What was all that about mists and mellow fruitfulness?

Fa-So-La-La

Maybe that's what Keats thought fall was about. But I prefer the following (you knew I wasn't going to agree with Keats!):

• Reading poetry or Lord of the Rings by firelight-- especially outside! Ring-wraiths take on new dimensions by an outside fire.
• Sitting and thinking.
• Watching Persuasion-- perfect.
• Cooking Macaroni and Cheese- and I don't mean the stuff in the box. The real kind.
• Staying up really, really late (on weekends only, of course!) and writing.
• Sitting outside until I shiver, just because shivering is glorious after a long summer.
• Doing something industrious. Cold air is very conducive to busy-ness.
• Listening to Nickel Creek (I know, it's always a good time to do that, but it sounds especially good in fall somehow).
• Drinking pots and pots of tea-- blackcurrant tea is amazing stuff! I'm seriously addicted...
• Reading something really and truly melodramatic. It's the only time of year when I'm in a suitable enough mood that I don't turn into the old muppet in the corner.

Tonight I did the first thing-- I sat outside after dark by our chiminea (New Mexican fireplace thingy) and read Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Which was an experience, although by no means my favorite poem. You see, if you read that sort of poetry by firelight, you can imagine you live in that time and then it is ever-so-much-better than if you had read it under a lightbulb. Besides, any poetry is just best that way.

Next up, Macaroni and Cheese. Oh, yes, yes, yessidy yes....