Post by Sharon
My favorite time of year - autumn. The smells, the air, the chill, the colors, Halloween, bonfires, yummy foods, hot cocoa... Here's just some ways to reclaims an autumn day all to yourself.
Nurturing meal
Cheeseburger Soup
Brown pound of ground beef. Remove from pan. Add 1 T. butter, 3/4 c diced onion, 3/4 c diced celery, 3/4 c. diced carrot, 1 tsp parsley and 1 tsp basil. Cook about 10 mins until soft. Add 3 c. chicken broth (or beef) and 4 c diced potatoes and beef. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer. 10-12 minutes for potatoes to get tender. In small skillet add 3 T butter and 1/4 c. flour and cook and stir until bubbling a few minutes. Add to the soup mix with 1 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp pepper. Bring to boil and stir 2 mins. Reduce to low and add 1-1/2 c. milk and 8 oz of Velveeta cubed. Cook until cheese melts. Turn off heat and stir in 1/4 c. sour cream.
Raking Leaves
Leaves are bright and beautiful, but they also make a sound as you rake them, they create a sweet earthy scent, make an amazing garden mulch, and they are associated with childhood memories. The act of raking creates exercise and a sense of completion as you can literally see when you've cleared the area. You might keep a few choice bright perfect leaves to place waxed paper, wax side in and place a towel over it and on low setting, rub iron back and forth to melt the wax onto the leaf for preservation. I tie mine to a string to the ceiling fan. When the fan is on, they dance.
Tea Time
Grab a lap blanket and go outside with a pot of tea, some honey. I liked to sweeten sometimes with candied ginger. When I'm done drinking, I eat the sweet spicy treat and get anti-inflammatory benefits. You can take this to a higher level by taking your lunch sandwich, cutting off the crust, cutting into quarters, and some cookies. Make it a real tea time. Most of all, just relax in the moment, the scent, the taste, the warmth. This is your suspended time.
Exploring the Woods
The scent of mushrooms and wet leaves, rotting wood and pine. There is something about a brisk walk in the forest in autumn with a chilly nose and fingertips, acorns dotting the ground and mushrooms boasting their favorite time of the year that feels like coming home. Collecting pine cones and twigs, fallen bright leaves and curling bark can give you creative inspiration for decorating and bringing the forest home. The exercise makes you feel metabolically upbeat. And seeing the trees exposing themselves from the summers massive leaf expanse reminds you of coming winter when snow makes the world all black and white.
In the spring, the buds make the trees stand out.
In the summer, the green leaves make the trees thick and lush
In the fall, the bright leaves make you stare in wonder.
In the winter, the dark bark against new fallen snow brings them to focus.
All year is beautiful for the trees.
But autumn gives us more interaction with the fallen bright leaves so that we can share the glory.
Antiquing
It's a fantastic time of the year to go antiquing. A quiet drive to the countryside can reveal some places you never knew about. There might be hot cider offered or an apple festival going on. Looking at these items makes you smile and get sentimental. Those are the dishes you had growing up! That old desk would be so cool in my office! And, before you know it, you shift and slow down to consider what you are thankful for and your influences. Christmas is around the corner and now traditions sound ideal. Antique stores smell and feel like home. Drink it in.
However you claim your autumn day, whether it's crafts or a movie festival with a sofa blanket, be in the moment. These are some of the most tranquil and beautiful times.
The scent of mushrooms and wet leaves, rotting wood and pine. There is something about a brisk walk in the forest in autumn with a chilly nose and fingertips, acorns dotting the ground and mushrooms boasting their favorite time of the year that feels like coming home. Collecting pine cones and twigs, fallen bright leaves and curling bark can give you creative inspiration for decorating and bringing the forest home. The exercise makes you feel metabolically upbeat. And seeing the trees exposing themselves from the summers massive leaf expanse reminds you of coming winter when snow makes the world all black and white.
In the spring, the buds make the trees stand out.
In the summer, the green leaves make the trees thick and lush
In the fall, the bright leaves make you stare in wonder.
In the winter, the dark bark against new fallen snow brings them to focus.
All year is beautiful for the trees.
But autumn gives us more interaction with the fallen bright leaves so that we can share the glory.
Antiquing
It's a fantastic time of the year to go antiquing. A quiet drive to the countryside can reveal some places you never knew about. There might be hot cider offered or an apple festival going on. Looking at these items makes you smile and get sentimental. Those are the dishes you had growing up! That old desk would be so cool in my office! And, before you know it, you shift and slow down to consider what you are thankful for and your influences. Christmas is around the corner and now traditions sound ideal. Antique stores smell and feel like home. Drink it in.
However you claim your autumn day, whether it's crafts or a movie festival with a sofa blanket, be in the moment. These are some of the most tranquil and beautiful times.
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