A Rainy Close to the Week

The grey and rainy weather is not dampening my good mood today. It's Friday and I couldn't be happier that the work week is coming to a close.

Sure there are piles of laundry to be done and all the tidying I did last weekend has been undone, but I'm thrilled that I will be home and can put this work week behind me.

Now, I just need to remember to find at least one really fun thing for us to do.

Growing Up

 
My five year old was talking marriage last night. Her aunt sent her a very pretty white dress her cousin had worn one Christmas when she was little and my little one decided it meant she was getting married.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when she said "but who am I going to marry?" Then she became all sad and concerned as she considered her impending nuptials. Where would she live? Did she need to leave home?

When I told her she was too young to get married, she wanted to know how old she needed to be. I hesitated and said at least 21(that's a big at least).

She finished slaying me by asking "So 5 years old is too short to get married?". Oh boy, part of me just wanted to say please stay small and live with mommy forever.

Late Bloomers

Hurrah for zinnias, marigolds, morning glories and all of the other late bloomers. Our garden is still producing these hardy blooms as well as nasturtium and herbs. A little bit of summer lingering as Fall sets in and the days get noticeably shorter.

While these late bloomers linger and the rest of the garden is shutting down, my plans for next year's garden are starting to form. Next year we are going to plant even more zinnias. They make such great cheerful little bouquets. And add moon flowers to the morning glories. Plant more varieties of marigolds and add other cutting flowers. It's easy to be ambitious now, we'll see what I'm up to in the Spring.

Fall a Season of Renewal

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

Ah, Fitzgerald, a beautiful notion from a beautiful man. Here's to fresh starts in the fall.

A Basket Full of Apples

There's still a huge basket of apples left from our apple picking outing last weekend. I was proud of myself for making a crumble last weekend, even though I used a box mix for the topping.

I'd like to say I'm going to be more ambitious and make an apple pie from scratch this week, but I'm a realist. I already have store bought crust in the fridge waiting.

I'm planning a Rustic Apple Tart thinking the homey look will make up for my skipping the Pâté Brise recipe.

Add some vanilla ice cream and nobody's likely to complain.

I'm planning on trying this uber simple recipe from YumSugar and skipping the pears. That will mean four less apples in the basket.

Reading Room #1

Today would be a perfect day to curl up with a warm blanket and a good book. When I first saw this room tucked under the eveaves and lined with books, I fell in love. It also reminded me that I've been thinking about creating a regular little feature here called "Reading Room" that would match great rooms with great (or just favorite) books.

Hmm, what would be the perfect book to read in this cozy loft? For some reason I'm picturing a children's adventure book like The Pheonix and the Carpet by E.B. Nesbit or the memoir of an adventurous soul, maybe Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. Maybe because the peaked roof and the bed on the floor remind me of a childrens play teepee or a fancy safari tent. What book would you pull from the shelves?

Photo from the Penfield's Fall look book.