Afternoon Shadows

Here it is August 27, and I tried I really did.  But, as strong as I like to think I am I caved.  Yes, I lit my Baked Apple Cinnamon candle in August.

You see, having the OCD personality that I do, there has to be an order to things.  August is summer and you do not light an autumn candle in the summer.  Things such as this are relegated to September and beyond.  But then again you would have to understand how very much I LOVE autumn and all that it means.  Maybe it is because I was an autumn baby.  Whatever the reason, it is my season.

It is the crispness in the morning air, the breeze that catches the scent of wood burning in a fireplace or better yet outdoor fire pit.  It is the knowledge that I can get in my car and drive less than two hours and be in the north Georgia mountains and enjoy the changing of the leaves and buy a bushel of apples - Arkansas Blacks being my favorite.  It means my jeans once again become the staple of my wardrobe and if they are paired with a great pair of boots then all the better.  It means college football on Saturday!  It means planting even more daffodil bulbs in my yard so they will bloom come spring.  Crock pots filled with chili, sweaters, pumpkins, long walks in the woods, fried pies, the anticipation of the approaching holidays and candles.  YES, candles.  Apple for September and pumpkin for October.  Once again, there must be an order to these things.  And I blew it!  I caved and lit the apple candle in August.  And why....I will tell you.

It was the afternoon shadows.  I was in my kitchen after a trip to the grocery store.  I had purchased my new apple candle and even the trunk smelled good when I opened it.  I came inside to put up my groceries and looked out the window...there they were.  The shadows spilling onto my grass and across the deck.  It looked like a fall afternoon.

 

Yes, those shadows were beautiful - the sun playing with them through the trees and causing them to dance across my yard.  I thought why not, it will be September in just a few days.  I lit the candle and love it.  My kitchen is filled with the incredible scent of apples and it reminds me that autumn is not that far away.  I can wait if I must.