It's FALL in the Pacific Northwest!
It's no secret that fall is my favorite season and I've been celebrating with all things pumpkin since September even if it's been warm, humid, and rainy. I made this pumpkin cake which is definitely not on our whole food diet (but you HAVE to make exceptions for fall - it only happens once a year!) so I made this cheesecake to balance things out (my very first although I had a springform pan so I must have considered it once!) Imagine....But yes, the cheesecake is somewhat healthier and the best I've ever had. Thank you, Nicola! I converted the pumpkin stuffed shells to a slow cooker lasagna and we added pumpkin enchiladas to our rotation thanks to Jeannie! This recipe also makes excellent taco filling, quesadilla filling, nacho topping, or dip. If you love like pumpkin make it!
Pumpkin Cake....yum!
The best cheesecake.......ever! The recipe comes from South Africa. All ingredients are available in the US, but I baked the cheesecake at 350 degrees Farenheit. It was fantastic!
New socks to wear as we spend our evenings by the fire.
Today we woke up and guess what? Fall arrived over night! There was a chill in the air this morning and yellow leaves everywhere. Hooray! For weeks I thought we'd miss a fall display this year since the weather's been so unpredictable. For example, the windstorm we had last weekend before the leaves even turned. Our lovely backyard was a mess!
Thirteen 125-ft. Doug Firs in your yard are quite spectacular.....until they're not!
So, the second I saw the first colored leaf I knew where I'd be heading....Portland Japanese Garden. It just so happens my favorite tree is a Japanese Maple which goes through the most beautiful fall transformation. Our first home here in Washington had a Japanese Maple in the front yard and I loved seeing the time pass in the leaves of that tree. Now, our yard is full to capacity with towering Firs so to see a Japanese Maple I have to go down the street....or to the Japanese Garden! Portland Japanese Garden is one of the top 25 Japanese gardens in the US and for good reason. It is made up of 5 gardens on 5 acres surrounded by wooded, protected land. With large vistas, winding pathways, architectural features, and more Japanese Maples than you've ever laid eyes on it is a real treasure. It is situated in NW Portland and is part of Washington Square Park which includes the International Test Rose Garden, Oregon Zoo, and the Children's Museum. I've been asking begging Jeff to go with me to the Japanese Garden for four years. He always seems to find something else for us to do. So, while he was walking the golf course this morning I decided I could wait no longer. And I wasn't disappointed - although I think JSM was once he saw these photos :)
Cathedral Park, Portland, OR
NW 23rd St. Portland
View of downtown from the Garden. Mt. Hood was hiding!
I LOVE mossy forests and gardens in the NW.
The bridge at the Garden.
I hope you are enjoying the season wherever you may be!
XOXO
Fall is also my favorite season, well aside form all the raking I have to do. Hahaha! However, I do love doing yard work and gardening. It must have been quite a task in cleaning up the mess of the sudden arrival of fall. Anyway, the food pictures looks scrumptious, especially that cheesecake. Thank you for sharing them! I hope the season is treating you well.
ReplyDeleteGwendolyn Reyes @ Tapestry