So the new nest is aglow in fall favorites. There are pumpkin pie-scented candles everywhere there is a surface and extras waiting to be called for duty on closet shelves.

The three pumpkins lining the driveway have been joined by six copper solar lights, which I found in a Sunday ad, found at the big store, put together and installed all by myself.

The ginormous bags of candy are stashed away, although the friend has found the Snickers and Reese's peanut butter cups.

Everything is in readiness for Halloween with the hope that plenty of trick or treaters will ring the bell.

The other night, we enjoyed unfiltered cider, which tastes way better than sweet, processed sugary stuff but still doesn't taste like the cider I remember from Michigan.

We're hoping to get to an Oktoberfest-themed party at church on Sunday and the snazzed-up sauerkraut will be ready in case we are able to go.

Fall is a blessed time. It seems as though everything and everyone -- from the trucks with their new tires and windshield wipers to the sunlight with its still powerful 9-1/2 hours or so -- is preparing for the big change.

A friend from Minnesota misses the red leaves that mean fall back there. To us, fall means gold. It's all relative.

And we're happy to be a part of it.