First frost today.

It’s the most beautiful autumn day and what better way to celebrate than soup!

The many colors of autumn this week at my house.

Made some killer refried beans this morning. Soaked pinto beans overnight. Cooked them with onion, garlic, Adobo spices, garlic powder, Kinders buttery chicken blend and added in some fiesta blend cheese at the end. They are unquestionably the best refried beans I have ever had.

Western frittata for breakfast. Onions, peppers, cheese sausage. Needs herbs. #breakfast #frittata #protein #food

Curried cream of carrot soup with honeyed goat cheese on sourdough. It feels wrong to post good food when the world is just so - unjust. But the world also offers joy. And it’s also important to memorialize joy, because it gives us something to strive towards. #food #joy

According to the USGA, the human body is 60% water. Water helps with digestion, keeps joints lubricated, regulates temperature, helps deliver oxygen throughout our bodies and much, much more. Stay cool. Drink ya water. #heatwave #water #hydration

Tonight’s dinner is veggie lemon orzo. Summery, lemony and refreshing! #dinner #summerrecipes

From my morning walk.

Lunch is Tomato Fideo with Sourdough cheese toast.

I live in an area that has a rich agricultural tradition. A few years ago, my community engaged in a marketing campaign to save our pollinators. This is the most butterflies, bees and lightning bugs I have seen in seven years! It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all do our little part!

All the best tacos get dressed up for dinner!

Prettiest poochy in all of poochdom!

Trying something new for dinner. My son and spouse made pearled barley risotto. It’s delish!

Father’s Day dinner I made with one of the kiddos while the other took his dad and the dog for a misty walk.

We inherited these dragon lilies when we bought our house. They’re super cool except for the smell. I imagine it’s what a corpse flower smells like. #plants #gardening #flowers

I finally wrote the scene that had me gridlocked since inception. It’s imperfect, but it’s written! I know what happened, how it happened and the ripples it causes. I may or may not have an adult beverage to celebrate this evening! #writing

Rose Day at Colonial Park, NJ. It’s one of my favorite parks because it has this beautiful, free garden, a canal on which we walk, a playground, lakes and ducky paddleboats and a splash pad for little ones. The Parks Dept. does an outstanding job maintaining this absolute treasure. I ❤️ Central NJ.

Bean stew on a rainy day. It has onions and garlic and sundried tomatoes, a little bacon for smokiness and some heat added by red pepper flakes. Adding some parm at the end.

Some days you just want disco fries.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want the world to look like. It’s a useful practice and it’s giving me a road map for what I can do to turn it in that direction. It’s all small and doable and within my control because it’s all in my corner of the world. Love to have a conversation around this.

Steak tacos for dinner. The fresh ingredients and squeeze of lime were my favorite part of the meal.

Romanian green beans. Onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, vinegar and green beans.

Beautiful cottage from my morning walk.

Making Bang Bang Chicken skewers, pineapple skewers and corn on the cob for dinner.

Ramen for the win on a cloudy, drizzly evening.

This handsome gentleman is enjoying the delicious sunbeam streaming through the window.

Saw the movie Conclave this week; a masterful work. There is one scene in particular featuring a number of cardinals leaning forward that was reminiscent of a da Vinci painting. Ralph Finnes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rosellini and Carlos Diehz were phenomenal.

Trying out a new garden. I have been planting my tomatoes in pots since Ida destroyed my large garden. This time going small, fenced with trellis in place. Peppers, tomatoes and basil.

Dog sitting for my friend’s puppet. His name is Jabberwocky and he is a good boy.

Mother’s Day project! Turning our kids’ old beds into garden beds!

I love trying out TikTok recipes especially when I have all the ingredients on hand. Made a peach cobbler tonight. It took all of 5 minutes to prep and 40 mins to bake.

Pictures my kiddo took of the lunch I made. He has a good eye.

It occurs to me today that with each choice we make we become more fully who we are. Act accordingly.

Freshly walked dog on a rainy morning.

My favorite cough medicine as prescribed by my mom. Boiled red wine with peppercorns and citrus. Works like a charm and ensures a good night’s sleep.

First signs of garden life!

And sow it begins! Peppers,, tomatos and watermelon to start. I’ll start the pumpkins outside after first frost.

Read Zevin’s “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.” It’s brilliant yet readable. Loved it.

Looks like shrinkflation is back. Bought all the same ingredients we always use to make Sausage, Pasta and Broccoli Rabe and it came out to about a third the size we normally make. So we are paying more for less. At least it’s delicious.

Why has no one told me about Andrew Bernard’s cooking videos before? 😫 Highly recommended! My FYP just delivered him to me like a gift! His username is thenarddogcooks. He has the most beautiful plating I have ever seen!

Whaaaaat? I got the audio today! Love my library!

Some of us frolicked in the snow today. The snow was crunchy and dense!

My kiddo got his TT back up. Mine is still mostly defunct although I have access to TT Shop. I am in fact, suspicious.

Awake with nowhere to scroll.

You know, the app itself was great and all and the videos were priceless. What I will miss the most though are the comments. It was some of the most creative and funniest stuff I ever read. I’d found my corner of the Internet. #tiktokrefugee

Well, it’s done…My TikTok stopped working at 10:43 EST. It was lovely while it lasted.

Made a rather decadent dinner last night: buttery, Asiago orzo with a lemony medley of roasted veggies and grilled chicken.