today we went for a walk

well it was tuesday really. but regardless it was pretty clear that fall was in full force. finally. chilly air, crunchy leaves underfoot, sweaters and hats on mamas and babies and those leaves. oh those leaves. fall blows my mind every year and is most certainly the time of year when i am most in awe of this planet.

we ended up walking much farther than we usually do, but i couldn't help it. each tree (and each darling house in that neighborhood!) kept drawing me further. needless to say, i had sore legs. from walking. jeez.

and of course, my baby. my summer baby. i can't believe a season other than the one he was born in has arrived.

we ended our two hour fall walk as the sun set at the park.

and then we went home to cuddle. complete with rosy cheeks and chilly hands. perfect.

leaf love

the leaves on our street were stunning today. and I am soaking them up.

soon the leaves will turn, fall and be swept away and the trees will appear naked, lonely and barren...

but lucky for me, last weekend's rainstorm left a leaf tattoo on our driveway. i think it may just be the cutest thing i have ever seen (second of course to the babies in my life and my mister's smile).

i wonder how long it will last... maybe until spring?

****

p.s. have you noticed? i have given up capitalization here on my blog. i said to myself, "why not?" i know, such a rule breaker i am. it actually feels quite refreshing.

p.p.s. have you also noticed that i am addicted to elippsis? i can't stop...no, really...it's a problem. i think my little problem stems from the time my fourth grade teacher told me that i "abused" use of the comma in my writing. i must have just eliminated the comma in favor of the * ... * forgive me...

The Patch

To the pumpkin patch we go...and yes, my obsession with these gourds and all things October continues - I just can't help it!

I also still have quite the soft spot in my heart for all things "bride and groom"...it will dissipate soon, I assure you. Check out these long gone newlyweds:

They have scary props and mannequins everywhere...I used to say, "this would be so fun for a kid!", but then I realized these things are equally fun for me - just a kid in a grown up body I am.


Feel free to poke fun-everyone else does, even the workers at the Patch-they thought I was a JOKE. But I just laugh them off. It's just a hunch, but somethin' tells me they don't have half the fun we do. Too bad, so sad!







This was my favorite...a creepy ghost hidden in a tractor - SPOOKY!




A hay ride takes you out to the patch where all the pumpkins await...it was just the two of us and for a moment it felt a bit silly, but then it was just pure October romance...

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere...

Is there anything cuter than a red wagon?

White pumpkins are my favorite...and I think I wore the wrong shoes.

The hunt continues...

and after a few debates about our pumpkin budget...the decisions had been made.

Our wagon was full, my smile was close to exploding, the camera battery was dying, and the sun was falling...it was a beautiful sight to see. These big, blue October skies have been making me a very happy girl lately.

We had done what we came for = pumpkins galore.

So we trekked the trail back to our waiting tractor for our hayride home...or back to our car, I should say.

Mission accomplished.

And of course, all that pumpkin picking left us a bit peckish, and we decided that a stop at the Hedge Avenue fruit stand was appropriate.

We drove homeward, planning our jack-o-lantern patterns and snacking on tomatoes and berries to our heart's content.

I asked Ryan why all days couldn't be like this one, and with a sly grin and a wink, he leaned over and said, "not all days can be perfect, Pumpkin."

So true, Darling. So very true.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

OCTOBER around here!

A fall wreath and a spooky skeleton will greet you on our stoop...

...you will see that bats and spiders have invaded our art work...




...and orange twinkle lights, and jack-o-lanterns create an eerie glow in the kitchen...

...while Freddy, the vintage skeleton, looks after the glassware, an ominous crow hangs out on the curtain rod.

If you sneak into the kitchen for a cookie, you may find a spider keeping watch...

and be careful...these images of murderous monsters may just give you a fright!

Bring on the scary movies, bite-sized candy, and face paint. This girl is excited.

P.S. Would you believe that my husband was quite the artist in 1994 and drew these scary figures...? It's true! I can't wait to frame them in some old, black gaudy frames and hang them in the halls to scare small, innocent children every Halloween...

Macaroni Muffin Sunday

Sunday morning started slowly and in the kitchen on this fine morning, I finally found the perfect bran muffin recipe! Thank you Rachel for introducing me to the wonder of Smitten Kitchen. Try this recipe. Like quickly. I mean seriously, muffins that are good for the body? I am in.

The day was quiet and hot. So I did loads and loads of laundry, hung twinkle lights in the backyard and tried to organize the garage for the fifty millionth time in an effort to find my buried Halloween decorations.

Found em'!

After that dirty mess, I decided to indulge Ryan's request for homemade macaroni and cheese... How could I decline? I love him and pasta and cheese. A lot.



Discovering my food processor's ability to grade (or is it grate?) breadcrumbs and over 18 ounces of hard cheese lickety split? Priceless.




Is there a better smell than that of whole fat dairy and nutty Gruyere cheese melting together? Doubt it.

I even managed to dirty nearly every pot and pan in the process. But its cool. Worth it.

The end result was cheesy and cozy and would have been perfect had the temperature outside been, oh, say, thirty degrees cooler.

But that's ok, the batch was HUGE and there is a frozen version waiting in the freezer for a chilly, rainy Sunday...

...can't wait.

P.S. Isn't it funny that all my blog posts are about events that occur on the weekends...I guess my weekday life is pretty boring ordinary. As in "the grind" ordinary.

It is here...

Summer's end. Fall's beginning.


What better way to celebrate than with homemade salsa, courtesy of tomatoes from Casa de Awesome, and taco salad...





We headed to the back yard to soak up the sunset - it was a special sunset, as if the clouds and sun knew that this night was a night to celebrate change. Fall may have been hours away...but a little game of big ball seemed like a good way to toast to a good summer.





Our celebration ended with milkshakes and over slurps and milky mustaches, we talked about what a busy and fun-filled summer it had been - a wedding, a honeymoon and a big move. I am tired just talking about it. A good summer indeed...one that I will never forget.

But this girl is always ready for fall...

Leaves outside = leaves inside.

And time for boots and booties...




...corduroy, leather and scarves...




...PUMPKINS...




And warm, cozy comfort food. I am dreaming of all the recipes that we will experiment with in this pot...





Kitty looks ready to pack up and head somewhere tropical-she isn't so sure about the changing of the seasons...





But I am. And the harvest moon was calling to me last night. It whispered: "I am back." And I politely replied: "Hello, old friend. I have been waiting."




Happy Autumnal Equinox, dear readers.



Do tell...what is your favorite part of Fall?



P.S. After spending 45 minutes in the store, trying to decide, I bought both-booties and boots. However, back to school shopping mandates only one new pair of kicks per person-which pair should I choose??? Any thoughts on the matter?

Change is a comin'.

This is what Saturday morning looked like out my front door. And I was just tickled.

My wise Mother has reminded me not to wish away the days (i.e. count down the minutes to Fall), as they are so fleeting. And she is right. As she most always is. So instead of counting down the days to Fall, I am embracing the "in between". The moments that remind you that the seasons are beginning to change.

One is parting. Slowly. One is arriving. Surely.

This morning was the first cloudy morning I have seen in a long while and I loved waking in the morning to find that the open windows had welcomed a crisp, cool air. I love realizing that it is not yet time for Uggs, but that flip-flop season is indeed waning. That it may be too soon for chili and pumpkins, but apple pie seems appropriate. And "back to school" advertising and paraphenialia is every where you turn.

I thought about how lucky we are to live our year in four different parts of unique weather. Can you imagine life otherwise?? I can't. And I am so thankful.

Thankful for today.

Thankful for the in-between.

And thankful for the tomorrow that promises crunchy leaves and cloudy mornings.