american colonial.

today is a good cold fall day. not that i mean that i enjoy the cold, no sir. but it was the weather that fall should be--crisp and sunny, with touches of color starting to show. i spoke to the owner of one of the new inns in town and she told me they are completely booked through the end of the month for "leaf season." winter is fast approaching and no one is going to deny it. we're craving warm and heavy food, sweaters, and hot beverages. for the first time in a long time, i'm not minding this transition to fall too much. as it is my first here, i'm still very amused by my surroundings, the changes in the flora, and the charming comments left and right, sighing that the cooler weather has finally come. this is my first year, since i was a kid, that i get to spend Halloween in a house, getting to carve and display my pumpkins and shower children with loads of candy. i get to see downtown turn into a winter light show of sorts, the colder it gets, and the closer to the holiday season, the cheerier they seem to become. back to school and the last vacations are over, and people have settled into their places again, looking forward to the end of the year. i went outside with alfred at 6:30 this morning in my regular red checkered flip flops and was stupidly surprised, twitching and dancing to stay warm. alfred was obviously comfortable, because he was in no hurry.
i'm looking forward to minneapolis at the end of November, exploring the new Walker (yes, i haven't been there yet), the bakeries, the record shops, and of course stock up at Penzey's and Aveda. i will further reinforce the american colonial in my head with some good old midwestern charm.
and--maija would be proud--i'm even starting to think about christmas. i know it's going to be a big deal here (i'm sort of looking forward to that) and that decoration and celebration will abound. i have my own gas fireplace in my home (do you believe it?) and will have a tree. i'm looking forward to the whole family visiting and showing them around. for maij, all of the best, most quaint, and historical snippets: Biltmore House, Grove Park Inn, and Carl Sandburg House in full decoration, shopping at Mast General and the farmer's market, and hiking through the mountains among other things.
the cold weather has me musing. there's so much on my mind at the moment. but nothing some hot chocolate and a tofurkey sandwich won't help sort out.