Mid-August Days & A New Book

Hello, friends.   I've been noticing and enjoying how the slant and quality of the light is changing in the evenings, as we move towards autumn.  While walking by the solar panel array, I noticed quite a few puffballs.  They're the first mushroom I learned and ate, 20+ years ago.  I harvested a small one, and added it to several store bought mushrooms for a dinner side.  I made on online food purchase, with a 20% off code, and 4% cash back.  Figs and pawpaws were offered to neighbors.  One came by for figs; the other is out of town, and will come for both soon.

Last week, I harvested a cucumbers or two, a few tomatoes, and two peppers from the garden, as well as sweet potato leaves for smoothies.  While gathering flowers for a bouquet, I found some bonus potatoes that the rains had unearthed.  Two were very small, but one was of decent size.  In addition to the changing light, another sign that Fall is on it's way is the goldenrod that has begun blooming.  I wanted to say a big thank you to the friend who sent a card.  You know who you are.

I've shared recipes here before, from Elspeth Hay.  Two that come to mind are whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, and brownies which incorporate winter squash. Both are fantastic.  Last month, her new book came out, Feed Us With Trees.  I'm reading it now, and it's so hopeful about possibilities not usually considered.  It feels like a paradigm-changing work.  

J did another shakedown trip, in the skoolie.  He had a family reunion, in the Eastern part of the state, over the weekend.  I honestly didn't feel I had the bandwidth to be around lots of people right now, and didn't feel it would be the best scenario for Guinness, with him being alone in the bus several hours during the reunion, when he's not been alone in it before.  Besides the reunion on Saturday, J invited classmates who have been interested and following the bus progress on social media, to come by on Friday evening, so I knew there wouldn't be much peaceful time the whole trip.  After our last stressful trip, with McNibs, I thought we could all use a peaceful one, this next time.  So instead, Guinness and I had a lovely, quiet weekend at home.  I was able to delve into some spiritual pursuits, gather a bouquet, and have dinners of things I love, but J not as much.  J did have issues with the bus, but I'll do a separate skoolie post about that soon.  He managed to make it home, but will need to work on a few things before adventuring out again.  May love and light surround you this week.