It's all about autumn today in the Thursday Three. A time that I used to dislike as the herald of winter, but I have come around and I love it when the days get crisper and there is that certain smell in the air. But I get ahead of myself.

1) What are three things you love about the South in the autumn? To make this extra-special hard (in order to promote deep thought and insight) your answers CANNOT be a) football, b) hog-killing time, or c) perky, rosy-cheeked cheerleaders in clingy white sweaters. Sorry.

Oddly enough none of those would ever be included in my thoughts of fall. I'm not a big sports fan, but everyone knows that football is really secondary and that the true beauty of fall sports lies in the pennant races and World Series -- well, not in the South where we are much underrepresented in baseball and I don't even like the team we have. So it is a good thing sports aren't really on my list, huh?

Anyway, my real favorite things about fall in the South are the colors on the trees, which even in a bad year are spectacular. I like getting out warm clothes and I especially like that all the half-naked people out there finally decide to cover up a bit. And finally, I love the foods of fall. I love Thanksgiving foods, anything involving cranberries, and all the soups and other warm, hearty things that the weather makes me feel like making. I do love summer foods too, but by the time fall rolls in, I am ready for a change.

2) What are three of your favorite places in the South in the autumn?

I don't know if I have three favorites really, but my top, all-time favorite is defnitely Sewanee. The leaves and the crisp air on top of the Mountain are incredible and there are more stars visible on a clear night than almost anywhere else I've ever been. The fog that rolls in from time to time and all the rain feel perfect for Fall and fires in the fireplace.

3) And finally, what is one thing you dislike about Fall in the South?

It is hot and summery for too much of the season. I wouldn't really want to go back to Fairbanks where winter will be starting about next week if it hasn't rolled in already, but when autumn arrives on the calendar I also wouldn't mind a place where the coolth came before November.