Now November

 

Muted morning light. The sound of rain trickling in the eavestrough. Branches swaying. Leaves sodden on the ground. It's November. Time for coziness and indoor pursuits. 

Yesterday birds of all kinds swirled around the garden. American Robins, Black-eyed Juncos, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Through the hedge and into the leafless birch tree. It's as if they were saying something. 

"It's time to bring out the bird feeders," we said. And so he did. The birds alighted on the feeder one after another. 

Now, just a few minutes after writing the above, the clouds have blown away and blue sky is all I see. Trees are tossing madly. Autumn can be as capricious as Spring. 

Pink Fuschias, paler than they were earlier in the summer, still bloom like dangling earrings, but show their age in rain-speckled marks on their soft tissue. 

It's time for warming meals with roasted vegetables. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, onions, and a few tomatoes combine with cumin, sumac, garlic, and a hint of cinnamon for a satisfying dish. Herbs and spices can be changed to taste. Add cubed Halloumi cheese for a vegetarian main dish. Versatile and easy. 

Now I'm off to the day's duties. A bit of this and that. I'll be glancing at the sky throughout the day, wondering if the weather will continue as changeable as it was this morning. 

Blogtober Thirty-One

 

Fireworks pop outside as I write. The knocks at the door have stopped. Only a few mini chocolate bars remain in the bowl. Halloween is over for another year. 

Some of the squash in the above collection look like they've dressed up for Halloween. I've never seen a star-shaped squash before. And such vibrant colours. They make a great display, but I wonder if they are good to eat. 

I thought I'd end this month of daily posts with a few photos taken during the month and not previously posted. The Lantern Flowers at Butchart Gardens are so striking. Small ones would make wonderful earrings. 

October began with sunny days and the feel of late summer warmth. Now the days are shorter and much cooler. We've had rain. The flowers that bloomed so gloriously are mostly gone; just a few dahlias remain. Vibrant leaves are scarcer than they were, revealing more of the dark architecture of branches. 

Baking is done regularly - I've made date loaf, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, brownies, apple cake, and more this month. I eat a very little of what I bake; my husband, family, and friends eat most of it. I'll eat a cookie warm from the oven, but after that they hardly tempt me. 

The doorbell rang early in the evening and I opened it to this happy group of people - the Bluey family! I didn't know about the Blueys until recently, but the animated show is a great hit with the little girls. Later, mermaids, princesses, dragons, and other characters appeared at the door. It's fun to engage with them a little and to drop a treat or two into their bags. 

And so the month ends. Thank you for following along with me throughout these thirty-one days. 

Blogtober Thirty

 

A day on the road. From high desert grasslands to the very wet west coast. As I write we are in the ferry terminal waiting for our sailing. It’s dark and chilly outside, a bit noisy inside, but better than waiting in our Tahoe. 

I’m writing this post on my phone. It’s a bit tricky. We made a quick trip to visit friends who are like family. One is not doing well health wise and it was so good to spend time together. Our drive over a couple of mountain passes was full of colourful Larch trees - conifers that drop their golden needles in autumn. Snow lined the roadside in the highest sections. Beauty everywhere.

We stopped in the Fraser Valley to take my parents out for dinner. Then to their home for birthday cake - for me! I can’t remember the last time I spent my actual birthday with my parents. 

This has been a very different kind of birthday. There will be a party in a few weeks with our island family. I am thankful to God for the years he’s given me, for love and health, and so much more. Everyday is a gift.

 It will be nearly tomorrow when we finally get home and I am looking forward to sinking into my own cozy warm bed tonight. 

Just one more day in this month of daily posts. 

Blogtober Twenty-nine : Sheringham Point Lighthouse

 

On our recent trip to the west coast we stopped at Sheringham Point Lighthouse. Its construction in 1912 was motivated by the sinking of the SS Valencia, a steamship destined for Seattle. High winds and poor visibility caused the ship to miss the turn into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and crash into the rocky shore of Vancouver Island, claiming the lives of 137 people.

Over 2000 shipwrecks have occurred in this area named The Graveyard of the Pacific. Treacherous currents and marginal weather contribute to make it one of the most dangerous places for boats. Hence the many lighthouses on the shore. 

Sheringham Point Lighthouse has been decommissioned although there is an automatic beacon light to warn sailors away. It's now a lovely place to walk, whether rainy or sunny. The specks in the water seen above are kelp beds, rich sources of marine life. Gulls perch on the rocky shores.

A favourite meal on a cool October day is White Chicken Chili. It's easy to put together in the morning and let cook in the slow cooker for several hours. We like to add grated Cheddar on top, and avocado slices, if we have them. The recipe credit goes to Penny who had a blog for many years, but no longer posts. 

Sunshine and gloriously coloured autumn leaves marked my day today. But the temperature is falling as well as the leaves. I was glad for gloves on my morning walk. Just a few more days to enjoy this beautiful month. 

Blogtober Twenty-Eight : What to do with an Apple

 

Apples come into their own in autumn. Some varieties ripen early, others later. They are so versatile; suitable for desserts, but also add a bit of sweetness to savory dishes as well. I like many varieties of apples, but they have to be crunchy, not mealy. Our own apple trees gave a bumper crop last year, but few this year. However, there are plenty of apples available at markets and from friends. Here are five (plus a half) things I like to do with apples.

1. Photograph them. Red apples in a green tree against a bright blue sky are the prettiest things. The ones above are growing wild in a park.

1.5 Eat them raw. I like them cut into wedges when I'm at home where a knife is handy, but while out and about, if an apple tree (not on private property) makes itself known, I'll happily pick one, rub it on my shirt, and take bites all around the core. 

2. Bavarian Apple Torte: Cream cheese, almonds, a buttery crust, and apples make a wonderful dessert. I've found that Granny Smith or Transparent apples work best in this recipe; others tend to stay a bit crunchy, and for this dessert, fully softened is best. My cousin first served this recipe to me, and it's now in one of our family compilations. Always a winner. 

3. Apple Crisp with Creme Anglaise: Apple crisp is a classic autumn dessert. I used to serve it with ice cream, and it's certainly yummy, but once I served it with creme anglaise (aka custard sauce), I never looked back. 

I like to keep a mixture of the crisp topping in the freezer so that I can bake up a crisp on a whim. It's also good if I want to make a dessert for just two of us - sliced enough apples for two small dishes, sprinkle sufficient topping over, and bake. I confess to liking a high proportion of topping to apple.

4.   Apple Pastry Squares: Easier than making apple turnovers is this version of apples and pastry. The pastry has milk and an egg in it and is easily patched. It's rough looking and made even more delicious with the icing sugar glaze. 

5. Peanut Caramel Dip: For a snack, or if you are bringing something to a party, this dip is always a hit. What's not to like about caramel and peanut butter? Rather than unwrap dozens of those little caramels, I came up with a "from scratch" sauce that takes no more time. 

This post is a reprise of one from 2016. I still make the same recipes each year and love apples. 

 

Blogtober Twenty-Seven

 

October

The summer is over,

The trees are all bare,

There is mist in the garden

And frost in the air.

The meadows are empty

And gathered the sheaves --

But isn't it lovely

Kicking up leaves!

Rose Fyleman

No frost yet, but plenty of rain. A morning that couldn't make up its mind whether to be sunny or wet has decided on...wet. 

The Beef Stew with Quince that I made turned out very well. There were a few minor variations on the recipe, but it was delicious and different. My brother and sister-in-law enjoyed it with us. 

We are away from home again this evening, taking an unexpected and quick trip to see friends across the border. The ferry crossing was a mixture of sun and rain, just like the rest of the day. Staying the night at my parents' place. It's always good to visit with them. 

Blogtober Twenty-Six

 

Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.

Mary Oliver

In the night wind tore at the corners of the house, rattling and clattering its way around town. But in the morning, all was calm, with a tiny bit of sunshine. A good day to spend in the garden. I pulled up all of the tomatoes and have the green ones ripening on a platter (or two). A bowl of carrots was pulled and cleaned. Tim organized the raspberries, cutting canes and digging up crowded plants. We chatted with the neighbours over the fence.  

Son came over to pick up the mended soccer jersey and stayed for a bit, catching us up on all the happenings in his family's world. I made a beef stew for tomorrow, this one a very different dish to what I normally make. It has quince and prunes and tomatoes in it. We will see what the verdict is tomorrow.

Squirrels run through our garden and on the patio, digging for treasure or burying it in my flower pots. I'll be planting spring bulbs in the pots soon. I've learned to cover them with mesh, well fastened with sticks along the edges, to prevent the cute pesky critters from digging up and eating the bulbs.

An ordinary day that has been very satisfying. We'll spend the evening visiting with my brother and sister-in-law who are here overnight. I'll work on my stitching while chatting.