What I Learned & Loved in the Fall.

“Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

It’s time again for sharing what we learned. These often range from frivolous to thoughtful with a smidge of random mixed in and this season’s recap is as colorful as fall itself. Stick around for the end and I’ll share what I’m reading, cooking, and a few favorite podcast episodes.

 

One. Leaving leftover soup in the refrigerator or freezer for later is an easy way I can be kind to myself. Admittedly last autumn, soup and I went through a rough patch. Following the release of Simmer, I needed a good long break from the artist formerly known as soup. But I’m pleased to announce, that we are reunited, Soup & I, and it feels so good. And truly, one of the best ways I can take nutritional care of myself in busy seasons is to plan ahead. Making and freezing soup makes that easy.

 

Two. Aunt Agatha (Poldark) was in Return of the Jedi. I have a very strange talent for facial recognition but only amongst actors & actresses. I get giddy when I realize I’ve seen someone before and then remember where before we can look it up. However, I did not realize that Aunt Agatha was Mon Mothma in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. (Fun Fact: I was one year old when that movie premiered. I’ve seen it more times than I can count. #brothers.)

 

Three. In a natural disaster, the endless stream of media coverage is both a curse and a blessing. After a lifetime of being narrowly missed by hurricanes, we were lightly grazed with Hurricane Irma and lost power for several days. We had minimal damage compared to so many. But before the storm came here, it barreled right up through my home state with most of our loved ones in its’ path. Having power for awhile nearly made me a basket case because of the constant foreboding updates. The event taught me that a little knowledge may be power, but dwelling on all possible outcomes can be debilitating. Sure, comic relief came in the meme of Moana speaking to the eye of the hurricane and the one with Ross Gellar yelling “PIVOT!!!!” over the storm. But the quiet stillness that permeated the air when we did finally lose power was a strange kind of comfort.

 

Four. With every single October here that starts sweltering and ends crisp & colorful– I am home all over again. We celebrated our seventh anniversary of moving to Georgia this fall and each year it seems I learn a new lesson about surrender and finding and making home. This year’s lesson was a quieter one. A more peaceful head nod at how far God has brought us in our place-making, how much more delight I find with every new autumn. I feel more alive in the fall. I just do, and it seems that our initial surrender has deepened into a slow contented sigh.

 

Fall Favorites:

What I’m Loving in the Blue House Kitchen.

• This Zuppa Toscana Soup (you saw that coming, right?) I add chopped carrots and double the kale.
• This Apple Crisp, because though it’s technically dessert, I like to cut the sugar and serve it with greek yogurt for breakfast.
• Kale Salad like the one from Caviar and Bananas in Greenville.
• And finally, the Plan to Eat website is rocking my world. I have tried several different meal planning/ meal prep helps and this one finally seems like a winner. It’s inexpensive and I can link recipes from anywhere. It’s kind of like a recipe database which I can then drop onto my meal planning calendar and then generate a shopping list. They’re offering a 30-day trial which was more than enough for me to realize I loved it.

Books I Finished in the Fall.

• Everyone Brave is Forgiven. Beautiful and still a bit tragic, this was very different from the last few WWII novels I read. I imagine it’s quite true to life, though. The premise of the book is creative and intriguing.
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lucy and I are slowly working through the Narnia series and I find something new with each one.
• Anne of Avonlea. Simply lovely, of course.
• The Monster in the Hollows. This third book in the Wingfeather Saga was my favorite so far.

My list is a bit short this time. As it is, I have about ten other books I started in the fall that are still in progress. I can’t commit to just one book at a time. Ask my husband. He has to look at my crazy to-read pile which could be its’ very own end table. Any one else in this club?

Favorite Fall Podcast Episodes.

Wear Better Pants. Episode 11 on The Next Right Thing Podcast with Emily P. Freeman

Faithfulness & Work in the Season of Young Children. Risen Motherhood with guest Ruth Chou Simons

C.S. Lewis on Table, an Oxford Prof and Why Stories Matter with Sally Clarkson, episode 104

 

*** I love this seasonal practice of paying attention that Emily Freeman hosts. Feel free to hop over there and see what others learned also. I would love to hear what you learned this fall. Just write in the comments or in a quick email.

 

As always, amazon links may be referral links but the opinions are 100% my own.