Oh how I love autumn. It means the summer heat is over, the possibility of rain is coming closer, the fire dangers might soon reduce greatly. Colorful leaves, cooking comfort foods, baking bread – this is fall at our house.
There is no filter or editing done with the photo above. The first of our 1/2 dozen maples has turned to a brilliant crimson color. It is the same each year; this tree turns red first, drops its leaves first, and leafs out first. Then the other two on the front lawn take their turn after this tree.
This road doesn’t have any maples but the oaks do drop their leaves and it becomes autumnal in its own way.
Being crisp and cool out, I wanted a coffee when I was running errands yesterday. I went to Caroline’s, my favorite local coffee roaster. I asked for one pump of pumpkin spice added to my latte – this is not something I usually do but I thought maybe I would enjoy it. Hmmm, it was terribly sweet. I mean wayyyy too sweet. I won’t be doing that again. Either I really don’t like the pumpkin flavoring or they accidentally added twenty-nine pumps rather than the one pump I requested.
A week ago or so, I saw these cute garlands in a shop window. I liked the colors and the texture provided by the variety of fabrics it contained. Of course, I decided to make one. Julia and I both like seasonal decorations and I knew she would be happy to receive something with fall colors. I cut strips measuring 1.5″ x 4″. I used quilting cottons, wool felt and some fleece and tied the strips to a piece of twine. It is adorable and just long enough to decorate a bit of her dorm room.
Autumn also means using up the last bits of produce from the vegetable garden. Ray grows a particular variety of tomato that is pale orange in color and very meaty. Sunday I roasted a pan of tomatoes. I cut them either in half or quarters, depending on their size, and give them a gentle squeeze to remove any excess juice. Then brushed them with just a bit of olive oil and dusted them with garlic salt.
I put them in a 300 degree oven for about 2-3 hours. I checked them after two hours and removed any that are dry enough. If they were still really wet, I left them in the oven longer. They are delicious – really, really yummy!
Yesterday I was running errands and while at the grocery store, I stopped and thumbed through a quilting magazine. I couldn’t bring my frugal self to purchase it for $7.99. Instead, I went to one of our thrift shops. I found these American Quilter magazines for 2 for 25 cents. Oh my gosh – six current (2020 and 2021) quilting magazines for $1.50. While there I also picked up some sweet books for my two grand daughters and a jig saw puzzle. I want to bring a few treasures up to them when we visit later this month. Big sister loves these floor size puzzles and I am thinking it will be a challenge to amuse little sister while we assemble it. Maybe we can play with this during lil sis’ nap time. I spent just $7.00 for these treasures.
Finally, I received an unexpected quilt donation for Mercy Hospital a few days ago. It is just beautiful. I think the heart motif will be perfect for a family grieving a loss. Thank you Deb for this donation. It will be loved and will bring comfort.
I have done some sewing but I think this post is long enough. I will be back in a day or two to share a cute quilt top with you.
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of autumn. Let me know what signs of fall you are seeing.
Oh, I’d love to taste those tomatoes! Yum! Great score on the thrift shop items. I’m sure the girls will enjoy the books and puzzle. Our color has peaked here, I think, but the cooler temps are sure welcome!
Hi Wendy – It seems early for eastern colors to have peaked? Or is this the norm? I love watching the trees on our property – at certain points in the season it feels like we are watching them change by the hour. Our second maple has a lot more color to its leaves just this morning as compared to yesterday. Wish I could share the tomatoes with you but we ate them – every last one! I cooked the last of the tomatoes today and popped them in the freezer for later use. End of the fresh tomato season!
Hi Bernie! Those tomatoes make my mouth water – YUM. Your front yard Maple tree is gorgeous – just the beginning of wonderful things to enjoy this Fall. Gosh, that latest Merciful quilt makes me want to make one similar. I can just feel the squishy goodness through the computer screen. Happy Tuesday! ~smile~ Roseanne
Hi there – do you have maples in your area that change? I would think so? Julia just texted me a photo of pumpkin muffins she made this morning. She is really into fall as well. It is the best time of year!
Bernie, I’m on board with you! $7.99 for one thin quilt magazine with ads is over the top. Your $7.99 at the thrift store will provide continuous joy! My twin great granddaughters love those puzzles also. What a warm treasure the heart quilt is; so beautiful and yes so comforting to a family experiencing loss. Do you have the pattern in your shop? Enjoying Autumn as you are too.
Yep – I am far too thrifty to spend that much on a magazine. I don’t really care if it is the most recent edition. The copies I bought were from 2020 and 2021 – good enough for me!
No – I don’t have that pattern. I am sure it is out there somewhere though! It is a lovely quilt.
Take care Dawn.
I am sure Julia will love her garland. I am mostly off sugar so all the high sugar drinks I can’t do…I did a sugar-free vanilla and it was way too sweet. Guess I am done with those lattes too. Oh, the tomatoes look yum! Fall is beautiful and we are having a late summer here in New England but the colors should peak in another week. Looking forward to cool nights and fires in the fireplaces. Hoping for rain to stop the fires in your neck of the world.
Fall is beautiful – Hope your colors are gorgeous this year. We are all waiting for that magical rain storm to come. Nothing in the forecast for the next ten days though. It is always on our minds.
Your fall foliage is gorgeous, Bernie! I admit, I was judging you as “one of THOSE people” when I saw the pumpkin coffee photo, before I read about your experience. ;-). Blech! I’m just kidding. I would definitely still love you, even if you drank artificial pumpkin flavored corn syrup in your coffee EVERY SINGLE DAY! Ha! However, ain’t NOBODY getting between me and the last slice of pumpkin molasses pie!
It was not what I expected. I thought it would be a little bit of a cinnamon/clove flavor – oh my gosh – so sweet. I know they would have made me a new coffee if I asked but I didn’t. When I got home, I added a lot more coffee to it which improved things somewhat. Oh well, live and learn!!
I have been trying to get more red trees on our property over the years–most of ours just turn yellow which is pretty but nothing like the reds! Yours is a beauty! I’m with you on the sweetness. I rarely drink lattes anymore but when I do, it’s coconut milk and half the syrup. Still too sweet but then you lose the flavor. I’ll never understand why they can’t change that ratio–more flavor, less sweet in one shot, you know?
Yes, that heart quilt will be perfect!
That quilt is so pretty! Love the deal at the thrift store, they sell them for like .30 each around here.
Thrift stores are the best. Plus I have no hesitation about reading the book or magazine and then just bringing it back in a donation bag – they may as well sell it again, right? Thanks Julie!