Autumn Party

Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have 

had our summer evenings: now for October eves! ~Humbert Wolfe

Cate's Photography

What is fall without hot apple cider and a night under the stars? Witt and I had our families over to the little brick house for an autumn party this weekend. I wanted to do a simple menu and we had brats and hotdogs on the grill, pumpkin soup, peppers and onions, smashed potatoes with cheese and bacon and a fall salad along with prosecco to drink. Cheeses and bulgar salad for apps with spiced apple cider. The most daunting task was le pumpkin.

Gypsy Slow Down

This was a strange looking pumpkin, really pale and tough to slice. I wish I could sound intellegent and tell you what kind it was, but the farmer at the stand just said these were good for cooking. So I bought it. It roasted up really nicely, and the form didn't collapse like (so I was told) a normal pumpkin would do . 

Gypsy Slow Down

I made a spicy pumpkin soup with curry and cumin and other Indian spices. My goal was to serve the soup in the pumpkin and even though I kept my expectations low, surprisingly the pumpkin and I pulled it off. 

We set up under the trees. I borrowed my lovely mother-in-law's pretty fall tablecloths and used cute plastic plates from here.

Cate's Photography

Cate's Photography

Cate's Photography

My sister, Cate, took lots of photos with my sad little camera, since the memory card in her's got left behind. Even with my wretched point and shoot she managed to capture beautiful moments and this is why she is so talented and has this blog which everyone should read.

 Witt hung lights in the trees and they looked very festive.

Cate's Photography

Mom and I.

Cate's Photography

Cate's Photography

Nan, sipping some apple cider.

Cate's Photography

Cate's Photography

Soon it got dark and the lights showed up and the grill failed so the brats were cooked inside.

Cate's Photography

Cate Photography

Cate Photography

Hanging out waiting for dinner.

Cate's Photography

Cathy and Don.

Cate's Photography

In the meantime we had the soup.

Cate's Photography

Cate and Rose.

Gypsy Slow Down

After dinner we ate apple crisp by the fire and the air became cooler.

Cate's Photography

Gypsy Slow Down

We sat around the bonfire talking and as the night got shorter, everyone began to leave. I love that we live close to both our families.

 Instead of washing the dishes that filled the entire kitchen, Witt and I sat around the fire. It seemed a shame to go in so soon and I  wanted to look at the lights and smell the smoke just a little longer.

Gypsy Slow Down

Gypsy Slow Down

I think when we leave this house what I will remember most are nights like this. The cramped space, the work in the yard, the washing of hundreds of dishes by hand and the trips to the laundry mat will fade away. I will think of Witt and I sitting side by side, facing the world with just the future ahead of us, the night sky surrounding us and good times behind.