Autumn

If I were to have a favorite season, I would choose autumn.  Just look at this picture my little camera took just a few minutes from where we live - 

...isn't it glorious?   I love autumn because it is my time to restart life, get organized, and live more purposefully.  During autumn I am happy in the moment, but I'm surrounded by happiness on all sides--the excitement of Thanksgiving and Christmas is around the corner, but summer bliss isn't forgotten.  I love the fall wardrobe that is cool enough for cozy sweaters like Esther's red cable knit 

but it isn't so cold as to require thermals and puffy coats. 

Perhaps most of all, I love fall food and have been taking full advantage of the season.  You'll notice that my Yumprint timeline...

  ...has a disproportionate amount of pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, and nutmeg. 

Here are some recent favorites.

 Pumpkin Pie Millet Porridge, 

Baked Spiced Butternut Squash (don't have a photo, but it's a joyous combination of squash, apple and maple syrup. More of a dessert really.)

 

Pumpkin Muffins

and what is fall without Libby's Pumpkin Pie?

 

 Mine had a GLUTEN FREE crust that actually tasted and looked respectable. Thanks to my mother-in-law for the recipe suggestion!

I love fall adventures like the one we had a couple weeks ago at Craven Farm.  It's a fairly elaborate pumpkin patch complete with corn maze, scenic vistas, and all sorts of figurines made out of pumpkins and corn stalks.  Darling.

Finally, Esther proudly presents her first fall craft: leaf painting using bubble wrap on butcher paper.  Somehow she managed to get the paint up her arms, on her face, and in her hair (you'll notice in the pictures she's still wet from the bath).  But it was a success and the leaves are really quite festive.

 I couldn't resist taking/sharing this picture.  Just another morning routine of kissing daddy goodbye on his way to work, but the heels add a nice touch, don't you think?

Utah Visit

My parents were in Utah for General Conference and other meetings, which means Esther and I positively had to visit.  I loved seeing Esther warm right up to Grandpa and Grandma (aka "graw-graw"), play with cousins Claire, Isaac, William, and John John.   It was so lovely spending time with two ladies I dearly love--my mom and sister Mindy--planning Christmas, going to fabric stores, taking walks, and lots of talking.  We were lucky to meet my sister-in-law Colleen for lunch at Gourmandise (yummy French cafe in Salt Lake), and later that night she and Rob came over to visit.  I even got to see my Aunt Ilona and a dear friend since 8th grade, Adrianne.  It was gorgeous weather and the flight was short.  All in all, a successful visit!