GLORIOUS AUTUMN

10/17-heavy frost 33°. We're in the middle of a cold spell with days in the 50's and nights in the 30's.

10/19-the weather has been beautiful with temps in the 70's. Continued very dry-only .5" for the month with nothing coming in the next 10 days. The neighborhoods are full of colorful trees. Father Birch is glowy:

Johnny's burning bushes and turkeys:

A very cute nutkin at the bath:

The Juncos have arrived for the season!

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10/21-79°-It was comfy enough for C and Buddy to do deck yoga:

Stubbs stopped by the Diner and C tossed out peanuts. He came and visited:

 Bud spooked him and he fled to another raised bed:

Duffy came out to the Diner:

DHS went and investigated:

We cannot remember such a glorious Fall with the entire region aglow bright leaf colors, mild temps and blue skies. The drought continues-I'm watering my young plants weekly.

In past years, I raked/mowed the leaves frequently. This year, I have been ailing due to poor sleep for the past week so I have left them. We have enjoyed the visual splendor of golden blanket of Father Birch's leaves and we figure the critters have appreciated it as well. All sorts of hidden snacks as well as cover from predators. Usually one wants to get the leaves up before it becomes a sodden web that makes the job a bigger chore. But, it's been dry so we'll see how this all works out. 

 

Big Blue had hollered for peanuts and was rewarded.

 

Perhaps the last deck yoga.

 

Stubbs had come up on the raised bed next to C I threw out some peanuts for him and he took off to the East to bury his prize. DHS kept an eye on him. Later, a Rocky stopped by the Diner.

 Later-our tiger amongst the leaves.

10/23-a cold front swung down early in the morning with a thunderstorm and one big lightning strike. Negligible rain. Days cooling to the 50's and 60's.

10/25-we had a bit of rain overnight. Enough to just get stuff wet. 

Out front, Mr. Maple has begun to shed his leaves.

With the cooler weather, we enjoyed a couple of fireplace evenings. I made a vegan version of the famous Midwestern Hot Dish. A shout out to Tim W!

I never have tried the regular Hot Dish-it's a Midwest thing and we consider ourselves Great Lakers-so I have nothing to compare this to. In this recipe I used Impossible Burger which has the right mouth-feel as cow. Many recipes had all sorts of canned veggies tossed in-green beans and ugh! corn-both disgusting in a dish. I kept it simple-onion, garlic and went in a cowboy cuisine direction: canned green chiles. They are mild-it was the flavor tone I wanted. Oregano and smoked paprika as well. Instead of cream of mushroom soup, I made a roux using the fat from the burger, flour and almond milk. 

We were pleasantly surprised! C thought it had a nice depth of flavor and had not had tater tots in ages. It qualifies as "goop"- not Gwyneth Paltrow- a warm, hearty, filling and tasty dish. Perfect Fall fare.