The cool breezes of fall have arrived just in time to welcome the 1999 Fall Pilgrimage.

&uot;The weather is helping us tremendously,&uot; said Faye Richardson of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. &uot;It really feels like fall for Fall Pilgrimage.&uot;

Beginning today through Oct. 9, Natchez will welcome visitors into the historic houses of the area. Morning tours will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and evening tours will run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Richardson said Pilgrimage Tours will sell a multiple-tour ticket at a discounted price.

&uot;We’re trying to increase the number of houses people can see while they’re here,&uot; Richardson said.

Six of the 18 houses on tour will be available each day.

&uot;It would take three days to see them all if you went both morning and afternoon,&uot; Richardson said.

Ruth Ellen Calhoun of Elgin spent part of her day Tuesday cutting roses and zinnias for display in her house for Pilgrimage.

&uot;I like to display flowers from my own garden, and if I must get some from the florist, I like to get flowers that would have been grown on the grounds,&uot; Calhoun said.

The Pilgrimage Tours office will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week during Pilgrimage to answer questions to sell tickets. Elgin has joined the list of houses, and Fall Pilgrimage marks the only time that Ravenna is open for public tours.

&uot;We’d also like to remind visitors that during Pilgrimage they will be greeted at each house by a lady in period costume,&uot; Richardson said. &uot;This only occurs at Pilgrimage.&uot;