This is it, folks. Fall has officially arrived. I believe all seasons have their moments of glory. Still, I’m particularly partial to this one and not because of pumpkin spice lattes (sorry but I think they’re over-rated).

For starters, I love fall because of how the cool air feels against my face, replacing last season’s sweaty glow with a flattering pink blush. I love how the fallen leaves crackle beneath my boot-clad feet when they’re not dancing in the autumn breeze. And I love how the smell of wood-burning stoves permeates the fall air, inviting me to slow down more, socialize less, and snuggle on my oversized sofa with Biscuit the Shih-poo.

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I love fall because it’s the season of layers.

It’s time to layer tank tops with sweaters, and sweaters with ankle-length cardigan jackets unless the temperature drops sufficiently enough to justify bringing out my white faux fur jacket — the one that looks not unlike my humble golden doodle, Lucy (may she rest in peace).

And then there’s the footwear. Fall is when I pack away the strong but silent Birkenstocks that have carried my weight for four months and bring out my go-to pair of well-worn suede ankle boots. Their wooden heels, now on their third life, click gently on the sidewalk. They don’t fare so well on piles of wet leaves but I love them anyway.

And of course, there’s my red plaid onesie, complete with the bum flap I felt was mandatory despite the fact I never, ever use it. Why is it that watching TV feels so much better when you’re wearing a onesie? If you’ve ever owned a onesie, I’m pretty sure you know exactly what I mean.

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I love fall because making supper is super easy.

It’s the season of one-pot meals.

My pot of choice used to be the Crock-Pot. Now, it’s my faithful Instant Pot. The truth is, though, it’s not about the gadget. It’s about the fact you get to throw a bunch of ingredients into a single pot, walk away, and come back to something that’s guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart.

Vegetarian chilis, creamy risottos, comforting soups like curried squash, broccoli cheese, ginger carrot  — served with a few slices of buttery baguette or garlic bread.

21 quotes to welcome fall (Skip Richard) —

Another thing I love about fall is the produce.

Top of my list is the crisp Russet apple — so perfectly imperfect with its rough and patchy earth-like skin and nutty yet gloriously sweet flesh. So tiny, one never cuts it. Two is better. Three is always best.

And root vegetables. Trays of them. Red and golden beets, butternut squash and yams, parsnips and carrots, all tossed together with olive oil and garlic and rosemary, oh my. I could (almost) give up chocolate for those.

Praise be to the vendors of said produce, specifically the farmers who wake up before the crack of dawn to bring their local goods to market on a Saturday. Bunches of vibrant kale adorn their stalls like bright green bunting and home-baked apple pies call my name.

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I love fall because of the colours.

Rich brown, burnt orange, and crimson red hues fill our parks and line our streets, complimenting the earth-toned pedestrians sporting their fall fashions — and COVID masks, of course — as they go about their way. If only aesthetically, this is the season when we appear to be most in harmony with our beautiful planet.

White and orange pumpkins sit perched on doorsteps. Burgundy chrysanthemums and wheat wreaths decorate homes. I’m not a grinch come Christmas, but oh, how I prefer this tasteful season that precedes the baubles, bells and flashing lights of the season that follows.

I love fall because it brings about new beginnings. 

As the trees shed their leaves, we’re reminded that letting go is perfectly natural. It’s an opportunity to turn a new leaf, without all the fanfare and pressure associated with new year resolutions.

As we close the door on summer, we open the door to autumn. A new season bringing with it new opportunities. In this I trust.

Viv for today xo

(Originally published September 2019)


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Before you go …

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