Dear fall,

Every year I would get excited by your arrival,
eager to see you in your finest apparel,
showing off your glory.

Halloween me in 2006
My hat is thrifted.
The glasses were a free gift from a work friend.
My gloves once belonged to my great grandmother.

Do I always look so witchy?
Don't answer that!
My necklace and purse were thrifted.

My shoes were thrifted.
I can't remember where I got the dress,
but I don't have it anymore.

Halloween me in 2006, without the hat

My Halloween nails from this year 2012

Dear fall,
Every year we'd go into the mountains to gawk at you. While in my car, or walking around the neighborhood, photographing my delight, at the decor.

Neighbor's Halloween decorations 2006

More neighborhood decor from Fall 2006

 My guy's shoes in autumn leaves 2006

 Wizard of Oz & other fun decorated pumpkins from pumpkin alley in 2006

My guy in 2006 

More autumn photos of my husband from 2006

My art Journal page from October 10, 2012

inspired by
Fall In Love from Classes Kara Made

Dear fall,
I'd exclaim and marvel, wherever you made your presence known. Your foliage continues to astound me. Thank you for being my favorite season!

With love, 
Teddi  :)

autumn senses

Sometimes autumn smells like
 wood smoke outside, from neighbors.

Me in Autumn 2005

There's a chill in the air.

My nephew Baby JJ this October 2012

My husband J says,
 "In Texas, it doesn't smell like snow.
 It smells like rain."

I was walking to the cemetery.
 by my old house, in October 2005

Our front entry way is always full, of dead brown leaves.

Me at the cemetery October 2005

It sometimes sounds like wind.

My nephew Speed Racer at the pumpkin patch
 October 2012

It sounds like cheers from the football games,
 at the middle school, behind us.

My twin nieces at the pumpkin patch 2012

It sounds like children playing football in the street.

My  painted pumpkins in October 2007

He says it tastes like pumpkin coffee, (which I don't drink).

Left: my painted pumpkin
Right: my husband's painted pumpkin
October 2007

I say it tastes like Halloween candy, and my birthday treat.

Art Journal page  written October 2
artfully made October 10, 2012  inspired by Fall In Love from Classes Kara Made

I used to burn Salt City Candles.
 They smelled like candy corn, baked apple pie,
 pumpkin spice, sugar cookies, and gingerbread.

far back

When I was younger,
 fall meant new school clothes,
and a brand new school year.

Far back, when I worked at the elementary school,
we had red ribbon week in the fall.

We had crazy hair day, pajama day, school colors day, and inside out/backwards day.



Far back, when I taught preschool, fall meant teaching apple themes, leaves as crafts and science studies, exploring pumpkins, Thanksgiving, and Halloween stories, and songs.

My blouse, skirt, and shoes are thrifted.

We'd take field trips to the pumpkin patch, and paint pumpkins. We'd wash and bake pumpkin seeds.

My nephew Speed Racer at the pumpkin patch

My nieces Lil Bug, and EJ

My nephew Baby JJ at the pumpkin patch

My art journal pages from October 12, 2012
pages inspired by Fall In Love from Classes Kara Made

Far back, I would plan my Halloween costume.
I loved working with children and getting paid to
dress up, and celebrate my favorite holiday.

Was it all far back, or was it only recently?

autumnal magic

..She loved October-
loved it well in its first crimson pomp, 

Altuzarra Fall 2012 RTW

when frosted leaves hung like a flame

Texas Autumn photos by my guy 2012

 
and the asters along the road were like pale purple songs;

Antonio Marras Fall 2012 RTW

and even better in its later quiet of brown autumnal fields 

Autumn in Texas photo by my husband 2012

over the bay's with its evenings full of the nice smell of 

Another Texas Autumn photo 2012
taken by my husband

burning leaves in Lazare's bonfires

Left: West Gordon Fall 2012 RTW
Right: Vena Cava Fall 2012 RTW

and all the apple to be picked and stored in the apple-barn...

Me and my husband walking around our old neighborhood, in Autumn 2005

when the hills were blue and the great wheat-fields along the harbour-shore warm gold and the glens of autumn full of shimmering leaves

My art journal page from October 1 and October 3, 2012
pages inspired by Fall In Love from Classes Kara Made
photos at top of page are:

1. Cemetery walk 2006
2. Japanese Garden, Seattle 2000
3. Cemetery walk 2006
4. My nephew's pumpkin patch trip 2011

Hello, these are Teddi's Autumn resolutions

* finding the time
* art adventures
* be gentle
* continue creating
* keep hope
* autumn photo shoot
 * stay strong
* paint pumpkins

 Marigold always felt that  there was something in the fall that belonged to her and her alone if she could only find it, and this secret quest made of September and October months of magic....words from book Magic for Marigold  by L.M. Montgomery