The roses are throwing out their end-of-summer blooms; the sun sinks below the horizon earlier; the air carries a crisper note of leaves on the turn, ripe pears and apples, and cooler nights to come.
Autumn has always been my favourite season of the year. It starts with an unfair advantage because my birthday is at the start, but the appeal goes beyond that. Autumn is the time when the universe changes its paint palette and sweeps a swathe of golds, amber, and scarlet over the dark wet green of late summer. The earth’s bounty is most plentiful in autumn. In this part of the world summer fruits are harvested well into march and mild temperatures mean a wide array of produce throughout the season. Autumn is best for running: not too cold, nor too hot, and the falling leaves crunch so satisfactorily under foot.
Memories from last Autumn
Cooking:
- Roasted Eggplant Salad with Smoked Almonds and Goat Cheese (from The Kitchn)
- Apple and Pear Upside Down Cake (this was where I used to blog…)
- Soothing Spiced Lentil Stew
- Pear and Blue Cheese Crostata (from The Kitchn – adapted for gluten-free tummies)
- Lentil, Vegetable, Rice and Tomato Soup with Kale (from my blogging friend Emma at ‘A Splash of Vanilla’ – I hope it’s okay to call you my blogging friend)
- Meatball Subs with Caramelized Onions (from smitten kitchen – so Chris will love me forever…)
- Cardamom Quinoa Porridge (hello, cosy – and easy – breakfasts for busy weekdays)
Roasted Eggplant Salad with Smoked Almonds & Goat Cheese (source)
Things to do:
- To keep my hands warm on long autumn walks (and bike rides!) these are so cute!
- Things to make my winter garden sing! Beetroot, carrots, and beans would fit in my kitchen garden. Perhaps some sunflowers too.
- Boots to keep my toes warm this winter – maybe these?
- A pretty autumn picnic amongst the trees.
(source)
Moving:
- I don’t know what we’ve gotten ourselves into, but this should come in handy when Chris and I line up at Tough Mudder in August…
- Training for the Gold Coast Half Marathon and taking it s-l-o-w-l-y as I work through this asthma thing
- I did my first Blogilates workout on Monday, and I loved it! Can’t wait to integrate this into my training regime on a more regular basis.
Thinking:
- I am reading a collection of Joan Didion’s essays (Slouching Towards Bethlehem) and one in particular stood out to me: ‘On Self Respect’. Find an extract here at Brain Pickings.
- World Book Club from the BBC is great for walking to (even though it does add more books to my incredibly long list), and these two were on my play list this week: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and Jodi Picoult discusses My Sister’s Keeper
I know, I seem to love lists, but I promise you all tomorrow I will return with a delightful Gluten-free Spiced Carrot Loaf (perfect for a weekend breakfast), and on Saturday a warming dinner for these cooler nights and a rally to gather your family around the table.
Tell me dear readers, anything on your Autumn To Do List? Anything you’ve been reading or listening to lately?
