October Advent

Does anyone else feel like October/most of November is just one big Advent for Thanksgiving? Family was visiting from Colorado and Texas and it felt like a prequel to the upcoming holiday. And of course, Thanksgiving is a warm up for Christmas.

The landscape is changing. Harvest is going really well. The photo above is taken from the same location as several others that I've posted, but at a different stage--now most of the beans are gone. I can usually see wagons going by several times a day on their way to or from the elevator.

Other kinds of harvest are going on as well. It's a great time for apples:

Five bags of jonathan, golden delicious, and nothern spy. I'll make another batch of apple butter. Today I'm making apple dumplings, and probably more apple desserts to come. Also in my fridge is a huge jar of fresh apple juice. I don't even drink apple juice, but I like it this time because I helped make it.

If all goes according to plan, Jonathan and I will be hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year. It's the first time we've had a real house together. We have a real dining room table and even a light over it as of yesterday. I'm dreaming up a list of types of pies I want to make. For starters, pumpkin pie, pecan pie or pecan pie brownies, sugar cream pie, maybe apple since I have so many. Last year I made persimmon cake and I'd like to make something (maybe a tart) with persimmons but I'm not sure I'll be able to find them here.

What are you looking forward to?