With the August heat, thinking about fall is refreshing.

I enjoy thinking ahead for fall decorating and I’m even open to Christmas decorating. Now is the perfect time to be looking ahead.

I enjoy the different seasons of the year . . . fall being my absolute favorite. I love thinking about the falling leaves and the pumpkins and that slight nip in the air. The transition from summer to fall is always exciting for me.

When I saw this fall tree, I thought it was perfect. A great project to get started thinking about. Gathering up all kinds of goodies that represent the season to me. Pumpkins, candy corn, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns . . . witches, scarecrows . . . muffin tins, pie tins . . .

I’m sure your tree would be unique. Just as mine may be, too. I don’t think “gingerbread” men cookies, but I’m not one to criticize. I might want more cooking utensils and maybe an old hat and boots . . . a few of my favorite books that represent the season . . .

Such a fall tree could go through the process of the kids starting back to school and then moving into Halloween and moving into Thanksgiving. I wonder if this tree would make the transition into Christmas . . . something worth thinking about.

Fall is a process. It’s a time of harvest . . . so there would be corn and pumpkins along with other fruits and vegetables. There may be scarecrows and black crows . . . maybe a raven . . . skeletons and who knows what represents fall to you.

Fall is an interesting transition period. It seems to be as colorful as spring .  . yet in a different way. It offers two celebrations . . . Halloween and Thanksgiving. Both times of pumpkin pie and other sweet treats. Caramel corn, caramel apples . . . dressing up in costumes to run around the neighborhood . . . maybe getting scared by someone coming out of the darkness . . .

We do see school buses and children walking to school carrying books or wearing backpacks. It’s a new school year . . . trying out new recipes of pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins and apples — baked and put in pies and cakes and cookies.

The trip to the pumpkin farm is always delightful . . . picking out the right pumpkins to carve for Halloween . . . Then picking out your costume . . . and the planning of your own Halloween party . . . or one for the kids . . .

Fall is definitely an exciting time of year.

And during this latter part of summer we’re preparing for the children to get ready for a new school year. Some of you may be planning the last vacation of the summer. Hopefully, you’ll be visiting family and they will be visiting you. It’s fun when all the cousins get together.

Family is wonderful. It’s great to spend time with them . . . Taking a bit of a break from all our busy routine to relax and enjoy the company of family we haven’t seen in awhile. This is usually great for all concerned.

It’s a time to discover that you do have more in common than you once thought. That’s why these times between holidays are important to get together. It can be much more relaxing and casual.

This would also be a great opportunity to collect items for your fall tree . . . things from your summer vacations and things you learned from loved ones. It is all part of you and what these seasons and holidays represent for you and your family. We are definitely a product of our ancestry.

These are just some thoughts.

It’s important to take a moment out of our daily schedules and think about fall and other seasons. It’s also good to observe how others view the season and what the stores stock up on and what may be missing . . .

I’m always looking for things that aren’t usually stocked . . . but they have plenty of other stuff I have no interest in at all. Do you find that, too.

Enjoy your remaining days of summer . . . and recognize how fall is creeping up on us . . .

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharon