My favorite time of year

I love Fall. The weather changes, but still provides glimpses of Summer and Winter. The occasional 90 degree day could be in the same week as the first frost. (Note: I can’t wait for the first frost, so we can get rid of these flies.)

Leaves start changing, and we’re getting the first hints in the Boise area. Geese are forming into huge flocks. Rumor has it they’re supposed to fly south, but many stay here all year. The neighbors’ sunflowers all died and drooped. The local squirrel has been having a great time with them.

I can usually find a few cheesy movies to watch this time of year. I like the really dumb ones. Watching for you, Little Shop of Horrors, and tell Young Frankenstein he’s on deck.

One of the best new things about Fall is pumpkin – everything. We’ve already worked our way through a bag of pumpkin M & Ms. My wife bought me a bag of pumpkin Oreos, and they’re pretty good. Today I had a pumpkin spice latte. I never drink fancy coffee, but pumpkin spice was enough to draw me in.

We went to the Boise Co-Op so I could look for pumpkin beers. Pumpkin beers are one of my favorites, and I’ve been enjoying them for weeks already. The Co-Op always has a broad selection of things, so we drove downtown.

I wound up with about five different ones. My beer palate is in the neighborhood of porters and stouts; those black thick beers that use roasted grains. Lo and behold, I bought a pumpkin porter and a pumpkin stout. If someone ever brews a pumpkin dopplebock I’ll buy several cases and move to the mountains for a week.

My wife hasn’t even started baking yet. She usually whips up a pumpkin goodie or two, and she’s an outstanding cook.

Maybe a bowl of pumpkin soup, a pumpkin porter, with pumpkin bread for dessert. Then I can watch an old Bruce Campbell movie as the evening entertainment.

What’s your favorite season? What’s your favorite thing about Fall?