As summer bids farewell for another year, Autumn prepares for her entrance, and doesn’t she look lovely! With season changes, I’m often compelled to reorganize and do some fall cleaning. To begin with, I rearrange the furniture in our living room, something that has become an annual activity and a way of inviting new perspectives wherever we choose to sit. Who would think moving furniture around would be so gratifying?
Now we have the chance to watch the sunrise through the big window while sipping our tea or coffee. Or we have a better view of a roaring fire when winter drops in for an extended stay and hot chocolate is on its way, but perhaps, that glass of wine calls when the clock strikes five. Regardless of the beverage at hand, the sofa configuration is more fitting to sit closer to someone we love for a treasured, intimate conversation.
Whatever the benefit, this season change offers a newness, a revitalizing start as we near the ending of 2022. The coziness, the warm hues and spicy aromas. The kitchen curls its finger when outside temperatures drop and the evenings become darker earlier. I’m lured into the room where I mix up pumpkin bread, one of my holiday baking traditions that everyone loves. But last year, I found a pumpkin cookie recipe (image of cookies above) that is to die for! I’m including recipes for both in case your mouth is watering for their sweet and spicy deliciousness.
Pumpkin Bread (my mom’s recipe)
Preheat oven to 325° F and grease and flour a loaf pan. Mix together 1 1/2 sticks of butter (salted), 1 15 oz. can pumpkin, 2 cups white sugar. Add 2 eggs then dry ingredients: 2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1 t. cloves, 1 t. cinnamon, 1 t. nutmeg. Other options are to add 1/2 cup of raisins and/or nuts. Walnuts are good in this recipe. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 65-75 minutes depending on your oven. Test with a toothpick. Cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes, then flip bread onto rack and cool completely. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Cookies (I found online)
1 cup salted butter softened, 2 cups white sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 cups solid pack pumpkin, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
For the Glaze: 3 cups powdered sugar, 4-8 tablespoons milk
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until well creamed. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets. Bake for 13-14 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Do not over bake. Let cool completely. To make the glaze, stir together the powdered sugar and enough milk to make a runny, but still spreadable consistency. Spread each cooled cookie with glaze. Enjoy!
So you see, this simple switch is like clicking on the refresh button on life. Even a small change can add a pinch of extra spice to this time of year.
May this season of Autumn bring a refreshing newness to your life, as well. ❤️
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott 
Around here it is hard to know when the fall kicks in. I get when the temps stay below 90 we know it is here. I can almost smell those cookies, Lauren.
I hear you, John, we’re actually having a heat wave this weekend, but since it’s September, I wanted to do a “fall” post. 🙂 I’d share the cookies if I could. 😁🎃
I’m more of a gingerbread kind of girl but those cookies look and sound amazing, I may have to make some for the shorter people.
Hi Sheri, I have my mother-in-law’s delicious gingerbread recipe and I can’t believe I forgot to add that! That’s what I get for rushing. Thanks for reminding me and it’ll be inspiration for another autumn post. 🙂 The cookies are really good, so I hope you try them.
Lol, glad to help! And we’re pretty addicted to our gingerbread recipe but I’m almost never opposed to trying new things.
Thank you for sharing!
Ah, Lauren, the sweetest welcoming to September… with top sweetness, Copper! xoxoxoxoxoxo
Thanks, Marina! What’s funny is we’re having a heat wave! But since it’s September, I wanted to post something about autumn. The weather will shift soon, I hope. Anyway, Copper sends kisses to you and Hera! 🧡🍁🍂 xoxoxo
Ah, it’s the last glimpse of summer before it changes mantle! 😉 Tail wags from Hera and more live from me! 🌺❤️🌺🐾❤️
🐕🐕🐕😎☀️🌞❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🧡💛🧡💛🧡
❤️🌷❤️
It probably won’t feel like fall here until around mid-October, but I love your annual ritual of moving your furniture for a different perspective. One of these days, I’ll go down to our storage shed in the garden and pull out our fall and Halloween decorations. Even in our high temps, I enjoy decorating the living room… and maybe pretending that the leaves are changing colors and there is a promise of snow (unlikely in SoCal 🙂 ).
Well, even after writing this post, our house is closed up for the heat wave. We’re in the bay area, so it’s felt up and down the state. My sisters live in So. Cal. too, so what you say about decorating echos their thoughts as well. The good thing is they have ac because we don’t. This area never needed it, but things have changed. We’re okay though and just hunker down when the energy tires out. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and stay cool!
You are getting unseasonal high temperatures in California so still looking forward to the season change.
It’s been hot, but not too bad. I think tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest. So, we’re looking forward to the change as long as fires don’t come with it.
Apparently there are strong winds out there in the desert that have spoiled the annual celebration along with the heat.
Fortunately, we’re not experiencing those, but it’s definitely hotter today. We haven’t melted yet, though. 🙂
Hi Lauren, thanks for the two recipes. I have never seen canned pumpkin here, but then I’ve never looked for it. I shall see what I can find. Happy labor day.
I hope you can make these recipes, Robbie. If you like pumpkin, you’ll love these and so will your family. 🙂
❤ Lauren ❤ Fall love flowing to you all. ❤ xXx
Thanks, Jane, and the same to you and Tim! We’re having a heat wave right now, so that fall weather is looking real good. 🙂 🧡💛🧡
Such a beautiful post, Lauren. Welcome September. Climatic changes are going on anywhere.
Thanks so much, Kamal. I love this month, but I can’t wait until this heat passes by. 🙂 🧡💛
You are always welcome dear Lauren. Same in Mumbai too we will be feeling so hot.
I hope you’re doing okay in the heat, Kamal. Yesterday was record high for us, 108, and today is supposed to be hotter. 😦 Take good care, dear friend. xoxo
I think you probably are having a lot of heat. Hope all goes well Lauren. You too take care and stay safe ❤️
I need some of those pumpkin treats!
You should do some baking, Binky! 😁🍁🎃
Love your photo and the spirit of this post Lauren. Autumn is one of my favorite season, it’s such a nice time to relax and enjoy cosy things and moments!
Thank you for the recipes – sounds lovely.
Have a lovely day and a beautiful season to come❤
Thanks, Marie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this autumn post, and I hope you’ll try the recipes. They’re SO good! 🙂 Have a lovely week ahead, my friend. 🧡🌻
It still doesn’t feel like fall here Lauren, but it’s coming. Thanks for the delicious sounding recipe. ❤
I know, Debby. It was 108 here, record temps for our area. Ugh! And we don’t have ac; most homes don’t around here. I can’t wait until those fall temps arrive, so I tried to nudge them by doing this post. So much for that idea! 🙂 Enjoy the treats if you make them, and thanks for stopping by. 🧡💛
Lol Lauren. Mind over matter. 🙂 Thank you. ❤
Also, stay cool if you’re having hot temps too! 💞
I think our hot streak has simmered. Who knows, it will probably snow by next month. Crazy weather! ❤
😂🥰
I’ll have to try one of those tasty recipes, Lauren! Thanks for sharing. I love the photo of Copper, too.
The recipes are SO good, Mark. I’m sure you’ll like them, and Copper appreciates your kind words about his photo too. 🙂 Have a great day!
Thank you Lauren! You are a recipe for renewal.
I’m happy to have met you! xo
Aww, that’s really sweet, Resa. I appreciate your kind words. I’ve never been told that before, so they’ll stick with me. 🙂 I’m happy to have met you too! ❤️❤️❤️
xoxoxo
It’s smokey (huge forest fire not too far away) and over 110 today so dreaming of pumpkin bread and cool weather is exactly up my alley.
I feel for you! It’s 104 today in the bay area, and as you know, it’s been insanely hot all week. I hope tomorrow and the weekend bring lower temps. It’s been ridiculous. I had to do this post in honor of the new season, but like you, it’s only a dream until the weather shifts. Stay as cool as you can!
Lauren, your mom’s Pumpkin Bread sounds so yummy. I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for sharing a family recipe!
Thanks so much! It’s delicious, so I know you’ll love it. Thanks for stopping by!