13 Signs that Autumn’s Magic Has Arrived

It’s just about that time of year we adore most here at Bella Grace. Cozy season is upon us and we couldn’t be more excited to look out for these wonderful signs it has arrived written by Bella contributor, Ella Wilson…

1. Stepping out on my deck, I am amazed how the maple leaves in my backyard look like finger-painted hands. Against a Windex-blue sky, there is a standing ovation in crimson, gold, and orange. These hands appear to be waving to the sun; they clap and cheer me on. Hands filled with pigmented hues remind me to keep reaching toward my dream, my star.
2. There is nothing like biting into a freshly picked Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apple and hearing that snap. The tartness tickles my taste buds as childhood memories appear … many memories of family gatherings and going apple picking with my cousins. They would hang off ladders reaching toward the biggest apples on the tree. Later in the season, when the apples lost their snap my mother would make homemade apple butter or jelly. Simmering spices of cloves, allspice, and cinnamon would perfume our home. It is wonderful to taste autumn’s magic on a slice of cornbread on a cold day.
3. I love sweater weather and bundling up in cardigans, long, short, or puffy. I own many sweaters that are the colors of the sky — various shades of white, gray, and blue. I love toggles and big buttons and the cozy feeling of being wrapped up in something warm. Sweaters are like wearing a warm hug until you can get a real one.
4. Sipping hot chocolate at a local football game makes me happy. I love to bring a throw or tartan blanket to keep my knees warm and keep the chill at bay.
5. The release of new movies to either rent, stream, or rush off to the box office to experience. I love how movies allow us to escape our worlds for a bit of time. The roar of the crowd reminds us we all need to scream, cry, and laugh.
6. I love to revisit favorite books. As evening arrives, there is nothing like curling up with a beloved book. Whispers of inspiration linger among the inked pages waiting for you to come visit. I always read a Jane Austen book in the autumn. This year it will be “Pride and Prejudice.” Elizabeth Bennet reminds me it is always best to be yourself, but to also remember we are all flawed and need to give others the benefit of the doubt.
7. Walking at night, holding hands with loved ones, as we sing and hoot at nearby owls. We skip along, searching the indigo sky for the Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and a few wishing stars. We race home when our cheeks sting from the cold and turn pink and we can see our breath.
8. Squirreling away Halloween candy. I love to have a stash of chocolate with dried fruits and nuts hidden in plain sight — usually inside a teapot. Chocolate assists me in my creative moments. That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it … for now.
9. The arrival of pumpkin spice in retail. It’s everywhere — from coffee to tea, ale, entrees, and desserts. Pumpkin spice is a kiss reminding us of autumn’s magic.
10. Pulling on my tired, matted fluffy slippers. I get a lot of tongue-in-cheek comments, but I haven’t outgrown my bear claw slippers yet.
11. Getting tangled in a ball of colored yarn. I love to crochet. I love the warmth of creating handmade gifts in the evening as the sun bows and bids the world adieu. I am hooked on slipping stitches and making granny squares in shades of the ocean, a Tuscan sunset, a mountain’s view, or the colors of Irish moss.
12. Dressing up as someone else and revisiting my childhood. My inner child can be a mermaid, perhaps a movie star, or a ballerina with the transformation of tulle, or maybe I will wear a superhero outfit or be a famous author or an astronaut. I can be whoever I want to be on this one night of magic.
13. Seeing sunflowers offering birds a snack. These flowers nod their heads and bow toward their queen, the sun. They appear to sway and dance with the wind, as their dark eyes follow the light of day.

Ella Wilson is a mixed-media artist who loves to recycle, sees potential in everything, and often shares the chocolate she has been squirreling away. You can visit Ella’s website at ellasedge.blogspot.com