▼

Thursday, September 1, 2011

September

"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson
  And here we are, the last weekend of summer. I know it isn't officially Autumn until the 23rd, but the days are getting shorter, the nights cooler, the trees redder, and school is back in session. I admit a love/ hate relationship with the season. The trees are all too soon bare and brown and if you have ever experienced a Michigan winter, well, you know where my slight melancholy comes from. 
On the other hand, apples and pumpkins and cooler days that allow lots of baking and stews and other good cooking soften the blow of the grey days ahead.

This weekend Victoria heads back to school for her senior year. We are taking her back Sunday, a two hour drive in a van with no air conditioning and predicted temps around 90.  What was that I said about cooler weather?  Then home and back to our normal routine. The house will be emptier and things will settle into the autumn schedule.

 What's that you say? You want to know what the photo above is? Oh, that is Earl's latest project. You see, there is a big Art Festival called Art & Apples, held this time of year in a local park .  They are having a contest for apple recipes and Earl has decided to throw his hat in the ring.  Or should I say his cheesecake? His Carmel Apple cheesecake? Yeah. He's still perfecting the recipe, and I can't promise he will share, I know, that's mean isn't it? But there are lots of recipes online if you search. I never heard of apple cheesecake until he started looking for an apple dessert recipe.  Let me just tell you, apple cheesecake, it's one of the good parts of Autumn ♥
Have a great weekend, enjoy the last days of summer!
at

22 comments:

  1. Blondie's JournalSeptember 1, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    Best wishes to your daughter for a wonderful last year at college! I just had one graduate and one go into her junior year...we are so proud!

    Earl has my vote and I haven't even tasted it! It looks divine and I LOVE cheesecake, a little too much! ;-D

    GOOD LUCK, EARL!!

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  2. GwendolynKaySeptember 1, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    I definately know about Mi. winters, having lived my whole life here. The winters last too long and do get very grey. I use a light box during those months, it helps very much. That apple cheesecake looks so scrumptious!
    Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  3. Penny from Enjoying The Simple ThingsSeptember 1, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Hope your daughters last year at school will be fabulous!

    Earl's cheesecake looks so good...I hope he wins!
    Hugs,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  4. Debbie KaySeptember 1, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    I have never experienced winter outside of California (dont hate me) but I bet you guys really have a "change of seasons". The apple cheesecake sounds delightful.

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  5. bjSeptember 1, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Oh, so much good luck to the daughters.
    I've had a grandgirl and a grandboy to graduate from college. Another is starting his first year, one in her 2nd year..bwaaaa...all my grands are getting grown up.

    O, I do love cheesecake but never have tried an apple one. Bet he wins, hands down. Not too many people can make a cheesecake like YOUR beefcake can. :))))

    ReplyDelete
  6. People Who Know Me Would Say:September 2, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    Well now.....in my book, there is nothing sexier than a man who knows his way around the kitchen! Your household is one of free flowing creativity, Kathy. I love reading your blog!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. KarenSeptember 2, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    We've picked 50# of apples off the trees around the corner already, with plans to go get more if we have enough time to deal with them.

    So, if you need more apples, we're willing to share. They're a great multi purpose apple with both tart and sweet tones. The skin reminds me of a gala with the speckles and stripes but the taste is different.

    The guy who owns the trees was happy to give Clarence permission for us to pick them again because last time, we dropped off a pie Allison had made using his apples. In fact, that was his only request-that we bring him another pie. :)

    So, if you have time to come up here, we could pick some apples and raspberries, too.

    Oh, and after all that...give Vicky hugs for us and wish her well with her school year. And tell Earl the cheesecake looks *fantastic*.

    I miss going to Art & Apples-it's been too long.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Janet Metzger, ArtistSeptember 2, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Hey Kathy,
    I love cheesecake of any variety!!!!

    Good luck to him.

    I love the Fall and all that comes with it...every morning it gets cooler and cooler and I am in my element.

    Stews..soups and pie!!!

    I know you will miss your girl and maybe feel a little guilty about enjoying the quiet.

    I wish her well in her classes.

    Enjoy the weekend

    Janet xox

    ReplyDelete
  9. GwendolynKaySeptember 2, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Hello Kathy,
    Thanks for coming by and leaving the comment. I am following your blog and wondered if you like mine enough to follow?
    Have a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Manuela@A Cultivated NestSeptember 2, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    Really last year of school?! How time flies.

    Well if he could win by looks I'd say that's a winning entry. It looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. PCovi September 2, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Oooooo and yummmmm..!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. debbie @ happy little cottageSeptember 2, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    I really hope it cools down for the drive to school!!!
    And all I can say is YUMMMMY!!! I suddenly have a craving for caramel apple cheesecake :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jen KershnerSeptember 4, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I'm totally with you. I've been walking around all day saying today is the first day of Autumn. Because well, it's the first day of September that has felt like Autumn and I will take that. I've spent the last hour looking at pumpkin recipes and trying to decide which will be the first to be made this season. Happy cooking to you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownSeptember 5, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Oh, I can almost smell that baking. Wish Earl good luck, although I have a feeling that his Carmel Apple cheesecake will not need any luck to win. The cooler weather is just around the corner, and I see mums everywhere, so Fall is here.

    Wishing you a lovely Sunday, I hope you enjoyed the drive to drop off your daughter.

    Karen

    P.S. Is Earl using one of his beautiful cake stands to present his delicious creation?

    ReplyDelete
  15. LalleeSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    Victoria is a senior now? No, that can't be right. Just yesterday you were taking her to college for her first year. Wow how time flies!!!

    Earl's cheesecake looks mouthwatering delicious. I hope he wins! Your photo of it is over the top! I will email you about the photo group. I'm having lots of fun with it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. LalleeSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    Me again ;-) I don't see your email address and I thought I had it. If you'd like to know more about the photo challenge group, just send me a line at lallee {at} tampabay {dot} rr {dot} com.

    ReplyDelete
  17. koraleeSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Oh my goodness...that cake looks amazing...it's a winner for sure. xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  18. KatCollectsSeptember 7, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    YUMMY, I can't help it, I love love love autumn! Wishing you a beautiful rest of the week.
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  19. JulieSeptember 7, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Thats so hard to say goodbye at the start of a new school year (been there)!

    Wow I think he could win just on how it looks!

    Yummy!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Brenda PruittSeptember 8, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Never experienced a winter that cold. Tulsa will be as cold as I've ever gotten to.
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  21. UnknownSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    Hi Kathy,

    I hope that Earl's cheesecake was a big hit. Just stopped back again to say I am having a giveaway. It ends next Friday, so please stop by some time this week and leave a comment.

    Hope you are having cool Fall days and blue skies.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sarah @ Modern Country StyleSeptember 9, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Hi lovely,

    I've signed up to follow your blog! I love it!

    There's so much to look forward to about autumn, isn't there?

    I'm thinking apple cheesecake must be pretty high on that list!!

    Sarahx

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)