The First Day that Smells Entirely like Fall...Ahhh

Today was a perfect fall day. I woke up to rain pattering outside my window, accompanied by the occasional car driving past. So I got up, opened both my windows so I could smell the rain as well, and snuggled back in bed. It's the simple joys that make living so worth it
After I was suffieciently awake, I got up and ate delicious cold pizza right before taking a shower, which was accompanied to the oldies station...ah, I had forgotten how much I loved oldies. *huge loopy smile* Then Ann woke up and wanted to go to meijer's. So we went, then, the fun part of the day began: We went to the orchard!!! Whoo-Hoo!!! It was open this weekend (turns out it was also open all summer) and we browsed the apple house, where they had free samples of a variety of apples and a peach out. The blushing peach tastes just like sour patch peach peaches/lotus flower candy. I think the Ginger Gold apple presents a strong rival to the campus apple in terms of my favorite apple (core and all)...and the honey crisp sure beats out the red delicious (oh, wait...any apple does that!) Their gift shop requires more than the half hour we devoted to it, but we found some amazing hand-carved bone neclaces there, and best of all, they have a leather-cased Michigan bird song cd set and field guide. I don't remember if it was Peterson or Audubon, but I was ecstatic to find it! http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Michigan-Audio-CDs/dp/1591930421

Something like that...

Then, I revisited culinary joys...that pumpkin the Stevenses pawned off on me...it became part of a cream of pumpkin soup I made. Contented Ang resides in her house now after using an apple peeler to get the rind off a pumpkin, modifying mom's basic cream soup recipe to include cinnamon, A1 (of all things), maple syrup, and sugar. My housemate LOVED it. I really enjoyed it...and shall make it again. Plus, after 15 or so years of making pumpkin seeds according to my former best friend's mom's recipe, I've got it down pat!
What suprises me most, I suppose, is that I've not cared about cooking/baking for so long now. I think I simply over did it: I'm just not sure how! It was so relaxing to pitter patter around a kitchen, stirring the cream soup, being creative with the ingredients in whatever I made, and baking those pumpkin seeds to perfection. I think my soul just got refreshed.