Savoring Fall

Autumn Drew Its BedTime Bath

by Lea Johnstone

from Autumn Drew Its BedTime Bath 

Poems and Paintings of Minnesota

Autumn drew its bed-time bath

With colors of every hue

And soaked its aching twigs and limbs

In bubbles of reds and orange and cerulean blue

But winter came along and pulled the plug

And all the colors washed down the drain

The reds and orange and cerulean blue

But left the palest of icy rain

A stretch and a yawn from November sleet

Dressed jammies on bare little limbs

Flurries nestled between clean white sheets

While Jack Frost tucked the blankets in

Snowflakes coated meadow lands

In shades of milk and cream

And slowly closed the sleepy eyes

Of a weary wandering stream

North winds whispered a love you lullaby

With all the notes their lips could sing

Orion read a bed-time story

Then it's off to sleep till spring 

The fall colors in this photo reminded me of this poem's first stanza especially the cerulean blue lake . Lea's use of metaphors throughout the poem help create wonderful seasonal imagery.

Did you know that cerulean blue is America's second favorite crayola crayon?

Crayola knows their colors, and they know what America likes. If blue is your favorite color, you're not alone. According to Crayola, blue is ranked number one, and was introduced by the company as a crayon shade in 1903. Crayola.com states that lovers of the blue hue possess a calm and loyal personality and loads of wisdom. No wonder this is a shade that America loves the most.

In fact, out of the top 5 colors America loves, variances of blue are 4 of the top shades. Number 2 is Cerulean, which was introduced in 1990. Following in 3rd is Purple Heart, brought in in 1997, 4th place is claimed by Midnight Blue, a 1958 addition, and Aquamarine claims number 5, created in 1957. 

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Autumn Chopped Apple/Pear Salad

adapted from iowagirleats.com

Ingredients:

• 6 cups chopped Romaine
• 1 pear chopped
• 1 apple chopped
• 3 cooked slices of bacon diced
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries
• 1/2 package (3.5 oz) Fresh Gourmet glazed walnuts or pecans
• 6 oz. goat cheese or crumbled Feta cheese 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss with dressing

Dressing: 

1/4 cup prepared poppy seed dressing mixed with 2 TB. Balsamic vinegar