Weekend Open Thread: Fall is in the Air!
Here on the East Coast, fall made a pretty dramatic entrance yesterday morning. In 24 hours, the temperature dropped something like 30 degrees and suddenly everyone’s breaking out cozy cardigans, cute newsboy caps and stylish oxford shoes. Typically, I love going “back-to-school” shopping this time of year, but with a big belly and about five weeks to go until I deliver this baby, I’m holding off on my usual seasonal shopping spree until I fit back into normal-size clothes again. In the meantime, I’ll be wearing the same three or four seasonally-appropriate things that actually fit me over and over again because what’s the point in dropping money on something I’ll only wear for the next month and a half?
But regardless of my current fashion conundrum, I am so, so excited for fall. New York City does fall like no other place I’ve ever been, and this year will be personally special for obvious reasons. Despite the recent stresses in our lives — ugh, I have another infection I’ve been dealing with and am hoping it doesn’t land me in the hospital again or start early labor — we are giddy with excitement. The nursery is almost done, the hospital bag is just about packed, I’ve got my third and final baby shower this weekend, and next week we have our childbirth classes and I interview a doula. It’s all coming together! And in the background is my favorite season: pumpkin bread (I made this recipe last weekend. Highly recommend), crisp, cool weather, changing leaves, binging on Halloween candy…
So, what are you looking forward to this fall?
(Oh, and by the way, Miles seems to have made a full recovery! He’s on insulin and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll be able to take him off it in the next couple of weeks, but even if we can’t, I’m so relieved and happy that he pulled through and is back to his old self!).
1. Zip-up hoodies / light jacket weather
2. Pumpkin spice dunkin donut coffee(s)
3. The smell / color of turning leaves
4. Halloween and Thanksgiving
5. A red wine / spice concoction that is way better and more fun than apple cider.
I could go on…fall is by far my favorite season.
Also, glad to hear about Miles – nothing worse than a sick pet!
Ooh! Mulled wine/vin brulé (assuming your red wine/spice concoction is also warmed)! Agree that that is way better and more fun than apple cider, although cider is nice too :).
Funny mulled wine story. We made a gigantic pot of it at a large gathering of our very international group of friends, and there were a lot of Spanish people going “who’s the weirdo who’s warming sangria?”
do you happen to have a recipe for your red wine/ spice concoction? its sounds amazing!
A winery on the finger lakes (near me) sells a bundle pack of it with all the ingredients.
I’m so jealous that you live near the finger lakes. We went up there for a weekend last summer, and the wineries were amazing. I fell in love with Bully Hill and Earle Estates!
aw dang- your gonna make me experiment? haha it’ll be terrible. i hope it wont take too many batches!! lol
That photo is absolutely beautiful! This is what I love most about Fall. When the trees are so beautiful, the air is crisp, no a/c or heat needed (a much needed break on the gas & electricity bill!) and all the yummy fall food favorites. Perfect weather for snugglin too! 🙂
First and foremost, I am looking forward to HALLOWEEN. It’s my favorite holiday by far. ***but I need costume ideas – suggestions???***
AND, fall fashion is my favorite – I like jackets, scarves, boots, and fun tights/leggings!
I’ve also ordered all my fall-scented Bath & Body Works candles and Wallflowers and can’t wait to smell leaves, pumpkin, cinnamon, and fireside every time I walk in my door!
My A/C bill is about to drop dramatically, which is always a plus.
And I, too, am a fan of pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING. Bring it!
Last but not least, Oktoberfest.
OOOOHHHH! Oktoberfest! BEER!!!!!!!!
i can’t believe i forgot bier!! and spaetzle and spiced apples and wiener schnitzle and i could go on
And here in Germany, Oktoberfest began today at 12 noon. O’zapft ist!!! Roughly translated, it means that the keg has been tapped. The Lord Mayor of Munich does the honors and then makes that pronouncement. Cheers!
During the summer, my pet sulcata tortoise, Gamera, happily walks about in her outdoor pen and grazes grass like a horse. In the fall, I start bringing her inside so that she’s not subject to potentially wet winters. I enjoy watching the fall TV season as she walks up and down the hallway. If the show is entertaining enough, sometimes she’ll sit perfectly still to watch what’s on the screen – Gammie loves watching shows with lots of color and music.
So does my puppy! I can’t let my African Hingeback turtle participate, though, because he might get eaten. He’s rather cranky about no longer have free reign.
OMG I totally want a pet tortoise now! How does a person get a pet tortoise anyways?
I know there are reptile conventions and websites out there that sell tortoises. Your best bet is to google your area for a Herpetology Society – they’ll gladly educate you about the reptile you wish to acquire. The most important thing is to make sure that the animal you’re obtaining is bred for husbandry – keep the ones that are wild in the wild.
Sulcatas are currently listed as a vulnerable species in the conservation status, so there is a threat of endangerment in the wild. I acquired Gamera when I was visiting my family in NY and she came up to tug my shoelace when I was pumping air in a bike tire for a ride. While taking her home, I reported her missing to the police.
Since no one filed a report for a missing tortoise, I flew her back to my house, where the weather is warmer. She was given a vet appointment and has been living with our family for over a year now. The vet told us she’s most likely a female and only a 7-year old juvenile at almost a foot long, so she still has some growing to do. Gamera will most likely outlive me and my husband, so we have to make sure that we have a provision in our will for her accordingly.
Wow that is really really cool. Guess she chose you, huh? Smart lady!
i am looking forward to:
anything pumpkin/apple/cinnamon in both food and beverage form
the smell of my cinnamon spiced candle mixing with the fall air coming in my windows
cardigans
cooking big pots of soup and chili
cuddling with my dogs on the porch with a blanket
watching football with my husband (or napping/reading magazines/browsing the web while he watches said football ;))
really the only thing i’m really not looking forward to is it getting darker earlier!
I agree about the getting darker earlier thing. Sometimes I need to walk home from work around 8 and as they say, the freaks come out at night 🙁
I like it getting darker earlier! It makes me eat dinner earlier, and I sleep better during the winter.
Luckily, I live in the middle of my town, so all the streets are well-lit and I carry a taser… but elsewhere, I can understand being worried about creeps at night.
ahh yes see i live in the ‘country’ so when it’s dark it is dark! i don’t worry about creeps but i do worry about creepy crawlies and just not being able to enjoy the scenery 😉
my two beagles were the best thing I did while I was single. it was so nice to come home to two faces that were happy to see my no matter what. I had an apartment and one beagle to start, and he was crate trained, so it’s not all that bad. i didn’t get the second dog until i bought my house with a fenced in backyard, so one might be enough for an apartment! dogs really are awesome, and I don’t think you’ll regret it, just get the right dog for you and your situation.
As this is an open thread, I have a question.
I am in the process of breaking up with my live-in boyfriend (he has movers coming in two weeks). I work a high-stress, multi-hour job in NYC, and am really worried about being lonely. And I’ve always wanted a dog. I have a fairly ginormous apartment so I’d have tons of room. But I don’t have tons of time. But other people with my job who are single have dogs! There is a very real part of me going “why do they get to have them and i don’t??” I had a dog growing up. I can’t do cats because my whole family is allergic. I’d do a dog walker once a day and itd be a pee-pad dog. Am I a horrible person if i get a dog? Is this the worst decision ever?
No. I have a friend who is an accountant and is super busy too. She probably logs more hours in at work than anywhere else. But, she wanted a dog. So, she adopted an older shelter dog. She has a walker that comes in once a day like you said. I think it’s mostly important to find the right dog for you. Adopt a dog with low energy vs. a golden retriever puppy haha 😉
I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all, as long as you don’t get a super-hyper dog or a puppy. Normally I really disapprove (as much as I, a non-dog owner, have any right to) of people who get dogs if they don’t have a yard for the dog to run around in, but I think with a big apartment and a walker coming in once a day you’d be fine. I second what amber said about getting an older, shelter dog, though. First off, they’re already trained (hopefully), and they’re a lot more mellow. Plus, you’re giving a home to a poor abandoned dog!
Sometimes coming home to a fuzzy face that’s always happy to see you can make all the difference 🙂
No, its not a horrible dscison at all! I have to tell you, I am a dog person. I have a full breed american pitbull terrier (please, if you have horrible opinions about these dogs, keep it to yourself, not to be mean, but it really is the owners, not the dogs) he cannot compete because of his one blue eye, one brown eye. And I grew up with labs. They are the best animals! Always happy to see you, always there for you if your upset, angry, crying etc. But look into the breed you get! Pitbulls have very very bad seperation anxiety and will go into a depression when their owners are away for long periods of time,, and they have a tendency to destroy everything in their path when bored! Mine ate thru a wall….yes a wall! Just to get into our bedroom. Just using my dog as an example, so make sure you do your research on the breed you want! Make sure they are lovable but also independent! The needier the breed the more destructive they can be when left alone and bored! Sorry for the long response, but I love my boy! And dogs in general! Trust me, they are better than boyfriends and they will never leave you! Good luck!:)
He came from a line of show dogs but he cannot compete bc of his different colored eyes*** sorry, damn phone….some how I managed to delete that part of the sentence! 🙂
yes i second the pitt bulls and separation anxiety (only from my experience) my one dog is a pitt bull mix and she is just terrible. at first it was so bad that my husband and i had to be in the same room at all times when we first adopted her or she’d cry. she’s gotten better (also taking doggie anti-depressants has helped) as she’s been with us longer (and away from the shelter). basically like you said know the breed!
now that i have them i can’t imagine life without my dogs. they really do add so much to your life 🙂
I will never own another breed of dog now. They say once you have apit you will never own any other kind of dog, and they are right! Well for me anyways 🙂 they def have their bad. Sides like eating the entire bed and pillows and blankets because he was mad at you (at 8 months old) having to hide every single pair of heels and sandals, boots,, sneakers etc, because he missed you! And much much more! This year we took him to the bay and it has a lot of rocks, so I kept falling and he kept trying to save me, he was so proud of himself and I ended up with a lot of cuts and scratches from his nails! The best is when I tell people stories about him or things he does, they never believe me! Then they meet him and they are like “OMG you really weren’t lying!” Oh and he loves big boobs! My sister came over and he totally pulled her shirt down for everyone to see!
haha yep oh the pillows i’ve gone through! glad it’s not just me. actually makes me feel a little better! my little girl has her own quirks. she demands to be rubbed to sleep and will paw at you (with her what she thinks are super delicate paws) until you meet those demands. but then when she falls asleep she likes to cuddle next to you and you forget she just tried to scratch you to death, haha. they really are a misunderstood breed. it’s all about the owners!
It’s not the worst decision ever. It might be very good for you, and make you feel safer, to get a dog! You should definitely try to find a dog who doesn’t like other dogs, or get two dogs, so that he isn’t lonely all day. Also, do you have a room that he can really move around in and play in while you’re at work? Crate training is good, but I too feel bad about leaving my dog in a crate for 8 hours or more… especially if there’s the potential for me to run late. So I leave him with full reign over my tiled bathroom with all his toys during days like that. But I’m still considering getting another dog so that he’s never lonely…
Right now, the dog could have her own room! though I’m trying to move, so itd probably be a bathroom thing too then. But right now, she’d have a palace.
You might want to consider getting an “apartment breed”…
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm
… with low energy:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/exerciselow.htm
I think it sounds like the best idea ever. Permanent cuddle buddy. I definitely think that you should do it, and if you rescue a shelter dog, that makes you a ~better~ person. Honestly!
Just a side note… because I can easily see this becoming a huge debate…
Please, don’t start the “designer dog shaming”. Getting from a shelter is a good, humanitarian thing to do, but sometimes buying from a breeder is the more logical choice. Shelters cannot promise certain characteristics or good health – it’s a “buyer beware” situation, with no guarantee on attitude or character or genetic defects. For someone who absolutely must get a dog who is good in small spaces with a calm and not-high-maintenance personality and will not randomly develop hip dysplasia or start having seizures in the middle of a work day, going to a breeder can be a better choice.
And btw, shelters exist because people are irresponsible and give their dogs up whenever they become inconvenient. Shame THEM for creating the need for shelters, not the people who buy from breeders and keep their dogs for ever.
I didn’t mean to do that, at all. My mom purchased two purebred dachshund puppies (long haired, gorgeous) and I loved them to pieces. I actually kind of figured someone would take my comment that way, but I didn’t intend it.
I also know that sometimes rescue dogs have been abused or mistreated in the past, so their personalities might be skittish or they can have behavioral problems.
I guess I just meant, since a puppy doesn’t sound like the best idea for her, that she could get an adult dog from a shelter. Or Craigslist. Or the neighbors porch. Where ever!
One final thing – some breeders, the “backyard breeders,” are really not good to get your pets from because they only care about getting lots of money and not about breeding healthy dogs. Getting a dog from a reputable breeder is different – but also expensive.
Side note: my dream dog is either a weimaraner or a king charles spaniel.
I didn’t mean to do that, at all. My mom purchased two purebred dachshund puppies (long haired, gorgeous) and I loved them to pieces. I actually kind of figured someone would take my comment that way, but I didn’t intend it.
I also know that sometimes rescue dogs have been abused or mistreated in the past, so their personalities might be skittish or they can have behavioral problems.
I guess I just meant, since a puppy doesn’t sound like the best idea for her, that she could get an adult dog from a shelter. Or Craigslist. Or the neighbors porch. Where ever!
One final thing – some breeders, the “backyard breeders,” are really not good to get your pets from because they only care about getting lots of money and not about breeding healthy dogs. Getting a dog from a reputable breeder is different – but also expensive.
Side note: my dream dog is either a weimaraner or a king charles spaniel.
I actually kind of figured someone would take my comment that way, but I didn’t intend it. My mom purchased two purebred dachshund puppies (long haired, gorgeous) and I loved them to pieces.
I also know that sometimes rescue dogs have been abused or mistreated in the past, so their personalities might be skittish or they can have behavioral problems.
I guess I just meant, since a puppy doesn’t sound like the best idea for her, that she could get an adult dog from a shelter. Or Craigslist. Or the neighbors porch. Where ever!
One final thing – some breeders, the “backyard breeders,” are really not good to get your pets from because they only care about getting lots of money and not about breeding healthy dogs. Getting a dog from a reputable breeder is different – but also expensive. You can also find rescue societies for basically any breed of dog – so you can get a purebred dog that needs a forever home.
Side note: my dream dog is either a weimaraner or a king charles spaniel. Sorry if my comment is kind of out of order – I have a hangover and I’m waiting to get picked up from work.
Holy shit. I didn’t mean to post that three times. I thought it didn’t post. 🙁 And then I added more to it.
Sadly, I just did out my finances and it doesn’t look like I can afford one. 🙁 . Damn student loans (mine are absolutely atrocious) and stupid boyfriend making me move to a now-out-of-my-comfort-zone apt (half was perfect, full is doable, but then no doggie 🙁 ) . Maybe i’ll get a tamagotchi. Same thing, right?
(and just a pre-emptive answer to, why don’t I move: I’m trying, but any place I move is going to be roughly the same price I live now. If I move, its going to be a crazy fun area, with an easy commute to work, or else it isn’t worth it (financially or mentally) and any place that meets that description is my current rent or more (down grading from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bdrm, or even an alcove studio). I’m not willing to deal with movers (5th floor walkup with a 2 bedroom apt full of furniture and all white collar friends makes movers a non-negotiable) and a broker fee (don’t have the time to do it myself) means it has to awesome, because i’m going to be paying for it. Not willing to put in the money and time for an equally hum-drum place with just a smaller rent.]
[Secondary note: I usually am swamped at work; these last few days were an aberration (though a good one!)]
Years ago I was living in an apartment about 900 sq ft, working 8 to 6, and taking some classes here and there. I decided to get a small terrier puppy. I’m sure everyone has different views on this and different outcomes but it ended up being a terrible situation. I really could not give her the attention she needed, the outdoor time puppies need or give her time for proper training. Long, sad story short- I ended up giving her away to a family in my town who had a great fenced in backyard and plenty of time home. I felt selfish for having adopted her in the first place. She was much better off where she ended up. I now have 2 cats which has worked out perfectly. But I would definitely proceed with caution and really be sure you could give a dog a good home. I hope this helps and doesn’t deter you if you feel you would be able to do a better job than I did.
Oops I see everyone has also given sone good advice and now see you can’t get one anyway. Maybe some day! Good luck.
I’m so glad to hear about Miles feeling better 🙂
Where I live we don’t really have fall. We have triple digit summers, a few weeks of cold night and hot days and then freezing winters.
The thing I look forward most to in the coming months is… Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim! I’ve been waiting for a sequel to that game for so long!! That and when its cold, Melaina likes to sleep next to me to stay warm 🙂
We’re getting married in November which makes me all squishy/happy inside.
Also, I live in Phoenix, and getting away from the 100+ deg. temps sounds like heaven, right now.
AND! I’ll be getting to go visit my family in India for the first time in about 7-8 years in early December for my cousin’s wedding. Big gaudy, garish, Punjabi wedding? Sold!
I look forward most to:
Warm snuggly sweaters
Cute boots and warm toes
Longer nights (more parties!)
Soup
Cute gloves (I have a vintage pair of kidskin gloves inherited from my grandmother… I love love love them)
Cute berets
Rain
Nights spent in front of the fire place, reading a Star Trek novel and drinking red wine while snuggling with my dog
Being able to use the heated seats in my car
Winter jackets (I’m obsessed with jackets, but in Arizona we so rarely have the occasion for them)
Crisp morning air
Holidays in Mexico (I participate in the Backpacks For Jesus campaign in the slum areas surrounding Guaymas every Christmas, it really makes me feel the “spirit of the season”)
live in california – what are these “seasons” you speak of?
I’m jealous. Summer is my favorite summer and I wish I could have summer all the time.
You think you do, but you don’t. Summers are hot. Summers are sweaty. When its summer in November you are not happy, you are hot.
The best thing about summer is that it does not overstay its welcome. Except in places where it does (my current home Houston, my previous homes in Florida) and then you HATE it for 8 months instead of getting to love it for 4.
For instance, I could say winter is my favorite and I wish it was winter year round. But I know that if I had to deal with winter for months and months the way I did with summer I would not be a happy camper.
God I am so ready for summer to be over, in case you didn’t catch that. Unfortunately, mine has another good month to go.
I love fall so much, mainly for one reason-college football! I love curling up with a good fall beer and my husband and watching college football friday nights and all day Saturday.
Fall makes me so homesick for the town I attended college in. It’s this little town in the middle of nowhere that is absolutely beautiful in the fall, fall foliage and football games and events are amazing there. Every year when that first smell of fall is in the air I’m instantly transported to a huge tailgating field surrounded by mountains and amazing fall colors with pumpkin beer to drink and BBQ and pumpkin pie to eat with the school band in the background and drunk, happy fans everywhere.
Sigh, that was dramatic haha Can you tell I’m feeling a little homesick today?
Yay for football! I’m going back to my college for a game in a couple weeks, and I’m so psyched! Hoping the fall colors will be awesome.
FOOTBALL! and fantasy football
I just got reassigned to teach a couple of classes at the high school in my district, and I’m good friends with the band director, so I’m kind of stoked – he asked me to chaperone on the band buses. I missed that!
I just got reassigned to teach a couple of classes at the high school in my district, and I’m good friends with the band director, so I’m kind of stoked – he asked me to chaperone on the band buses to the game. I missed that!
I live in Dallas, TX and we don’t have a real “fall” here. What I love about this week, though, is the fact that I can walk outside without immediately breaking a sweat! It’s in the 80’s today and it feels fabulous. We’ve had 100+ degree heat all summer – it’s actually the hottest summer ever in the history of where I live, I was told.
What I’m looking forward to:
-PUMPKIN STUFF!!!!!!! I have some pumpkin cookies that I want to try to make, and I can’t wait! Delicious.
-Making soups and stews! It’s been too hot all summer, and I have been dying to make chili, but it seemed absurd to eat that when it’s 110 degrees outside.
-Boots! I will probably be able to wear shorts for at least a couple more months, but I was able to bust out a pair of boots last night. I missed them.
-I can finally go running outside again! It’s been just TOO hot for that.
-My house is going to be a reasonable temperature, finally! And electricity bills will go down. I live in a 1920’s duplex and we don’t have central A/C, so this summer has been particularly brutal.
-Buying a new cardigan (or two!) soon. I’m on the hunt.
-The World Series!!! Go Rangers!
Whew. I’m so happy that it’s Friday. I’m piddling away the rest of the workday until I can go home.
I second the World Series! Go any team that is NOT the Yankees, Braves, Tigers, or Brewers!
Fall? Fall exists? It still feels like summer here in Houston, TX. I can’t wait for it to get cooler. This heat just really affects a person, you know? The longer I spend outside, the more sick and tired I feel. Plus, I really hate wearing little clothing in public – I prefer to wear jeans most of the time, especially since I spend most of my time in freezing classrooms. (Can I ask – why do people feel the need to make buildings absolutely FREEZING when it’s boiling outside? Can we not just make a building temperature comfortable? I get cold super, super easily. It’s ridiculous.)
However, while waiting for it to get colder, I will be looking forward to the nip in the air, the smell of barbecue (which smells better in fall, I think – is that crazy?) and the holidays. I will get to take a break from school, hooray! I’m looking forward to Halloween. I’m looking forward to wearing dresses with tights and my boots again.
I don’t like winter that much, but after this awful summer, I’ll gladly take it. I hope it rains soon too. Texas needs a tropical storm or a hurricane to come along. Which sounds awful of me, but that’s how bad things are here. Everything is dead or close to dead, and if anybody follows the news, the wildfire danger is GREAT. And the drought is expected to continue well into next year….damn La Nina.
I am also looking forward to Houston’s Wine Fest next weekend! I love wine 🙂
I agree with your entire first paragraph. Also, I agree with you that barbecue smells better in the fall – especially when combined with fall beer and college football 😀
And I’ve been trying to run all summer in Houston and it suuuuuuuucks. I’m looking forward to NOT running in 100+ weather.
Wine fest? How did I not hear about this? There is one in Kemah – don’t know if that’s the same thing you’re talking about, but in any case, that’s awesome!
Well, there is one in Kemah – but no, the one I’m going to is in Sam Houston Park downtown next weekend. http://www.houstonwinefest.com/ I bought a Groupon weekend pass for it about a month ago and I’m going with one of my best friends. It’s going to be great!!! But I have to make sure I drink plenty of water, lest I die from some combination of wine and heat. Wine makes me really, REALLY fucking hot.
It’s supposed to rain cats and dogs all week – I know, we’ve heard that before, but I saw real, live clouds driving to work this morning. I leave the house at 6:15, and there’s a massive difference in the morning temperature the last couple of weeks, so it’s going to start cooling off soon in the daytime. I was driving with my windows down last week and even had to turn my heat on for like a minute!
Fall is probably my favorite time of year on the Gulf Coast – it feels like a breath of fresh air after our muggy summers – or, you know, not so muggy this year. There are days in October and November when the weather feels just absolutely perfect – not too cool, no longer hot, not windy, just wonderful. And if you hit the beach about a month from now, no one’s there, and the water is this gorgeous opaque jade green. No tourists, great food around town, and completely gorgeous weather.
It rained on my house for a whole 15 minutes this afternoon!!!! Exciting! I live in Pearland and gave up watering my lawn in August so you can imagine what that looks like. Maybe the rain this week will be enough to turn it green again.
My boyfriend and I always have a running list of things we will do “in October.” All summer we are like “Oh lets do this” and then the other will reply “in October!” October is a very busy month for us and I’m looking forward to the great outdoors being great again!
PUMPKIN PIE!!!! OMG I love pumpkin pie. Home made pumpkin pie that’s like 4 inches thick. With home made whipped cream. MMMM! And Thanksgiving. I’m Canadian so Thanksgiving is coming really really soon 🙂 Less than a month!
My parents are moving into a new home in the country (a log home). I’m excited and sad. Sad because my chid hood home is now sold and they are leaving it behind forever 🙁 Excited to see the new house and build new memories!
My mother is already on my case about bringing her grandkittens over 🙂
i made homemade pumkpin pie last year… wow. there is such a huge difference. its amazing! and honestly, its not that much more work…. yum. now i want pumpkin pie. lol
katie, as someone who grew up in the restaurant world, I’m always impressed by a chef who actually cooks/bakes for pleasure because from what I’ve encountered that is kind of a rarity! Your boyfriend is majorly lucky …in my experience, dating a chef = a constant stream of take-out 😉
haha- that is so true. my boyfriend will cook a legitimate meal maybe 2 or 3 times a week… but boy, those two or three times are amazing! haha. i know that I dont bake as much as he would like, but whenever he asks for anything special, i make it happen. lol thanksgiving last year was awesome. we had homemade pumpkin pie, homemade applie pie (and i make a mean crust, i wont even lie.. its yummy!) we did a goose instead of a turkey, and then the best mashed potatoes ever, and then all the standards- sweet potatoes, stuffing, ect. major holidays with chefs = incredible food.
oh- and the cranberry orange compote! omg that was amazing too. we ate that on sugar cookies forever…. mmm… cranberries…
i am honestly sad it is fall time now. happy for all the cuddling/hot chocolate/ general warmth… but, i hate being cold. like, more then anything. and i am always cold in the fall, winter and spring! so i am sad it is going to be cold. i wish that there was a way to do all those feel-good activities without first being cold… but, then that would totally negate the whole “warmth” of it, so that would never work.
hello, sweats, hoodies, and my electric blanket- we are going to be spending a lot of time together…. haha
Love fall and football season! That being said, this fall has come with a dilemma! I got invited to a wedding at the end of October. The invite was for a girl’s wedding who I was very close with when we were kids. Then we had a falling out and didn’t speak again until some occasional run ins when we went to the same college. We worked together one summer and carpooled to work. However, we haven’t spoken in at least three years. I didn’t even know she was engaged! And clearly she had no idea I got married this summer, as my invite was addressed to Ms. ______ and guest. I politely declined, saying I had a family event I had already committed to. My question is- do I need to send a gift? I would never think of not sending a gift for a friend’s wedding I couldn’t attend, but I feel like I don’t even know the bride anymore and I have no idea why she invited me.
Also, I just graduated law school, haven’t found a job, and my husband and I are pretty broke. Should I send a gift I spent my normal wedding amount on, should I send a smaller, less expensive gift, or not send a gift at all? Any advice would be great!
I don’t know what is the “technically” correct thing to do about this, but if it were me I would send a nice card but thats about it.
And congrats on finishing law school! That’s a helluva feat! I am working on studying for my LSATs.
Thanks! When I prepped for my LSATs I basically just practiced, practiced, practiced. That’s the only way I got a handle on those damn logic problems! Good luck!
I have a few practice games, cards and tests. So far I’m doing pretty well (well enough to get into the school I want to), but I just want to make sure I’m hitting my own personal goal.
Three words: Logic Games Bible. Combine that with whatever you’ve been using that makes sense to you, and you’ll be unstoppable. It’s like 20 bucks on amazon. and has a picture of a bullseye-ish thing on the cover.
There are only 2 things I really like about fall:
– FOOTBALL! What more do I need to add to that? Go Packers and Go Badgers 😉
– Halloween. I am a HUGE Halloween junkie. I don’t decorate for any other holiday, but for Halloween I go all out and have a “slaughter room” (bathroom), “dungeon” (dining room), “spider room” (living room) and a huge graveyard in the front yard. I have something along the lines of 16 large rubbermaid containers full of Halloween decorations, plus a few that don’t fit in the containers (including my awesome 6 1/2 foot winged reaper).
Football, foliage, crisp cool air. Rolling down the car windows and being chilly then putting the car heat on my feet to warm up. Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking to the top of a mountain to get the most incredible view of leaves that are on fire with color.
I love the weather and colors and the sense that Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching. I love apple cider and hot chocolate, especially the first time I get to drink them under a cozy blanket in front of a fire. I love being able to wear scarves and long sleeves and leggings under my skirts and finally pull all of my beautiful boots out of storage! I love watching the holiday Charlie Brown movies starting at Halloween.
Oh, and most importantly: my BIRTHDAY! Which happens to be the first day of fall… Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year. No contest.
is the first day of fall october 23rd this year? i remember reading that somewhere… and if so, that is my birthday to!! haha
September 23rd, just next week!
ah ok i knew i had read the 23rd somewhere… lol.
Chicago in the fall is also fantastic, as I’m sure you know, Wendy. Going to the apple farm tomorrow (after a quick 5k race) and eating lots of apple donuts, drinking cider etc!
THEN I get to go to Green Tie Ball! Woohooo! Fancy dress, bf wearing a tux (holy shit how did I convince him to do that?), lots of lovely food. Guiding a blind runner for 10 miles Sunday morning… BUSY weekend. Hopefully I can squeeze in a pumpkin spice latte 🙂
Things I love about fall:
PERFECT RUNNING WEATHER
apples
carving pumpkins
argyle sweaters
new missoni jacket 🙂 yay target
leather boots
peacoats
crunchy leaves
canning applesauce and jams and salsa
chicago marathon
homemade soup!
oh yeah, morning runs
I love fall so much! It won’t really hit us for probably another month in Houston, but at least we’re not in triple digits anymore. It’s impossible to sit outside in the summer here without feeling gross, so I can’t wait to do some porch sitting at my favorite bars – my roommate and I decided we need to hit one up tomorrow night.
I love fall foods – anything involving apples or gourds is high on my list, plus hot drinks are lovely when it’s cool out. Even inside the house this summer, drinking hot coffee made me all gross and sweaty. And actually being able to be outside during daylight hours without wanting to punch a puppy is wonderful after four-plus months of only going to and from the car. And the South Texas beaches get really pretty in the fall. Tourists talk about the gross brown water, but once they all leave to go back to school and work, the water goes to this amazing jade color. It isn’t clear – we still get runoff from the Mississippi – but it’s so pretty. And you’re one of maybe five people on the beach for miles.
We’ve got some great food trucks in Houston, and a lot of them have been revamping their menus for fall, plus a lot of the trucks got crippled by the heat and are back up and running. I’m looking forward to spending my Saturdays hunting them down – it’s like a scavenger hunt, except you get to eat what you find.
Miles recovery is the best news of the week.
Wendy- that picture you posted of yourself and Miles when he was sick just gnawed at my heart. Not to be a huge cheese-ball but the love you have for that cat is completely reflected in your eyes. After realizing that, I felt this pit in my stomach from worry about miles possibly not making it that entire weekend. (Admittedly, I have a major soft spot for animals as I find it much more upsetting to see a film where an animal dies than one featuring the death of a person.)
I love love love the fall. Even came up with my own coffee mix for it and everyone loves it. Just mix like 1/2 a tsp of pumpkin pie spice (I make my own) into your coffee grinds and brew! It is great and makes the kitychen smell like fall! Or you can just mix your fall spices into the grinds, works great either way! 🙂 I use french vanilla creamer, cinnabun creamer or pumpkin spice creamer instead of milk and sugar as well. Just wanted to share! 🙂
Well, summer is by far my favorite season but there are things I like about fall. The leaves are beautiful when they change color, and Halloween parties are always fun. My parents are strict Baptists who made me stop dressing up and trick-or-treating when I was only 8 because it’s “the devil’s holiday.” So now, as an adult, I consider it part of my hard-won freedom to celebrate Halloween.
However, this fall is completely different than most. My life is going to change dramatically this fall, either for the better or (seemingly) for the worse. As I’ve discussed on a previous open thread, my boyfriend of 8 yrs has been dragging his feet about getting engaged. When his family announced that they are moving to NC this fall, he said he definitely wanted to go with them (understandably, the area we live in sucks). While he first just assumed I would come, I decided that I’m not moving out of state unless we get engaged first. In my book, 8 yrs is a plenty long trial-run and I don’t want to be stuck in a place where my only support system is him and his family. So I basically gave him an ultimatum, either put a ring on it before the move or I’m staying here with my friends and family. So far, no ring. We have had many conversations about it, and he says that he loves me and has the same family goals as I do but he’s nervous about the whole idea of getting married. I told him that his choice at this point is not whether he wants to get married but whether he wants to continue being with me at all. At 27, I’m starting to get baby-itis where I see a cute baby on a commercial and it makes me cry. If this relationship doesn’t work out, I am going to have to MOA in time to meet someone who is willing to give me the life and the family I want.
So I guess this fall, I will either be changing my FB relationship status to “engaged” or “single.” Still hoping for the first one, although the longer he delays the less hope I hold.
I think you’re doing the right thing. He may never reach the point where he’s comfortable getting married and if this doesn’t make him decide to get engaged he likely never would. I know it hurts but it’s the right thing.
Thanks. I’ve been having a heart attack about it ever since, but I know deep down it’s the right thing for me. I am really truly in love with this man, even after 8 years together, but that’s not worth giving up my dreams of a beautiful family and bouncing babies on my knee. And I am NOT ok with choosing to have children outside of marriage. I think a child is a bigger commitment than a marriage, if you’re not ready for the lesser commitment than you are most definitely ready for the huge one.
whoops I meant to say NOT ready. Oy, time for a drink.
This is my perspective on marriage and children, which is obviously probably not the same for everyone. Children are a huge commitment. I don’t know that they are a bigger commitment but they certainly are a huge commitment that create alot of stress in a marriage. In my mind they are a different type of commitment than marriage (I’ve been married for 24 years and have a 20 year old son and an 11 year old daughter). Marriage is a commitment to an equal whom you wish to share the remainder of your life with. You will grow and change with each other and be the prime companion for life. A child is born completely dependant, to the point that you won’t leave them alone even once for about the first twelve years of their life. A young child needs lots of time and attention from the parents because they are helpless, so can’t even meet their most basic needs independently, because they need constant supervision to keep them safe and because they need guidance to teach them the rules of society so that they become a good person. That’s a huge commitment on the part of the parent. The partner can do things independently and doesn’t need supervision but is a constant companion with whom you share the ups and downs of life. My husband and I have been through cancer together and also the death of his dad and the deaths of a grandmother each. We’ve also been through four surgeries with our son and health problems with our daughter. A spouse who is there for support and encouragement is a tremendous asset. Also, a good spouse is a pleasure to be around most of the time, your life is more fun with them in it and your days are fuller because you share them.
When I married I felt that the commitment was there without the marriage but that the marriage was a protection for both of us and especially for children. Marriage makes you each others next-of-kin and so the closest relative of each other. It makes you the one who makes the hospital decisions in an emergency. It also makes your husband the legal father of your children and makes each of you the heir of the other and makes your children the heirs of your husband. I think all of that is important.
I think you perfectly illustrated the pros and totally agree with you. And if it makes any difference, I’m a single mom, no father involved at all.
I think that being a single parent is one of the most difficult things a person can do so have great respect for all those who do a great job of it and so many really do it well.
I just saw this and it reminded me of you.
Especially the line that says “when a guy is really interested in a woman he doesn’t play games.” It’s the same as a guy will make you his girlfriend if he wants you to be his girlfriend. He’ll make you his wife if he wants you to be his wife.
I definitely think you are doing the right thing in issuing this ultimatum. (And I’m generally against most ultimatums.) You have been together well over long enough to know if you are compatible and work well together. Good luck, and definitely keep us updated!
New seasons of our favorite TV shows!!!!
Looking forward to doing a lot of cocooning. Fall is my most ” selfish” season. I do a lot of cooking in preparation for the winter> I spent last weekend making chicken pot pies & leek & potato soup, yesterday were the tomatoes, today I might make butternut squash soup and probably next weekend will be pickled eggplant & jarred roasted peppers.
I also usually need to make some sort of change in my appearance every fall, I wonder what this year will be.
Ok this might be unrelated but is anyone here a Google+ member ?
I need an invite, pretty pleeeease 😉
Sorry Izzy, I’ve got a Google account and tried to join plus but they’ve reached capacity and wont let me join. I signed up to be notified when there’s space and when I do I’ll let you know.
Send me an email via my web site. I can’t access the private messages on TF.
I have some invites left that I will gladly share. Send an e-mail to my username at gmail with a subject that says “dear wendy google plus” and I’ll send you the invite. 🙂
Done 🙂 —thanks!!
I’m also on their notification list 🙁
Oups… that was a reply to Eddie ˆˆ
I’ve been a long time lurker, and now I am a first time poster! I love love love fall, and couldn’t resist posting a comment on this page.
First, I am so glad Miles is feeling better! I have two cats myself, so I know how hard it is to watch them get sick without being able to help them. My best friend AND brother just lost a cat each within the last two weeks, so I’m glad that Miles was able to pull through!
Second, to answer your question … I love pretty much what everyone else does about fall! Most of mine are about smells and tastes, so it might a weird little list.
– Apples, fresh apple cider, fresh doughnuts, and apple pie!
– Hazelnut hot chocolate from Starbucks. Usually, SB is take it or leave it, but from September to December, I’m in love with anything Hazelnut/Peppermint mocha (even though PM is more Christmasy)
– The smell of the leaves. I live in the midwest, and I love not only the sight, but also the smell of the changing leaves.
– Turning the heat on in the house for the first time. It sounds weird, but smelling the heat reminds me of years past, turning it on, and cuddling up with a good book on the couch or watching TV while baking cookies, or watching football/hockey with the family. Makes me feel all warm and safe.
– Sweaters/Jeans/Hoodies/Cold weather clothes. I’m a huge fan of anything with cables, and anything with a hood. I’m not a fan of the weather after October in Michigan, but from now until Halloween it’s pretty perfect for your favorite pair of worn in jeans, your favorite Red Wings hoodie and your trusty Doc Martins.
– Speaking of Halloween … HALLOWEEN! Ha. My favorite holiday by far.
– Weather wise, my favorite kind of days happen in fall too. I love it when it’s kind of chilly, overcast/grey with maybe some rain. Again, reminds me of cuddling up at home or with the one you love while it’s kind of gross outside, and just enjoying being cozy and warm while listening to the rain. Plus the smell of the rain and the smell of the leaves mixed together is heavenly.
I like the smell of the heat being turned on for the first time, too!!
And I can’t believe I forgot Halloween in my post. I _LIVE_ for Halloween. My house is pretty much decorated for it all year long (internally). My goal is to have a place that looks like the Addams family house.
YAY for Miles! And yay for pumpkin bread! Hell, yay for pumpkin anything. Aside from the leaves chaning color, pumkiny flavors is my favorite part of this time of year. You could put pumpkin on cardboard and I’d nom it.