Autumn in Virginia

Can you believe how quickly being on the cusp of autumn has turned into the anticipation of winter? As the last of the leaves flutter down and the promise of Christmas beckons with its magic, I can’t help but feel wistful about the unexpected pleasure of a season that I had been apprehensive about.

I recently wrote about trauma anniversary reaction, and how autumn holds a sense of melancholy for me. Part of overcoming these painful flashbacks and memories was to build new and happy ones, and the past few months in Virginia have allowed me to do just that.It is just so beautiful here and I have a newfound love for autumn, with the rich warmth of the orange and red leaves, mild temperatures and clear blue skies. Each day we are greeted with sunshine and it is a far cry from the grey and dreary days that were so familiar in England.

The beautiful weather means there are an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy. Pumpkin patches and corn mazes, fairgrounds, apple picking, lantern walks at dusk and of course, Halloween. These simple family activities have allowed us to make new and poignant memories, and I treasure the photographs that captures the moments so perfectly.

First, a visit to Carter Mountain, based on the recommendation from our dear obstetrician last year, when I was heavily pregnant with our sweet baby girl. A mountainside activity was off limits at the time, no matter how appealing it sounded, so we put it on our to-list for the following year.

We made the hour journey through winding tree lined roads, and arrived high amongst the clouds to breathtaking mountainside views. We lay out our picnic blanket, overlooking this beauty, and enjoyed hot apple cider doughnuts, sugary on our lips, before wheeling our cart through the orchard. Acres of apples of every variety, ripe for the picking. We filled our bucket with shades of green and red; small sweet apples which Everly delighted in tossing out again. Henry scouted out his favorites and pointed in the direction we should head, and Matt and I reached for the best picks at the top of the tree. It was an idyllic day.

For Henry’s 3rd birthday, we visited the pumpkin patch at a local farm. We took a hay ride on a tractor to the patch, bouncing along the dirt path to the shrieks of delight and laughter of the birthday boy, and then, pumpkins, as far as the eye could see, in a field of sunshine. 

Watching the children delight in the simplicity of nature was heart warming. Their joy was palpable, their laughter, infectious. Looking out on the vast landscape reminded me that nature always gives a sense of peace and serenity to the soul, and we were right to make a new life here in America. I feel so blessed to have experienced these new ventures with my darling family.

And so we have settled into the cosiness of autumn, with the soft flickering glow of candles, the chunky knits encasing our bodies against the evening chill, the warmth of the fire and the comfort of wholesome soups and breads. Life is good. There are hard days, of course, but they are interspersed with these achingly beautiful family moments.

It has been a wonderful season, despite my apprehension. We have filled it with cherished memories, and now we excitedly await our daughter’s first birthday, Thanksgiving, my 30th, and our second Christmas stateside.