Today is rainy and dreary. Rainy and dreary are two of my favorite things. This is a dreamy, snuggly, cozy, ignore the to do lists and unfinished projects kind of day. Who am I to argue with that?
I grabbed my boots and umbrella and meandered over to Main Street and the yarn store where I took some pictures of yarn for a sweet friend that wants me to knit something for her. Then I stayed for a class and finished a mitten. That mitten pattern proved to be a killer and some alterations were made. Also, I wonder if there is any chance my two mittens will match when I am done. If not, please pretend not to notice if you see me walking around in them.
My pace on the way home was much quicker as the rumbly in my tummy told me it was lunch time and I couldn't wait to make my current favorite salad which is filled with grilled chicken, walnuts, blue cheese and figs and topped with straight up balsamic vinegar which I seem to have developed an addiction to. Have you ever had a fresh fig? If you have resisted then I urge you to go buy some now before their short season ends, so you too can fall in love. They are perfect when they are super soft to the touch and feel like they are over ripe.
Tonight I'm making homemade soup. Butternut squash soup, to be exact. Never mind that I've never even had butternut squash and don't even know if I like it. I adore making soup from scratch. I always forget that, and then every time I do it, I fall in love with the process all over again. Go ahead and give it a try. It will transport you. You can see some of my other favorite soup recipes here and here.
Finally, I just want to say how wonderful and special you all are. You guys made Emma's day with all of your sweet comments. I know my blogging has been hit and miss lately and I truly appreciate that you guys always show up and support me here. I feel like I am finally getting my mojo back as my project list gets smaller. I will be back next time with some answers to recent questions that I have been remiss in answering. If you have any questions or think I've missed one of yours please feel free to leave it in the comments here or email me!
Sounds like a perfectly wonderful day. It's good to have you back blogging and sharing your dream. btw...luck friend, the yarn looks yummy! Patty
ReplyDeleteyou have no idea how i live a little through you. when you talk about walking downtown in the village, i just imagine myself walking alongside you. a quaint little downtown with cute shops is like a piece of heaven to me.
ReplyDeletedespite it being 'bad hair weather' i am beginning to appreciate rainy days, too. especially since it is on those days that my boys are off the hook about going outside. (they'd much rather be inside)
ReplyDeletei plan on making chicken pot pie tonight. your soup sounds lovely and i will have to add fresh figs to my grocery list.
xo
elyse
Oooo....it's dreamy here today, too :) I'm making beef stew with lots of wine in it.
ReplyDeleteCan I have a bite of your salad?
xoxo,
martha from elizabeth hill
What lovely pictures! Thank you for the fig season reminder. My neighbor has several trees I have been told to help myself to in the past. Think I'll check them out today!
ReplyDeleteThose are my favorite kind of days!!!
ReplyDeleteBake something - light some candles -beef stew!
Love it!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
lovely. and can I say, I LOVE those boots of yours?!
ReplyDeleteI am not getting much done today either....I only feel like cleaning when the sun is shining. The salad with fresh figs looks delicious! We have a fig bush that was brought over from Italy years ago and it a cutting off of that original plant. We get tons of figs but only a few that ripen completely enough to eat. I love them! Can't stand a fig newton but love a fresh fig!~ Hugs, Patti
ReplyDeleteYour salad looks delicious and making me hungry. No I have never tried figs on a salad. Will have to try them soon! It's nice to have relaxing days once in awhile for yourself.....
ReplyDeleteIf you've ever had acorn squash or even sweet potatoes and like it, then you should have no problem with butternut squash.
ReplyDeleteI love drizzly days if I don't have anything I have to do and can curl up with tea and a book or maybe take a nap.
No honey on that salad? Figs are sweet!
ReplyDeletep.s. your walnut "rules" of eating really confuses me lol. I thought of you deviously as I was adding them to my banana bread batter today.
p.p.s. I'm super jealous you got to go to knitting today with out me.
That salad looks so yummy! Maybe Emma will bake something -- cookies and/or brownies are perfect on dreary/dreamy days! :)
ReplyDeleteJanet
hmmm...never had that squash either
ReplyDeletewill be looking for a full report on difficulty to make said soup and it's yummy factor on a scale of 1 to 10.
You have your own little "Stars Hollow" don't you? Sounds idyllic
to quote Cameron Diaz(from what movie?)
I am so with you on 'rainy' and 'dreary'- those words only mean super cozy, let's go bake something!
ReplyDeleteI have to try your fig salad- that sounds right up my alley; really anything with blue cheese is right up my alley.
Sounds like you had a lovely day! I really enjoy making soup from scratch too.
ReplyDeleteThat salad looks divine! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI need that salad in my liiiiiiiiiiiife!
ReplyDeleteAnd I have made homemade soup twice this week. Do report back on the butternut. It always sounds good in theory, but I'm never quite sure about it.
Jen,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, poetic post. I love rainy, dreary days as well. I have never understood people who are annoyed and grouchy on such days. Especially because we have so many such days in Indiana!
xo, Cheryl
What a great day! You can always stuff your hands in your pockets if you see someone coming towards you...or take one mitten off to shake hands...just a thought!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE butternut soup! I toast some almonds and drop them on top just before serving....YUMMY!
It is nice to see you posting a bit...and we know you will be back more often as you get caught up on house and move! xo Diana
I love those days! People think I am crazy but they are just so invigorating! (sp?) Love the yummy looking recipes, too!
ReplyDelete~Shanon
That salad looks wonderful. I've never had a fig!! :o
ReplyDeleteMy favorite kind of day too! How did the butternut squash soup go? I'm hoping you bought it pre-cut into pieces -- the first time I made butternut squash soup I was really surprised at how hard it is to peel and cut the squash! You'd think squash would squash, but it takes some work!
ReplyDeleteI agree -- rainy days are so cozy! I always want to bake. Also, your salad looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteRainy and dreary are my favorite kind of days too..... a good book or a good movie makes it perfect!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely dreamy but we don't get rain or falling leaves here. When we do get rain, everything becomes dirty and dreary so not quite as enjoyable. Congrats to Emma on a successful bake sale. Her packaging was very pretty. I love making homemade soup all year round, no matter the weather. Butternut squash is just like pumpkin -- I substitute them one for the other in recipes all the time. Hope your weekend is wonderful. Tammy
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had a salad make my mouth water so much -- and that was just a photograph! I hope your butternut squash soup turned out well. For me, butternut squash is the essence of autumn.
ReplyDeleteAny weather in Autumn is good weather. Don't you just love walking around the village when the leaves are all on the ground like your photo? Next time it is a dreary day I might be thinking of it differently.
ReplyDeleteYou day sounds heavenly! And I absolutely adore your street photo, looks like something straight out of Practical Magic!
ReplyDeleteI have never had a fresh fig, but I would love to try one. I like dried ones...and I like dates too, so I bet I'd love fresh figs.
ReplyDeleteHow did your soup turn out? I've made butternut squash soup before - it's so good and so...autumn-like. If it's a bit sweet or even bland for you, add a teeny bit of curry and that will give it a nice flavor and a little bit of heat.
rainy and dreary describe my kind of day too...i knew we were kindred spirits! hoping some of these days come my way soon! (though i do love sunny days in the falls...they make the leaves extra beautiful!)
ReplyDelete