Hello, Fall

I adore fall. I wake up on fall mornings with the best sense of anticipation- something is going to happen! This is probably from all those back-to-schools but still- it's a lovely feeling. This song is always on my mind.

I celebrated the first weekend of fall by visiting the Louisburg Cider Mill- it's the weekend of the apple cider festival! Apple cider and apple cider donuts are delicious and best eaten when standing next to a pumpkin patch. Just down the road is Somerset Ridge Vineyard- we had a wine tasting and visited with some sweet alpacas. 

They really make cider in this building

Cider making

A fence festooned with relics

happy alpacas

at the winery

Salutation Nation, Kansas City

This morning was a perfect late-fall Saturday- breezy, 75 degrees, sunny. It was a perfect morning to attend Salutation Nation, held on the north lawn of the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum. I've never practiced yoga outside before and it changes things so much- it was a great morning- even though it was a teeny tiny bit crunchy it was impossible not to be inspired by the sun, grass, and chirping birds....

I also cannot believe it took me this long to get up to the World War I Museum and the Liberty Memorial- the grounds and view are breathtaking and I made a mental note to go back, tour the museum, and have a picnic sometime this fall.

Gathering on the lawn- Union Station in the background

what a perfect day for a sun salutation

The Liberty Memorial

Greaserama

Greaserama took place this weekend-- "The Midwest's Original Punk Rock Car Show!" So cool. For $10, you can stroll around a drive-in parking lot, hear some good rockabilly and look at classic cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. Had I gone at night, cult biker movies would have been showing on the drive-in screen. Buy a PBR and you've got yourself a lovely Sunday. 

The Boulevard Drive-in

best shade of yellow

Whiskey go-kart for the kiddies

a Rolling Rock customized electric bike!

a dome for roaming

vintage tandem

Peachy Keen

Matt and I had some friends to dinner the other night- they are leaving Kansas City to do their ph.d's in London (fancy) and we wanted to give them a proper send-off. Since it's getting to be the end of summer (can you believe it?) I wanted to make the most of summer market finds.

Farewell to Rob & Audrey
Grilled Pork Tenderloin (I know, but it doesn't seem to get old)
Mark Bittman Ratatouille
Arugula with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette (Via Honey and Butter)

The real star, though, was dessert- peach melba. I've never made this before and it was delicious. I highly recommend buying the nicest peaches and raspberries you can find and making it this weekend. I used a Nigella Lawson recipe because I love her and the recipe is here.

pretty peaches

I discovered that Peach Melba goes perfectly with whiskey