I N T R O D U C T I O N
What is this tiny zine about? Not much! This is a compilation of some of my art and thoughts pertaining to Autumn. Small thoughts and small reflections occupy these pages. But isn' t it the small, happy moments that eventually make up nostalgia? I think it' s important - especially during this time of the year, when school has started again and the holidays approach - to take a moment, step back, and take a deep breath. I n fact, I ' ve always thought this was the chief idea behind Autumn' s two biggest holidays - Halloween ( an opportunity to be a kid again and celebrate the scary) and Thanksgiving ( a day for considering the blessings in our lives) . I hope this tiny zine is like a deep breath. I n fact, most of these doodles were drawn or painted in this spirit. Drawing has been a great creative distraction when there' s a lot going on in my life. I hope this zine will be a happy distraction for you. Thanks for reading, and happy fall! xo xo
Episode 1: The Case of the Missing Cookies
To be continued. . .
These are moist cookies with a mild pumpkin spice and a cakey texture. This recipe makes approx. 30 cookies. One trick that helps make the raisins soft is to pour boiling water over them and let them soak in a bowl for 10 minutes before adding to the rest of the ingredients. You raisin lovers can add an extra cup, if desired. You will need:
Cookies:
2 cups of flour 1 15oz can of pumpkin 1 1/ 4 cups of packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp of baking soda 1/ 2 tsp of cinnamon 1 tsp of ginger 1/ 2 tsp of salt 1/ 2 tsp of ground cloves 1/ 2 cup of sour cream 2 tablespoons of molasses 1 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tbsps of butter 1/ 2 cup of quick oats 1/ 2 cup of raisins
Topping ( optional) :
2 tablespoons of butter 1/ 3 cup of half and half 1/ 2 cup of packed brown sugar 1/ 2 cup of packed powdered sugar, plus 1 cup or more to be added later 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350. Mix flour, baking soda, salt and spices together. I n a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin, sour cream, molasses, butter, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the other bowl and mix. Add raisins and quick oats. Dollop the batter onto a greased cookie sheet with a heaping tablespoon. Bake at 350 from 14 to 16 minutes. The cookies are a nice treat by themselves, but if you want something sweeter, you can make the topping. Mix all the topping ingredients together and heat over the stove on medium until it bubbles, stirring constantly. Stir and let bubble for 3 minutes. Then remove from heat and add 1 cup of powdered sugar. Drizzle on cookies while still warm. Enj oy! XOXO
Harold habitually helped himself to the large orange vegetable-flavored candies that people put on their front stoops in October, but only under the cover of darkness.
We' re drifting slowly down a creek Under leaves like embers, Ahead approaches what we seek: "Look, " I point, "November. "
Brownie, the Autumn Cat
My beloved pet, Brownie, had long white and reddish-brown fur - reddish brown like an autumn leaf. I snapped these photos in early November, 2006 with my first digital camera. Brownie has since passed on, but these photos capture one of the special moments in her life. Normally self-conscious, with a ridiculous since of pride for a fuzzy animal, Brownie was rolling around with complete abandon in a pile of leaves. She was enj oying the sun, and cleaning her tail and ears with her
pink tongue and paws. Normally she would immediately stop and give me a dirty look if I caught her frolicking, but that day she let me take photos. Snapping loads of photos at once was still a new-ish idea for me. As a kid, saving up for disposable cameras or 35mm film, and then paying for film development at the drug store made me think twice before pushing the shutter. But with a digital camera and autumn leaves, Brownie and I both threw caution to the wind. xoxo
I think I feel most alive in autumn. How about you?
I like spending a little time alone with a cup of hot tea or cider.
Students: Letting Grades Slip
Find someone who' ll always care For you no matter what you wear
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