I heard a broadcaster say we are getting an early winter these last few days in the northeast. It struck me as strange. Usually by November I am accustomed to wearing my winter coat.
Last Saturday, the 12th of the month, the temperature was balmy. The sky was sunny and I was in a tee-shirt. Of course, it was a precipitous drop the next day. And the cold snap has held.
We may see the snowfall that used to greet us over Thanksgiving this year again. The usual early snow to kick off the holiday season.
We’re an opportunistic people, we New Yorkers. 79th going east off 1st was closed for emergency vehicles on Marathon Day.
It became a playground. These boys throwing a football and the kids playing tag around NYPD trucks took hold of a great big play street.
Over 50 years of living on the starboard side of NYC’s Marathon has given 50 years of griping.
This year it felt cozy. I remembered the occasion and planned accordingly. I made my last foray to west First Avenue on Sat. evening; let them shut it off as early as 10am and the stragglers trail in late into the night.
Halloween provided the opportunity and these little horror decorators rose to the occasion. I am sure that after having worked this hard, they’d rather just wait for happenstance to take these down.
Truthfully, it’s hard to judge when a season is a late arrival. Weather spikes all over the place these days.
I’ve been noting that there was a preponderance of yellow leaves which, and yes, they are beautiful, are the weaker foliage of the Fall. My conclusion today? Reds are just late to the party. At least for me the first week of November for “peak” colors just peeking out appears late.
Yellow appears, now just Blanketing the crown of The tree like the white Covers my crown; soon the Yellow leaves will overrun The green and then drop As the temperature does
Not just for the color on the trees or the crispness in the air but for its promise. The spring will overwhelm with expectation but the Fall has wisdom. It’s a temperate time of year, sometimes breezy, others balmy.
This bronze stag has taken its stand in our neighborhood for some time now.
This dental practice seems to be on a mission we as New Yorkers should appreciate. The goal, I gather, is to put a smile on our faces.
The return to school in the Fall used to require a visit to the dentist.
In order to hang onto that summertime feeling, I had to find a fruit to replace the peach that would carry us into the fall. Kiwi, an Australian with a fuzzy skin and slightly sharp tang, fits the bill. The yellow version even has that peachy hue.
It defies logic (but probably not genetics) that a kiwi with yellow fruit (and skin) is sweeter than the old standard green variety.
The texture requires you to use a spoon rather than a bite.
This type of kiwi is also smoother skinned, and the ones I’ve found are branded Zespri.
These seem to be bred for a milder, less acidic flavor. The ones I sampled are also juicier. Expect to get your fingers sticky.
Never really cared for Red Delicious or Macintosh but there’s a place for all kinds!
Arguably it’s summer that yields the best fruit, what with an abundance of peaches or nectarines. Plums and cherries are also a sweet treat this time of year.
However, as we head into the autumn, we should reserve some appreciation for the apple.
It played a huge role in man’s downfall, for those of you biblically inclined. Let’s not remember apples only in that limited context.
An apple provides sustenance along the lines of the potato and should you need reminding the latter is an amazingly nourishing food.
Apples come in a range of remarkably diverse varieties. Braeburns and honeycrisps are among my favorites. I had a deep love for the sour-sweet Granny Smith once upon a time too.
Texture is as important as taste in a good apple, but whether you care for a soft or a firm-fleshed one is strictly your choice. For me, the apple du jour goes a bit with the mood.
The supermarket offers some types but to truly tune into the diversity of the apple kingdom you need to visit a farmer’s market. There you’ll find some fantastic choices. Cloning apples seems to be a cottage industry of some standing.
I find the origin stories of the apples to be very appealing. That’s a touch of color many green market vendors like to post.
All The Best 