Fall things: food, temperatures, the moon, and wilting jacks...

I'm pondering "fall food." I love the soup and stew season, but I also tend to get into a rut with cooking. Lately, it's been a red-meat-heavy rut, mostly due to my husband needing a high-protein, low-carb diet for so long while his foot heals. I yearn for things like corn chowder, but that's not even on the radar. Chicken soup has gone well, beef stew has been a hit... but then? Can't make pea soup, either-- too many carbs. I need to spend a little time mulling over recipes that fit the dietary requirements. If you have ideas, send me recipes. 

Because it's cold. Sixteen degrees this morning-- yes, the afternoons manage to hit around 50 or so, but it's getting on in the year. The Beaver Moon is upon us, and it's lovely. I don't think I've ever paid that much attention to "super moons" before, but this one in particular has caught my eye. Maybe because the sky is dark, the stars are icy crystals, and the moon pours in through the kitchen window early in the evening. At any rate, it's rather poetic. 

We have been working with our "car guy" at the dealership to figure out how to get G into a safe, new vehicle for what we can afford. (There is that meme on social media about adulting is all about knowing a guy-- and we do, thankfully.) The whole ordeal is costly-- we were (foolishly?) celebrating the paying off of the Jeep when he hit/got hit by the deer. Now-- seven more years of car payments. And I'm pretty sure the damned car insurance will go up. O yay. We'll be paying this one until after G can technically retire-- assuming Social Security, etc. and his 401K still exist by then. That's a matter for other people, I'm afraid. I can't go there right now. 

I'm joining the rest of the world in setting out holiday decos a little early. This weekend, the solar Christmas lights are on my agenda. We can all use a little joy, even if it's manufactured in China and depends on the sun to bring it to us. First, though, we need to deal with the wilting jack o'lanterns on the steps. One of them looks suspiciously like I do lately. 

Have a good Friday. 

C