Things to do This Fall

Inspired by A Beautiful Mess's post 12 Things to do this Autumn, I'm updating my Autumn Wish List and making my own list of things I want to do/learn this fall.

1. Make soup

Ever since I visited Belgium and had my first taste of Waterzooi, I've been dreaming of making a bowl for myself at home here. Soup season is coming!

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2. This hat

Upcycling anything is great in my books. Using old sweaters to make a toque would make an excellent gift.

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3. These mittens while I'm at it

Ditto.

4. Hot drinks

Confession time. I don't actually really like pumpkin spiced lattes or anything pumpkin flavoured for that matter. Never have, never will. BUT I'm a huge fan of an Eggnog Lattes. Learning to make it at home, might be dangerous.

5. Leaf walks

Exercise is good anytime of year, but it's a long, cold winter ahead with many days spent inside. Must take advantage of all sunny, lovely days.

6. Apple picking

Went apple picking last year for the first time and very much enjoyed the experience and the food results.

7. Read a classic

Part of my New Year's resolution was to read more classic literature along with contemporary books.

UPDATE: Blog twinned with Sydney on The Sydney Chronicles and now adding her idea to my list. 

8. Celebrate Fall

What a better way to celebrate fall than by making fall foods and drinks. I can't wait!

What would you add to my list? Any plans this season you are looking forward to doing?

I Scream, You Scream

Yes, the weather has grown colder, but you will never convince me it's not ice cream season. 

We visit Vermont often enough, having family there, and a visit to Ben&Jerry's Ice Cream factory in Waterbury, is usually on the list of things to do. It has a little something for everyone. A retail store to buy merch, a factory tour, museum display of B&J's ice cream history, park grounds, vista views of mountains, a flavour graveyard, and of course an ice cream shop. 

Vermont was the first state to require labeling of foods made with GMO ingredients and Ben&Jerry's is in full support of this new law. They are a great company that has always had a strong morality in the way they do business and their community efforts.

They started their small ice cream business in a renovated garage in Burlington, Vermont in 1978. My parents often regal me with tales of how date night consisted of a small scoop of ice cream and a parking lot movie, projected off the white exterior wall of the shop. They tell me how Ben (or was it Jerry?) first served them in their opening week.

At lease she begs politely 

Of course Ben&Jerry's has a flavoUr graveyard, honouring all the past flavours that just weren't as loved by customers as B&J thought they should be. Vermonty Python anyone?

We don't have too many Ben&Jerry's scoop shops in Canada, but they are in England and every time I came across one in London, it brought a smile to my face and made me think of home. Now who wants some ice cream?!

Vermont, Stop Being so GD Gorgeous!

I haven't seen proper autumn colours in two years. As much as England likes to think they have changing colours in the fall, all I see are green leaves turning brown/orange before falling off the tree and just being brown. Dead. Dry. 

This year, I was looking forward to some good old leaf peeping up in the hills of Vermont. I have family in the state and have spent much time there, but I have never actually been a 'leaf peeper' as they're known by the locals. We visited our normal haunts with the visual slant of fall colours and ventured further afield for better vantage points of the blazing trees. The hilly geography creates the best scenery and most colourful rolling skylines.  The reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns mingling together off set by a jewel blue sky. Nowhere can beat a New England autumn day. 

(However, never have I been so treated to a more wonderful autumn sky than the ones in London).