Autumn's Here ... Hip, Hip, Hooray

***  Autumn has officially arrived ***

When the fresh fall air starts moving in, my thoughts turn to apples.  I can't wait to pick them, eat them and bake with them.

How about cozying up your kitchen with a little fall-time baking?

This Caramel Apple Cake tastes wonderful and makes the kitchen smell good as the scents of cinnamon and nutmeg mingle in the air. Last week I had a birthday dinner for my husband and I knew this was the cake for the occasion. The recipe can be found here.

Fall is such a great time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Autumn gardening holds an entirely new appeal as the heat and humidity of summer slowly disappear from the horizon.

It's fun to freshen up the garden with mums.  At this time of year I remove the plants that have been barely hanging in there all summer and add a bit of fall color in their place. 

As the days get shorter it's nice to cozy up the nooks and crannies inside.  Small lamps and candles in fall scents work great for this.  I'm currently burning spiced apple candles, but next month they will be changed to pumpkin, only to be followed by my favorite November scent ~ Yankee Candle's Harvest.

It sounds a bit like the candle of the month club, doesn't it? ;-).

 

I am looking forward to lots of porch sittin' time this fall.  It has been so hot here this summer that there was almost no time spent sitting outside.  I plan to change that. 

To me fall is the time for soups and stews and chili.  It's time to dust off the crock pot and enjoy the smell of dinner simmering away after being gone all day.  It's time to fill a bowl full of gourds and acorns and set it in the center of the table.  An easy, yet pretty centerpiece as we gather around the table to enjoy those fall meals.

Autumn has arrived.

Time to enjoy.