Every autumn, the leaves begin to change, the sky gets darker, the mornings more brisk and the clouds more dramatic. Nature begins to shift in preparation for winter and we begin to nest a bit more: harvesting and preserving the summer loot, chopping and stacking wood, winter plant care, and a constant craving for those sultry (and sweet) fall flavors of the season. It’s a magical time of year and I look forward to these warm, appreciable changes each season.
If I dare say it though, this year feels a bit more magical.
a homemade wreath for the front door.
Our nomadic lifestyle — always wandering and wondering where the next job will take us, who our new friends will be or where we will live, is gone. A home, a lady-pup, permanent jobs and a great community to invest in has us settling in and we couldn’t be happier. House projects and yard work have been in full swing since moving in. We’ve painted, repaired, planted trees, decorated and redecorated. It’s been an incredible few months and with the holiday season knocking at our doors, the enchantment is just beginning.
a bright spot in the Draper Preserve.
pastel mums are our new favorite.
With autumn here, pumpkins of all sizes, shapes and colors are filling our home, sweet jack-o-lantern lights are dangling from our windows, and festive beverages are requisitioning the refrigerator, our place feels cozier than ever. We definitely plan to revel in every moment this season and sweet holiday has to offer.
the shades of yellow and green in the Draper are exquisite right now.
ohhhh pumpkins, I love you.
This slight change in temperature also means a sweet goodbye to salads and other light vegetable dishes, and a warm welcome to stew! Growing up, soups and stews were a staple in our house. As I get older and my enthusiasm for homemade food increases, so does my love for soups and stews. Each year, I attempt to replicate (and add my own twist to) a few of those favorite savory liquid dishes I grew up loving. Currently, we are relishing antelope chili, shrimp curry over a long grain rice, and creamy cauliflower soup, to name a few.
preserving our summer loot: homemade salsa!
There has been no shortage of thematic baked goods either. Pumpkin bread with a sweet apple glaze holds first place, but I hope to try my hand at a homemade pumpkin pie here soon, maybe even this weekend, as the weather looks to be chilly (high of 47º F) and they’re calling for snow. After all, ’tis the season, right?
a coffee and decadent chocolate peanut butter chip cookie from Hailey Coffee Company.
Do you nest as much as we do? What are your favorite activities, foods and traditions around the season?
How do you can your salsa? And do you have to have a certain recipe, like more tomatoes or lemon juice or salt?
Hey Scott! I use apple cider vinegar and a bit of sugar in my salsa. First, I process all of my ingredients and then I saute the salsa in a pan for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, I taste test and add in my seasonings (i.e., salt, pepper, more sugar and more apple cider vinegar). Once I get it to my liking, I fill my clean jars, seal them with their lids and prep a hot water bath. Bring water to a rolling boil and add your jars. I boil the jars for about 10 minutes and then I remove them and let them cool. The lids should pop during this time. *Note: when boiling glass jars, do not let the jars touch the pot (bottom and sides) or each other. They may crack or not seal properly if this happens.
Yay! You got your pumpkins!! Ours are out as well, lining the rail of the front porch. Cool and wet, with new snow in the mountains! Time to plan our holiday get together!!
Oh precious daughter. You and I know that fall is best- dont we. Miss you a ton. Love pops.