And Now It's Autumn

 

Although summer is still lingering with it's hot days and the green color that fills the woods, autumn has eased in with the dark of night coming earlier, bringing with it a cooler breeze. 

Commonly growing on the grounds is this sagebrush and each year at this time

it has the little puffy balls.  I was surprised to learn that these are like a puffy tumor caused to grow by the sagebrush because of an insect known as sagebrush galls. When small insects start to eat on this brush, the plant grows these balls surrounding and enveloping the larva of the insect. 

You can read more about this amazing brush/plant at this link

The Amazing Story of Sagebrush Galls 

While the morning glory, zinnia, mandevilla and other flowers are still in bloom, 

the golden orbs of pumpkins can be found at every storefront ............

it is autumn.

The hummingbirds are here feeding and storing up for their long journey to Mexico.

Two bobcat kittens have been entering the yard to snatch a wild bird or some unsuspecting creature during the early morning and then returning to romp and pounce with each other around the water trough in the late afternoon.  

They play just like domesticated kittens do and are fun to watch. The mother bobcat  has come with them to drink while her kittens  play . I can't seem to catch a good photo of the kittens, they are too fast for me. 

I have taken aside a week each month to read through my collection of cookbooks. This past week I focused on cookbooks that have been gifted to me by our children. So many good recipes to choose from.  I selected and marked each recipe that I want to try and have gathered all the necessary ingredients for the pantry and plan to spend the remaining days of the month trying the recipes. 

So far I have cooked a very moist and wonderful meatloaf that has a gravy topping instead of the regular tomato/ketchup topping, with a side of seasoned roasted potatoes and a squash tian. For dessert, the peach cake above.  All has won the approval of my family members .......so those recipes are marked as "to make again"

I have cooked well over 40 years and in all of those years, there are still spices that I have never used.

With some of the selected recipes, I will now be trying cardamon, horseradish, smoked paprika and chipotle chili pepper.  The chipotle chili pepper does cause me some concern.......but it is mostly for just a rub for grilled meat.......so maybe it will not be too intolerable. 

Cardamon is for some baked sweetness and the horseradish is for sauces.  

Have any of you tried any of these spices?  If so, what for and what do you think of them?  I would love to know. 

Here is wishing you pleasant autumn days ahead!

Falling and whirling, and fluttering down,

Beautiful leaves, all crisp and brown;

Decking the grave where the Summer lies,

Under the grey of the Autumn skies...

Lizzie Marshall Berry (1847–1919), "Leaves," Heart Echoes: Original Miscellaneous and Devotional Poems, 1886