I LOVE fall.

This is my absolute favorite time of year. I wish it could be September in upstate New York all year 'round. Seriously. I mean, what's not to love? Great weather - if it's sunny out, it's not hot. If the skies are clear, it's a little cool, but perfect for wearing a light jacket or hoodie. Nights are cool, but not too cold. The apple is our state fruit, and it's definitely in season now! You can get the freshest, juciest apples, which leads to delightful confections - caramel apples, apple pies, baked apples. I swear I could eat 'em every day! I love the smell of the spices used this time of year - cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Mmmm Mmmmm good!

Also, the leaves change colors, and it's so beautiful. It's so nice just to take a stroll or a drive and look at the trees.

And Sherry's post yesterday made me think about one of my FAVORITE things about the fall - pumpkins! I love pumpkin flavors. No, I don't mean pumpkin pie (although it IS pretty good, but I prefer other pumpkin-infused foods). There are so many things you can make with cooked pumpkin, and roasted pumpkin seeds are delicious! I also LOOOOOVE carving pumpkins. It's so fun to get creative and see what kind of intricate designs you can carve. The last time I carved a pumpkin was 2006. I never got around to it the last 2 years, although I wanted to, but I just ran out of time.

I don't know what to carve this year. I feel like the pumpkin I carved in 2006 was the absolute best I could ever do. I made the stencil myself from a photograph of Malcolm X, and it was very intricate and detailed. I have a photo around here somewhere- I'll find it and post it soon!