the next little pumpkin...

... made a lovely "pumpkin soup in its own shell," last saturday evening... (go easy on the sage is my only advice should you give this recipe a go... unless you love sage, inwhichcase, knock yourself out...)

It made for a fantastic fall meal, complete with a fresh glass of apple cider from Reid's Orchard, and a slice of struan from Atwaters toasted with yummy cheese... SO GOOD.

Katie!

... is back in the greatest city in America! She came (a couple of weeks ago now) laden with sacks full of root vegetables, some winter brew, and beautiful canned goods from the farm... our provisions for the winter!



So 392 is full up- it is exceedingly good to once again share this space with another lovely, sparkly soul. 

....mmm... pumpkins...

I don't much regret to inform you that one sweet little pumpkin came to a very timely end Sunday afternoon... 

What? That little blob you ask? Oh, why, clearly thats a 'crust leaf,' you know, like martha stewart.

pumpkins pumpkins PUMPKINS!!

... need I say more?

bread for the soul...

Oy, its been a long week, even with only four work days (don't know that I'd have made it if I'd had one more to deal with). I am finally enjoying some uninterrupted space to myself this saturday morning sitting here in the window with the warm sunshine and the chilly breeze. I've a mugfull of hot coffee, and a piece of fresh bread toasted with homemade strawberry rhubarb jam, and I'm letting the madness settle out. 

Fall is really really here this morning. It is in the 50's and all things pumpkin and apple are on sale at the farmers market. And all those fantastic-to-roast root vegetables...

I got this quick and easy bread recipe from a friend a couple of weeks ago... and I think it is worth sharing since whats better during fall than soup and fresh bread? Or stew and fresh bread? Or just plain old fresh bread? For any bread purists out there- its not pristine bread... may be a bit of a quick fix, but hey... 

Peasants Bread

4 1/2 c. flour (mixture of wheat and white)

2 c. warm water

1 Tlbs. yeast

1 Tlbs. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Mix all these things with a spoon. Cover with a moist cloth and let rise for 45 minutes. Scoop into a loaf pan and let rise again. Bake at 400 for 5 minutes, and then 350 for 20 minutes. 

Like I said, a little on the heavy side... and I need to cook it a little longer- but that might just be my oven. Anyhow... its good stuff... and not so much fuss. 

And some more fall fotos from west virginia:

A three day weekend....

Beautiful, sunshiny-warm days...

A roaring campfire 24/7... 

Great food...

Brilliant fall foliage...

Fantastic live music at the Purple Fiddle...

Six good souls to share it all with...

What more could one want in one mid-October, three-day weekend? Besides another one perhaps. And a warmer sleeping bag. 

A touch of Fall...

Fall seems to be starting in bits and pieces around here...

And oh yes, a big CONGRATULATIONS to these cute new homeowners!! Can't wait to come down again and see your place all done up!

Hens and Chicks...

28

September 7th, 2008







Thanks Rita, Juan, Nicole, Lauren, Melissa, Laura, Christy, Amanda, Kristen, Megan and of course Junebug for such a special day.

PS_ thanks Juan for the photos!!

tomatoes

My garden... well, my garden has become a bit of a jungle... I'm afraid once the mosquitoes got out of hand... I ceased and desisted from weeding. BUT I am still reaping the benefits! Tomatoes out the wazoo (at least for one soul). And my landlord said they'd never grow... well eat THAT mister!

Delicious and super satisfying. Homegrown goodness. Even in the shaded backalleys of baltimore. 

hurricane hanna

Yesterday hurricane hanna swirled her way up the east coast. I think she was a rather gentle hurricane as far as hurricanes go, packing a pretty mild punch. It started raining in the early morning- making for a bit of a soggy farmers market- but still very satisfying nevertheless, for us hard core farmers market goers. She blew in harder at times, crazy windy at times... and then blew on out by mid-afternoon.

I went to lake montebello for a walk around 5, it was still mighty windy, but the sky is big there, and it felt a little electric, watching the clouds roll quickly and heavily through the low-hanging sky. 

And actually, upon venturing out post-rain, I came to find a tree blown down on my street and a great deal of branches/leaves/debris-type stuff all over. So... guess it was legit! And- for those of you who doubt this great city (the greatest city in America)-- that tree was no more than a pile of mulch a mere three hour after it fell! Poor tree. But- go Baltimore!