Fall is in the air. Well, it was now I think it has gone back to summer. That is how the weather goes in eastern North Carolina. The beginning of September really made me think of autumn with cool mornings and evenings where I had to put on a light sweater. The crisp autumn air that promised a break from Summer’s heat.

I began decorating the store early because I was so excited for fall. I love the colors of fall–the reds, the golds and the browns and all the shades in between. There is an enchantment to autumn that always makes me feel like I need to be doing something. Perhaps it is leftover from school days my own and that of my children when you had to prepare for the new school year, or maybe it goes back even farther when we celebrated the harvest and this was a time to rejoice that all the work was done and now we are ready for winter’s rest. Although here in the southeast the seasons were not so bad that we had to hibernate for several months. Usually things don’t get really cold here until January and February, and more often than not it’s just rainy and cold.

But autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. Decorating for fall with leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows, awaiting October when I can add spooky things, and even up through November when it is all about being Thankful.

And even though we do not have the glorious turning of the leaves like they do up in the western part of the state, there are still highways lined with trees turning gold, crimson and orange, pumpkin patches and even a few homes decorated for the season.

September 22nd begins the first day of Autumn. Wishing you all a Happy Autumn Equinox, or as we say down east, Happy Fall, y’all!

I tweaked a few recipes to match the items I carry and did a little experimenting. Here are a few autumnal cocktails for you to enjoy.