i might

i might be falling in love with fall.

summer seems to have ended rather abruptly here.  i kept thinking that it was just a cold snap, that it would surely get warm again.  but it hasn't.  not really.  and now it's october, and the air is crisp, the sun is shining a lot, the leaves are starting to turn.  i know i'll never look forward to summer's end, but i'm enjoying my jeans.  my shoes.  a hand-me-up sweater from an old friend.  my scarf collection.  making pie.  soup for dinner.  baking muffins.  and bread.

we're celebrating another holiday this week, one that has us eating outside in a little temporary structure called a sukkah (you see it pictured here).  this particular sukkah is new to us this year, and though i thought we'd decorate it - i had visions of painting the walls and hanging fruits from the roof and lots and lots of paper flowers - i'm crazy loving the simplicity of the whole thing.  white walls, evergreen roof, white twinkle lights.  i have a few improvements in mind for next year, but for now, crazy love.

yesterday we picked apples.  tonight we're lighting a campfire in the backyard.  tomorrow i'm making this (without the cream).  yeah, i like this season just fine.

Comments

[Tara Thayer]

This is beautiful, Emily. and I too love the simplicity of it. We are having our first out-door fire tonight, too. Enjoy!

[Lisa]

wow, I had no idea that people *really* built huts during sukkot. and yours looks super lovely. What a beautiful reason behind the holiday too - to remember the time of being homeless wanderers. thanks for sharing this!

[Megan]

Your sukkah is beautiful. I missed being home to help my dad build ours. I love eating out in the sukkah - such a nice way to welcome the new season.

[Kim]

I just started working at a Jewish Community Center preschool so I am starting to learn about the Jewish holidays. Sukkot is a holiday that I knew nothing about but it's been fun to learn more about it. Your sukkah is beautifully simple and a perfect example of what sukkot is all about.

[cloth.paper.string]

this is lovely in so many ways.

[Naomi]

I've been waiting for these photos. Have checked a few times and am so glad that you have posted some. Your Sukkah is so beautiful, belongs in the Jewish Real Simple magazine (if there was one). Thank you for sharing it with us. Your creativity and kindness continually inspire me.

[Alicia A.]

I am fascinated by your traditions and rituals, Emily. I know very little about Jewish holidays and I love it when you enlighten me a little more.

I was raised (minimally) Methodist, but I have never been able to relate to it. I'm always so interested in other people's strong faith, I guess mostly because I struggle to find any at all for myself.

Anyway, this is my long-winded way of saying thank you. It is all beautiful.

xo.

[Grace]

Ah, welcome, Emily! It really is wonderful, isn't it? Plus, with all your awesome holidays in the autumn, you almost have to be an autumn lover. (I went through a big wanting-to-be-Jewish phase in my late teens -- being a musician, I had a lot of Jewish friends, and the autumn holidays were a big part of the whole thing.)

[Grace]

OK, weird, it made my photo show up, and no one else's. Creepy.

[Grace]

And also, I LOVE your photos in this post.

[erin]

your sukkat is so beautiful. and like alicia, i love hearing about your holiday traditions. thank you for sharing them, friend.

[Tracy]

I always fall for fall, and then it's gone in an instant it seems. I made tomato soup this weekend too.

[RW]

Oh lovely.

[Amy]

Is it o.k. that I am saying, "We'll build a Sukkah next year." again this year? I love the simplicity of yours...

[Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams]

Beautiful photos - I love your simple, clean sukkah. I, too, am enjoying hearing about your holidays. xo

[chez danisse]

I was just in Chicago and feeling quite similar to the mood in your post, it felt like a classic autumn. The leaves were turning red, yellow, and orange and beginning to fall from the trees. It was beautiful and the air was crisp. Now I've returned to San Francisco and today the weather was very warm. I left the house this morning in a sweater and soon realized it was a very bad choice. I'm so confused... :)

[vintage simple]

Mad love over here too. Fall is not quite here where I live, but I wait eagerly for its arrival... In the meantime, I live it vicariously through your words and images. I love the simplicity of your sukkah - I don't know that I'd change a thing for next year, but that's just me.-maria

[gemma]

Great pictures and a wonderful blog, ive just stumbled upon your site, and ive got to say you make life look so exciting and intriguing.Nice to meet youGemx