Jennifer Michie

Tag: autumn (page 10 of 14)

November 6, 2012 / 2 Comments

Roasted Butternut Squash Chili

Mr. Michie and I love to cook with each other. We get caught in a rut at times, not so much in that we aren’t sure what to make, but we go through phases and can’t seem to get enough of a certain thing, for instance a variety of different salads, or soup with different homemade bread recipes we will try. We like trying new things. We were on a guacamole kick during our 1/2 term break and decided to do just that: try something new.

I read Jenny Steffens Hobick blog and she posted the recipes that she made during a recent cooking event that she hosted. One of them was a Roasted Butternut Squash Chili.

It looked and sounded delicious. We decided to try it! As always, it must be the Italian in me, but I made a few moderate changes, I added a whole red pepper, a few more spices, I also completely forgot about the bay leaves and never added them.

It bubbled and stewed away on the stove for hours, filling the house with the most heavenly homey scent. Mr. Michie made his famous guacamole, we piled the chili in bowls, dotted it with mounds of cheese, guacamole and sour cream.

We ceremoniously sat on the couch, with a bowl of tortilla chips, a couple of beers and pressed “play” on It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

It was a very nice evening.

October 28, 2012 / 0 Comments

Falling Back


We “fell back” last night and I woke up at 6:45 this morning, only to realize it was actually now 5:45, so I smiled and went back to sleep. Darkness still filling our room and the sound of the radiators singing to life to keep us toasty. It was blissful.

We have now truly moved into Autumn. I am ready for big fat orange hued pumpkins, crunchy leaves, hot apple cider, silky pumpkin pie, walks in the woods hand in hand, flickering candles lit everywhere, scarf and hat kind of weather that only Fall brings.

P.S. My Sunday surprise was a Halloween Krispy Kreme Doughnut! It was orangey, chocolatey and delicious!

 

October 4, 2012 / 0 Comments

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I have seen a “pin” on Pinterest lately, that asks the question, “How do you when it is the first day of Fall?” and the reply to that is, “Honey, because they start selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks!”

Oh Starbucks, loved by many and probably just as hated by many too, I love you and your pumpkin spice lattes. The first pumpkin spice product I had was about 4 years ago, it was a frappuccino. I was out with my Mom and my Nana and we picked one up, everyone took a sip to try it and like a good drug, we were all hooked!

Every fall, I read, green-eyed with envy all these great women’s blogs and their images of their Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte treats, only to know that in England it is something they don’t offer.

Well, my friends, Mr. Michie and I had to go to the mall tonight to run a few errands after work. We grabbed a bite to eat and as we started walking around to complete our little mission we passed by Starbucks and I looked into their window and saw a sign that not only brightened my day, but brightened my entire WEEK!

What did the sign say, you ask? It said: NOW INTRODUCING PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES! I heard a choir of Angels singing when I entered those doors. Strolling through the mall, latte in one hand, Mr. Michie’s hand in the other, a perfect Fall evening!

Now, if they only had Bath & Bodyworks here then I could have come home with a bag full of delicious smelling Fall candles too! But, this girl is more than content with her pumpkin spice latte, so no complaints here!

 

October 1, 2012 / 0 Comments

The First of October

The first of October is upon us. Autumn is officially here in my book. We cleaned the house this weekend from top to bottom and decorated for Fall, it just feels so cozy! Mr. Michie and I sat down when we had finally finished (he is a good helper around the house) and watched a movie, ate some popcorn and drank hot apple cider, a perfect Saturday night!

September 24, 2012 / 2 Comments

The Weather

A rainy Monday seems to put everyone in a bad mood! It just makes me want to be at home, curled up on the couch with a nice cup of tea, the radio on, a candle going and a good book in hand. It has rained here from yesterday morning onward.

Last night the rain and wind whipped around the house, the drops beating against the window panes like a drum. This morning, it let up enough so that we didn’t get soaked catching the bus to school, but the heavy rain came back again in full swing not long after. I was so chilly when I got to work, I had to put on the little radiator by my desk, just to take the chill off.

On Friday night, we went out with some friends to one of our favorite pubs, The Royal Standard. They had never been before and enjoyed it immensely. It is one of the coziest pubs going, I think. You can just feel the history oozing out of its pores as you sit at your table, bathed in the glow of candlelight and as always the food was delicious. Good pub grub, but pub grub of a high standard.

I haven’t been there in ages. We had a jolly time in there at Christmas with my sister and her husband, a wonderful day, spent laughing, drinking and eating good food by the fire. The pub cat even came to sit with us, but I know that is only because my sister was with us, she is an animal whisperer.

It rained Friday afternoon and into the evening and as we drove to the Standard, the road and sidewalks were dotted with yellow leaves everywhere. The headlights from the car made them glow eerily, like little yellow lanterns scattered about. It felt like Autumn.

I think this is it! I think we just might be done with Summer. I am ready for it in some ways, but not in others. I am ready for golden and rust colored mums and pumpkins and crunchy leaves and hot apple cider. But, I shall miss my sunshine and warmer weather.

But seasons change and with it, so do we.

September 12, 2012 / 0 Comments

Crisp

Crisp. That is the adjective to describe the past two days. It was crisp yesterday morning and warmed up through the day, but the evening turned chilly once more. I went to the theater with a friend last night and as we headed down into the tube the warm air, for once, was a welcome. It was chilly walking to the car when we got out. Our arms were covered in goosebumps.

When I arrived home, the heating was on and the house smelled like my cinnamon room oil, it was very cozy. Autumn is coming, she is whispering her presence through the breeze, through the sunlight that is changing and dappling through the trees, through the leaves that are just beginning to lose their emerald green tones.

I love all seasons, each has its own song to sing. I love the crisp time that we are entering, when pumpkins shall soon appear, when apples are crunchy as you bite into them, promising the best of fall in a mouthful and night begins to close in on us a little quicker than usual.

(image found at Wistfully Country)

September 6, 2012 / 0 Comments

Almost There

Well, it is Thursday today, which means that tomorrow is Friday and we are almost at the weekend. I can’t wait! This week of going back to school has been busy beyond belief, there is so much to do and my to-do list keeps getting longer. But, that is alright, I will get it all accomplished.

This weekend, I am going to attack the rest of the house that I haven’t already attacked and finish unpacking from our Summer trip home. We are still living out of a suitcase, partly because, I am always sad for a little while when I have to leave my family to come home again and partly because we have been so busy doing other things around the house that we haven’t gotten to it yet. But, again, that is alright, we will get it all accomplished.

The one big thing, I hope to get accomplished this weekend is buying some plants for my little garden, it is looking very sad at the moment and my little garden never looks sad. The weather has changed, it is cool in the evenings, hot during the day, it is “Indian Summer” weather. I am hoping to get a couple of flats of fall colored pansies, at the market, as they always look so pretty in the pots and maybe a mum or too, such a happy little plant. It is just a carpet of flowers.

I am ready for fall, I am ready for pumpkins and crunchy leaves and spiced cider and candles lit everywhere and chilly eves and witch’s moons and golden sunsets and the smell of a wood fire permeating the nighttime air. I am ready.

September 1, 2012 / 0 Comments

The First of September

Oh, the First of September! Where did you come from? It seems only yesterday I walked out of school with the sun on my back, heading toward vacation and Summer with open arms.

August brought a visit home to see new places, to see my family, a baby shower for my sister, shopping, eating, eating tomatoes that actually tasted like a tomato! August brought, getting to talk to my mom in person instead of skype, getting to see my dad every day. Getting to play with Maisy, the cutest dog in the world!

August brought suntan lotion and heat and skin warmed by the sun as you swam in the pool. August brought one hospital trip for me after a really bad case of food poisoning, where my dad was still my dad, no matter how old I am and held my hand as they tried to start an IV. It brought my first trip to the Wakarusa Dime Store, home of the famous GIANT JELLY BEANS, where my mom and I tasted almost every flavor and I got to see her beautiful smile and laugh.

August brought a road trip from Indiana to Viriginia, where I drove past Upper Sandusky, movie “home” to Doris Day. August brought me having to tell my family goodbye, to watch their beautiful faces as they waved and blew kisses from the other side of the ticket gate. I hate August, I love August. I am so blessed for the time I had, but I am ready to see them again.

School starts on Tuesday and I am not sure I am really ready for it, this time around. I still feel worn out from being sick and flying, but Tuesday will come whether I am ready or not and so this new school year shall begin.

Mr. Michie and I went out yesterday to run a few errands and the sun was out, but it was cool and breezy, the light is changing, Autumn is on her way. It won’t be long before we turn our clocks back and the night creeps in faster and more candles are lit in the cozy cottage behind the racing green door.

(Image Found at Golden Gems)

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