New tea year!, which gives a fresh, festive mood!

紅葉狩り: viewing of the red leaves, held outside; with the 炉 dug out of the ground.

畳 are refaced, new paper on the sliding doors in preparation of the 口切り茶事 and opening of 炉 called 開炉（かいろ）or 炉開き（ろ　びらき）.

The date is not fixed, but 利休 says 炉開き should be when the ゆず turns yellow. Ideally, it's when it's slightly cold, so it's more touching.

Because of the change to 炉, a whole bunch of different 道具 are used, which refreshes the mood.

At 炉開き, there should be always something 織部 (even if it's just 織部饅頭 as sweets).

Also, 亥の子餅 are traditionally served here, because they ward against fire.

壺飾り, of course!

I also like to practise 点前 that are specifically tea related to highlight the fact that we're originally opening a new batch of tea here: 茶通箱 and 和巾.

Traditionally, 三べ are used at 炉開き: 織部, ふくべ and 備前 (which used to be called いんべ).

HY23 used a 老松 茶器, which I paired with せき松葉 as a 御銘.

小雪（しょう　せつ) (little snow)

冬の朝（ふゆ　の　あさ）(cold winter morning）

小春 (when the weather is spring-like)

木枯し — I love this name, and there's also a sweet by this name.

Chestnuts are a big topic, as 八寸, for example, or as sweets, of course.

Mittwer proposes Job's tears, shrubby althea, aster, agrimony, and butterfly bush

Sen in Chadō proposes camelia