Frost Warning

Frost warning? Already? But summer didn't happen...did it?
Not by my book. Specific things must happen in order for summer to have occured.

This is my summer time check list.

1. go to the beach
2. get a tan
3. make and drink at least one margarita
4. go to the cottage in Traverse City, drive up Old Mission and visit Fishtown
5. Get ice cream at Bluemoon

When I run down the check list and am not able to check any items off, it is obvious that summer did not happen. By my watch, spring gave summer a miss and went right into autumn.

While I feel like I got jipped by summer, I am glad my favorite time of year is here. I absolutely love the cool, crisp but still sunny days that I can pile on the layers and feel warm but still have cold cheeks. The kind of chill that can be cured by a cup, or two, of hot cider.

The best things of the whole year are nestled in the weeks between mid September and the end of November. No more sweating, the trees turn colors, cider is in season, my two favorite holidays; Halloween and Thanksgiving, need I mention the weather one more time and of course my favorite season for cooking. Hard squash, sweet potatoes, parsnips, roasted meats....yum.

Hopefully I will have better success with my Autumn check list.

1. jump into a pile of leaves
2. have a bon fire
3. drink many a bottle of red wine
4. visit a cider mill for fresh cider and a doughnut
5. carve a pumpkin