Last Picked

I always feel a little bittersweet this time of year.

When I have to say farewell to a season of vegetable garden growth. The fruits of my labor planted, taken close care of, watched over, and picked for meals and quick lunches.

When Olivia and I picked the last beautiful green bell pepper from our vegetable patch, I felt compelled to capture its untampered with simplicity. Organic beauty.

There is nothing like the smell of a garden veggie. At least 2 times a week, I make myself a "chop up every veggie I've got on hand" for lunch, with a one cup of cooked Hodgson Mill whole wheat spiral pasta. I feel like it keeps me healthy and nourished.

I kept the veggie garden very simple this year.

We had tomatoes, husky cherry tomatoes, yellow summer squash, broccoli, green peppers, and hot peppers. I learned what worked the best - cherry tomatoes and green peppers. I learned what I got the most use out of. I learned that I would prefer growing green zucchini next summer instead of yellow summer squash. I learned that the prairie bunnies like to eat my broccoli. This years vegetable garden experience will dictate what I will plan for next year. It's been a long week. I'm happy the rejuvenating weekend is here - I need to get out and about something awful.

And just because I am very much loving making photo mosaics...

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Warming up a Rainy Day

I think it is safe to say that I can put away the flip flops. We are having a gloomy, rainy, chilly autumn day here.

I got some pumpkins over the weekend, and put together a little bit of fall decorating. This year I am all about color! The more different pumpkin colors I can squeeze together makes me smile. Last year, I would've cringed at the thought of a (gasp) orange pumpkin. I was going through this all cool white everything thing. Now, I am loving warmth, blended with whites and creams, and rustic woods. I love the warm oak in my arched window panel.

Over the weekend, we had to go to Home Depot to purchase a new washing machine. Our old one finally met its end. I won't have it delivered until Thursday. We have a avalanche small mountain  coming out the laundry room right now. And that's even after a Sunday afternoon laundromat trip. We ended up buying a HE top loader without the center agitator for a good deal. When we were buying the new machine, I saw these beautiful mums that included a cute little stand. I love it on my front porch. I like that all I will have to do next year is just add a new pot of mums.

I even trimmed a few and added them to these simple, chunky glass votive holders.

I am off to finish reading some library books, while wrapped in a warm throw.

Have a happy, blessed week everybody.

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♥ ♥ ♥

Lara



Apple Picking and an Apple and Fennel Salad

Our autumn weekends are always a whirlwind of outdoor activities. There is just so much to see and do. It has already started up. I am munching on a delicious, fresh apple and fennel salad with the apples we picked on Saturday afternoon. You can use granny smith apples, if you prefer a tart and sweet bite. But there were barely any granny smith apples to be found, so I used various red varieties.

The apple orchard has a pretty willow tree island that the kids had fun hanging out at after picking apples and gathering milkweed. My kids are 15 months apart. I love having them so close in age.

It is warm and beautiful out today & I am just getting things back in order around here after a busy weekend. We went to two flea markets, an old time car show, a conservatory, and grocery shopping. My husband is home sick from work today. I have been in the kitchen, making chili and slicing up apples.

Apple and Fennel Salad

from Michael Smith/Chef at Home

For the Vinaigrette:

2 granny smith apples, quartered and cored.

1 cup of cider vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 heaping tbsp of Dijon mustard

1 cup of olive oil

Salt and pepper

For the Salad:

1 bulb of fresh fennel, sliced thinly and fronds reserved

1 granny smith apple, sliced thinly

To make the vinaigrette - place 2 granny smith apples, cider vinegar, brown sugar and mustard in a small saucepan and cook until soft. Puree with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Put the sliced fennel, fennel fronds and sliced granny smith apple in a large salad bowl and toss with a few spoonfuls of the warm apple vinaigrette.

Peach and Almond Galette

As summer days turn into crisp autumn mornings, my baking desire grows stronger.

I start daydreaming about pies, tarts, and apple cider donuts. The warm smell of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen oven.

I made a fresh peach and almond galette that brought that autumn aroma into my house on this cool and golden late summer afternoon. 

This galette tastes very organic and has a slight sweetness from the honey, plus a nutty texture from the ground almond paste. The thick pate brisee is very easy to make.

I found this recipe in Country Living magazine.

You can find the recipe here.

Love that magazine - the country life, the interiors and styling, the food, the photography, you name it. I wish I could say I was going to the upcoming Country Living Fair in Ohio - it sounds very exciting. Anyone want to go in on a U-Haul with me for next year?

With my son in first grade now and my 4 year old at home and at my side - I have been busy. They keep me moving. Time is of the essence, so I've been trying to consolidate my blog time to the weekends with a wee bit of late evening computer time here and there. I haven't been able to come around and comment as much as I would like to. I am, however, getting caught up reading come Sundays with a big morning cup of coffee. I love that time.

We are hoping to go to the apple orchard around the corner. It is right by my house, so it is a must for September for us! I also have some decorating ideas up my sleeve, so I'll be back with all that.

Here's to a delighting and memory-filled fall.