Ring-a-Ding Fall

Don't get me wrong--I'm a summer girl through and through. There's nothing I love more than having the sun shine for hours, seeing lightening bugs in the sky, smelling fresh-cut grass, wearing jorts 24x7, and hearing whippoorwills in the distance. It is good for the soul. It makes everything right. Everyone is just a little happier. 

But....

I do love fall. Especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We're not quite there yet, but you can catch a glimpse every morning when the fog is just a little denser and the air is just a little crisper. You start sleeping better and shaving less. We've only had a few true fall days in September, but I've made enough PSLs to feel it in my bones. 

Besides, there are some true signs that it's here...

...there's usually a beer festival every weekend!! This one last weekend just happened to feature pretzel necklaces and was in my backyard. Excellent. 

Also, it's completely acceptable to start crafting pumpkin loaves in every shape and form (preferably in Dala Horse form, but no one's judging).

Certain fur-balls are getting furrier and more squirrly with the cold weather. 

One of the most exciting advancements: fall wardrobe!! Glitter loafers! Jackets! Scarves! Puffy vests! Stocking caps! 

Also...living in Blacksburg for four years taught me many wonderful life lessons. One of the most important/weirdest is that once it gets cool, you cut your mofo hair. Why, you may ask? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep it long and warm and snuggly down the back of your shirt? You would think yes. HOWEVER--short hair is queen because when you're trekking across the Drillfield and the wind is blowing and you're cursing all that is good in the world, you will at least be thankful that your hair is NOT being whipped into a tangled frenzy. Short hair for the win. So I don't live in Blacksburg anymore. A girl can still dream.

!!!BREAKING NEWS!!! The Mason Shaker has made its way home to Central Virginia--perfect timing, I'd say. Not only is it time to switch to red wine, we've also got the Montpelier Hunt Races right around the corner. If you know my family, you know we are hard-core liquor drinkers**. This will definitely come in handy. 

**Umm, no.

Another fall pleasure? New, weird stuff at the thrift stores. It's out with the old, in with... someone else's old! Not sure if I need these in my house, but it would be a nice Halloween touch.

And finally, one lovely thing about fall is that you're still sometimes allowed a look back into summer when you're given unexpected warm nights where you can frolic outside in a t-shirt and jeans, eating crepes and listening to impromptu jazz bands on the mall. 

So bring it on, mother nature!! I'm ready to see my breath and pluck apples from trees and snip spinach from my garden and take hikes in fleece jackets. Bring it. 

xoxo,

Hannah