Oct. 10: Hazelnut Jam Thumbprints

It's pouring down rain. I have a slight cold in my chest. And so far, Christian's soccer game has not been cancelled. But it could be worse: Renee and her family are on a motorhome trip. At the OCEAN. Shudder. Welcome to full-blown fall.

There's no doubt about that when you look at the trees around here. Maple Valley is lit up like a torch--one more blast of beauty before we descend into what I call six months of mud-n-sticks.

Couple of things about fall:

1. Hazelnuts. Did I mention that I spent $8.99 a pound on them at Whole Foods? Then I learn my sister has a freaking hazelnut tree. Well, at that price I wasn't going to waste a crumb. So last week I made more hazelnut cookies--Hazelnut Jam Thumbprints (p. 252). They were okay. Not great. I'm not a nut fan, I guess. And my thumbprint cookies never turn out looking so good. They crack and warp when I thumbprint them. Hate that. (But the jam was spectacular.)

2. Halloween. My favorite holiday. The witches' new year, Samhain, the Harvest Moon and all that good stuff.

3. Pumpkins. LOVE pumpkins. This morning I made two pumpkin pies for a family party tonight. I have my mom's handwritten recipe card for Southern Pastry, and I use her secret for thick, creamy pumpkin pies (no, I'm not giving it up). My kitchen smells like childhood holidays--baking pies. Mmmmm.

4. Boots. I can't believe it took me 41 years to discover fall boots. They're comfortable, versatile, warm, dry and fabulous. So much so that I had to buy a second pair last weekend. Just like the first pair, only black. Girlfriend Princess (not her real name) requested that I post a photo of my new boots. So, this is for Princess. It took Christian only four or five tries to get a decent photo. And I felt like a fool with one boot on and my sweatpants leg rolled half-way up my thigh.

She also asked for a photo of my favorite Victoria's Secret Wave bra in action. But I think a photo like that would push this blog into a whole new category of entertainment. And speaking of the girls, I've been informed that I was "slinging them around all summer." Huh. Guess the Wave works. But now that it's winter, I'm covering them up like a couple of nuns. Come see me in person around July, Princess.

Although, the Wave may make a public appearance in Palm Springs next month. Denise, Renee, Claudia and I just made a last-minute decision to head down for a little Girlfriends' Trip. The funny thing is that the day after I fly home, James will head down to help my dad move into his new house just a short distance from our house. The caravan leaves Edmonds mid-day on Nov. 10.

By early November, Maple Valley will be just a mudhole of sticks. We'll all be ready for a little sand-n-palms by then.

Sept. 26: Shortbread and Macaroons

I'm in a bad mood.

Or maybe I'm just out of sorts. I feel like I need to be recalibrated. Or something.

I've been short-tempered, mean-spirited and cranky. I've been experiencing mini-panic attacks. I haven't been eating right. I'm just not a very nice person these days. I took a picture of Christian today--and his expression looks just how I feel.

It could be just old-fashioned fatigue. I get up at the crack of Sammy every morning. I haven't slept past 6 a.m. since that little bugger came to stay. And I stay up until past 11 p.m. reading every night. That part is my own fault.

My husband and his mother are fighting. Which makes me worried, irritated, angry and mean. Especially when it comes to the two of them.

I haven't been exercising. And we are constantly having to discipline that dog and Ian. Together they are bad mojo.

Oh. And the only thing worse than watching the Huskies lose is knowing you just wasted an entire afternoon watching the Huskies lose. I actually stretched out on the couch--in my coat and shoes no less--to watch them lose to Notre Dame. I hate to lose to Notre Dame.

Maybe it's the weather. Summer took off. Left us overnight. One evening about two weeks ago, I knew it was the end. The boys and I took Sammy for a walk in the last warm night of the year. After Ian went home, Christian and I spun in circles in the park, looking up at the stars. I told him that we were standing on the very edge of summer. That the season was one breath away from changing. We held very still so we could feel autumn arriving on the faintest cool breeze. So we wished the summer sky goodnight. And summer blew away while we slept.

But fall brings boots and tights and plaid skirts. There are trade-offs.

There have been good things, too, though. Like laughing with Denise on the phone so hard that I cry. And having coffee with Renee. And shopping with Sam. And having lunch out with grown-ups during the week. And reading good books. And sitting in the sun while boys play soccer.

And book club! Last Monday I baked the Barefoot Contessa's coconut macaroons, Martha's shortbread and Auntie Karen's Harvey Wallbanger cake for the September meeting. I love book club. But I especially love it at someone else's house. Because my children don't live at someone else's house. They make book club very trying for me. But maybe I'm just cranky.

I'm wondering if I need to see a chiropractor. Am I carrying negative energy in my shoulders? Are my chakras f&#%*$? The Regence health club reopens on Monday. I need to get back into my exercise routine.

I need to do something to bust out of this funk. More cookies? More sleep? One less dog? Better attitude? Alchohol? Xanax?

Probably yes.