Falling for Fall

Over the weekend, Melanie and I attended a mariner's compass workshop. It was fun, and we both got a lot done. We may have even learned a thing or two!

This is my little compass. It is made with some of my all-time favorite fabrics, Sweet Potato Pie by Sandy Gervais. Isn't it just yummy!

I am down to just little bits of the lime, and I don't have much more of the purple either. But, I do still have a goodly amount of the orange. So, I should be able to make at least one more quilt out of these fabrics. Lucky me!

Now, working with these fabrics got me thinking about autumn, which is my absolute favorite season. I love everything about it. The weather, the smells, the colors, the holidays, the way the sky looks, the food, the traditions, my collection of fall quilts, saying "Happy Fall Y'all" to people. Everything. I just love it!
Then, to make me even more fall-crazy, Melanie was drinking this chai tea at the workshop that smelled exactly like autumn. Exactly. And when I say she was drinking it, what I mean is that she made herself a cup of it and then because I was ohhhing and ahhhing over the smell of it, she sat it down by my sewing machine so I could smell it all day. She even reheated it to keep the smell coming all afternoon. Isn't she the best!!
Then on Sunday afternoon, I was still feeling fall crazy, so I dug out my favorite candle (Harvest, by Yankee Candle) and sat it down by my sewing machine while I worked a little more on that compass quilt. Then, that put me in the mood to bake a pumpkin pie. Yum. And that led to a big pot of homemade potato and green chile soup and cornbread. Double yum. And there was even a chill in the air last night, (no big surprise since the weather has been weird all summer). So, it was a perfect little autumn afternoon.... in early August. Lucky me!

And, lucky you, here's the recipe for the soup. It was inspired by the soup they serve at Taco Temple over in Morro Bay. Yummy

3 lg anaheims (or 3 cans of chopped green chiles)
1 lg onion
5-6 lg potatoes
2 carrots (lg, of course-I shop at Costco!)
2 lg cloves garlic
6c water
1c half and half
1t pepper
2t salt
1c (or more) jack or pepper jack cheese.

Peel and chop all veggies. Add water to cover, (you may need more or less than 6c), and spices. Cook til soft. Smash it all up with a potato masher, (you will get small chunks, not a puree). Do not drain off the water. Add the milk and the cheese and heat through. Enjoy.