Woot

Here at the Frugalwoods home, we are celebrating the harbingers of fall that have beset our New England town. There is a marked decrease in temperatures, breezes blow ever-chillier through our open windows, the harvest is nigh, and candy corn is for sale at Stop-n-Shop. I will admit to you right now that I have a wee bit of a candy corn issue. I love it, I crave it all year long, and I recently spent $9 procuring some (ok, a ton). I love its little triangular shape, its ersatz coloring, and its bizarrely synthetic taste. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t stop.

Frugal Hound = pumpkin colored
Frugal Hound is pumpkin-hued. Coincidence? I think not.

Fall is, without contest, our favorite season. There is something deeply entrenched in our psyches that autumn is a time of joyful crop-gathering and pie baking. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the myriad accoutrements of each resonate with our idealized visions of early Americana.

Here are some reasons why fall is the best season ever invented:

  1. No need to run the heat or the AC. Frugal score!

    Hark! Mr. FW sights the first fall leaf while hiking.
    Hark! Mr. FW sights the first fall leaf while hiking last weekend.
  2. Leaves change color. They look amazing!
  3. Candy Corn. I eat it!
  4. Ideal hiking weather. Truly the absolute best time of year to be on a trail in the woods.
  5. PUMPKINS! In addition to candy corn, I have a pumpkin addiction. Actual pumpkins, artificial pumpkin flavors, pictures of pumpkins, pumpkin beer, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, things colored like pumpkins, mentions of pumpkins, songs about pumpkins. I cannot get enough. Think it’s a coincidence that Frugal Hound is pumpkin-hued? Think it is also a coincidence that one of her 1,000 nicknames is pumpkin-peanut? It is not.

    At a pumpkin patch last October
    At a pumpkin patch last October
  6. Cider doughnuts. This is Mr. FW’s contribution. I’d like to qualify this by letting you folks know that neither of us has ever actually eaten a cider doughnut. Mr. FW likes the mere idea of a cider doughnut because they are a quintessentially New England autumnal offering.
  7. Candy Corn.
  8. Frugal Hound loves cooler weather and celebrates by prancing and frisking around outside. She also curls into ever-tigher balls at night to sleep and Mr. FW tucks her in with a blankie.

    Frugal Hound frolics in early leaves
    Frugal Hound frolics in early leaves
  9. Resumption of cooking on the stove and in the oven. Mr. FW steers towards no-cook summer meals as much as possible (like homemade hummus, raw vegetables, and salads) so as not to heat up the house. Fall weather = more elaborate and adventurous offerings from the kitchen.
  10. Produce prices are lower as harvest time gets underway!
  11. Candy Corn.

Woot (Part II)

On Monday, I wrote a post about our marriage (mine and Mr. FW’s that is) and it received a ton of insightful comments. I’ve really enjoyed hearing from folks about how they manage their finances in the context of their relationships. And, I’m thankful to everyone who chimed in. If you haven’t had your say yet, head on over to Behind the Scenes of a Happy Frugal Marriage and let me have it!

Grumble

As I wrote this woot, I lustily consumed almost an entire bag of candy corn*, which is handily more sugar than I’ve had all year. Consequently, I feel ill and have a headache. I have no one to blame but myself and those amazing little triangles of faux-sweetened delight!

*Mr. FW here: I’m confiscating the rest of Mrs. FW’s candy corn stash. She just ran through the kitchen yelling “look, I’m a T-Rex!!!!” while flailing mini T-Rex arms at me and Frugal Hound. This woman cannot handle high fructose corn syrup.

What do you love about the fall?

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69 Comments

    1. I agree, New England is especially beautiful during those two seasons! And summer is quite balmy as well. Just have to love that winter snow and ice too 🙂

  1. LOVE this post! Candy corn is so freaking delicious! Even though it’s 100% nasty for you!

    What I love about fall… Husker football (I hate sports but something about our home team, ya know?). Perfect weather – great driving weather (cool temps and bugs are dead so the car stays clean – I’m OCD about a bug-free bumper), and HARVEST! Harvest is fun and means money in the bank! Farmers only get one paycheck a year, ya know! My fav. season!

    1. Thank you! Candy Corn is amazing! Haters gonna hate on it but we know the truth. Good point about paychecks for farmers!

  2. Frugal Hound is such a patient pumpkin posing for that photo! I really like those candy corn pumpkins!
    I’m in VT so I know exactly the fall that you experience. I’ll also add nice cool days for running and butternut squash (my favorite).

    1. She’s a good girl–she just sat there while I took the photo and didn’t whine at all :)! I’m excited to learn you’re in VT–I want to pick your brain now since we’re planning on buying a homestead there. We’re looking at Southern VT, near Brattleboro.

  3. I love Fall! We don’t get much of a fall in Newfoundland. We tend to go from high temperatures to freezing ones. I tend to travel during the Fall so I can experience it in other places. I’m going to Ontario next month. 🙂

    I remember going to Michigan as a child in October. I’ll never forget the warm apple cider, the pumpkin patches and the leaves. Newfoundland has mainly coniferous trees they keep their needles and don’t change colour.

    1. Interesting that you don’t have a fall! I’m so sorry :)! Warm apple cider is another thing I should add to my list…

  4. I love the fall. The crispness… The excuse to wear scarves every day. It’s just cozy. Well, until it isn’t anymore and then it’s just cold winter! Apple cider.

    I’m the same sort of weirdo with candy. I don’t like candy corn but I have addictions to other things and then I turn into a hyper freak!

    PS, Mr. FW has a rocking beard!

    1. Hyper freak–that’s 100% me after eating candy corn. We don’t eat much sugar at all, so I reallllly overloaded myself the other night. I think I need to take a break from it for awhile :).

      Mr. FW says “thanks!” The beard has truly grown to epic dimensions this year.

  5. Okay, I literally laughed at 2 things here: Frugal Hound posing with pumpkins and candy corn, and the ending, because it totally sounds like something I would do. My boyfriend has nicknamed one of my “dancing-when-I’m-bored” moves to “Ray Charles” because it looks like I’m kind of trying to play the piano…anyway!

    Fall is awesome, it’s also my favorite season. I’m really jealous right now, because it’s still 90 degrees here. I’m so looking forward to having a sort of “extended” fall, though, as temperatures here are supposed to be in the 50s during winter. We shall see (and hope).

    My mom has a terrible candy corn obsession, too. Maybe you should start a club =). I used to like them, but I find they’re just too sweet now, and this is coming from someone who loves candy! I can only eat a handful.

    1. The Ray Charles! Love it. I’m a super enthusiastic dancer (including T-Rex moves), which amuses Mr. FW to no end. My in-laws report that NC is still hot–they share your jealousy over our fall-esque temps. Candy corn club!!!

  6. Ahhh…this post has made me SO excited for the fall. It is my favorite season and I love everything about it. We always go apple and pumpkin picking, and I am with you, I can’t get enough of pumpkins although I am not a big fan of the pumpkin beer. I can’t believe how Frugal Hound sat still with all of that stuff on him. Very impressive! I hope you and the Mr. have a wonderful weekend!

    1. Yay fall! Frugal Hound was very patient with the pumpkin photo :). Hope you’re having a great weekend too!

  7. Haha, how long did it take you to take the first picture of Frugal Hound? Brilliant!

    I love fall, but we haven’t had a proper summer yet this year! I need my vitamine D first!

    1. Not long at all, actually. She’s so accustomed to me putting stuff on her and taking photos that she just sits there and waits for me to snap the shot. It took probably 3 minutes total :). Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

  8. I love fall! It’s my favorite season by far (go figure). I love it so much that the Barefoot Barker’s official middle name on his papers is Pumpkinbutt.

    It gets so unbearably hot here in the summers so the beginning of fall means that I can actually go outside again. We still have at least another month of summer down here, so I’m really jealous that it’s already starting up there. I’m not meant to stay indoors!

    1. I was wondering if fall might be your favorite too :). Pumpkinbutt! Too cute. I don’t know how we started Pumpkin-Peanut for Frugal Hound, but she gets called that a lot. Hope your fall comes soon!

  9. What do you mean you’ve never had a cider doughnut? You got something against doughnuts? And you call yourselves New Englanders. Replace some of that candy corn with a few of them. There shouldn’t be a shortage of farms selling them soon.

  10. Mrs. FW I come for the great stories and writing but I stay for the Frugal Hound. First time I have seen a greyhound (or any dog for that matter) – wearing a gourd as a hat. Priceless.

  11. Fall…the best of the season IMHO. Getting to wear cable knit sweaters, nice high boots, walking in the park and kicking the fallen leaves, then looking up to see the ones still on the branches ablaze in colour…sipping hot chocolate with a friend over a fire…so much to each about Fall! Have a great week-end 🙂

    1. Boots! Can’t believe I didn’t mention boots! Love them! Hope you have an awesome weekend too 🙂

  12. Fall is my favorite season too. (My birthday and wedding anniversary both happen to be in October.) But here in the South (TN), we’re experiencing the most intense heat wave of the year right now…and you’re already talking about “harbingers of fall” and “a marked decrease in temperatures, breezes blow ever-chillier through our open windows”?! Not. Fair.

    1. I think October is my very favorite month! Happy birthday and anniversary to you in advance :). Sorry to hear you’re heat-waved!

  13. I love both Autumn (Fall) and Winter. I love staying inside when it’s cold outside with some candles going, all snuggled up on the sofa. Nothing beats it! Can’t say I’ve ever had candy corn though, don’t think you can get it in the UK.

    1. Snuggly fall is the best :). I couldn’t find candy corn when I lived in the UK as a study abroad student, so I think you’re right!

  14. Fall, for the win!! I love fall and I couldn’t agree more with this post. Best time to get married too! Our wedding is approaching soon. Did you know that pumpkins make the best decors?

  15. You are so funny! Love it!

    I used to really love fall until I moved further north and now I hate it. Leaves are already changing colors here and I give it a month before our six month long winter sets in. Blech.

    I shouldn’t be trusted with candy corn either (but my real weakness are black licorice jelly beans)

    1. We have a pretty long winter here too, but I don’t really mind. I’m just not a summer person. Thanks for stopping by :)!

  16. I’m still trying to figure out if you like candy corn or not. You seem to be a bit on the fence. Please clarify.

    For the record, I for one, like candy corn. I also like black licorice (really, the only kind of licorice). I share my taste for black licorice with .00000001% of the world’s population. I love the looks of revulsion I get when I tell people I like this delicacy.

    Hmmmm, maybe I’ll brew Black Licorice Beer? Very, very small batches.

    Crap, someone beat me to it: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/9629/37147/

    If you decide that you like candy corn, it appears that, at least for a little while, there was a beer for you too: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17981/103390/

    Damn, I’m off on a tangent again! Just tell me whether or not you like the candy corn!!!

    1. Ok, here’s the thing, it’s a love/hate relationship with the candy corn. I love the taste, but it makes me feel awful, hurts my teeth, and is made of nasty ingredients. We so rarely eat packaged or sugary foods, but it’s a true weakness of mine. I also adore black licorice. It is amazing. I would drink your black licorice beer. Might draw the line at Candy Corn IPA–shouldn’t it be like a pale ale? Who am I kidding though, I’d still drink it! Love your tangents!

      1. Oh, and like many others have already stated, that picture of Frugal Hound sporting the pumpkin is awesome! Unless a hot glue gun, velcro or some form of epoxy was involved.

        Really though, how on Earth did you get that picture?

        I hope that Frugal Hound isn’t storing up a bunch of anger. One day, FH may lose it and do something crazy, like have a big beer party at your home when you’re out shopping. You’ll come home to drunken greyhounds wearing lampshades on their heads. FH will be passed out in a corner or on a forbidden piece of furniture. You’ve been warned.

        1. Hahah! I always say she’s going to have a BYOB (bring your own bone) party with her little dog park pals :). The pumpkin was honestly just balanced up there–she didn’t mind and I gave her a treat afterwards :).

  17. Fall is my favorite season, especially so now that I homeschool. I love taking the goblins on field trips when all the other kids are stuck inside at school. The best is when we (quite frequently) get nice swimming weather in September or October and the beaches are completely empty.

    1. Perfect point about homeschooling! Glad to hear you’re able to take advantage of the wonders of this season.

  18. We’re in South Florida- recent northern transplants. I miss fall terribly and even miss the end of summer, when every thing starts to look a little more yellow than green, just before the leaves turn. When the mornings are slightly crisp but warm up quite a bit. I miss drinking hot drinks to make you warmer. Ugh. I miss the fall. Enjoy your fall! Drink something toasty for me! And please, eat a cider doughnut. My favorite thing about fall! Ever.

    1. Oh I’m sorry to hear you’re missing fall :(. I’ll try to savor it for you! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing.

  19. I can’t say I’m excited about fall coming… Fall is OK but I love summer so much more and I missed it all working this year! When I moved back to the east coast from CA I thought I had missed seasons, but after one year back I decided I was wrong and I’d rather have great weather virtually every day than experience seasonal changes. But I am very much looking forward to this particular fall because of my funemployment. 😉

    1. Yay funemployment! I’m still pretty jealous of you for that :). I’m the exact opposite–I grew up in CA and much prefer the mercurial weather out here in the Northeast. However, I do love going to CA every January/February!

  20. Let me start by saying that I’m thoroughly impressed that Frugal Hound sat so still with pumpkins on her head: impressive! 🙂 Second, have you tried candy corns mixed with dry roasted peanuts and plain M&Ms? Yummalicious!!! Fall is indeed wonderful. Trips to the apple orchard, the pumpkin patch and beautiful fall hikes adorn our days during autumn. Gotta love it. 🙂

    1. Oooo I have not tried candy corn mixed with peanuts and M&Ms! Sounds amazing. I do like candy corn with popcorn–perfect blend of salty and sweet. Yum! Glad to hear you’re a fall-lover too 🙂

  21. Yikes, an entire bag of candy corn? I almost threw up just reading that – and I don’t mind candy corn! Fall has definitely been growing on me over the past few years. Jeans and sweaters are my favorite things to wear so Fall is always welcome. With that being said, it’s hard to think about Fall when we have a nearly 100 degree heat index today. Fall also means Winter is around the corner and we have brutal ones here in Minnesota.

    1. I know, I fear I spoke too soon about fall here–it’s going to be in the 80s and 90s this week :(. Oh well, it’ll be September soon enough :)!

  22. Fall is the season of the year. The experience of the arrival of night becoming noticeably earlier and the temperature cools considerably is really something I look forward to every year. Its main feature is the shedding of leaves from deciduous trees as they pave way for further growth is really good so we take the chance of capturing more photos of us this season.

  23. Frugal Hound as a pumpkin head = cuteness abound. I can take or leave candy corn which is a good thing as I’m pretty sure instead of flailing arms as a T-Rex (which is totally appropriate, I might add), I would be impersonating a sloth and a very slow one at that. My vice is wine gums. You can’t eat just 30.

  24. In my first trip to your website, I was sucked in by your mention of candy corn. I am not ashamed to admit that I love the stuff, despite my attempts to only cook whole foods otherwise. I am also supremely jealous of your New England climate changes. Here in the great state of Oklahoma, we enjoyed a delightful high of 97 degrees! As a soon-to-be-mommy, a cool breeze would be such a welcome change – only two weeks left, two weeks…

    Back to your question, hands down, the best part of fall to the Maroon household is the start of college football. As you may have guess, we are inspired by all things maroon, with Aggie football leading the charge. We are giddy with anticipation of the season starting in less than 24 hours!!

    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and saying hi! Congrats on your upcoming bundle-o-joy, how exciting! Glad to hear you’re also in love with the nastiness that is candy corn :). Goes really well with all the kale I eat :). Hope your weather will cool down soon so you can enjoy some football!

  25. I too LOVE fall and am slightly obsessed with it and everything pumpkin 🙂 Alas, it’s still in the upper 70s and low 80s here this week. I have turned off my AC a few weeks ago as it was hardly ever running anyhow (and obviously there’s no need for the furnace yet either), frugal score! Last year I made it to Nov 1 before turning on the furnace, hoping for the same this year!

    1. November 1 is awesome!! We’re hoping for a similar date around here. Really just depends on how many nights we get below freezing. But agreed, fall is amazing! 🙂

  26. I !! ADORE!! my candy corn (Ive also made myself sick eating too many … ) Thus, when they become “seasonal” per se, my husband rations out 30 or so pieces every day then literally hides the bag until it’s empty. #notalone

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