Twas the night before the night before Thanksgiving at our house. We are cutting out foam board leaves to decorate our Thanksgiving branches with leaves filled with things we are thankful for. The kids are having a great time and are spending time thinking about those many things in their lives they have for which to give thanks. A special pondering and one we should all do on a daily basis, not just once a year. After dinner, we will make our pumpkin pie and a pumpkin cake (my husband’s favorite!). Tomorrow we will work on stuffing, homemade whole cranberry sauce and berry cobbler. We made our pumpkin and banana breads over the weekend. Our house shall be full on Thanksgiving day with our gang of seven, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, my mother, and our dear friends, Dawn and Thomas and their son, Jed. Looking forward to breaking bread with some very special people in our lives!

Can you smell it? Can you hear it? Go outside! You will. There’s a definite change in the air today. Fall is making its debut in the mountains. The sky looks different. The way the light plays upon the mountains and dances through the trees. The world is crisper and brighter. As the breeze rustles through the leaves, you can hear them chatter, almost hear the words ‘crisp’ and ‘brisk’ carry through the air. Even the birds seem busier, hitting the birdfeeders with more purpose than before. The little hummingbirds are chasing each other, coming right up on the porch as I sit there in my rocking chair as they head for their sugar water. The kids came back in the house after stepping outside this morning to grab some jackets from the coat rack before they went out to wait for the bus at the end of the driveway. It’s that time of year again. After the stifling stillness of the hot, dry summer months, I’m ready for the change of season. The leaves have not quite started to reveal their vibrant colors, but it’s coming soon. And what a spectacular show it will be. Autumn in the mountains of western North Carolina; a regal and inspiring display.