Nearly a full week of fully sunny days finds the lower Piedmont in fall foliage peak this weekend. The big oaks are barely starting to turn, so a nice rustic display should be ensured leading up to Thanksgiving, three weeks from now.

The Southern autumn is a paradox.

Comfort comes from knowing the lawn mowing is soon to end for 2009, and the AC is put to rest, and the fireplace can be used anytime now. Yellow, red, bronze and orange are the colors of autumn....right?

There are but a few "must-dos" in a visit to the Deep South:

• relish in the local foods (grits, liver pudding, BBQ (pork), peaches and pecan pie, and some Thanksgiving turkey prepared in a deep frier bucket in the backyard.)
• See the azaleas and dogwoods in spring
• Touch some Spanish Moss (and maybe pilfer some)