Clare's Dad

Anyone who has read this blog for at least a couple of months knows that my favorite season is summer.  It can’t get hot enough in Connecticut for me.  This past summer the temperature rarely broke 90 degrees.  I love the heat, the sun, the long days, the outdoors, the swimming, the vacations, the laid-back attitude that even in Puritan New England lets people take it a little easier for two or three months.  I can even put up with the humidity and having to mow the lawn twice a week.

My last post of pictures at the lake got me thinking though.  I don’t hate fall.  As seasons go, it may even tie for second with spring.  (Winter comes in fifth.)  Here, in recognition of the recent change of seasons and our first fall getaway weekend, are ten five things I like about this season.

• I’ve got to admit that the leaves look pretty nice.  The colors are usually brightest in years when there’s been a lot of rain.  With the thirty inches of rain we’ve had since the beginning of June, this years foliage should light up like neon.  Southern New England should reach its peak in a week or so.
• They can’t beat grilling after a day in the water, but fall foods are pretty good.  I’m a big fan of pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, and Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte.  Local apples from local farms are reaching their peak right now, and so are local apple pies.  A really great Thanksgiving dinner is pretty awesome too.
• Clare’s birthday is in the fall.  It’s no summer party, but since my soon-to-be seven year-old’s birthday is in November, it does give us a reason to celebrate.  Now that I’ve stopped aging, it’s even more fun than my own birthday.
• I don’t have to mow the lawn as often.  This one could have been cancelled out by having to rake leaves which is even worse.  Fortunately though, the majority of our trees are in woods in the backyard where I don’t rake.
• I can still wear shorts.  Yes, we’re pushing it with this one, but I didn’t want to cut it back to four things I like about fall.  My feeling is if it’s at least forty degrees, it’s warm enough for shorts.

There you go.  Rather than complain about the early sunsets and cool temperatures, I’ve given in and admitted that I don’t hate all seasons that aren’t summer.  How about you?  What’s your favorite season and what do you like about this one?