Dreamy Countenance

Why is it that so many of us persist in thinking that autumn is a sad season? Nature has merely fallen asleep, and her dreams must be beautiful if we are to judge by her countenance.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Crisp air filled our lungs as the Time Traveller and I walked along (Canada's) Thames River.


Fields of goldenrod are now white, as if forecasting the snow to come. Brrrrrr. We warmed up with a delicious bowl of Thai wanton soup at the Mango Salad restaurant.

Falls and Flowers

As hoped, the Sun did shine on my hometown and I was able to checkoff another waterfalls from the list -- only 122 more to go! Patrons of Ancaster's Old Mill Restaurant have a grand view of Upper Mill Falls, and of me trying to get a good shot of this 7m-high classical falls.


I had a better view of non-classical falls at Hamilton's 90th Fall Garden and Chrysanthemum Show. Over 75,000 flowers bloomed before photographic images of the area's most splendid waterfalls.


My favourite scene used white chrysanthemums to imitate snow beside a babbling stream.


If images of snow don't send shudders down my spine, then perhaps I'm getting into the Christmas spirit. Certainly, I found the wreaths decorating downtown Dundas heartwarming.


But most of the show's flowers inspired feelings of sunny warmth. We nicknamed these flowers "pyrotechnic mums" because they looked like exploding fireworks.


Years ago I knit a green and purple sweater for the Time Traveller. I think he wore it once. Nevertheless, I still like the colour combination. Perhaps it's better in nature. This plant in the tropical greenhouse certainly wears it well.


Now, if a green and purple sweater seemed flashy, what about this Passion flower? It didn't hold anything back to attract birds and bees.

Forward Planning

Meet tomorrow's breakfast (along with a couple of cups of coffee). Rain kept me inside today but I'm hoping the weather will clear tomorrow so that I can get out to find another waterfalls without getting drenched. And I'll be healthily fortified with banana bran muffins (and caffeine).

Inducted

I was inducted into a family tradition: the annual trek to the Ashley's warehouse sale. William Ashley is a purveyor of fine china and crystal and every fall its warehouse becomes a mecca for bargain seekers of all sorts of 'dry goods' (to use an old expression). I was introduced to "I-love-my-job" Barbara who kept the crowds waiting entry in order, enjoyed 3 hours manoeuvring our trolley through the packed aisles and couldn't resist buying a tea set to match my Portmeirion teacups purchased in Kew Gardens almost 20 years ago. A fine tradition!

The Cookie Trinity

Nothing is more divine than the combination of butter, sugar and vanilla. I contemplated the perfection of this trinity as I made batches of cookie dough for the upcoming church bazaar. These cookies are simple and delicious so I thought I would share the recipe found in Canadian Living's special "101 Holiday Cookies" issue.

Vanilla Sugar Cookies from Canadian Living's 101 Holiday Cookies
Yield: about 36 cookies

Ingredients:
3/4 cup (175 mL) salted butter, softened
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla, or half vanilla bean
1 egg
2 1/2 cups (625 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking powder
pinch salt

Directions:
1. In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; set aside.
2. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise. Lay, cut side up, on board; scrape out seeds and mash seeds into butter mixture (or, do as I do and simply pour in a teaspoon of vanilla). Beat in egg.
3. In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture in 3 additions, stirring after each. Divide in half and flatten into discs; wrap each and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. On lightly floured surface, roll out each disc to 1/4-inch (5 mm) thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Place, 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake in 350F (180C) oven until light golden on bottoms and edges, about 10 minutes. Let cool on pans on racks for 1 minute; transfer to racks and let cool completely.

Royal icing recipe to follow. Stay tuned.

First Frost

Look out ! Look out !
Jack Frost is about !
He's after our fingers and toes;
And, all through the night,
The gay little sprite
Is working where nobody knows.

He'll climb each tree,
So nimble is he,
His silvery powder he'll shake;
To windows he'll creep,
And while we're asleep,
Such wonderful pictures he'll make.

Across the grass
He'll merrily pass,
And change all its greenness to white;
Then home he will go,
And laugh, "Ho ! ho ! ho !
What fun I have had in the night !"

Cecily E. Pike

Looking out the window this morning, everything looked furry. In the backyard, Jack Frost had sugared the cotoneaster.


And Mom's mums.


In the brisk air, Dad and I raked and bagged leaves. What fun and I'll sleep well tonight!

Cheap Entertainment

The dog wags his tail,
Seeking approval. See mine?
Different message.

Patricia Turner, "Kitty Haiku"

Give Cat an empty shoebox and then sit back for hours of laughter as she manoeuvres herself under the tissue and into the box. For her second act, Cat jumps out of the box and crouches under the tissue, assured that she is camouflaged from her victim (aka a nearby foot). Her tail, however, extends out from under the paper and quivers quickly with the excitement of the hunt. Cat, and my foot, are purveyors of cheap home entertainment. What a pleasure!