tribute to autumn

There have been lots of things to make this years's Fall eventful and really beautiful. The kick off probably started with the Utah State Fair. Gosh! I will never get too old to eat funnel cakes and pet goats. And what is it that is so captivating about old people square dancing in folksy tutus and cowboy boots? It is almost like watching a migration of co-ed aquasizers move with the season from the pool to the dance floor. There is something beautifully absurd about it.

And those of you Provo peeps, have you taken an autumn pilgrimage up Rock Canyon yet? It is something great. The colors get as rich and overwhelming as a yellow orange forest where you could be sung to a 'O Brother Where Art Thou ' baptism. I just got back from another trip up there where I collected oak and maple leaves for my students. I can't wait for them to do their leaf rubbings or outline them with crayons then watercolor the rest until the paper crinkles when it dries. If I had another month and there weren't so many aphid infested trees we would do a lesson on Caulder and make leaf mobiles.

I can't stop with making soups and ciders either. Winter squash and green apple bisque was one of my favorites. The grape cider was more of an improv when we boiled the grapes with too much water that we had to add mulling spices to give it more depth of flavor. It was perfect for our tea party. We served it with pop tarts and cinnamon tea and the compliments given on the flavor were no match to how proud I was of the color.

What else makes for a good rite or ritual of Fall?