Season’s Favorite Blogging Challenge ~ AUTUMN

My decision to go ahead with this challenge was motivated by my long-standing love affair with the song Autumn Leaves , written by Johnny Mercer . This classic piece of music is evergreen , one of my all-time favourite pieces of music , and has been performed by many artists over the years . The video clip is of a performance in 2006 by the then-17-year-old Holland Mariah . She performs the song in a haunting vocal style that really does justice to the lyrics and evokes a feeling of nostalgia …

~LYRICS~

The falling leaves drift by my window

The autumn leaves of red and gold

I see your lips , the summer kisses

The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long

And soon I'll hear old winter's song

But I miss you most of all my darling

When autumn leaves start to fall

 

 

~WORDS~

cinnamon which is spicy and the colour of autumn

nostalgia which links back to the song …

 

~ANIMAL~

                       

Lions , majestic against the splendid sunrise

 

~FLOWER~

                                  

 

The red hot poker is native to Africa …

 

~QUOTE~

"Change is a measure of time and , in autumn , time seems speeded up . What was is not and never again will be ; what is is change ." ~ Edwin Teale .

 

~POEM~

        TO AUTUMN BY JOHN KEATS

                                

                                            1.

    SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
        Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
    Conspiring with him how to load and bless
        With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
    To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
        And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
            To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
    With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
        And still more, later flowers for the bees,
        Until they think warm days will never cease,
      For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

                                            2.

      Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
        Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
    Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
        Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
    Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
        Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
            Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
    And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
        Steady thy laden head across a brook;
        Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
            Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours
.

                          

                                            3.

    Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
        Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
    While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
        And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
    Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
        Among the river sallows, borne aloft
            Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
    And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
        Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
        The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
        And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

 

~BOOK/MOVIE~

Just as Autumn marks a season of growth/maturity , Dead Poets Society is a "coming-of-age" story .

                                

                                                             

In the movie Dead Poets Society , the characters all grow and mature in some way or the other . Through a process of self-reflection , they learn the 3 principles :

1) to seize the day and make one's life extraordinary …

2) to approach situations through analysis from different perspectives …

3) to be free thinkers through freedom of expression and non-conformity , speaking up for one's belief …

 

~FOOD~

Frikkadels – quintessential South African meatballs and the ideal snack for the cooler weather ; ideal for this time of year , especially after the extra-light summer meals of previous months , yet not too heavy , since the hot/humid summer conditions haven't passed completely and can often overlap into the early part of autumn … They're easy to make and go with just about anything . They're best served with mashed potatoes , brown gravy and some steamed veggies if the weather is cooler . Or simply enjoy on a sandwich with some tomatoe sauce !

                                                                         

 

~TOWN~

In South Africa , there are so many gorgeous places to choose from at this time of year ! Cape Town is the ideal autumn get-away destination and plays host to the Cape Town international Jazz Festival at the onset of the season .

                                             

 

 

 

~IMAGE~

My favourite autumn image would have to be one that depicts autumn leaves of red and gold

                                                              

Thank you to Blaga for this awesome challenge !

Check out the Season's Favorite Blogging Challenge at http://brokensparkles.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/seasons-favorite-challenge/        

13 Comments

  1. Victoria on July 19, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Wonderful choices, Mish. I had red hot pokes for summer. They are just beginning to fade here. I love them because they bring the orioles to our yard. And cinnamon? Yes!

    • mish on July 19, 2011 at 7:10 pm

      I remember , as a teenager , how the red hot pokers would grow rampant in our front yard … and cinnamon in my coffee is a must … thanks Victoria !

  2. Blaga on July 19, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    So very sweet of you to join the challenge! Thank you, it's much appreciated! What a lovely autumn collection! The song is really great! To read your post with background the music was a delight! Thanks for these sweet moments and thoughts!

    • mish on July 19, 2011 at 7:12 pm

      I love the song … always have , for as long as I can remember … and thanks for hosting this awesome challenge ! 🙂

  3. tara tyler on July 19, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    those were awesome items!
    i love autumn too and you did a great job capturing its essence with your choices =)

    • mish on July 19, 2011 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks TTT ~ it was a great challenge and I had fun creating the post ! 🙂

  4. Cherlyn on July 20, 2011 at 8:12 am

    I've never heard of Frikkadels before, but they sound yummy!  I like your collection of favourites, they're very unique but into the season well 🙂  I love the film Dead Poets Society, a great one indeed!  thanks for sharing!

    • mish on July 20, 2011 at 12:48 pm

      Thanks for popping in & I look forward to the next Seasons Challenge ! 🙂

  5. nutschell on July 22, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    Oooh! I love dead poet's society! (probably why I became an english teacher at some point). And Frikkadels sound Frikan delicious! Happy weekend you!
     
    nutschell
    http://www.thewritingnut.com

    • mish on July 23, 2011 at 8:44 am

      Thanks Nutschell … yes , frikkadels are scrumptious ! *licking lips in anticipation* … 🙂

  6. nutschell on September 15, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    I so love the Dead poets Society!!! I never thought about it, but you're right–it's such a great fall movie. love all your favorites,too. Thanks fo rsharing!
     
    nutschell
    http://www.thewritingnut.com

    • mish on September 15, 2011 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks for the visit Nutschell !

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