Season of Change – Associative Post
For those that know me I have a strongly associative mind that will wander from subject to subject easily. Normally I keep to one subject in a post, but I am going to let my mind wander a bit. Enjoy an autumn associative post of some ideas of fall.
Today is November 1. It is All-Saints Day and thus a holiday here in Germany. What? You don’t know All Saint’s Day? It is also called All Hallows Day and gives its name then to All Hallows Eve, called Halloween.
Europe changed clocks for Daylight Savings Time this weekend as well. So some extra light in the morning to help waking up for work tomorrow. My view of the mountains has also tinged orange as the trees change. So while fall astronomically started in September, all of this just brings on the feelings of fall strongly.
Fall is the time of cooking and parties. I guess we can’t be outside so much anymore and want to just have friends around in a brightly lit house. This is no different in Germany. Though sometimes there are oddities.
A friend of mine acquired a number of pumpkins for free. She wanted to cook them, so I suggested pumpkin pie. She asked for a recipe, so I loaded up a site I know from the US and found tons of recipes for pie. However not a single one that I read talked about fresh pumpkin. Everything called for canned pumpkin. Apparently Americans don’t even attempt fresh anymore. She in the end figured it out. I hope she’ll save me a piece.
I came to Germany in the fall. So the new year of counting sort of always begins about this time. It reminds me of another year past and makes me look back at all the things I accomplished in the past year. Fears overcome and friends made. I like to do this before the winter sets in. It somehow seems to make more sense than an arbitrary January day.
In this way Fall is also a time of new beginnings for others too. As the seasons rotate in this university town, the students are back. Our semester just started and will go through the winter. So as friends left at the end of summer, hopefully new friends will come into our lives here soon as well. I like this thought.
Autumn is above a season of change. What changes are you working on for your fall? Any new beginnings?
November 5, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
Just like Sabina, I didn’t experience autumn right now. Currently in Sydney. However the temperature here is much nicer than Sabina’s. So we are having spring here, and of course I go nuts with all of the blooms, both in botanic garden, also in the wilds and road sides. Missing the autumn back home in Canada means I missed the thanksgiving party, halloween (Sydney’s halloween is not the same with Canadian ones), and the pumpkin pie. Got to be honest though, pumpkin pie is not my favourite pie. But I’m surprised most of the recipe pointed out canned pumpkin!
November 8, 2010 @ 7:31 am
Yup, I swear only canned pumpkin exists in the US. The big ones you buy are really only for carving.
It is kind of weird being in another country from a holiday perspective. Different days, different practices. It can be interesting, but also can be annoying if you are just looking for comfort.
November 5, 2010 @ 4:43 am
I am missing Autumn in the States somewhat, as here in the UAE it’s like 35 degrees. It was never my favorite season, as it meant the onslaught of brutal winters, but the crisp air and leaves are really, really nice. Maybe next year I’ll get to experience Autumn again.
November 8, 2010 @ 7:29 am
Like 35 F or 35 C? I love Autumn, its not hot and not yet cold. Its a nice inbetween.
Hope you get to enjoy Autumn again.