Perfect juxtapostion of two seasons!!!
Well, this morning I felt like today was going to be an “Indian Summer” day! My body can sense when the barometric pressure has gone up and I spontaneously wake up earlier and alert and happy! (We won’t go into what happens at the opposite end of the barometric scale – perhaps there is a job in this for me with the Weather Channel?, I digress) I went out snapping pictures while everything was still covered with a heavy dew. Everything is glistening and sparkling – totally inspiring after the last three days of gloom here. Technically speaking, Indian Summer occurs after a hard frost – obviously we have not had one here as you can see from the pictures. But today, it might reach 80 degrees here and by Sunday it may be in the 50s as a high. I guess I think that an October day at 80 degrees is an Indian Summer Day – I’ll just “improvise” and go with that, as I have all the feelings that go along with an Indian Summer day.
The feeling is what is important – the transition that is so definitely coming is more vivid now – the colors are definitely changing, the air is damp even on this brilliant morning. Nights are cool and clammy, yet the sun still has the power to evaporate all of the heavy dew and warm the air and squeeze out a glorious day of sunshine that makes you feels good. It is a tease – a gift that is the best of Summer and at the same time you know that this can’t last much longer and it makes you want to rush to hold onto all that this day can be. The squirrels are totally crazed – running around (as they have been since August here) in a tizzy – gathering and digging holes in some of my pots and hiding their treasures. I tried to snap one just digging outside my window but I can’t get him. This is something awesome to watch – the purity of the drive of instinct – fascinating! In the kitchen, I am totally inspired……….
What does this day inspire me to do – besides take all these pictures?
-make muffins for Ryan 
Recipe is in Recipe section
– experiment with Butternut Squash, other roasted vegetable and Mushroom soup recipes
-bake cookies with spices and dried fruits
-bake big spicy, chocolate cakes
-make pot roast and other braises
-roast vegetables, garlic and shallots
-get out great vinegars and experiment
-bake with apples and pears – apple pies for Ryan
-research pear recipes – I have been doing this for at least a week – compendium coming soon
-hoard all that is left of Summer food memories
I will pick 2 or three of these to do today – but I am off to the Vet and to the stone yard to look at marble and granite.
How can you not love this day?:
Still here and thriving!
The race to ripen before the frost is on! 
Surprise – look what I found – a second bloom and I have never had one on this Jackmanii!
View from my desk -definitely not Summer
Enjoy this glorious day – and please God, send a long string more!!!!!!!!
Beautiful pictures! i would love some muffins right now.