That first taste of Fall

There is a most magical time of year. It is a time when summer produce is still available, but there is the faintest snap of cold in the early morning air. It is a time when the light is changing in a perceptible way, and yet the sun still shines hot and golden all day. It is a time of year when produce seems to give it its all and turn out more tomatoes, basil and flowers than ever before. It's hard to believe this magical time of year because just shy of three weeks prior, summer was in full swing. We were camping, it was sweltering, the days were oppressive, the evenings steamy; it seemed certain that summer would go on forever. But our clever blue earth tilts on and summer is forced to give way. 

That magical moment is now. 

We woke up to R-A-I-N this morning. I could not get out of bed for how cozy and wonderful everything felt. I actually wore a scarf today! Fall is coming and fall is my forever favorite. I am over the moon. 

Every year when fall comes along, I get really tired. For some reason the change of seasons awakens within me a need to rest. I suppose it's because all summer long we are busy, doing, getting out there, staying on. I love the duality of this magical time of year. High octane meets calm as we spin from hot, fast, intense summer into cool, slow, mellow fall.

I came home from work today and took a nap. I cat napped for twenty minutes. The sheets felt cool and smooth; my duvet fluffy and warm. Something about late summer (or shall we call it early fall?) napping is so intoxicating and inspiring. 

After twenty minutes quite nearly on the dot, I woke up with a start and an idea. I took a rapid mental inventory of the ingredients I had on hand. Asparagus, check. Arborio, probably just enough. White wine, check and check: Two older bottle ends that needed to be used up or tossed out. Parmesan, check: It was just about down to the rind, but enough to grate a cup or so. Onion, check. Lemon, check.  Chicken broth, always. There was only one thing left to do and that was to make a beautiful summer-meets-fall Lemon Asparagus Risotto. That's exactly what I did and it was perfection. Total end of August bliss.

Sometimes, when we stop and enjoy the little things right in front of us, life really is so extraordinarily beautiful. Do you enjoy the changing of the seasons? What is making you feel satisfied, content or awestruck right now?