Autumn

Love it. Everything about it. The crispness of the air, the amazingly beauty of the colours, the need to wear sweaters, walking through the woods, the fields, hayrides, Haunted Houses, hot cider and donuts, apple orchards...it's the only thing that takes me away from being a city girl and makes me yearn to be outside, away from the city and into nature.

I love Halloween. It's my favourite day of the year. Costumes and laughter. Since I was 11 I've had a BIG Halloween bash every year. Except last year (because Paul had just moved in and things were crazy), and this year (because of the wedding 2 weeks later). It's killing me to not have my annual Halloween party. I vow that next year things will be back to "normal". I haven't even been able to buy pumpkins yet this year, let alone carve them. House painting is finally almost done (though a new roof is in store for us yet this fall...oh joy) so I put the tombstones out in the front, hung some orange lights inside the front windows (since a house built in 1917 has no outside outlets...go figure), a light up ghost that is older than me and so I love it in the front window, and a disembodied skeletal hand in my front hallway. It's silly and fun.

Paul does not share my love of all things Halloween. It's the oddest thing to me, because it's such a fun time. But he indulges me, and even came with Jackie, Tabitha and I to a Haunted Trail (which, by the by, was pretty darn good) two weeks ago. It even had a ride in a hearse to out to the trail...how often do you get that? Of course Paul & I were in the back...where we were attacked by the madman with a chain saw, and I still suffer a majorly huge bruise on my thigh as a result, but hey! It was fun! It's all part of the joy Autumn brings!

And I have the wedding coming up. Yet another reason to love the fall. I'm excited. I want it here already. 17 days and counting.

I love this time of year.

NEW READING LIST
ok, so my friend Kassi had this posted on her blog, and I have to say, I was inspired. Pick up a book today & read it!! Demand freedom of speech.

Top 100most frequently challenged books since 1900
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling8. Forever by Judy Blume9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger14. The Giver by Lois Lowry15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker19. Sex by Madonna20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard27. The Witches by Roald Dahl28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry30. The Goats by Brock Cole31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane32. Blubber by Judy Blume33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters byLynda Madaras41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee42. Beloved by Toni Morrison43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard46. Deenie by Judy Blume47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole55. Cujo by Stephen King56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons byLynda Madaras62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher65. Fade by Robert Cormier66. Guess What? by Mem Fox67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding71. Native Son by Richard Wright72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen74. Jack by A.M. Homes75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle77. Carrie by Stephen King78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez87. Private Parts by Howard Stern88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
(Highlighted ones are books I have read...and in most cases, enjoyed!)