I can’t believe that time of year is upon us once again, I’m definitely feeling the crispness in the morning air. Though I’m always sad to see our summer season over, I do so love the Fall, with all of it’s spectacular colors. Among the wondrous things about fall are pumpkins!
Did you know pumpkins are in the Curcurbita family along with squash and cucumbers. Besides eating the inner meat, and roasting the seeds, you may also eat the gorgeous yellow flower blooms! Lightly saute them in olive oil, and season as you like, super simple!
Early American settlers would hollow out pumpkins, then fill them with milk, honey and spices and bake them, according to some historians that was our country’s first pumpkin pie! Lastly the largest pumpkin on record weighed a whopping 1,469 lbs!

I am planning to bake fresh pumpkin pie this year, and will be heading to my local farmers market soon to purchase a few baking pumpkins, can’t wait!

Checkout this delicious pumpkin pie recipe!

http://www.everythingpies.com/fresh-pumpkin-pie-recipe.html

Enjoy this amazing Season!

In honor of the changing season, into Fall, here are a few poems to enjoy!

W. S. Merwin (1927 – Present)

September Plowing

For seasons the walled meadow
south of the house built of its stone
grows up in shepherd’s purse and thistles
the weeds share April as a secret
finches disguised as summer earth
click the drying seeds
mice run over rags of parchment in August
the hare keeps looking up remembering
a hidden joy fills the songs of the cicadas

two days’ rain wakes the green in the pastures
crows agree and hawks shriek with naked voices
on all sides the dark oak woods leap up and shine
the long stony meadow is plowed at last and lies
all day bare
I consider life after life as treasures
oh it is the autumn light

that brings everything back in one hand
the light again of beginnings
the amber appearing as amber

The Falling Of The Leaves

AUTUMN is over the long leaves that love us,
And over the mice in the barley sheaves;
Yellow the leaves of the rowan above us,
And yellow the wet wild-strawberry leaves.
The hour of the waning of love has beset us,
And weary and worn are our sad souls now;
Let us patt, ere the season of passion forget us,
With a kiss and a tear on thy drooping brow.

CA Guilfoyle· Jun 23

Orchard

Drops of reddish rain on skins
slid dripping, pooled in leaves curled
Steps on stems break, dawn’s awakening
Little wrecks of nests unhinge
twine thru twigs

Ladders leaned
steps for splintered fingers
Blossomy buds plucked thru rungs
Breezy days go shining

Apple worms burrow
for beaking birds
Bees have all flown homeward

In September’s slanted sun
we gather sweetest reds
for pressing

CA Guilfoyle· Aug 28

Salmon stream

The perfect slanting of sun
tundra cotton leaning northward
salmon spawning homeward
golden grass – waved in winds
The cast of red autumn’s spell

Here are some lovelies to keep you cozy this winter. All of these items are handmade and can be found on Etsy.com

Here is a sweet crocheted bag, complete with a fabulous silk ribbon woven through the top, so lovely!

Bag is by: LovelyCrochet
http://www.etsy.com/listing/31759351/clutch-in-ivory-cream-with-ribbon

Next is a super beautiful crocheted shawl in cream, it’s simply stunning!

Shawl is by: ClariceOnline
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54502022/shawl-the-bubble-cream

and lastly is a soft and lovely pair of creamy fingerless gloves, finished with sweet little pink bows.

Gloves are by: Happiknits
http://www.etsy.com/listing/41596033/ahimsa-handknit-fingerless-gloves-free

With valentines day quickly approaching I am reminded that love is in the air!  So many of us celebrate V-Day in one way or another, though it does seem that many have mixed feelings about it, depending upon whether or not they have a sweetheart. Well I say fooey on that, you don’t need to have a sweetie to revel in the magic of the day.
When I was a child I use to make hand painted valentine cards and give them to my family and friends. I remember the utter joy I had creating them and then seeing people light up when they received them. To this day I still send out valentine cards to family and friends and in this way I am sending my love out to those I love and care about, not just to my sweetheart.

With all of these thoughts of love in mind,  I am also reminded of compassion and the importance of practicing this daily. I would like to take this opportunity to say that my heart goes out to the people of Haiti during this time of unimaginable sadness. I believe it is so important for people around the world to help the people in Haiti and now is the time to do so. Below is a list of stellar relief organizations where you can make donations. If you have already done so, the people of Haiti thank you!

Disaster relief organizations:

www.MercyCorp.org
www.OxFam.org
www.redcross.org
www.doctorswithoutborders.org