Photo by Jacqueline Bennett South Windsor CT

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

Unless you are a New Englander it may be hard to fathom the sheer joy that accompanies the first chill in the air with the arrival of each autumn. When I opened my front door the past two mornings and this morning around 5 a.m., the welcome coolness was waiting. It left me feeling refreshed, as if a new beginning could be just around the corner.

Autumn 2016 made its debut on Thursday, September 22, and Connecticut could not have asked for a more perfect first fall weekend. By Saturday and Sunday crisp temperatures meant it was time to pull on favorite sweatshirts, from my L.L.Bean deep green zip front to heavy hoodies that were being worn.

Unless you are a New Englander it may be hard to fathom the sheer joy that accompanies the sight of an autumn pumpkin patch. Driving the back roads through Ellington, East Windsor and Enfield this weekend we took turns commenting on the beauty of the days. At times we silently took in familiar autumnal sights – touches of early leaf color here and there signaling a promise of the brilliance to come, local farm stands setting up apple baskets and pumpkin displays, an abundance of county fairs signs, and, a combination of rickety old red tractors and shiny new John Deere’s slowing down traffic as they hauled bundles of hay.

Unless you are a New Englander it may be hard to fathom the sheer joy that accompanies the satisfaction from accomplishing the hard, hard work which goes into chopping wood that will be used to warm homes in coming months. With the sight of neatly stacked wood piles comes too, anticipation of the first wood stove fire of the season and snuggling up next to it, under a handmade quilt with a good book and a mug of cider.

Welcome autumn!