Autumn, a manifesto
September 3, 2009
This autumn I am going to look forward, and not back. I am going to relish the coming of winter, because I have strawberry jam and blueberries and sweet corn in the freezer. I am going to bake bread, and make cornmeal cake. I will make candles again, autumny scented ones. I will say “Autumnal” and pronounce the heck out of that “n.” I will wear red, on Badger football Saturdays, and finish knitting the scarflette and mitts and hat (and beer bottle cozy) for the cooler game days that come later. I will curl up in a wool blanket and read books on the porch, relishing those porch days as much as I can before we take in the furniture. I will find leaves, and arrange them. And pinecones and acorns. There will be apple picking, and I will try again to find the right pie crust. This will be the autumn that I wear rubber boots, and cuffed pants with high argyle socks, and layers. And it’s in the plan to throw a skirt or two into my repertoire. Autumn, welcome.
What’s your autumn plan?
My name is Tracy Harris. 
September 3, 2009 at 9:07 am
I’m going to skirt and tights more too. and make a lot of hearty veggie soups. And run a half-marathon, by jim.
September 3, 2009 at 10:00 am
what a lovely welcoming of Autumn. So nice Tracy. I’ll have to work on a manifesto soon as well.
September 3, 2009 at 10:37 am
coming out of the woodwork to say i’m inspired by the idea of looking forward with autumn approaching, winter on her heels. it’s a beautiful way to embrace the inevitable, without being wistful over the woulda, shoulda’s, (summer being too short, not really much summer weather, etc.)
September 3, 2009 at 10:40 am
my autumn plan is to encourage the temperatures to go back down, and when they do, get back on my bike, to be outside, to have breakfast on the patio and sit outside and watch the sunset. We will get on the road and see Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon and watch the leaves turn in Sedona. I will get a head start on Christmas presents and spend time making art for me. I will tend my garden and enjoy its bounty. I will forget about the long, boring, hot days of summer, and plan my escape to the ocean next summer.
Of course, for us autumn weather doesn’t start until the end of October so it still seems like a very long time from now.
September 3, 2009 at 11:32 am
It all sounds good to me! I think I need to come up with something. Autumn is my favorite time of year!
September 3, 2009 at 1:04 pm
i think i’ll work on my manifesto this weekend…the temperature will be under 90, so perhaps that will put me in the mood.
September 3, 2009 at 2:52 pm
i want to do EVERYTHING you want to do!!!
September 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm
sounds like a perfect way to embrace the season.
September 3, 2009 at 4:06 pm
can i adopt yours? it’s actually making me look forward to autumn–something i don’t usually do!
September 3, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Thank you for your inspiring words. I love fall and am looking forward to baking yummy things again, meals in the slow cooker, finishing some knitting projects, felting, starting some new knitting projects and enjoying the crisp air on hikes with my dog.
September 4, 2009 at 7:43 am
can i just copy your plan? it sounds utterly perfect.
September 4, 2009 at 7:44 am
such a great list!
i think i’ll start with some apple picking.
September 4, 2009 at 11:11 am
great list! I’ve been inspired to create my own list. Yours makes me look forward to this coming season. I knitted a beer cozy last year and it was so fun to use.
September 4, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I so appreciate this post. This summer was a hard one for me and I keep feeling the urge to dwell on it and be pouty. Your words reminded me to just move on and appreciate the here and now…I love fall and I’ll miss it too unless I stop and take notice!
I’ve got quite a few fall plans but I have to say I’m loving yours! I hope you accomplish each item on your list!
September 5, 2009 at 9:41 am
Love the idea of looking forward – I will borrow that one. Also on my list is to give myself time to write.
September 7, 2009 at 1:32 pm
little prickles down my arms reading this.
i am going to decorate my home with leaves and acorns and gourds. i am going to make lots and lots of applesauce. i am going to bake and bake and bake until i weigh 300 lbs (ok, not really), i am going to take a photography class and i am going to learn to crochet!!!!!!!
thanks for getting my mind working today.
September 7, 2009 at 7:11 pm
These are all great things. I quite enjoy the turning of the seasons – especially summer to fall.
School begins.
The clothing choices. I love sweaters and tights.
Crisp apples. Pumpkin pie.
September 8, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I think I won’t be so lucky to pick some apples myself, but I wish you lots of fun picking yours!
Love Autumn, such a lovely time of the year.
September 9, 2009 at 6:47 am
You sound like a squirrel, one of my favorite creatures on earth. Have you ever remark that nobody is able not to smile when they see a squirrel ?
You can find my plans for autumn in my comment to your next post. I’m afraid it won’t be too cozy, but maybe late fall will be better, if I have found a place by then.
September 11, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I’m here via Rachel – What a wonderful Autumn manifesto – it is my favorite time of year, and your tribute is wonderul. Have a lovely Autumn!
September 24, 2009 at 2:59 pm
How lovely. I am inspired. I must give this some thought…
September 25, 2009 at 7:40 am
Thank you for the inspiration- I love autumn so much. Time for sweaters and heavy yarn knitting and cider, hooray!
October 22, 2009 at 3:03 pm
[...] crust to rival my grandmother’s trans fat filled shortening crust lives on. I’ve been trying to find the right one for awhile now. It’s number 9 on the list. I’ve gotten so many [...]