These days

Autumn is here and with it change.  I love that.  Change from t-shirts to sweaters, from salads to soups, from green to brown, red, and brilliant orange. Change in our routine too to a new regular rhythm - steady and predictable (mostly).

To me autumn is...
creamy smooth pumpkin pie and pumpkins on the porch.

the smell of chimney smoke wafting in the air.

soft, cozy flannel sheets.

the cool, crisp night-time air that makes for the most peaceful sleep.

sweet and spicy, soft molasses cookies - my absolute favorite.

and apples.

lots and lots of apples.

We have eased into our school routine and it is flowing nicely.  I am thankful for that.  I've been able to squeeze in a little bit of canning in the midst of school books.  A neighbor friend of mine called me recently and offered a chance to glean some green beans.  In just about an hour's time I picked two large buckets worth. That gave us 16 quarts.  Our little garden gave me 7.  If I am able, I like to can 52 jars, 1 for each week of the year.  We don't really eat a jar a week, but it seems that we are opening up the last of the jars just before gardening season arrives again.  :-)   So it works.  I was going to pick in her garden one more time, but the rain beat me.  We may just have to count our blessings with what we were able to get, and that's okay.

A local fruit stand has boxes of organic apples at great prices.  My kitchen smells of sweet applesauce and it is so amazing.  I used a mix of Jonagold and Fuji apples, and it is so flavorful and just as sweet as can be! No need for any sugar.   

There is more big change on the horizon.  It's happy-sad-mixed-up-feelings kind of change. It's all good, really.  I'll blog about it soon.

Also - even though eggnog lattes are available at the local coffee stand, I refuse to indulge until Black Friday weekend.  Pumpkin spice latte, however....yeah buddy!  ;-)

Happy fall, everyone!