Signs of Fall

One of the first signs of fall around here is when things start, well, falling. We have two fruit trees in our yard, and the pear tree usually ripens around early September.  This year, it seems to be running a little late and much of the fruit seems smaller.  I am still having a hard time keeping up with the pears though, and my dehydrator has been running nearly constantly.

We also have a plum tree (I've heard the variety called "Italian plums").  Every year this tree drops pounds and pounds of delicious plums, but again, I often have a hard time keeping up.  I think a lot of plums will be donated or given away this year.

I used to make plum jam, but I decided I didn't like it as well as berry jam, so now I mainly dehydrate the plums that aren't eaten fresh.

It hasn't frosted yet, so we have a bonus month of veggies in the garden.  Perhaps that is to make up for a late start?

My little succulent arrangement is doing well too!  Given all the succulents arrangements in the magazines, I guess it's a trendy thing this year.

Roadtrip Snapshots

Heading across Washington to a cyclocross race.  Since I am not driving, I play with my camera functions.

I really love the area just to the east of Ellensburg.  The landscape quickly transitions from irrigated farmland,
to rangeland, to the rainshawdow side of the mountains.

Unlike in June, the snow was all gone from the tops of the mountains.  I wonder when it will return?

Taking a walk in the woods.

An old growth forest in the middle of Seattle!

There are times when I get nostalgic for moss covered trees.

Driving back home past the windmills near the Columbia River.  These have all been built in the last decade, and it really changes the landscape.  I, for one, don't mind them though.

But of course, there's no place like..

Home!

Cyclocross Season Is Here

Fall is upon us, and cyclocross season (hereafter referred to as CX) is upon us.  The official Inland Northwest series doesn't start until October, but our local group has begun its Wednesday night rides.  As my husband describes it, CX is like steeplechase for bicycles.   Riders use bikes similar to road bikes, but with fatter tires.  Courses are dirt, and have a few obstacles, such as stairs and barriers.  My husband is the CX aficionado in the family; I haven't quite been brave enough.  Plus, someone has to be in charge of kid-wrangling.  I love it though because the events are family friendly, every one is super nice, and I get to spend time outside on nice fall evenings and weekends.    

The start of the CX season is a transition--yet another signal that fall is upon us and we are all a year older.  But the CX season represents the very best of fall, right up there with cidering, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.  I love the fact that even if it's 90 degrees on a September day, by the time you leave the course in the evening you can feel the cool of night coming on.  The air gets heavier and the dust--ever prevalent on the Palouse before the autumn rains start--settles.  Ahh, fall!

 

 

RJ

I'm a lazy canner.  I used to make fancy labels on my computer for my jam but then I decided it was a pain in the butt to scrape and clean those labels off when you wanted to reuse the jars.  Also, my printer died.  Ergo, my new labeling technique:  a sharpie on the lid detailing only the most pertinent information, content and date.  RJ = Raspberry Jam, GJ = Grape Jelly, BJ = Blackberry Jam, HJ = Huckleberry Jam (when I'm lucky).  


My timing was off this morning.  Usually I get the jam going and forget to sterilize the pots.  Today I had the pots very sterilized before I got the jam going.  Even still, it was quick and easy.  Best part is I cleaned half the raspberries out of the fridge, though I think I still have enough left for a second batch.  Some to keep, some to give away!

 

Sunflower Season

I love sunflowers.  I loved them long before I carried them in my bridal bouquet [unintelligible] years ago, but have loved them even more since.  They arrive in midsummer and stick around through early fall, transitioning us into a new season.

I'm getting to that point in life when I've already hit most of the major milestones that "society" values--graduating, starting a career, marriage, motherhood.   Most of these milestones happened in September, so I always get a little introspective around this time.  While I don't feel that I'm in the autumn of my life by any stretch (I would like think I'm still in early summer) I do think about what transitions are still ahead for me. Generally I am looking forward to them.  I learned a while ago that I am not really an optimist nor a pessimist--I am a meliorist, in the tradition of William James.  I don't know how things are going to turn out, but I believe we should get together with kindred spirits and work to make things as good as possible for everyone. 


So, here's to fall--and sunflowersl!