happy halloween!

here's the jack-o-lantern i carved today, and the pumpkin seeds i'm going to roast once they're dry.


oh, MAN, have i mentioned how much i just LOVE fall????!!!!

easily my favorite season, by far.

the temps are finally a bit cooler here (upper 60's/low 70's), and the leaves are all a-crunch underfoot.


i've had a serious hiking agenda lately. literally, every weekend is featuring long walks through city parks, state parks, and other woodsy, quiet places. it really helps with the school burnout. must be all that much more oxygen getting to my brain.

today, i decided, upon a friend's suggestion, to go here. i spent four hours walking, pausing to pick up an acorn for my "nature table" bowl on my coffee table, reflecting, journaling some quick thoughts in a tiny shrine to St. Ann, birdwatching and hearing, taking pictures, and having my homemade picnic lunch on a dock overlooking the lake. what a gorgeous day.












after that, i traveled about 8 more miles up some country roads to go here. had a nice wander around, would love to go back and sit in their wine cafe with a good bottle!

huber:











i'm expecting the trick-or-treaters soon. by the way, did you know about this? i didn't, until AFTER i bought my halloween candy (which i have moral issues with anyway, thanks to the ingredients they put in there). so sad. next year i'll buy all fair trade/organic candy. i wish this was easier/cheaper to buy by the bagful. i do love halloweeen. i just don't believe that people anywhere should suffer for it.

i have tomorrow off from school, a small blessing. i plan to spend it knitting up holiday gifts, cooking, and checking out my yoga studio's new studio just over the river in New Albany (IN).

three-day weekends are the best. i get one NEXT weekend, too! so lucky. here's what i'll be doing next weekend, in addition to a sunday morning community yoga event during this.

(yay!! just had the first trick-or-treaters, though i think it's still WAYYY too early ... it's 5:30 p.m. and the sun is shining!)



and here are some shots from hillcrest ave., a street here in louisville which does it up big for the holiday every year. i loved strolling the street with locally-produced apple cider from here and seeing all the hard work. then i went to a small shindig at a former coworker/friend's house and played fencing and magic power rings with a very eager 6-year-old!





i love how busy-in-a-good-way this time of year feels. the last push/rush of energy before winter's quiet, cozied-up nights indoors.

i finally got the cooking bug back again, too. here's a sneak peek:

red bean curry with brown basmati rice (it's on my stovetop now)

fake sausage bake, with sweet potatoes and apples (thanks, frugal trenches!) and served with maple-mustard glazed potatoes and string beans on the side

chocolate zucchini bread

roasted butternut squash soup

spaghetti squash mexicana

cream of tomato soup

spicy peanut and eggplant soup

pumpkin oatmeal cookies

spicy lentil daal


here's what i'm tossing around for thanksgiving dinner:

vegan puff pastry loaf (from "field roast" company)

peanut soup with fresh rosemary foccacia

pumpkin-sage lasagna

jellied cranberry roll

green bean casserole

some type of squash dish

and for dessert: sweet potato pie!!

for friday breakfast: pumpkin-cranberry scones

what do you think? i think i'm hungry. mmmmm. anyway, i was getting a bit tired of tofu and steamed bok choy (though there's still plenty of that being made in my kitchen on tired weeknights, along with fake meat sammiches on ezekiel grain bread)and boca spicy chickn' patties. time for some real, soul-warming food over the next few months!!

look what my farmer friend nick sold me for $1 at saturday's farmer's market! he's lovely, and aren't they beauties? chopped one up in my basmati rice. soooooo spicy and good!!


i am trying to collect a resource for pretty, eco-human friendly, comfy but classy, clothing. any ideas for me, dear readers? i do want some new clothing sometime in the near future ... i get tired of goodwill and vintage but can't morally shop for stuff at the mall...we all know where 99 percent of that stuff comes from. :-(

i heart my "nature table":


i am blessed. have a great week, everyone! i look forward, as always, to seeing what you're up to this fall, too!