Last night, when I finally got home to my little house after a long, busy day, I sat on my leather chair in the living room and ate a sandwich for dinner and read a book. Not quite a gourmet meal, but it was late and I was hungry.
My feet were freezing while I was sitting there. I had to put on my fuzzy slippers.
This morning when I awoke the thermometer on my deck read 40 degrees.
The sun was beaming in through the windows and it was truly a glorious sight. But there was most definitely a chill in the house!
I had to put my fireplace in the bedroom on while I was getting ready for work.
Fall is coming rapidly to the mountain top. There are leaves changing, falling, everywhere you look. The riot of summer color in the flower gardens is giving way to the vivid hues of autumn leaves.
As I pulled into work this morning and got out of my car, I heard the distinctive honk that signals geese overhead. They were flying south in the classic V formation.
I feel we will have a tough winter this year. Last winter was so mild, very little snow. We are due for a rough one.
In as much as I'm not ready for the drudgery of shoveling, I am ok with saying goodbye to the heat and humidity that settled on the mountain top this summer. It's not the norm for us, and since I don't have air conditioning in my little house, it was at times uncomfortable. Not terribly so, as I would open the skylights and put on the attic fan. But still much warmer than I prefer.
The pups don't mind either way....they just find a comfy spot and settle in for a nap, no matter the weather.
Tonight I'll make a big batch of soup and try to find a little space in the freezer for just a few more containers. It will be tough, they are pretty jammed as it is.
But the zucchini and yellow squash keep coming, and the tomatoes are ripening like crazy.
I've been thinking of a beefy vegetable soup for supper tonight, with a rustic baguette.
Perhaps with a lovely red wine, and some apple scented candles lit around the house.
It's been a busy summer...I truly look forward to my quiet nights at home. They are few and far between, it seems.
What's your idea of a perfect night at home?
Ahhh... Autumn! I just love the change of seasons! A big bowl of soup sounds marvelous. Give the puppies a hug for me. Well - don't bother. We will let sleeping dogs... um, you know! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe puppies will get big hugs and kisses from me shortly! And no doubt the little monkey will want to go out and play ball before she lets me start the soup!
DeleteYour garden veggies look sooooo great! We had lots of tomatoes, some bell peppers, and everything else fizzled out or didn't even come up this year. Too wet, too hot... who knows. Sure love looking at yours though! xo
ReplyDeleteI'm just getting my first peppers now - they did awful this year - so strange, isn't it, the way the veggies ebb and flow?
DeleteHello Deborah,
ReplyDeleteWe have that same chill here and my cucumber plants have already been nipped by frost. Yesterday morning it was 31F here at my little home. I salvaged all I could. My countertops are filled with tomatoes and cucumbers at the moment. ;)
I've been making soups and good old fashioned Fall menu items. We had gone up to the local apple orchard and picked so many apples. One night I did a pork loin roast with apples and onions for dinner. Delicious! We snuggled in and had that and watched a movie. That is my idea of a perfect Fall night. :)
Be blessed!
Wow, a frost already, you are ahead of us, wow!! Our apples on the mountain top are non existent this year, all the blossoms got frosted. But down in the valley they are fine and I'm looking forward to some lovely crisp local apples soon!
DeleteFall is my favorite time of year-----hope this continues until mid-December------warm days and cool nights-----I was happy to get a new post from you today-----the last three were all the same post on Congratulations-----keep looking for one that reads------I won the Amari Award--------Blessings
ReplyDeleteAhhh, sorry, Chris, I've been insanely busy, and I have missed having time to post more often!
DeleteYour pups sure do look cozy and your dinner menu sounds delish! Are you taking reservations? ;-)
ReplyDeleteOf course! What time can you be here? :)
DeleteOh my goodness, It does not seem like long ago when you were posting pictures of snow. Im sitting here admiring your knitted ottoman. Love the fireplace an the doggy's look cozy.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I think that ottoman came from World Market, although I'm not certain. It's perfect for those chairs - and my nephews love to roll all over the floor on it when they visit!
DeleteOh I am ready for Fall weather. We are finally out of the triple digits, but still around 90's. Your garden has really given you so much this year and it all looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteWow, Marty, I don't know how you stand it!
DeleteMy ideal evening in Autumn would be Sandlewood/Patcholi joss sticks burning, lots of red wine, savoury nibbles, a few cats, the man I love, and some cool Egyptian sheets to tumble into.
ReplyDeleteWith the cats, obviously, and with Neil Diamond playing in the background. If heaven's not like that, then I'm not going. Blessings
Ahhhh, Lesley, that sounds like a dream! You inspired me to create a Neil Diamond station on my Pandora - I had it playing this afternoon at work!
DeleteNow this reminds me of Colorado Mountain Mama! It is in the 90's today and very humid so my new home in Missouri is a whole different thing. Your fireplace looks charming and I always enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteIt must be strange for you to go from one climate to the other, when you are so used to Colorado weather!
DeleteLove the pictures of the sleeping dogs in matching chairs!! I am hoping our winter weather does not hit until we are moved in our new house! Then I worry about the power going out as we don't have a generator! Looking forward to how you will be making your beefy vegetable soup. You are so talented! Nancy
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet, Nancy, thank you so much! If the soup turns out well I'll post a recipe!
DeleteYour crops look so good. Beautiful colors. I hope and pray our winter isn't as cold as I summer was hot. LOL. It was a tough one. I never go to sit out as much as I would like. We are to warm back up for a few days here. Today was heavenly though. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteI thought we were due for a warm up as well, but when I checked the ten day forecast this morning it didn't reflect that. Oh well, time will tell, right? I'm ok with these cooler days, I am quite enjoying them so far!
DeleteYour veggies look picture perfect Deb! Truly farm stand material :)
ReplyDeleteThe other day I noticed, almost overnight, tons of leaves had fallen. In a way, I hope there is a fair amount of snow this winter. Perhaps not as much as two years ago, but more than last year. The lack of snow contributed to the drought many areas are experiencing, plus I'll be gone for most of it :).
xxx
Those tomatoes are heavenly, aren't they? I am hosting a dinner party at the weekend so will use some of them that evening, no doubt....although I am still figuring out what's on the menu! Yes, we need the snow. Our ski resorts had the worst season in history last year and they need the snow to survive!
DeleteOh, send some of that cool to our mountains in NC! Those tomatoes look luscious.
ReplyDeleteSoon enough you'll get your cool weather, Carole - I'm sure it won't be long now!
DeleteAhhhh - such cozy pics of your wonderful home. Can't believe you had to light a fire already! It was 96 in Nashville today!!!!! In the evening I love to settle into the pillows on my sofa with candles lit and a plush throw over me while I catch up on my blog reading! As the weather gets cooler, I will enjoy a nice cup of hot tea as well.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, right? I had a fire the last 3 days in a row in my bedroom! Of course, it's a gas fireplace, so it's an easy fire to start and stop....the wood stove in the living room won't get lit until it gets much, much colder! I love your idea of a cozy evening at home - fabulous!
DeleteWhat wonderful pictures of your sweet home. I could sit right down there and have a cup of coffee and feel right at home. I am kind of ready for fall but with everything going on I feel like I missed summer this year. Soon- it will be cold cold cold here. Too soon for me-xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI wish you would, Diana - you'd be most welcome!!
DeleteThose tomatoes are simply gorgeous! I'll bet they taste even better than they look!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that fall is coming along where you are. We have another month of summer, most likely. I'm so ready for fall!
Enjoy some coolness for me. ;0D
I had a tomato sandwich for lunch today with some Duke's mayo and a sprinkle of salt - pure heaven, Daisy!
DeleteCan't believe you've had a fire going already...and that it's dipped down to 40 degrees! It's been in the 70's here in IL, which is perfect. I am not a fan of winter at all, so I hang on to every bit of warm weather that I can. Your produce looks so beautiful...I'm loving all those tomatoes! What will you do with all of them...make a sauce and freeze? Tomato soup? Salsa? You're such a good cook, so I know you will come up with something yummy!
ReplyDeleteThe tomatoes have been processed every which way, plus eaten fresh with some fresh mozz, roasted peppers, sweet onion, and basil - that's our favorite way to eat really good tomatoes! I liked your tip about roasting them and freezing them, that will be happening also!
DeleteYour words paint a wonderful picture! I'm longing for cooler weather, we are still in the 90's and no end in sight yet. Your veggies look delicious and your dinner plans sound like a perfect evening. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina, you're so sweet! wow, I can't believe you are still in the 90's - I guess you get used to it after a while, but for us it feels so hot when we even hit the eighties!
DeleteOh your snuggly pups are just adorable, love seeing them. I sure do love your pretty fireplace too. Forty degrees??--goodness it wont hit that here til the dead of winter. I am so ready for "open windows" weather to arrive!! Shut down the air conditioning and get fresh air in here!! I am amazed at all the wonderful produce you got there. Maybe we will have better luck next year.
ReplyDeleteIt was 40 again this morning when I woke, and the fireplace was on last night when I went to bed and again first thing this morning! Nothing like reading in bed with my morning coffee and a nice fire....what a way to start the day!
DeleteIt's so nice to have a fireplace in your bedroom!
ReplyDeleteIt truly is, Magali - it's just heavenly!
DeleteWe are full blast into fall here, and I'm thinking winter is hanging out in the shadows, ready to make an appearance! We had our first frost on Sept. 9 and an all out freeze on the 11th. I picked all my veggies on the 10th and am now ripening tons of tomatoes inside.
ReplyDeleteYour home is soo cozy, and how lovely to have an indoor fireplace! We miss having a wood stove here. Our mornings now are a chilly 28-30 degrees. Today it is raining, which we desperately need, as it had gotten pretty dry. Leaves are turning, and geese left beginning the first of August!
Have a lovely fall weekend my friend... I always feel cozy and warm after visiting with you :)
Wow, you are so far ahead of us it's amazing, isn't it? And of course, so many of our blogging friends are still suffering the intense heat and humidity they have been battling since May - I don't envy them! No frost in our forecast just yet, but the ten day forecast does show nights in the 30's - it's coming! Stay warm, my friend - :)
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