It's fall in New Mexico!

This is the fruit market up the road from my house where they roast chile every year.  These are red chile ristras that are usually hung outside (homes, businesses, etc.) for decoration.  These are not roasted.  They are freshly picked and dry over time and they are the most brilliant red with a sheen something like that on tencel yarn.

Fall is my favorite time of year here and while it comes at the end of the year, it has a feeling of a new beginning to me.  Perhaps this is so because, in the desert, there is a sense that one survives the heat of summer and comes out the other side into the glorious cooling that is autumn.  This must be how northerners feel about their winters finally ending and moving into spring.  When the temperatures cool here, I feel a sense of anticipation for fall and winter, perhaps also because our winters are mild and just don't require the fortitude that Minnesota, east coast or Canada winters demand.  Instead, the relief from the heat is a godsend and the smells of autumn, like roasting chile and pinon, are a welcome change.  Hope you enjoy autumn wherever you are.