Can you feel it?

The warm humid air of summer is slowly becoming cooler and crisp.  The evenings that were once full of sunshine until well after the kid's bedtime are becoming darker earlier.  The bright green leaves that grace the neighborhood trees are showing hints of different shades of green, red, yellow, orange and brown. The official first day of fall has come....and gone.

While I love the warmth of summer and the long sunny days spent basking in the sun and playing in the water at the beach, pool or on the boat,  there is so much about fall that brings a smile to my face.

Here are a few of my favorite things about fall:

1.  Getting to celebrate another year of marriage to my honey.

2.  Cool mornings, crisp evenings and warm bonfires to take away the chill.

3.  Mother nature's air conditioning, open windows and fresh air.

4.  Cozy sweaters and tall boots

(pinned in on my "My Style" board on Pinterest, but I can't find the source via the website link)

5.  Lazy Sunday afternoons watching football (and maybe, just maybe the back of my eyelids ~ there is
     something to be said for a good Sunday nap)

(Source)

6.  The slow change into beautiful vibrant colors of reds, oranges, yellows, browns and greens.

7.  The lovely, warm, cozy scent of cinnamon in the form of candles, baked goodies and beverages.

8.  Speaking of beverages ~ spiked apple cider ~ mmmmmm
     Need a recipe for yourself ~ try this one (I don't put the ginger in, I keep it warm in a crock pot and
     yep, for the adults I serve it with a shot....or so of spiced rum)!

9.  Chili, soups, casseroles and other warm comfort foods

10.  Fall-ifying my home ~ switching out the seashell and driftwood decor of summer for rich colored
      leaves, pumpkins, candles, flowers and pictures.

11.  Getting to spend time with family during our annual hunting trip.

12.  While I don't like the early setting of the sun, there is something to be said for the beautiful morning
       sunrises that I am able to witness on a very consistent basis due to the darker mornings.

The seasons, they come and go and while there are definitely some I like more than the others, they are all beautiful and unique.  And fall is, hands down, one of my favorite!

What do you like about fall?

Apple Crisp

Because we went to the apple orchard and were able to bring home quite a few apples, I decided to start baking.

I started easy.


Apple Crisp

5 cups sliced, peeled apples
3 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup oats (regular not quick cooking)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup coarsely chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

1. Stir apples and 3Tbs sugar together. Place into a 2 quart baking dish (I sprayed mine with non-stick spray)

2. Make topping by: Combining the oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the nuts. Sprinkle the topping over the apple mixture.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden.

4. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

Mmm, nothing beats the smell of apples and cinnamon

baking on a chilly fall day!

Enjoy!

Sorry, the picture isn't the best ~ it was an afterthought! I was too excited to eat!

Apples

Fall is here.

The leaves are beginning to change.

The temperature is dropping.

The sun fades away earlier and reappears later.

All the signs are here, so....

We took a trip to the apple orchard!

The day was a bit gloomy with a little mist scattered about.

But we had each other and that was the sunshine we created.

hmm.... maybe tomorrow, an apple recipe