Tuesday, September 25, 2018

A Little More Fall, In and Out

Well, autumn is officially here. I see it at the farmer's market with the shots of color: pumpkins, tomatoes, zinnias. (Oh, and because so many of you asked, camera info at the end of this post.)


And a row or two later, I am blown away by this gorgeous bunch of fungi.


I see it branded into the sidewalk as I move toward the Ditch, imprints of fallen leaves, leaving their mark on the cement.


I see it in the sumac and the astors.


I see it at Kohl's. And by the way, why anyone would spend 15.99 or 23.99 for these pumpkins when you could cover a faux pumpkin with artificial leaves, probably from Dollar Tree at best, a little more at worst, is beyond me. They're really cute. And all it would take is a pumpkin, leaves and a glue gun. You're welcome.


I see it in the falling leaves.


And I see it through the bare branches -- a spotted fawn on the Deer Island at the Ditch. I never would have spotted him otherwise.


It smells like fall, too, at least around my house! Heat up the oven -- make this simple chicken casserole and serve over wild rice.


Basic ingredients -- I use chicken tenders instead of the breasts the recipe calls for. Any dry white wine will do.


The joy of this is that you can make it up early in the day and later, when it's nearing dinner time, pop it in your 375 degree oven and in 45 minutes it's on the table. (Maybe a bit longer if straight from the fridge.) That's just about how long it takes me to do my wild rice.


Remember that farmer's market? Well, I bought a quarter bushel of tomatoes and so guess what!


Yup! Loads of batches of pasta sauce starter with onions, garlic and tomatoes. (One batch had artichoke hearts and mushrooms, too.) We'll dress it up with extras (olives, sausage) later! I took the immersion blender to one batch and it was the best tomato soup ever!


I've been making pesto, too. And I can't resist caramelizing a few more onions than I need while I'm doing the sauce!


You knew I had to add a little to the house, didn't you. Mostly, it's a few botanical elements, dried and faux. I love these leaves in the tin pail. That's one of Carol Gillot's (Paris Breakfasts) watercolors beside it. Pears are perfect for fall!


The china cabinet top got a bit of an upgrade.


And a few branches in the big vase with battery lights by Lizzie's bowl.


A quick peek at the other cabinet -- outside...


...and in.


I love this corner with my Stickley lamp, a few leaves and a photo of the Eiffel Tower by my friend, author Judy Winter. Can't wait to see it in person again!


A number of you asked about my new camera, what model and make. It's a Canon SX730 HS and has a 40x optical zoom (which stretches to 160, although at that full zoom, it's hard to steady.) It's reasonably lightweight (not as light as my earlier model) and fits easily into my purse. I got the little kit which included the memory card, battery, mini-tripod, card reader (disappointed my old Canon cord didn't fit) and a little cleaning kit. I found it on Amazon through a seller called WhoIsCamera. So far, I'm impressed, although I have to say, looking at these photos enlarged, they seem a little soft. That could be operator or setting error. We'll see.


 I guess I'll be putting it through its paces in October and look forward to sharing with you!


Meanwhile, enjoy some magical fall!

Sharing this week with:    Let's Keep In Touch     /   Pink Saturday   /     Thursday Turnabout

37 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

The Autumn photos and decorations are wonderful, so many great colours. And the food and pasta sauce looks divine. If it wasn't so far I would pop in for dinner. Have fun with the new camera, enjoy Autumn. Hugs, Valerie

Joanne Huffman said...

Enjoy your new camera. I think the photos look great.

NanaDiana said...

Jeanie, Those are really great fall pictures. Love them all. I think people pay that much for pumpkins with leaves on them because they have never held a glue gun in their hands...or worse....have burned themselves and refuse to ever use one again. lol
Hope you have a great Tuesday- xo Diana

Red Rose Alley said...

Your home looks so cozy with all the Fall lovelies. I like how the lights look on your fireplace. Your pasta sauce looks delicious, and mushrooms always add something to the recipe. The picture of the trail with the falling leaves is so pretty, love that one. And isn't that something that the leaf made its mark on the cement? What a cool picture. I always know when I come over and visit that I will be seeing some interesting and wonderful photos, Jeanie.

~Sheri

*I have a Canon also, and the zoom-in lens is pretty nice.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Beautiful fall accents! I love this time of year. Thank you for the recipe share!

Danielle L Zecher said...

I LOVE that first picture of the flowers! Absolutely gorgeous!

Your sauce looks delicious! I love to make big batches of things like that and freeze them to have a quick and easy dinner late on. It's like a favor you did yourself in the past.

So, with gluing leaves on the pumpkin, would you just use a normal hot glue gun? Would you buy a garland and cut the leaves off to make that? Can you tell I don't craft?!?

Jackie McGuinness said...

I agree with you about spending $30 on that pumpkin when you could make it yourself!

I just finished a pork casserole for dinner and I craved mashed potatoes so will have them with it.

21 Wits said...

I also enjoy making projects, although sometimes it's cheaper to just buy it. Lovely stepping into autumn with your post.

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

Beautiful decorations and your photos of food makes me wish I had someone more than just me to cook for. I'm enjoying your 'adventures' with your new camera.

Lynne said...

Okay . . . stop now!
You have me, “over the moon”, with ideas . . .
Starting with soup . . .
Fall really brings out the Soup Season.
Making a Zuppa Toscana for starters!

Marilyn Miller said...

How special to have Carol of Paris Breakfast's painting. There have been time I have been tempted. I love all your food preparations for fall and winter. The chicken recipe sounds delicious. The fawn, oh I do love fawn's with spots. I remember when I was in first grade someone brought one into our classroom. It slip and slid on the slick floor. Oh and fall flowers and leaves are the very best, even the shadow of a leaf on your walk. Happy Autumn, dear friend.

William Kendall said...

The deer is a beauty!

Pamela said...

I love the fall. So beautiful, so cozy, I hope it is coming to where I live soon!

My name is Erika. said...

Your house is looking so beautifully decorated. I need to get some things out. Before fall ends. :) And this cooler weather sure does make me/you/people want to cook again and make some delicious comfort style food. I had to bring some of my plants in the other day. I think real fall has arrived. When do you leave? Enjoy. hugs-Erika

Sally Wessely said...

You are making me tired. Cooking. Decorating. Shopping. Blogging. I'm hoping to get a bit done on my fall decorating tomorrow. Love the tip on the pumpkins. Duh. I probably would have bought them. Well, probably no, but really, it would be so easy to make those cute pumpkins covered with leaves. I need to refresh my fall decorating this year.

Sandra Cox said...

I love the pic of the fawn.
The leaves have started to fall here too. Yikes.

Angie said...

Wow, you have been a busy bee - all that cooking is making me hungry (again). I agree that many folks buy these decorations they can make themselves, but then most folks either are not crafty or just don't have the time to be … I love the smell of autumn - somehow it brings a deep sense of satisfaction! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Romance Book Haven said...

The photos and decorations are so stunning! I loved them all and learnt some new ones on how to make them.

Iris Flavia said...

The flowers in the first pic look great, I´ve never seen anything like it! What are they?
Well, there are many people out there who are not creative or simply lazy, they buy the expensive leave covered pumkins (cute idea btw!).
Not looking forward to naked branches, but, well, you can´t do anything about that, right...
I had chicken soup yesterday - not homemade, though, but the idea with the wine sounds tempting! The heating is on, too.
That´s a lot of decoration :-)
Fall is "OK" to me, winter, though....
In some parts of Germany they even now had already night-temps of 23F! We had 37,4F - brrrr!

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh goodness! You have me wanting to make changes to my existing fall decor! You have such lovely touch. The flowers and painting--I'm swooning! I'm right up there with your cooking. We've had too many warm days, as soon as we can make a fire I will be making a lot of soups and stews!

Thanks so much for your comment on my blog! I just love you!!

Jane

Sami said...

More beautiful Fall decorations in your home.
My little Canon broke down and I was actually looking at buying another small Canon, so will look into this one too. I have a bigger camera but too heavy to carry everyday.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Autumn has arrived in your world, but it's still summer here. I think your photos are wonderful and I enjoy that you are putting the camera through its paces while you get used to it before the big trip you are taking soon.

I want to come to your house because you eat so well, and you decorate so beautifully. It's always a treat to see what you come up with!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Wow! that is one unbelievably huge fungi!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, wonderful Autumn images. I love the flowers and the huge fungi. Cute capture of the deer. Your casserole sounds yummy. Congrats on your new camera, sounds great. Have a happy day!

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, I love autumn and you have shown its beauty so well. Your fall touches that you have added to your home are just perfect. I am anticipating your trip and all the gorgeous shots from your new camera!

The French Hutch said...

You really have a great place for walks into nature, great practice using the new camera. I think your photos look amazing. Thanks for the camera info. I think that is the model I looked at before our trip to Italy back in May. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to invest in another camera at the time. I was interested in something easier to carry while out all day. I may go have another look, thanks for the info. Love your fall vignettes around the house and a great tip for decorating dollar tree pumpkins.

Snap said...

I love zinnias. Wish we could keep them around all year! Lovely fall images with your new camera. It's beginning to look like fall -- inside and out! when fall arrives, I want to cook -- you're off to a good start.

Victoria Zigler said...

I love how much you embrace each change of season.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I'm back from Cali and ready to get my Fall on! Your home is inspiring me. Just a few touches can make such a difference! I'll check out your new camera online. I'm thinking I need a new one myself but not sure yet. Hugs!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Jeanie. You seem as busy as a squirrel getting ready for fall. Looks like you will have some wonderful meals when the weather turns cold. Thanks for the camera info. I am wanting a new camera so badly..Happy Fall my friend..xxoJudy

Carolyn Marnon said...

What happened to your old camera? I thought it had a 50x zoom. When I got my new camera last year, the best I could find was 40x, but it isn't as wonderful as some of my other cameras have been. Right now, I just use my cell phone because it always happens to be with me (except for when I forget it. LOL!)

I always enjoy your photos. Keep sharing!

Tristan Robin said...

WoW! I've been a little out of commission...but I see I have returned at the right time! What an exuberant explosion of color! I love seeing you celebrating autumn with scarlet and pink and gold and orange and purple! None of that rusty brown and beiged yellow here! LOL BEAUTIFUL photos - and I also have spent way too much time looking over and going back over your previous post with all the water birds - stunning!
You certainly seem to have glided smoothly from your summer idyll to a autumn's crisp busy activity! That Robert Frost road looks like a marvelous place to spend an afternoon walking and finding bits of nature to preserve for decorating LOL. I think of everything in terms of decorating. Speaking of which - I love your little Hallowe'en treasure on top of your cabinet - so vintage-y and whimsical - just terrific!
Now that I'm back in the swim of things, I'll try not to miss any more posts - speaking of which - thanks so much for stopping by Enchanted Revelries!
Enjoy this lovely autumn scenery that is suddenly bursting forth to be admired!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Jeanie! I love all your autumn decorationphotos taken with your new camera and your soup looks delicious. Autumn has always been my favorite season, since childhood. I think all the free candy at Halloween had something to do with it back then --lol-- but the changing colors of the trees in the NE and the cooler weather and beautiful autumn light has always been so lovely to me. I'm glad that now that I live in Colorado that autumn is as equally lovely here, if not a little earlier than it was in NY. I was away this weekend enjoying it!

Karen said...

I love fall.

Tracy said...

Hi, Jeanie! Great to catch up with you here... And WOW... what a feast is this post! The fungi--ginormous!! How lovely spotted fawn...*sigh*... That chicken casseroles sounds/looks delicious! It's wonderful that it's soup, stew and casserole season again. LOVE all your decorations too... Happy Autumn Days, my friend :) ((HUGS))

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I am so ready for fall foods! I was making fall food before the weather cooled off but the weather has caught up with my kitchen now. I love seeing your fall decor!!

Doodle T said...

It's been too long since I stopped to visit...love the Fall Recipes. Sound delicious, easy and perfect.

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