Fall is here! It's a bright, sunny morning in central New York, but the air has a definite chill. Leaves are changing, pumpkins and mums are everywhere, and apple-picking season is in full swing. I finally enjoyed my first pumpkin spice latte of the season, and my traditional raw apple cake was a hit at Friday's dinner party. This is definitely my favorite time of year.
It's been a slow week on the reading front though. In fact, that pumpkin spice latte break was the only time I spent with The Bluest Eye all week. Toni Morrison's writing is both beautiful and haunting, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
My progress on The House of the Seven Gables picked up midweek as I decided to try the audio version. The book requires more concentration that I am able to muster at the end of the day and I found myself reading each sentence two or three times, frustration growing by the page. The audio helped me get into the rhythm of the story, and now it's easier to read in the evening after I've been listening in the car. If you're interested in reading along, there is still plenty of time. Frances and Audrey are co-hosting a group read of The House of the Seven Gables on October 14.
This afternoon, I'll read The Bluest Eye and watch some football. Later we'll have dinner at my sister's house and celebrate my nephew's 16th birthday. I'll close with a scary thought a friend posted on facebook this morning - three months from today is Christmas! Happy Sunday...
I was going to freak out about Christmas, and then I remembered we did away with gift giving this year. Shopping days til Christmas? Who cares! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWould you mind sending some of that chill this way? This is my favorite time of year, too, and after a nice tease last week, it's been hard to feel fall-like. I think I need some apple cake... :)
ReplyDeleteI like your HotSG strategy! There have been many books that I found easier, or just more pleasant, to read that way. Thanks for reminding people about the group read...I hope we have lots of participants. I'm looking forward to your thoughts!
P.S. I just had to come back and send you this link when I saw it...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bhg.com/recipe/coffee-cakes/pumpkin-latte-coffee-cake/
:)
i am thinking about having some of that Raw Apple Cake - looked deelish! :) I'm excited for fall, and now that I'm in the Virginia Beach area, I actually will be able to experience the cooler fall weather, instead of when I lived in Florida. I love a good audiobook as well, and The House of Seven Gables might be a great fix!
ReplyDeleteHappy autumn :)
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK, the leaves are just beginning to change colour. I love the autumn time!
Raw apple cake, huh? will have to check that one out.
ReplyDeleteI LOOOOOOVE fall but for us it doesn't come until the end of October and sometimes not even until November. Our forecast has us in the 90s for the rest of the week. I dream of New England in the fall. Please continue to post your gorgeous leaves as they turn!!
Love fall too. Sweaters. Comfort food. All those great new boots this year. It just seems like the reading season. And glad the Hawthorne audio is working out for you. Wondering how the book will strike me after all these years. Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a great day planned today! I love The Bluest Eye.
ReplyDeleteI love the fall but it hasn't found us yet down here in Florida. As I sit here (watching my daughter have horseback riding lessons) I am sweating like a pig. Ugh. I need latte and corn maze weather.
ReplyDelete3 months to Christmas? That is scary! Must start shopping soon. I really need to start doing audio books again. I can't listen in the car; I find I'm so distracted and I can't listen any more at work so I don't know when I would listen. But I did get a lot more "reading" done when all I had to do was listen!
ReplyDeleteeek! That is a scary thought! Though it's chilly in the mornings and evenings here as well, my mind is still on the hot-summer mode. I never ha a pumpkin latte, will have to try out the recipe posted by Audrey.
ReplyDeleteLove Thayer photo and no way! Christmas is that close? Have a great fall day!
ReplyDeleteI noticed Audrey's comment and I was going to say something similar. It was great weather last week her but the past couple of days have been dreadfully humid. I'm hoping we'll get some of your beautiful Fall weather soon!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize The House of the Seven Gables wasn't until the 14th. I might join you...it's been sooooo long since I read that book. Maybe it'll catapult me out of this (hopefully) minor reading slump I'm in.
Glad your cake was a hit :o)
No chill in the air here yet, just hot and humid --maybe midweek. Have a good week.
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ReplyDeleteYour fall leaves photo is beautiful -I can hardly wait for the leaves here to get there. They are just now starting but there is a definite chill in the air here. I am trying your raw apple cake it sounds delish and will be on my table by next weekend.
ReplyDelete*smiles*
Softdrink - We'll scale back the gift giving with my siblings this year and do a Yankee Auction... lots of fun and it takes the pressure off.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Wuthering Heights was also easier as a read/audio combination for me. That strategy often works well for nonfiction, too. Thanks so much for the Pumpkin Latte Coffee Cake recipe... will try it when my daughters are home for fall break!
Natalie - I'd really miss fall if I lived in Florida, but winter not so much;-) I'm sure the cooler weather will get to Virginia Beach soon.
Sam - Thanks. It's my favorite time of year!
Trish - We'll be getting snow by late October and November -yikes! The leaves peak around Columbus Day, so there will definitely be more photos ahead.
Frances - Sweaters, boots, comfort food, and long books are a few more reasons I love fall, too! Have a great week.
Reviewsbylola - I'm enjoying The Bluest Eye more with every page!
Sandy - Ack! Maybe you should come to New York for some leaf peeping and forget about staying home until Thanksgiving...
Lisa - That little stat stopped me dead in my tracks this morning! Audios definitely allow more books into my life, but if I'm not in the car or walking the dog, I'd rather just read.
Ivana - LOL, I thought that was a little scary, too! I'll post a picture when I try Audrey's recipe next month.
Staci - The Christmas trees are on display in the seasonal area at our local BJ's Warehouse Club...I couldn't believe it!!
Amy - I may have written this too soon. It turned out to be a beautiful summer day today and they're predicting near 80 for tomorrow... no pumpkin spice lattes for a while! I hope you decide to join us for The HOuse of the Seven Gables, although it might not be the right answer for a reading slump.
Diane - It actually ended up being pretty warm today and they're calling for near 80 tomorrow. Cool temps returning for the end of the week though...
Kim - I hope your family likes the apple cake as much as we do! Have a great week.
Our first days of fall have been very warm, and even the d$#% noseeum bugs are out. A little cooler today with bright sunshine and quite a lot of color in the woods.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to Fall here in California. This week we are supposed to have temps in the high 80's and 90's. We are overdue for some nice, cool weather!
ReplyDeleteNan - I may have spoken too soon! It was 80 her today and we're looking at the same for tomorrow... still, the colors are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteKathleen - It got warm again almost immediately after I published this post, but we're in for more cooler weather toward the end of the week... I'm ready for it!
I just ordered Hawthorne's book (in French !) and I'm waiting for it. I hope it'll not be to difficult ! But I like when I begin to read an author's first book (for me !) Just a new world to discover !
ReplyDeleteOh I miss Psmith when you mention pumpkin spice latte!
ReplyDeleteFall is my favourite time of the year as well, all those fall fairs and woodsmoke...and apple pie. Your header will be in for a photo change soon, looking forward to it!
Annie - I'm glad you have a copy of The House of the Seven Gables coming your way! I think I have finally settled into the rhythm of the book and am enjoying the second half much more than the first.
ReplyDeleteDarlene - Welcome back! Can't wait to hear all about your trip. I think of our old friend whenever I get a pumpkin spice latte. I do miss Psmith and keep hoping a post will pop up one day soon. The header is definitely due for a change... waiting for a sunny day!
Fall is my favorite time of year too. When I took Gage for a long walk on Sunday I spent the whole walk stopping to take pictures like the one you included. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteStacybuckeye - Thanks... this is such a beautiful time of year. I'll be out with my camera this weekend. It's time for a new header photo!
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