Just a little Autumn Story

A moment when the air turns crisp and the rain becomes more frequent and every tree starts showing off in yellow, red, and brown tones like it’s competing for your attention - that is the time when the Queen of Autumn steps onto the stage and begins her perfect wind harmony concert. While some people see this lovely season as too gloomy and cold... I always find a certain comfort in it. Maybe it’s that pure smell of wet earth after rain or maybe it’s just an excuse to eat something warm and delicious outdoors near fire. 😻

Speaking out loud about some beautiful colors and then I go with 2 black-and-white photos... :D who am I kidding here? And why? I wanted to give you the power to imagine the colors yourselves.

While my dad was getting the fire ready (you’ll see that in the photo caption below), I was, of course, goofing around in the yard and taking pictures. I always find something “more important” to do instead of actually helping, hihi. So I went around photographing things under our corn crib, then played a bit with the axe, even tried to learn how to chop. And of course, I eventually climbed up on the chopping stump beacause it just simply seemed like the perfect spot to stand. 😄 What can I say, I’m still a kid at heart.

Here is a photo of how we were frying chicken wings and drumsticks on our "talandara" (or "tanjirača") that’s what we call it around here. It’s something like a shallow cast-iron wok, perfect for easy, juicy and home-style meat meals. Not just meat, I am kidding, you can put whatever you want. You just need to light a fire underneath, add a bit of oil or lard and let the magic happen. This time we went with chicken and it turned out amazing. The whole family enjoyed the lunch with fingers sticking to that golden, crispy skin, while the rain was drumming softly outside.

I also noticed a single leaf lying on the rainy wet ground. Half yellow, half brown, shaped like a perfect heart. 💛 It looked almost too good to be real, as if autumn itself decided to send me a little love letter written in colorfull leaf.

I picked it up and of course had to take another photo, this time with my signature red Converse in the frame, hehe. Or maybe they’re green. Maybe yellow. That’s the beauty of black & white photography... those who know, know. :D

The very first days of autumn are always, without exception, reserved for our homemade bacon. Carefully prepared during the colder months, sliced, packed, and tucked away in the freezer, waiting patiently for its moment to shine again. And that moment usually comes right about now. We never defrost the whole thing at once, of course. Just a piece or two, depending on the day and what we are making. Sometimes we fry it enough to mix it with eggs, fresh bread and maybe a spoon of ajvar.... The smell fills the whole house and even our Maza dog and Mače the cat know something good is happening. 😄 As for me... I like it straight from the freezer. Half-frozen, still icy and firm, almost like a bar of soap. It might sound strange, but there’s something special about that texture and salty chill that hits your tongue. It’s pure, simple and real, like the season itself. Autumn has officially arrived when the first slice of homemade bacon meets the morning rainy air. 🥓🍂

These photos are just my simple way of saving them -> the colors, the smells, the tiny details that make ordinary days feel special. Maybe that’s why I love autumn so much: it reminds me to slow down, to notice and to enjoy what’s right in front of me.

So here’s to short days, long sleeves, cold hands & warm hearts. 🥂🍁