Fall Hiking ~ A Day in the Kitchen

October 16, 2010

We experienced a nor'easter yesterday that has stripped a lot of leaves off the trees. So the foliage on tomorrow's hike might not be as spectacular as last weekend's. But that's ok. Fall hiking is simply the best.

For those of us who hike all year - in the toe and finger numbing months of winter, the wet and buggy months of spring and the hot and sticky months of summer - fall hiking is like a gift from the gods. No bugs, just enough nip to keep you moving and the foliage, oh the foliage of a New England autumn. Sign me up.

Today we are in the kitchen, all of us. I'm cooking, as usual. Baked apples for breakfast, stir fried farm greens and beans for lunch, and pumpkin and bean casserole for supper. Damien is alternately painting cupboards and supervising food preparation for our backpacking trip next weekend.

Our family's first autumn backpacking adventure. Bring it on.

Pumpkin is roasting in the oven and the smell of Autumn Spice Cake wafts from the soap rack. On the counter are bags of dehydrated farm apples and tomatoes (the last of the season) and a lot of dirty dishes as we prepare food for next weekend. (Dehydrated tomatoes are as tasty as potato chips if you ask me.)

At noon, the kids are in their pjs still. Crafting, cooking for next weekend, reading, and helping around the house.