Autumn: Love this time of year!

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year, my favorite of the four seasons.  I love the feeling of the crisp cool air upon my skin, as Autumn's brisk breeze softly rustles through the changing leaves while choosing to spiral a few choice pickings down upon the eagerly awaiting ground below.  It's as if nature is weaving her own hand-crafted, glorious blanket of color, a vibrant tapestry to softly cover the harvest landscape.  And of course, this blanket, when raked together, is absolutely heavenly to JUMP right on into!   You're never too old for leaf jumping, right?  I especially love the dazzling display of vibrant, earthy colors swept across the Autumnal landscape  ... the rusty crimsons, the coppery browns and especially the fiery reds and sunset oranges.  I LOVE the fact pumpkins have become ripe enough to harvest and to finally enjoy:  from carving works of ART, to baking edible goodies, making soups and toasting the leftover seeds, loaded with tons of salt: YUM!!  I love the abundant aromas that dance about in the Autumn air:  the smell of fireplaces burning seasoned wood.  The release of oaky, maples and cedars wafting into the crisp clean air is simply divine, especially when coupled with the scents of cinnamon, allspice, cloves and hot cider.  I love hayrides, bonfires, roasting marshmallows, sipping hot apple cider or warm buttered rum ... And, of course, one cannot overlook my favorite holiday:  HALLOWEEN!!  Who can't appreciate any legitimate excuse to act like a kid once again.  = )

"Autumn walk at twighlight"

@Copyright Photograph 2010.  All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

What a glorious time of year!  I hope that you and yours are enjoying your Autumn thus far as well.  We've already put the Halloween decorations up.  Our front porch and yard are bursting at the seams with Fall & Halloween decorations.  The cooler weather has set in this past week and our leaves have begun to change colors.  It's so beautiful up here right now:  I just LOVE IT!!  I hope to find some time and energy to venture outdoors to capture some of this year's fabulous Fall foliage on film soon.

"Three Scary Jack-o-Lanterns Be We!"

(Pumpkins carved by my three children last year.)

I just received a letter and wonderful package of Halloween goodies from a talented photography friend now living in Arizona.  She really sounds as if she is missing the wonderful display of Autumn that the Northwest puts on this time of year.  I seem to recall the desert landscape doesn't change much during the Fall season, with respect to color anyway.  The desert is most alive in the Spring season, another glorious sight to behold.  So with this in mind, I am posting few of my favorite Autumnal photos from last year:  These are for you, Jana my friend!  Peace & Much Love coming your way from the Pacific Northwest. ♥

[11_25_11 photo deleted.  To view goto my Flickr site via link on main page.  Thanks!]

"Autumn Breeze"

@Copyright Photograph 2010.  All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

[11_25_11 photo deleted.  To view goto my Flickr site via link on main page.  Thanks!]

"Indian Dance"

@Copyright Photograph 2010.  All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

Lastly, here is a link to some of my favorite tunes for the season ... 

Zombie Cheerleader's Halloween Playlist

P.S.   My Autumal photos displayed above, along with other photos, will soon be for sale on my artist's website (TBA). And if you happen to have a good recipe for pumpkim soup, please leave me a comment.  I have yet to find a recipe that I like.  I love pumpkin soup!! Thanks in advance for your help : )