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.