An Early Autumn Day...

These early autumn days have been incredibly beautiful here in Michigan.

Crisp, cool nights give way to cool, sunny mornings where the sunshine lasts all day long.

Days when you can tug on jeans, pull on a long sleeve tee, and slip into a pair of comfy, worn boots.
Days where you can almost watch the reds and gold tinge the tips of the trees.

I wake to another glorious morning,
push the Husband out of bed to get him on his way,
and make plans to begin my own day.

With a list of chores stacked like cord wood in my head,

I was anxious to get started.

All of my outdoor work had been completed the previous day.

Hostas were moved and roses and hydrangeas were planted in their place.

I planned on working inside this cool day ~

in a kitchen filled with bright, cozy sunlight.

Freezing more sweet corn was first on the list, using the four minute microwave method.

I still can't get over how much easier this is and how well it turns out.

Next up: Butternut squash, which didn't perform quite as well this year in the garden, 

but I did manage to freeze enough to get us through the winter months.

I baked it for about two and a half hours at 250 degrees,

scooped it out into a bowl, added a touch of butter and salt, 

and then freezer bagged it.

(It's a great substitute for mashed potatoes if you're watching your carb intake,
although the butter and salt I put on it probably cancels every good thing out.
And no....I don't like sweet squash. It's got to be savory for this farm girl.)

Spaghetti squash, which is my favorite, was next on the agenda.

(I chopped off the stems to send to a Sandy at Wayside Treasures

who creates sweet fabric pumpkins to sell in her Etsy shop.) 

Now, slicing into any type of squash is not easy and can be a little intimidating.
I stick my knife in and cut in down one half,
flip it around...
and then grabbing the knife by its handle,
slam the whole squash on the counter til the blade goes through.

Barbaric...(sigh)....yes, I know.
But it works for me
(and gets the neighbors wondering what in the world is going on over here, I'm sure).

Getting ready to slam.

After laying them face side down in jelly pans with a bit of water,

they baked slowly at 250 degrees for about two hours,
filling the house with a wonderful autumnal scent
(and sets my hunger bells madly ringing). 

I like to under-cook this type of squash a bit so that it doesn't get too mushy when its rewarmed,

and then scrape the "noodles" out with a big fork.

This is a healthier way of eating 'pasta'

when that spaghetti craving hits me like a Mac truck this winter....
and I know it will.

(My stomach is about comfort food, you know...
however my PiYo coach tends to differ.)

It's also very good with some butter, a dash of Himalayan pink salt or Herbamare,
and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese ~
(or swimming under a pool of marinara sauce).
We've also used our own canned tomatoes poured over it which, of course,
 is healthier yet.

The next project on my list was repainting my craft cabinet

with a layer of ASCP 'Antoinette' lightened a shade with 'Old White'. 

(Yes, I know.  Some days I'm just all over the place...)

As much as I adored the turquoise blue I had originally painted it,
(which you can see here)
I felt like it was taking up too much "visual space" in my small studio.

This pale pink lends a much more quiet, spacious feel to the room now.

Bits of blue showed through after some light distressing.

A vintage French altar candelabra with pale purple bisque flowers found a place on top

next to my new favorite rose, 'Faith'.

Thank you, Heather, for this amazing treasure.
I love it.

The petals on the 'Faith' roses don't even look real.
So very perfect in every way.
And they bloom out into a huge mass of full, blowsy, ruffled femininity.

So, as the sun slowly bent to kiss the horizon,

feeling tired but pleased with the day's work,

I kicked off my boots

and collapsed into a fresh, sweet smelling bed of RASCC 'Rosabelle' linens...

and thanked the good Lord for sunny autumns,
productive days,

and a cozy, blessed home.

~  Eucharisteo  ~

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