Autumnal Aesthetics


Tiny details.


About a week ago I was a white, 30-something female with no Halloween decorations, which I'm pretty sure is illegal. I did used to have a really cute stuffed pumpkin in grad school, but I think I lost that to the mold house. Anyway, I seem to be somewhere between Harvestcore and Semi Spoopy Lite - both of which are hilarious because my nerves can't handle anything of a Spoopy nature well and I am so horrifically allergic and reactive to all the natural prettiness of the season. I'm not wholly bereft of the season, however; I seem to naturally manufacture lovely autumnal scenes now in my kitchen with all the squash and baking that happens behind my still-closed windows.

A few years ago it was brought to my attention that not many people say "autumn" in my area, while that is my default name for the season. Having moved a lot as a kid I do have a cobbled together dialect and I still get remarks as I move as an adult. I don't mind, but once in a while one surprises me. I have no idea where the "autumn" thing started. Out of pure curiosity I started looking around at decorations a few years ago and noticed that every single one said "fall" instead of "autumn", and it made me feel kinda lonely in the world. "Autumn" is pretty. "Autumn" is poetic. My dog Summer actually was almost Autumn, and I make no promises that I won't use it in the future. It feels like a beautiful truth that nobody else knows about.

I kinda told myself that if I ever found something nice (and affordable) that said "autumn" on it I would get it out of principle. Finally saw a couple items this year, and this one was perfect in every way. This sits nicely on my kitchen counter being tiny with my annual tiny pumpkin. It's even teal. Might add a bow on the stem.





I saw some string light action going on 'round the complex and it got my twinkly desire going. I can open my curtains at night now to expose the cool windows, so I could see something set up on the balcony. Difficulty: my hands pop open into these thick, deep fissures this time of year and I wasn't sure if I could literally handle anything like that with them. I decided one string would be fine and I could leave it up if needed, so I got exactly what I wanted to make up for no Teal Pumpkin on the street this year. I'm so happy with them.

Tonight is baking up pie pumpkins, pumpkin seeds, and butternut. Pumpkin muffins tonight (I hope) and pie experiments tomorrow (more on that later). Now? Hot cocoa (which I also say funny) to round out the mood.



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