weeks to become a new creation. From green to a bright, vibrant red or orange or yellow. They slowly make their way from branch to ground and then form a carpet of autumn-colored confetti on yards and gardens galore. They are happy with the slowness, for their beauty comes to its fullness only with this slow way.

Slow living is becoming more and more of my goal and direction. Autumn is the perfect time to embrace the slowness and lean into the beauty that comes from living slowly.

This time of year, my love for cooking returns. In the heat and humidity of the summer, I tend to dread cooking. Turning on the oven or stove means heating up the kitchen which means creating a hot, stiffly atmosphere. But, once the first hint of crispness in the air, I march into the kitchen with a happy heart, ready to get back to my place. You see, the kitchen is one of my happy places. It is my creative corner. With the cooler temperatures, turning on the stove or oven means adding a warmth to our home, and I love that.

I am such a seasonal person. I count down to the day when I can bring out my sweaters and scarves and boots and leggings and coats and cozy pajamas. I love gathering all my cozy-scented candles, which have been hiding since Spring came. Digging out all the pumpkin decorations and the scarecrows is simply the best. Deciding on the perfect spot in the yard for a few fresh pumpkins or pots of mums and placing mini pumpkins on the ledge above our front door is yet another sign that a season of glorious, slow beauty is upon us.

My seasonal-ness also comes through in my cooking. Soups are among one of my favorite things...to cook and to eat. I live for the time of year when soups are a staple on the menu plan. Soups equal slowness to me. There is nothing better than taking a bit of time in the kitchen in the early afternoon hours, chopping veggies and adding broth and fragrant seasonings to a large Dutch oven, and then allowing it to simmer all day long, well into the evening. What's even better is having bread dough rising and getting ready to pop in the oven to serve alongside the steaming, comforting soup. I love taking the time to light a few candles on the dinner table and adding a pretty centerpiece as well. Right now, we are loving our "Little House on the Prairie" centerpiece arrangement...an oil lamp and a few small candles.

Autumn is also a lovely time of year to pick up those books that you have been wanting to read. There are so many series and stand-alones that just speak "autumn" upon first glance. Some of these include the Anne of Green Gables series, the Narnia and Harry Potter series, good mysteries, Little Women and Elizabeth Goudge's many works. Curling up in the evening with a warm blanket or quilt to watch a movie or beloved TV series is also perfect this time of year. There's something special about all of my seasonal-favorite books, movies, and shows that make them perfect for this time of year.

For us, one of the ways we embrace the slowness of the season is to simply spend ample time in nature. While we live in a neighborhood, our yard is total nature. Ivy crawling up the tall trunks of the trees. Leaves and intertwining branches creating a canopy of green over our driveway. And our most frequent guests of honor are the swarms of squirrels that visit on a daily basis. We have a bench in the back garden under a tree, as well as several chairs on our patio. The front garden also has an old cement bench that was here when we moved in, which has become a favorite spot of mine. We also have a pair of chairs sitting near the front windows in the grass as well as simply sitting on the front steps, which has some of the best views of the squirrels chasing one another through the trees.

 Being surrounded by nature is a way to fully live into the season. Our pets even love this time of year more than any other. Though all our pets are house pets, they love the cold weather so much more than the hot. Their energy goes up through the roof and they love playing once again.

Embracing the slowness of Autumn isn't a difficult or challenging thing to do. It can take as much creativity and effort as you want to give it. Though, I must say, that the more you do it, the less effort it takes. It just becomes natural, and before you know it, you are embracing the beauty of slow living in every season and area of your life. And that's my goal. Perhaps it is yours, too?

I hope you embrace the slowness of the season, wherever you find yourself in the world, whatever the season. For there you will find beauty and grace and peace. And that's something to fight for, to embrace, to cherish, and to celebrate. I'm off to enjoy a bit of slowness, perhaps with a cup of tea or by watching an episode of my favorite show.