Finally! Fall has arrived!

And although I’m sure we still have some warm days ahead of us in the mountains, I love getting up in the morning to a slight chill in the air. The light seems to have a more golden quality, the sky seems bluer and the air seems fresher when fall arrives.

It’s not that I don’t like summer. I love the longer daylight hours. I love all of the flowers and birds, and fresh vegetables from the garden. It’s all wonderful.

What I don’t love is the heat.

I know, it’s hard to believe that someone who grew up in southern Louisiana (it really IS the humidity) could mind the heat in the mountains of North Carolina, but I do. I hate getting hot and sweaty unless I’m actually doing something that warrants getting hot and sweaty (insert inappropriate jokes here).

At least in Louisiana pretty much everyone has air conditioning, and everyone keeps it on constantly from about March to November. Then, we have a couple of mild frosts and after a few months, winter is over and spring is here again — until it’s summer, which it pretty much is all the time anyway.

When I moved to WNC, I was stunned to learn there was no air conditioning in my place.

I couldn’t quite grasp this piece of information.

It was July. It was hot. In my world, that means there should be some form of cold, processed air blowing from a vent somewhere nearby.

I immediately went out and bought a small window air conditioner for my bedroom, so at least I could sleep comfortably, and I suffered through the rest of the summer wondering why people around here don’t embrace this new-fangled invention called air conditioning.

Of course, I also came to realize that it’s not quite as hot in the mountains as it is everywhere else in the south, and most people are okay making do with a good fan or a window unit for the few months out of the year that they are needed. But I still missed my air conditioning.

Then my first fall in the mountains arrived, and even though I already loved the beauty of the region I now call home, nothing prepared me for the stunning autumn season. Now THAT is something we never had in Louisiana (although our seafood is still the best in the world — Yeah, I said it because it’s true. Deal with it).

Naturally, what blew me away were the colors. As the air develops a crisp edge to it, the leaves on the trees begin to turn. Within a few weeks the mountainsides go from green to all manner of bright flame-like colors ranging from deep red to blazing yellow. The trees seem to glow with light, and even those who have lived here all their lives have to stop and stare every so often at the wonder around them.

But there are so many other things to love about fall, too.

The cooler weather is at the top of my list. It makes me want to sit out in the sun and spend some quality time lying around in the grass.

Hot drinks seem appealing again, and the idea of snuggling up with a blanket on a chilly evening with a cup of hot chocolate, apple cider or tea gives me a pleasant thrill.

And lets not forget fall fashion. While I’m far from a fashionista, I do love getting to wear boots, scarves, hats and cute jackets again.

Then of course there is Halloween, a favorite holiday of mine (dressing up in costumes and eating candy, what’s not to like?)

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the next few months.