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Colorful Comfort

TEXT BY TINA KING

Early fall is upon us, and with it comes the annual mix of new challenges and familiar routines. Crisper temps make it easy to anticipate the seasonal color changes. It's out with summer's sherbet colors and in with fall's deeper russets and scarlets. (And of course, Husker red.)

It's time to wrap yourself in colorful, comfortable autumn.

Outdoor pools may have closed, but a good warm-water soak is only as far away as your tub. Set the relaxing atmosphere you need to unwind with a Sheer Soy candle. Scents like pumpkin latte, caramel cinnamon latte and fall foliage help welcome the season. The long-burning, soy candles are hand-poured in Gretna and made with lead-free wicks. Find them at Click here or at metro-area farmers markets.

At the markets, look for delightfully sweet and purple elderberry syrup. Pancakes--or even ice cream--will get a new look and you'll be supporting Nebraska growers. Try the syrup from Cedar Hills Vineyard in Ravenna. Find it online or at Tomato Tomato, Omaha's year-round indoor farmers market on Omaha's western fringe.

Speaking of ice cream (and gelato and sorbetto), the folks at eCreamery in the Dundee neighborhood know how to welcome fall. Their classic pumpkin ice cream includes the seasonal flavors of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg but never requires you to step foot in the kitchen. Likewise, their caramel apple pie ice cream delights with bake-free flavors.

With pie on the mind, it's time for an autumn visit to apple-crazy Nebraska City. Stay off the Interstate and you'll find local orchards with fresh apple donuts and a freezer-full of farm-made pies. End the day taking in the lovely view (and occasional wedding) from the Sunset Terrace of the Lied Lodge's Timber Dining Room. Servers are happy to supply local wines and photo-worthy apple pie slices. Work it off with a walk along the Arbor Day Farms trails.

When it's time to put the garden to bed and return to crafting, you'll find Omaha-area specialty shops that host shelves, racks and bins full of colorful project supplies. For fun, contemporary quilt fabrics try the designer selections from the Quilt Studio. Staffers can direct you to pre-cut fabrics, kits and classes if you're just getting started.

If yarn is more your passion, add to your stash and soak up the colors and textures of more than 1,000 different types of quality skeins at Personal Threads Boutique. The adjoining Lewis Art Gallery carries hand-woven alpaca throws perfect for that first evening in front of a fire.

The colors, tastes and textures of fall. How cozy.