Do you call it Fall, from the old Germanic word fallan? Which literally means to “fall,” as in the temperatures or the leaves, or both. Or do you call it Autumn? A prettier-sounding word from the Latin autumnus, “cold.”
Whichever term you use, there’s a good chance it’s your favorite season (it is mine). And it’s here (in my hemisphere). Sort of. Actually, we’re in the transitional season I think of as fallmost or notumn. When, despite the sultry thermometer, the leaves are turning yellow and golden brown. And our thoughts are turning to spicy lattes and rumified nogs.
Do you long for it like I do? And then mourn its brief stay and untimely passing? Or do you comfort yourself with the thought that Christmas is coming? But I’m getting ahead of myself. Hurry up, fall…
And stick around!
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“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.” ~Sylvia Plath
“But when fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed.” ~Stephen King
“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” ~J.K. Rowling
“It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.” ~Diana Gabaldon
“Leaves covered pavement like soggy cereal.” ~Patricia Cornwell
“The house was very quiet, and the fog pressed against the windows like an excluded ghost.” ~E.M. Forster
“Love the trees until their leaves fall off,
then encourage them to try again next year.”
~Chad Sugg
∼
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About mitchteemley
Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
Photo by Johannes Plenio
Well, I also prefer “Autumn”. Anyhow, i try to enjoy the brief stay as much as possible.
I usually think of spring as my favorite season, but over the last several years, I have fallen in love with fall. It’s very serene and I love that.
Me too, Dawn.
We call it autumn in the UK.
Yep. Interestingly, Americans got the word fall from you guys, and then you switched to the French word autumn.
I prefer “Autumn” but “Fall” is more commonly used around here. I’m being teased by the weather these days–it starts out in the low 50s (yay!) but moves to the low 80s by midday. Oh well, it will cool off soon enough.
Here in southwest Ohio it’s following the same pattern, Belinda.
Yes it is warmer than usual here in Southwestern Ontario, more like LA weather actually. Unsure as to how I lived this long and never heard of fallmost or notumn. Brilliant stuff. Couldn’t help but think of Notzilla!
;>) I’ve been into wordplay pretty much since I was born.
Fallmost is exactly what’s happening here in Montreal!
I’m surprised. I’d have thought fall would settle in early that far north.
Septembre puts up a big fight, and then October 1st, we find ourselves in falldefinitely.
;>)
My favorite time of year is here, Mitch. Fall and Winter are special to me, and I do refer to the here-and-now as Fall more so than Autumn…but either are beautiful words to me.🍂
Me too, Bruce.
Autumn, ….. yes… love autumn, but here in Lima there is no autumn. I do miss it, the golds and brown rustling under your feet as you walk on.
Here in Florida we have two seasons: Summer, and February.
;>)
October in Iowa is pure bliss as shades of green transform into golds and russets. The soul of autumn, clear blue sky, and crisp dark nights glittered with stars. Sparks of bittersweet and sumac glow along chalky roads. Spikes of cattails line dusty ditches. Goosebumps accompany the autumn aroma of end-of-harvest bonfires. – Joy Neal Kidney, from Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression (Yes, my favorite!)
Beautiful quote, Joy. From one of your favorite authors, no doubt. ;>)
Love all these beautiful quotes!
beautiful picture 👍
Click on the link beneath it. Johannes Plenio is a great photographer.
Fall and spring are my favorite seasons. The rich array of colors takes my breath away. Crayola has nothing on God’s spectrum of colors. Spring is new birth coming forth. The newness that comes with spring inspires hope in me. That’s my take.
I’m inclinded to agree, San.
Aside from the colours, I don’t love autumn in Canada because it’s the introductory season to our usually cold winters.
Ah, that’s an understandable perspective, Terry.
Fall arrived in Massachusetts, but you wouldn’t know it with the warmer weather we’ve been having lately. I wish Fall would stick around.
Lovely post, and cute… “fallmost” and “notumn”. 🙂 I like the E.M. Forster quote, such a beautiful image!
Thank you, Nicole, and I agree about the Forster quote.
Nice post, nice quotes
Thank you, Anonymous friend.
Beautiful!!! Thanks You. God bless you 🎁
You too, Norma.
Fall in north Alabama starts with daily high temps in the low 80s and a decrease in humidity. But I prefer later in the season when it’s cooler and the leaves are falling.
Understandable, Jen.
stick together like glue
I love the word “Fall” it represents a changing and a hibernation with fires and tea and movies and cozy everything on its way. The transition of colors and season is a falling in the deepest love with nature , it paints me the most beautiful pictures daily with reflections of colors upon the lake and reminds me change falls , win-terrains and spring is already brewing under it all to warm us with sunshine after we rest and rejuvenate .
🧡
This has been my favorite season, too, especially during the years of the Halloween outreach. (The book is FINALLY coming out next year!) But then there’s Christmas time and the quiet, cozy season of “true winter” (January) after the holiday craziness… then spring is my favorite … except for summer at the lake … Bottom line, my favorite season is usually the one I’m in. What a blessing. I don’t think I would like living where there aren’t distinct seasons.
I understand, Annie, and congrats on the forthcoming book!
I love everything about this season….the feelings are quite complicated to carry out. Maybe it could be a thought of “Oh yay this year is coming to an end”, or it could be the just “right” temperature of the year. It’s more about its colors, atmosphere, and etc. I love this season.
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I have 2 old & very tall sweet gum trees out my living room window. They are maybe 40+ years and approx 50 ft apart.. . They really put on a show for Fall , the bright yellow and red. The odd thing is, the trees were planted together, same growing conditions, yet their colors are not synchronized – one tree is about 2 weeks behind the other for the colors and leaf drop.
We have two sweet gum trees as well, Katie, and they’re not in sync either. It seems trees, like all living things, are individuals.
I have two sweet gum trees in my backyard. The shiny leaves of one changed to red early to announce the fall season. The second one is all green with a few yellow leaves. They are beautiful when their leaves transform to autumn colors. 🙂
Autumn for me, being a Brit, which also allows for the equally gorgeous word, autumnal. Lovely collection of quotes.
Glad you enjoyed them, Emma, and yes autumnal is a truly melifluous word.
We call it “herfst”, after a long hot Summer Autumn is welcome but I am more of a Spring person as I always look forward to a garden full of flowers.
That’s not surprising considering your focus on gardening, Gwennie!
I live in a country with 4 seasons, as of now a lot of plants die down for Winter, not all as I have several plants that are Wintergreen and Winter blooming tree’s and bushes but it is always a joy to see the snowdrops, the daffs and others in bloom again.
One thing I love about autumn is that it is perfect for sitting down and thinking… a season for deep pondering 😊. Great post, Mitch, capturing both the yearning for autumn’s arrival and the bittersweet feeling of how quickly it passes. It makes me want to get out and savor each day just a little more. To make more of those autumn memories to hang on to, and life speeds forward. Cheers to a great weekend for you!
I couldn’t agree more, Dalo. Wishing a you a great weekend, and week ahead, as well!
Fall was always my favorite season back East! Here, it just means that things are even more likely to catch on fire than usual …
Gotcha, James. I lived in SoCal a large portion of my life.
I have learnt not to hurry the seasons. When I rush into autumn, I find by the time I can slow down, I’m already in winter (actually MY favorite season😉) and am sliding into spring. The seasons go fast enough now that I am older than when my Dad graduated to Heaven, and it leaves me wondering if we will have seasons in Heaven where the trees bear fruit each month. But believe me, I will not complain!🤠
Love all the seasons, because every season has its own treasures! Winter does not own the treasures of the spring; the spring does not own the treasures of the winter
Neither will I, C.A.!
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I once read, “A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves” — I say ‘imagine the colors we would use given that chance!
When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside of me. Faith, Gratitude to God, Openness to revisit myself Whatever it is, seasons are forever welcome. Happy Fall!
The same to you, Eve!
🍂🍁🌰🍁🍂
⬻𓂀✧ 🔺 ✬ღ☆ 🔺 ∞ ♡ ∞ 🔺 ☆ღ✬ 🔺 ✧𓂀⤖
“Leaves covered pavement like soggy cereal.”
Everyone got excited when it cooled down here in August. Since the cool down, it’s be hot. Waiting for the pleasantness of fall. And the pretty leaves.
Here too, Nancy. And good to hear from you, btw!
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Fall is NOT my favorite season. I hate cold. I hate winter. I yearn for the warmth and sunshine of spring. But I am thankful God designed the universe so those who love fall have fall. God bless.
Thanks, you too, Stephanie.
I love both autumn (the word we use) and spring. Winter in many parts of Australia is quite mild, so I like winter too. Summer is just too hot here. And autumn holds the promise of cooler temperatures for some months ahead and I really like that 😃
Quite understandable, Stephen.