# 257: A Welcome to Autumn

The first day of Autumn signals the start of Apple Pie and Soup Season. In today's free post, I’m sharing how I prepare for it with two recipe recaps for you to enjoy.

Sep 22, 2024

Today is the first day of Autumn. Life slows down a bit as leaves fall. Nights become longer and temperatures cooler. And today, the Autumn Equinox, night and day are of equal lengths.

Autumn Leaves on Apple Pie (photo by me)

I prepare for this time with a thorough clean of my kitchen, removing the Spring and Summer dust and dirt, moving furniture around and sweeping, taking carpets outside to beat and finding the last of GP’s hair as I do before washing the floors. Then I open all the windows and doors, light a stick of incense, let the smoke fill the rooms and wash over me.

No photo description available. — A few ideas of things to bring in the season.

Tonight I will light a small fire and think of the many blessings I am so fortunate to be harvesting. I will pour a glass of apple brandy and toast friends near and far, new and old, some lost in the seasons past, and surround my family and friends with love.

Thank you for being here with me, my dear friends.

What I’m Reading

The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin
I got to meet Judith Jones and hear her speak not too many years before she passed away in 2017. I will always consider it a great privilege. I’m intrigued to read about her life.
Be Ready When Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
I’m looking forward to this one which will be released on October 1.

I’d love to know what books you’ve been enjoying so please leave your recommendations in the comments which are open to all.

What I’m Listening To

Autumn Leaves is a classic in the jazz and popular music world with well over fourteen hundred recorded versions. The English-language version of the French song "Les Feuilles mortes" was composed by Joseph Kosma in 1945, the original lyrics by Jacques Prévert in French where added later, and the English lyrics by Johnny Mercer after that.1 One of my favorite versions is by Eva Cassidy. It seems a good one to begin this season.

First sheet music with words — Here’s the first sheet music with words.

American sheet music — I remember my mom having this version.

What I’m Cooking and Baking

Garbanzo and Sausage Soup

The cooler weather for me signals that it’s soup time. This Garbanzo and Sausage Soup is one I’ll be making and here’s a link to the full list of soup recipes I’ve published here on our newsletter.

Apple Pie

As Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) wrote in his essay on Apple Pie, “…the merest drip of candied juice along the edges as if the flavor were so good to itself that its own lips watered!”

Candied juice along the edge. (photo by me)

The recipe for The Quintessential Apple Pie that I created has been in countless magazines, newspapers, blogs and books and I’ve opened the link to ALL subscribers, free and paid. I hope you enjoy it.

An Oops!
An email listing virtual classes went out on Friday before it was proofed. The dates and links for the sessions are correct. The email just wasn’t finished. I won’t send out another and clog up your inbox since you did get that one.

And finally, I really hope you will take the time to click on the little heart (either above or below) which lets me know that you were here. This small act takes a nano-second, means so much to me and helps my ratings on Substack. 😉 Your paid subscriptions make it possible for me to continue this work, too, so if you are able to support me with a paid subscription, I would be ever so grateful.