Thursday, October 25, 2012

Edgar Allan Poe October: Fall Pleasures

"During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year,
when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens,
I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; 
 and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, 
within view of the melancholy House of Usher."
~ Edgar Allan Poe, "The Fall of the House of Usher"





Today, while on an afternoon walk with my two youngest boys, 
I enjoyed some of fall's simplest pleasures, 
like watching two golden leaves of an aspen tree dance to the ground 
as if accompanied by a waltz.  

But that's nothing unusual.  

Everyone loves autumn leaves; 
they have been dancing for weeks now.

What I was more enamored with were the pleasures of fall that I didn't expect,
like realizing that you can use your dog to pull your big wheels . . . 


 or discovering that the perfect ensemble for said activity is 
an Iron Man Halloween costume from Target and a pair of black cowboy boots . . .


or capturing my flaxen-haired baby having a thoughtful moment . . .


or listening to the laughter of my littlest boys as they tickled each other in the leaves.


I love the scripture that reads "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."  

Today seemed like a SMALL and SIMPLE day.
But it was also a GREAT day.

In the spirit of small and simple fall pleasures, I thought I would share the recipe for the cider that I enjoyed sipping with my kids today after our walk.


Mulled Apple Cider

1 gallon apple cider
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
5 -6 cinnamon sticks
zest from one orange

Place ingredients in a large sauce pan.  
Bring to a boil and then reduce heat.  
Simmer for 30 minutes.  Strain and serve in mugs.
 

May your day be full of fall's simple pleasures,
and may you be full of mulled cider at the end of it.  

(I know I will.)
 
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