In which we report back amidst the November gray.

Well, that was a nice little blog pause. Times have been busy with work, with vacation, with theater, and most recently with pouring over pictures/skypings of my shiny, brand new, adorable niece of the cute cheeks and golden locks. Three-ish autumnal weeks were spent in the Great American Southwest in September-October, spanning from the swelter of El Paso to mountained snowball-throwing around Taos. I haven’t finished going through all the pictures yet (still an overwhelming concept), but suppose those adventures will make it here eventually.

Once back in Hamburg, it was most pleasing to be greeted with a real autumn – not necessarily a New England autumn, but one in which the leaves turn a rusted gold and spend some time surfing the cool-smelling breeze before parachuting down to the ground, crunchy to the step and satisfying to the ear. There have been other autumns in Hamburg in which the leaves just kinda turned brown and fell off, so no complaints. We’ve been treated to sunny afternoon gloriousness and misty, gray dregs of gloomy days. It’s already getting dark mid to late afternoon, promoting all-day sleepiness as well as early bedtimes. The giant pumpkin delivered by a friend a couple weeks ago was finally slaughtered last weekend, resulting in oh-my-where-did-all-the-tupperware-go-amounts of purée. So far Jules (Roomie Dear) and I have fashioned up pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice syrup, pumpkin curry, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread French toast, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and soups, pies, and scones are on the way. Haven’t gotten sick of it yet, but that time may be fast approaching. Anyone have any creative pumpkin recipes worth recommending?      
   

Tried to beat off the latest head cold with some fresh air on Sunday and went for a city wander. A beautiful afternoon with low sun and quiet streets. Take a peek.

(This one's kinda sad -- who wants to swing alone?)

Unfortunately this weekend wasn't as schön weatherwise, but ah, Hamburg, even when you're gloomy and gray, you never let me down.