Autumn

Currently, I am at the homestead. Boyfriend is out of town, doing an opening in Springfield, Illinois. When he isn't around, and my friends are all of town too (on vacation in San Diego), I don't have much to do. This summer flew by! I spent most of it not at home, and therefore not in my kitchen. This summer was one of r&r and I was not nearly as active as I usually am. I barely rode my bike, didn't go hiking, and I am ashamed to say that I still haven't gone on a picnic. I am determined to go on one when my love gets home. You see, fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it. The weather, the tasty tasty tastes of fall- all things pumpkin, and spice, the smells!, pumpkins!, Halloween!, Thanksgiving too... the leaves get all pretty, and it's chilly out so you have an excuse to snuggle, and drink hot chocolate. Autumn is just great. I got up to some baking this week. I made some pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and pumpkin gobs with maple buttercream filling. They were tasty! I took them to feed my friends at Scope on Tuesday night & everyone said they were delicious. I love making people smile with baked goods :) It's why I like to do it! Speaking of baking, I applied for a job at a bakery in a great location that will hopefully make it possible for me to move in with my beau. Wish me luck! The place is really cute, homey, but I'm not sure how they felt about me. I will let you know how it goes. It would be perfect!!! Anyways, I am thinking of all the things I could make for what will be a most excellent Autumnal picnic. Of course, I think of all the desserts first! I'm totally down for a dessert picnic! I've been wanting to try to recreate something like Pumpkin Delights, the Little Debbie snacks. I love them, and I buy boxes and boxes of them when they're in stores. I cam across something similar on StumbleUpon the other day that I'm going to have to try to find and see how it goes. I'm not sure what all I will take, though I have been contemplating some sparkling wine. They gave us some at Shinto (a wonderful local hibachi/sushi restaurant in Strongsville) when we went their to celebrate our anniversary that was so good it's been on my mind since! I think the rich, sweet flavor would go well with Fall flavors. I do know exactly where I will be going on this picnic though, the Music Mound in Berea. I've mentioned it before, and it is BEAUTIFUL in Autumn. I remember when Where the Wild Things (lovelovelove) was just out and I wanted to rumpus about the metro parks where the Music Mound is and no one would go with me, because it was raining, so I went alone- and fell in the mud! It was totally worth it though :) Perhaps we will make a day of it, and go to the art museum after the picnic- I've been wanting to go there for a while, I haven't been since early 2010. Two of my favorite places with my favorite person? Sounds like the makings of a wonderful day to me. Do any of you like fall? What about it? Have you been picnicing lately? -R