the treats of october

I'll admit that I'm not Autumn's biggest fan - over are the long, carefree days of summer sun, and the twinge of chill in the air seems like a harbinger of winter's arctic frost to come. I am not a cold weather person, despite the lovely fashion opportunities it proffers; my teeth chatter relentlessly if the temperature dips below 65, no joke.

So it may come as some surprise to anyone who knows me that despite my scowls at the early setting sun there are a few things I absolutely adore about this time of year, ESPECIALLY in Patterson Park. I figured by sharing them it will help us all stay positive, along with suggestions for how to make the most of our park, found in italics:

• Leaves! Who doesn't love the changing leaves that paint an almost gaudily bright canvas in our midst? Take an afternoon to gather some especially beautiful ones and use them to make home crafts, such as a season wreath or in a tall vase for a centerpiece - it's the Fall version of taking time to smell the roses

• Birds! With birds starting their journey south, huge swooping flocks are a breath-taking surprise. Join one of Patterson Park Audubon's Bird Walks to learn about our regional and migrating species

• Parade! I've spoken before about The Great Halloween Lantern Parade here, but I consider it our park's BEST event all year. Invite out of town friends and family to visit that weekend to showcase our beautiful park and fantastic community

• Pumpkins! Seeing people's hand-carved pumpkins and other decorations out shows pride in our community. Invite some neighbors over for a BYOP (bring your own pumpkin!) carving party and let your creative side loose, accept your pumpkin might get smashed, and carve away [ I have an idea related to this I'll share in another post to come shortly!]
  

• Apples! Oh, how this fruit makes me smile - delicious as is, perfect for pies, and ready to warm your soul and fingers in cider. Pick some up at the farmers market and make some fresh pies for your loved ones and a steaming cup of cider for your morning walk around the park
  

There are many more reasons to love early Fall, but these are my personal favorites. They're all little things, but I think that is what makes them so great and easy to share - going on a stroll with a friend to catch up and admire the gold and auburn leaves in Patterson Park with a hot cup of cider is a truly wonderful way to spend an hour appreciating what you have. We all should make sure to set aside time to do just that.

love k

game balls and dough balls

Today I took a mid-afternoon break from work to relax before evening appointments and showings. I didn't exactly kick-back however... Instead, N and I headed to the park for a sort of sports camp-esque couple of hours. We played soccer in Patterson Park, where a couple of kids walking by got a real kick (HA!!) out of joining in. Then, we headed over to the courts for some basketball, once again joined by the same kids. They were both around 11 years old and just so much fun - they had the burgeoning swagger of teenagers, but none of the antagonism or angst. They were great sports, and the four of us kept up a lovely banter over a game of "fifty." Respectful, polite, and friendly, these kids exemplified everything you'd pray to find in inner-city boys. Just goes to show that if you don't expect the worst and are open to spending a little time with neighborhood kids, they might just surprise you after all.

Oh, and I baked these almond-apricot tarts with apricots from the farmers market:


And tonight I made this whole-wheat pizza for dinner, with basil and oregano from my garden, CSA broccoli, garlic and onions, and a whole mess of cheeses. Yummers:
I'm going camping for a few days, so I hope you all have a lovely weekend - feed the ducks, play some ball, hit the pool, bake a home-grown pizza... I've given you more than enough ideas, no?

love k

three... + you = 2

No, my math skills aren't lacking, and I'm not saying that you equal a negative integer. Rather, our neighborhood restaurant Three... threw a birthday party today to celebrate their second anniversary. To thank the neighborhood for its continued support, Three... stayed open after its regular Sunday brunch hours and served up some delicious (free!) food.

Now for the details: In a sort of "blast from the past" gesture, the buffet showcased some of Three...'s earlier small plates, such as involtini (delicious tuna rolls), tomato sandwiches (two thick slices of green tomatoes sandwiching ham and cheese, then deep fried. Oh my!), and shrimp cakes. Lots of party goers were sipping Mojitos and Thai Lemonades, as well as beers on tap. Just as the food ran out, I busted out the big pink strawberry birthday cake I'd made earlier in the day (thanks to a heck of a lot of farmers market strawberries in the cake and cream cheese frosting, it was dee-lish - or so I was told since we ran out before I snagged a piece!). With food and drinks flowing, dozens of partiers spilled out to the outdoor tables to enjoy the gorgeous weather. If you weren't there, boy did you miss out on a great party; just check out some pictures I snapped and see for yourself:

Perfect examples of what we affectionately call "'hood love"!:

The lovely, talented chefs - Thanks! And congrats on the engagement!

Ooo! And some cake photos...Just look at that cream cheese frosting with strawberries, and how it matches my kitchenaid perfectly ;-)

The cake said "Happy Birthday" in lime green. I wanted to take a big ol' bite out of the side before cutting it... and then finally posed for a real photo:

It's easy to take it for granted, but this restaurant has provided such a strong core for our neighborhood; in many ways, we've come to see it as an extension of our own living rooms - somewhere to come to celebrate occasions, share news, mourn losses, unwind from work, or just have some delicious food and drinks. So really, thank YOU, Three..., for all that you continue to do to make our neighborhood such a great place to call home. Here's to many more birthday parties!

Even Puppy enjoyed himself - in fact, he gave the whole affair a standing ovation:

love k