When The Last Leaf Falls

That final leaf releases it’s grasp and dances to the ground below, in that moment the quiet takes hold.

There’s something about that time that exists through the rest of Autumn that so many seem to forget or possibly go blind to, when routine takes over.

Wait though, because it’s in that moment where the magic really begins to happen.

The trees now naked standing in the forest, raw, still, and quiet.

The calmness that exists, wind rushes through the branches and the smallest chipmunk makes the loudest noise as it bolts across the ground as if it were pretending to be an F1 car.

The silence again. Stillness. The magic.

These days are almost forgotten. Everyone loves fall for it’s colors, the leaves painted so vibrant. Pumpkin spice, apple season, apple fritters, all the fall things. Crazy though, that just weeks into the season, the “fun” is over.

The question is simple, have you ever stopped to look into the woods when all the leaves are down? Allowing your mind and imagination the freedom to sneak deeper into the wood line. Quietly sitting, realizing how many creatures are rustling around. How the setting sun is now more visible through the trees that are no longer cloaked with thick life. The oranges, yellows, and pastel colors now painting the sky with the low setting sun.

Or maybe it’s the first snow flake falling from the sky. The frosted fields when you wake up sipping that first cup of coffee. Those sneaky days that arrive like gifts where the temperature is just 10-15 degrees warmer than it were a few days prior and you cherish how it feels on your face.

This season is so much more than pretty leaves and pumpkin spice.

This season is actually so much more to so many others that sometimes we forget how seasons have a strong pull on each individual within us for one reason or another. For our own personal reasons.

Or how some people think of an entire season in their own way such as….

Jess L: “Die bugs die

Caitlin B: “Best mountain biking time of the year, obviously.

Beth P: “Season of change

Jennifer D: “Death

Jenny H: “I love watching the leaves fall, almost as if it’s a dance to the ground

Jacquie H: “Visiting the pumpkin patch, first snow, cold sunny days, no bugs

Megan J: “Gorgeous colors. All things sweet and salty!

Justin B: “Watching the morning fog roll out

Rob S: “Alone

Tim B: “Stillness and starkness that fall holds beyond it’s colors

Seasons all have their own power to be what they are to each and every one of us, some feel magic in a change, others feel loss, and others the beauty of it’s simplicity.

It’s our time and our season and it’s a reminder that we all have our own story to tell…

***Answer the next question so we can share your response in coming notes.

Bringing warmth to the table

Need something warm to add to just about every meal? Lately I’ve been on this bread kick. It’s low calorie, carb free, zero guilt bread. And the best part, it’s yours to experiment with. Add ingredients, fold it, roll it, or just plop it on the baking sheet. No matter how you make it, it’s almost always delicious!

This loaf, plopped out of the bowl and covered with an egg wash, flake salt, and sunflower seeds. The loaf behind it, same dough folded over cheese for a cheese filled read, topped with olive oil and flake salt.

No long story hear about how in 4th grade this happened and then while dancing through a field of flowers I thought to myself “how I wish I had a great bread recipe”… Instead, just the ingredients and tips.

You’re gonna need:

• 1 ½ - 2 cups of flower

• 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast (or one packet if that’s how you roll)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 ½ teaspoons of granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp of olive oil

• ¾ cup of warm water

The simple steps

• Add one cup flour to bowl, add in the yeast, sugar, and salt. Mix it up real good.

• Add in the water and olive oil and mix. I use a wood spoon for this.

• Continue mixing till you get a sticky mess and then slowly add about another ¾ cup of flower.

• Add in a little at a time. Folding, mixing, squishing. The dough will begin to form it’s own ball in the bowl.

• Once well formed. Take that dough ball and put it in another oiled bowl, throw a towel over it and place it somewhere warm for 20-30 minutes so it can rise.

• Pre-heat over to 425

Take dough out of bowl and do as you want with it. Easiest way is to just coat it with olive oil salt and pepper. Then bake it till it’s golden or however you see fit. I usually smack it with a wood spoon and it will sound hollow. That’s my testing method. Best of luck!

Side note, just to make all the attorneys happy. This is not actually carb free, low calorie or anything else of the sort. But it is delicious. Also, if you serve this to friends, know that they will want more.

“There’s a saying that you can’t start a new chapter in your life if you continue to re-read the last one.

So may the road ahead of you be filled with action, not hope, passion not obligation and results not plans.

You may just fall in love with where it takes you".

And I hope you do, I hope you do fall in love with where it takes you. So in love that you let go of the last chapters. That you’re able to close that book all together and begin to write a new one.

You may be going through a lot right now, or maybe even just a little, take a step back, tighten up your laces because this is your moment and I believe in you.

Shine on,

~Tim