Fall-ing.

a few seasonal images, banters and links.

Well folks, the holidays are upon us. This morning, for the first time since early this year, we have a bit of rain. Around town, crowds are bustling (I hate that word: bustling. Maybe because I hate crowds.) In an attempt to head downtown last night, the traffic was so bad, I turned around and came home.

This time of year makes me want to do things that are not seemingly seasonable like…go backpacking with friends! In fact, I bought a 2 person tent for me and Koa. It’s been years since I’ve had a dog I felt could be a good outdoor buddy. Koa the velcro dog seems like he’ll be a great backpacking comrade! I bought him a jacket and plan to get him a dog backpack! (Both stupidly expensive by the way.)

(Oh, and on that note: I now also spend a crazy amount of my very hard earned money on both my dogs food and supplements and brush their teeth. But, that’s what happens when you have a dog die young of cancer - you do everything in your power to make sure it doesn’t ever happen again. Even if it makes you go broke. By the way- and I realize this is probably all for another longer post on the subject but …. all the diet changes I’ve made for the pups totally changed my 11 year old Lab. Her coat is now gorgeous, she no longer limps and has tons more energy. Koa, who came to us with a skin issue is now sporting a beautiful coat with no dandruff. DIET MATTERS!)

Ok. Sorry for the sidetrack. Back to the holidays. While I love twinkly lights, down jackets and gorgeous chilly beach sunsets, I wouldn’t classify myself as the classic holiday-ish person. As you may have guessed, I do not energetically align with the ingredients of traditional holiday food. That said, the togetherness of holidays transcends ingredients so I partake a wee bit -and also make a big seasonal kale salad. It’s true, I eat most of it- but I do get a lot of compliments at the Thanksgiving table that it looks “pretty.”

Also on the subject of diet: this is the time of year I start making lots of healthy-type muffins. Some I’ve made so far this year were seriously meh. Hard as hockey pucks is not a complementary muffin characteristic. It happens sometimes when you are using flax seeds in place of eggs and oat or almond flour instead of wheat flour. But sometimes it all works out like when I muffins similar to these. They were a hit. I’m sure the chocolate helped.

Also, I’m really into squash and sweet potatoes. It’s very Autumnal of me. Sure, I love the nutritional content of these veggies, but also I appreciate that they can be quite filling. I’ve been making yummy butternut squash, sweet potato & carrot soups which paired with a big salad can be considered a meal (for me, not Brad.) Truth be known, recipes aren’t usually my thing because I have an authority complex but the soups I make are along these lines.

As for today- here I sit on a Saturday Fall morning with my little cup of coffee. My older daughter comes home from college for the week which we are all excited for. I’m planning a walk in the rain. I also plan on making buckwheat bread. (Made with only buckwheat, salt, water. It’s amazing as toast!) Plus, I’ll also be checking on the garden and seeing how it’s loving the rain.

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, friends. Enjoy and be healthy. See you next week.