Welcome Autumn
It seems that my favorite time of year has arrived. The house is filled with the quintessential smell of fall – fresh-baked pumpkin bread. If your house doesn’t smell like this today, why don’t you take my recipe and see if you can rectify that, hm?
I welcomed autumn this morning with the very first hot apple cider of the season, and I nursed that mug all afternoon, refilling and re-heating as necessary.
The cornerstone of the First Day of Fall Ritual is, of course, the baking of the pumpkin bread. I was hoping to have some little helpers, but they preferred to watch a Netflix movie. That’s ok. I cranked up the music and enjoyed myself anyway.
Much to Neil‘s chagrin, the other very important aspect of the First Day of Fall Ritual is the giving away of the baked bread. Lest you think I am heartless, I’m letting him keep the muffins 
The four little loaves, however, are destined for gift-giving. I have been doing this every year for at least twelve years, and ever since the kids have been school-age, the recipients have been teachers. I have to admit that I often drop the ball on end-of-year teacher gifts and some of the other more traditional holidays, but I always have a First Day of Fall loaf of bread to give, and maybe that makes up for it somehow.
This year’s loaves are going to three teachers and a bus driver. The teachers are also getting polymer clay pens and the bus driver is getting a polymer clay leaf pin – all in the Autumn color scheme, of course 
I made little gift cards from orange computer paper, and a computer sticker. I used some pigment inks to add a little interest, and then doodled on them a little bit with an ultra fine point sharpie. Then I tied everything together with a length of twine.
Before we know it, there will be crunching leaves underfoot, knitted sweaters, cozy blankets on our laps, brilliant foliage, and that crisp smell in the air that only fall can bring. I look forward to drinking in all of those wonderful autumn treats and savoring them as long as I possibly can, until winter arrives.
Happy Fall, my friends!
Comment RSS feed | Trackback URI | Comment Form
14 Trackbacks and Comments
Links to “Welcome Autumn”:
Replies to “Welcome Autumn”:
that looks like a great recipe! I would use splenda instead of the sugar for decrease in points but dang…I think I may make some of them this week. One of my FAV pumpkin things to eat is pumpkin cheesecake. I am going to attempt to make one this year too
It’s quite good. And actually, it’s way lower in fat & cholesterol than the original recipe was. I substituted more pumpkin for half of the oil, and I used egg substitute instead of real eggs. It got such rave reviews that I got rid of the old recipe altogether and use this one exclusively.
What a spread! It looks great. How industrious and productive of you! It looks like all that stuff must have taken a lot of work. very nice.
It’s all part of the ritual
It’s just not fall without pumpkin bread gift baskets of some kind!
What a lovely gift to receive on the first of fall!!! Our fall came in with 90 degree temps…ugh!!! I am so ready for cool weather and we did have a little taste, but then summer declared it wasn’t ready to end. The leaves are beginning to change a little bit. We went to the orchard last week and it was just as we had feared….they lost 90% of their crop to a late freeze. I am so sad! They make the best cider….ever!!!! But will only get to do one batch. I feel so bad for them!
Sorry, I must be chatty this morning…. One more thing. One of the best things about being creative is being able to give people handmade gifts whenever you take a notion. I love that!!!!
Have a great day!!!
Oh, that’s really too bad about the cider! Hot cider, mulling in a crock pot all day is one of my favorite things about this season. I wish I wasn’t the only one in this house who liked it hot – I can’t exactly drink up a whole crock pot of it myself! I tend to just microwave it a mug at a time unless I’m having company over. Maybe I should have company over
Looks wonderful!! As a past teacher, what a nice treat!
I must add “phttt” on welcoming Autumn – it’s still in the 90s here. Tho we may get one more beach trip in October for the kids “Fall Break”, so I guess I can’t complain too loudly. But I do love the cool Fall temps & smells, awwww.
Thanks for the teacher’s point-of-view
The reaction around here seems to have been favorable.
What a fantastic and thoughtful way to celebrate the onset of autumn.
Thanks – it’s fun!
I am going to have to try your recipe. I love quick breads and muffins. What a great way to welcome in the fall.
Yes, it is so nice to hand someone a loaf of fresh-baked bread for something that is really a non-occasion for most people. I like having sort of my own holiday
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
what a great gift idea!! I will have to remember that when Ryan is old enough (then again, it doesn’t really feel like fall out here… it is 88 degrees!!!)
Before the kids were in school, I used to do this and give the breads to my parents, in-laws, coworkers, or neighbors. It hasn’t felt much like fall here, either – it was pretty hot last week. But finally this weekend I’ve needed sweaters in the morning & evening. My favorite kind of weather.