Friday leads into festive weekend days.

With Halloween creeping and crawling its way nearer and nearer I am dedicating this weekend to preparing for it's arrival. Costume brainstorming, scouring the stands for the perfect pumpkin to carve, picking a couple hearty mums for the entryway and of course, fall cooking.

In honor of the upcoming All Hallow's Eve, I am dedicating this Friday farewell to "Halloween in Harlem" by NY-based photographer & teacher, Amy Stein.

Hope your weekend finds you feeling festively ghoulish!

Admire Amy Stein
Read Amy Stein

Cozyin' up

As I rolled over to the sound of Michele Norris reading me the news this morning I noticed I was burrowed a little deeper into the comforter. As I hopped out of the shower, I realized my robe wasn't awaiting me with its usual hidden heat. As I cracked open the door to leave for work, I instantly recognized those white dots floating around the air and drifting into my hair.

Fall is short lived in the Sierras and this weekend it will be fighting against the impending winter. With temps dropping below 10 F and accumulations of 2"-4" expected in South Lake, it's officially time to pack away the shorts and dig out the layers. While the leaves are still clinging and the flowers are still blooming, Jack Frost is ready to make his intentions known.

I'm cozyin' in this weekend and starting it all off with a girls' night indoors tonight. I'm so looking forward to a hearty bottle of red, a bubbling pot o' loveliness on the stove, a pile of new foodie magazines & cookbooks and hanging with my favorite girl, C. Whatever weather rolls my way, I'll be ready for it!

Hope you have a lovely weekend full of seasonal fun!

Happy 1st day of my favorite season!

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made.  The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."   -Eric Sloane

The entrance of fall has me mourning summer yet eager to lace up boots, don a sweatshirt and walk out into the trees.  To view their display, smell their decay and bid them adieu...

Autumn Walk photograph by Sameli