GATHER

We are currently in Madison, Wisconsin,  where autumn has a certain zing.  It could be that it’s a university town with youthful energy everywhere; it could be the Farmers’ Market that overflows with sunflowers and dahlias, pumpkins of all sizes, apples and cheeses of all varieties and endless baked goods that send their sweet just-been-baked scents into the air.  

It could be all the seasonal comfort foods that seem to nudge their way onto the table…my family minestrone soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, chili and corn bread, pumpkin ice cream and apple cobblers.  

Or the heirloom tomato salads we had at a restaurant the other night— “may be the last we’ll be serving this year,” the chef said.  “The Farmers’ Market was almost out of heirloom tomatoes this morning.”  Oh, yes.  One certainly feels a “carpe diem,” “gather ye rosebuds while ye may” urgency to autumn.

It is a special time to gather with family to celebrate or with friends to chat over morning lattes or hot mulled cider. To gather all those goodies from the market for making that minestrone or chocolate chip pumpkin bread.  To gather new inspiration from book festivals or a class.  

To savor the gifts of this time of year, this time of life.  And to take a little time to sort, to keep and cherish what has value, and to let go of what needs to go in order to live fully, NOW.

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And now, a few tidbits gathered along the way…

👨‍🍳…A restaurant in Madison called Deliciouser… when I asked the owner/chef why he named his restaurant that, he said he knows that most people can cook delicious food at home, so if they go out to eat at a restaurant, the food better be “Deliciouser”   Love it!

🍸….And from Deliciouser, some new non-alcoholic products—  a “Phony Negroni” and an “Ish” (alcoholic removed) Sparkling Rosé. The bartender made me a Sbagliato (means “mistaken” in Italian—ha!) cocktail with the two and it was great!

   🧀 …And something I need to try our next time ‘round in Madison—Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup, garnished with popcorn! 

🇮🇹 …And a book I’m reading and enjoying…45 Ways to Live Like an Italian by Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner.  It’s a fun, light read, with short sections that are perfect for those “I feel like reading a bit before bed but not too much and not too heavy” moments. There are sections on food, time, self, relationships, beliefs, and lifestyle, and the format is playful and colorful.

                                                                                                 🍂🧡🍁 “Another fall, another turned page.”

                                                                                                  —Wallace Stegner