Falling into Fall!

What do you think of when you hear the word Fall?

I invite you to take a second from your busy life and step into my day. I woke up this morning knowing I was going to be outside all day. The temperature gage outside my window was begging me to stay indoors. I forced my unhappy toes out of bed and walked through a cold house. After bundling up I prepared myself for the day. Packed the water jugs, EBT machine, money tin, paperwork, etc. Finally it was time to step out into the cool morning… burr. Off I go to set up the market. I smile as I’m greeted by my early morning set up team; John Bassler and Joe Hernandez are the best help I can ask for on a cool morning such as this. We beat the cold as we lift umbrellas, tables, chairs, music tables, tents and signs. When we’ve finished we stand back and admire our work. I finally feel a sense of appreciation for a cool fall morning. I remember the smell as I walked out the door, the frost on the ground, the good conversation and company of the men around me. What could be better today I ask…

Ah, enter the vendors. My market, the growers and suppliers of our happiness. This is the best, their trucks loaded with product. They too are cold and sleepy but, many of them have been up longer than I. My appreciation for this close nit community of yummy support wells up in my chest. We are all in this together. This thought brings me pride and an urge to buy as much as I can from every single person. I want them to thrive, I want to be able to buy fresh homemade bread whenever I want. To eat the sweetest grapes I can get right here in my backyard. Purchasing love from all of our vendors, telling them just how special they are.

When I hear the word fall, I think of abundance, harvest, cold, warming, family, cuddling, pie, apples, farming, picking, raking, living, birthdays, eating, hibernating… life. Fall is a season of slowing down, of realizing our potential. A season for appreciation.

So, again I ask you… what do you think of when you hear the word fall?