Post updates by email:


Yup, it's that time of year around here when I share Autumn food recipes!

So, here we go!

+++++++++++

As you can tell from my sidebar, I like to highlight different foodie bloggers whose recipes I've tried and enjoyed. I not only follow their blogs but also their vlogger channels. Sometimes I like to simply read a recipe, other times I prefer watching a video. It all depends on the recipe and how detailed it is. 

And as you can also tell from reading my blog for many years, not only do I look forward to Autumn, I literally get certifiably crazy-happy about it. 

Take, for instance, two weeks ago when Trader Joe's started stocking their seasonal food items. I went insane. 

And I mean....IN-SANE.

You haven't lived until you've seen a 66-year-old man jump up and down; clap his hands, and say (out loud, loudly), "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD....I'M DYING!!! OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD....I'M DYING!!!" 

An employee who was standing close to me looked as though she was going to take out her cellphone and dial 911 because I think she thought I was having a heart attack.

After jumping up and down, the first thing I did was select FOUR baby pumpkins from a straw bin they had sitting by the front door and placed them in my cart. The photo I took above is three of those pumpkins. The other one I gave to a co-worker who also loves baby pumpkins. 

Since then, I've returned to Trader Joe's at least four times; repurchasing certain seasonal food items because they don't get many shipments of these products, so I stock up before everyone else gets them. Yes, I admit it, I'm a "ho" with my seasonal items.


As most of my longtime blogging friends know, during the Autumn (and Winter months), soups are what I enjoy and eat the most. I guess you could call me a "soupaholic" because I can't get enough. The wonderful thing about soups is the variety of ways you can create them. And with soups, they taste even better the next day; after they've had time to marinate. 

Today I would like to highlight some soups I've bookmarked as my favorites. I discovered these recipes on four different food blogs; including the links (within the recipe title) so that you can check them out for yourself. I'm a vegetarian; therefore, the ones I've shared are meatless. However, you will find a good deal of meat-included recipes on these blogs.

*Note: you can easily substitute ingredients in these recipes for other ingredients if you wish. I do it all the time.

*Note 2: just because I'm a vegetarian doesn't mean I'm a health-food fanatic because do I eat devour carbs (bread, pasta, rice), and cheese. I'm Italian, I could never give those up. 

Okay, first up...

Italian Lentil Soup -

Italian Zucchini Soup -

Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale -

Corn Chowder Soup  +  Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup -


Okay, I lied. I know I said I'd be highlighting soups, however, I couldn't resist sharing these other recipes as well. I think we could easily interpret them as "Autumn Comfy Foods."

Pasta alla Norma + Pesto Pasta Salad -

*Note: I worship anything with pesto. And that's because I worship basil, garlic, olive oil, grated hard cheese, and pine nuts. Before man, God created pesto!


I don't know exactly when my love affair with sweet potatoes began, but I eat them a lot. Very much like avocados. Therefore, I thought it appropriate to share this recipe...

Big Comfy Sweet Potato -


Oh, and because I also have a passion for fresh green beans, I had to share this side-dish as well. I once made this recipe as an entrée and added crumbled feta cheese, raw sliced almonds, and focaccia dipped in olive oil. To DIE for!

Green Beans with Tomato Sauce - 


Hope you enjoyed! 💗

Bon appetit, folks!

And Happy Autumn 🍁🍂🍁🍂


*Last years Autumn Food post with more yummy recipes.

52 comments:

  1. I'm right there with you on soups! In fact, I don't wait for Autumn/winter to make homemade soups. Year 'round for me.

    Enjoy the season Ron.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ok, so you’re the one buying up all the Fall foods atTrader Joe’s!!! Lol, by the time I get there, it’s always gone! I’ll have to go next week if we don’t go apple picking. Middle Child loves their pumpkin waffles.

    ALL of those recipes look fantastic, Ron. Well, not the miso one because I hate turmeric (tastes like poison to me!) Unfortunately, I just got diagnosed with pre diabetes, so I need to cut back on my carbs. I already don’t eat foods with added sugar, so I was really disappointed with my blood work. To add insult to injury, my husband can’t eat canned tomato products due to Barrett’s esophagus and Middle Child is lactose intolerant!! We are a real fun bunch to cook for! But, like you said, there’s usually away to make substitutions. I made a pumpkin chili this week and just put the canned tomatoes in a separate dish so that Middle Child and I could add to our bowls and it worked out fine. Aren’t lentils yummy? I’ve just recently the last few years been using them in recipes.

    I’d say you eat VERY healthy, Ron! Making food from scratch is best health-wise, plus it tastes better without all the extra sodium and sugar that manufacturers throw in. Happy Fall!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Year 'round for me."

    Me too, Anni! In fact, this past summer was the first time I started making soup all year round. I discovered some amazing summer soups!

    Have a terrific day, my friend. And thanks for stopping by!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yup, I'm the one. I'm a Fall item "ho." LOL!!!!

    Trader Joe's needs to add more shipments when it comes to there seasonal food items because they get like two shipments, so by the time I HORED them, they're gone. HA!

    I never tried their pumpkin waffles, but I will. What I did try last year was their pumpkin hummus. YUMMY!

    "Well, not the miso one because I hate turmeric (tastes like poison to me!)"

    HA! I know, turmeric is an acquired taste. I actually started taking a turmeric supplement after I had a bad fall two years ago and was in pain from the inflammation, which lasted several months. Yet after taking the supplement for only a few days, the inflammation vanished. Pretty amazing!

    " I already don’t eat foods with added sugar, so I was really disappointed with my blood work."

    OMG, I'm shocked at that because you eat so very healthy. You and I are very similar in that respect, we watch (and research) various foods to see the health benefits. My weakness, however, are carbs and cheese. I do try and eat them in moderation though.

    I heard that before about people having the same reaction tomato products. I actually saw a video on YouTube in which a doctor talked about some of the negative effects of eating tomatoes; specifically the skins.

    LOVE lentils! In fact, I made a sweet potato, spinach, and lentil soup last night. SOOOOOOOOOOO good!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend! Always enjoy your comments! And Happy Fall!!!!!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oooooooooooooooo Ron, I loved this post and I can't thank enough for sharing these recipes because I feel as you do about soups and Autumn food. Each and everyone of these look so deeeeelicious! Can't wait to try them too!

    Aren't sweet potatoes the bomb? And it's the one potato I don't feel guilty about eating because they have so many health benefits. I also love new potatoes. I oven-roast them, sprinkled with herbs.

    " Before man, God created pesto!" LOL! And I agree! Have you ever tried Trader Joe's Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto? It's incredible tasty. And you can't even tell it has no cheese. So good!

    Happy Autumn, Ron! And thanks again for sharing. xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ron, my mouth watered as I read your green bean recipe additions. I will definitely be trying that.

    My mouth watered through this whole post! I can tell you're Italian because of the passionate way you talk about food. I'm half Italian, so I share your passion. To me, Italian food is the BEST! I love Greek food as well. And I'm with you on carbs and cheese. I could never give them up. I do try to watch how much I eat of them, but they are definitely a staple in my eating life. Feta is incredible, isn't it? And it's actually one of the healthiest cheeses to eat. Isn't food wonderful?

    I'm curious, do you have a sweet tooth? As much as I enjoy food, sweets are not something I crave.

    Thanks ever so much for sharing, Ron. I will check out these recipes this week, for sure!

    Happy Fall!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aw...you are so welcome, Candice! Being that this is my favorite time of the year, I so enjoy sharing my favorite Autumn recipes. You should see how MANY recipes I have bookmarked because I found so many new ones this year!

    " I oven-roast them, sprinkled with herbs."

    Oh that sounds WONDERFUL! Aren't Sweet potatoes are FAB-U-LOUS? And you're right, they are the healthiest potato. I just recently purchase an herb spice from Trader Joe's (Herbs de Provence), so I will try what you said the next time I make sweet potatoes. I'll sprinkle some on top!

    And yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE tried that pesto at Trader Joe's and loved it. In fact, I actually used it on my pasta one time, instead of tomato sauce. OMG...it was heavenly! And you're right, you can even notice the lack of cheese.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your tips. ENJOYED them! Have a terrific week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey there, Daniel!

    I got that idea from a different recipe I had seen on YouTube, so I decided to combine it with the original recipe and it was faaaaaaaaaaaabulous!

    Meeeeeeeeeeeee too! I love me some Greek food. I pretty much love anything Mediterranean. I just don't eat meat or fish. I've never been a fan of either one of those. When I was a kid, my family ate of ton of meat and fish with meals; yet I couldn't wait to make my own food choices.

    "Feta is incredible, isn't it? And it's actually one of the healthiest cheeses to eat. Isn't food wonderful?"

    Yes, it sure is! I freaking LOVE feta!!! And I agree.....food is WONDERFUL!

    No, I don't crave sweets at all. I used to when I was younger, but I no longer desire sweets. And if I do have anything sweet, it's either a piece of pumpkin pie around the holidays, or a piece of dark chocolate. Other than those, I don't eat sweets.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your passion for food, Daniel. Bon appetit!

    And Happy Fall!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oooooo0 Ron, I'm going to try that the next time I make pasta. Sounds so good! Thanks for sharing that!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are so welcome, Candice! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ron, I really like what you said about pesto. It's heavenly for sure! Looking at these recipes, I'd say you eat extremely healthy. I'm a vegetarian too, but I'm not vegan. I love cheese too much. I also eat my fair share of carbs. My weakness is rice. I eat it a lot, so I try to stick to brown rice because it's slightly more nutritious than white. I also love basmati. Have you ever tried that? Jasmine as well. As you can tell, I love rice. LOL!

    Isn't this time of year the best? It's when I crave comfort food. I also enjoy putting a sweater and no longer sweltering in the summer heat and humidity. I would rather be cold than hot. I remember going through menopause and waking up in the middle of the night with hot flashes. Not fun!

    Thanks you for sharing your favorites, Ron. Mine as well. Happy Autumn!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heavenly is right, Clair! I freaking LOVE pesto! And as you can tell, I love cheese as well. And thank god I'm not lactose intolerant because I don't know if I could give it up. Gluten-free is another thing I couldn't do. I LOVE me my past and rice!

    And yes.....in fact, I have basmati brown rice in my kitchen cabinet as I speak. I like basmati because it takes so little time to make. And yup....love jasmine rice too! I love it with steamed veggies.

    Autumn is all about comfort food for me. And what you said about preferring cold over hot is me also. I never minded the heat until I turned 45 and went through MANO-PAUSE. LOL! And for 20 years, I lived in Florida, where the heat and humidity are pretty much constant. That's one of the reasons I moved back to the Northeast. I missed the four seasons.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Clair. And Happy Autumn!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  13. Delizioso, Ron! That means delicious in Italian! Each one of these recipes I'd eat in a minute. You have very good taste, sir! And being Italian (like you) carbs and cheese are a part of my DNA. LOL! I do think it's possible to eat well and also eat nutritiously, much like the dishes you shared in this post. And soups! Oh my God, my grandmother made the most delicious Italian Wedding Soup known to man. And minestrone too! We would very often have dinner at her house once month on Sunday.

    I will definitely be checking out (and making) these recipes. Those green beans look incredible! So does that Italian zucchini soup. I'll be making that next month, for sure. My husband loves zucchini!

    And speaking of pesto, I just recently made pesto pizza for dinner and it was so good. I sprinkled it with black olives, arugula, and fresh tomatoes. Hubby and I ate the whole thing.

    Thanks for sharing your faves, Ron! You gave me some great ideas for the holidays. xo

    P.S. Hubby and I both laughed at " Yes, I admit it, I'm a "ho" with my seasonal items." Hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Grazie, Elaine! And you're right...carbs and cheese are a part of Italian DNA!!! I agree, it is possible to eat well and nutritiously. And all things in moderate. Also, I don't eat with guilt. I eat like an Italian...with PASSION!

    "....my grandmother made the most delicious Italian Wedding Soup known to man. And minestrone too! We would very often have dinner at her house once month on Sunday."


    OMG how faaaaaaaabulous! Isn't Wedding Soup the best? I've never made it, but my brother Tom (who is a chef) made it many times during the holidays and it was beyond insanely delicious. And minestrone? LOVE that one too!

    Aren't the green beans gorgeous? I've been eating fresh green beans a lot lately, so when I saw that recipe, I made it. And then my after thought was to add feta and almonds.

    Your pesto pizza sounded like a foodie orgasm. LOL! I love arugula. I love its peppery tang. And it goes well with so many things.

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, fellow-Italian! Have a great rest of your week and enjoy this glorious cool weather we're having. I was outside most of the day, walking around. This is such a wonderful time of the year, isn't it?

    X

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ah, Ron, Fall is my favorite time of year, too! How lucky you are to have a Trader Joe's nearby. My son Domer has told me lots of interesting things about shopping there, and I must say, I'm rather miffed at not having one I can explore, too.


    Yum -- these recipes look amazing! My Italian mom would be perfectly at home dining with you and all that pasta and bread, ha! Of course, she'd miss the meat products, so she'd likely tweak your vegetarian choices -- but that's the beauty of Italian cooking, isn't it?!


    Happy weekend to come. Hope you're able to avoid the soaking that hurricane seems to be bringing. XX

    ReplyDelete
  16. Isn't Fall the BEST, Debbie? I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't love the season.

    Bummer you don't have a Trader Joe's closeby. I wonder why? However, it took a while for them to sprout up in Florida as well. My brother told me a few years ago that they opened one in his South Florida area and he LOVES it. He's a chef, so he loves cooking and the fact that Trader Joe's has great food items at great prices.

    "Yum -- these recipes look amazing! My Italian mom would be perfectly at home dining with you and all that pasta and bread, ha! Of course, she'd miss the meat products, so she'd likely tweak your vegetarian choices -- but that's the beauty of Italian cooking, isn't it?!"


    Yes, you're absolutely right, that's the beauty of Italian cooking. You can adjust any recipe to your own liking.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a deeeelicious weekend!

    X

    P.S. We haven't yet been affected by the hurricane, but I noticed that starting tomorrow, we will be getting some rain showers, but very mild. Even my brother, who lives in the area where the hurricane hit didn't experience anything severe.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like you and I are similar when it comes to sweets, Ron. I agree with you about a piece of dark chocolate though. Nothing like it. I usually have it around the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ron, you couldn't have posted this at a better time because I've been craving SOUP, now that the weather is getting cooler. So, I will be checking out these recipes and making note of what ingredients I need to purchase. Isn't soup the best? I even make it during the summer months and eat it cold (soups like: Gazpacho and Cucumber).

    Sweet potatoes are my favorite potato. Not only the taste, but they are very healthy for you. And speaking of health, judging from your choices here, I think you eat very healthy. These are definitely recipes I would eat.

    " Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup " -- looks and sounds incredible!

    Thanks a lot for sharing, dude!. Both my girlfriend and I are foodies as well, so we really enjoyed this post.

    Your pumpkin photo, ROCKS!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hiya, Matt!

    That's awesome! Happy to hear you found these recipes helpful.

    And I know what you mean. Now that the weather has shifted, I too have been craving soup. In fact, I've already made a few over the past two weeks. Yesterday when I got home from work, I made a quick pot if vegetable soup using veggies I had in my fridge and it came out delicious. I also added a sweet potato I had in my veggie bin.

    " I even make it during the summer months and eat it cold (soups like: Gazpacho and Cucumber)."

    OMG...they sound GREAT! Sometimes during the summer months I will eat soup that I've had in my fridge overnight and sever it cold. I eat pasta cold too sometimes.

    I am so looking forward to trying the miso soup too. I love miso broth.

    Always great seeing you, Matt. Thanks for stopping by, and have a most excellent weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  20. Many years ago, I worked part-time at Godiva in Orlando, Florida. That was the very first time I had ever tried dark chocolate and fell in LOVE. The only chocolate I don't care for is white. TOO sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hooray for soup season!!! I'm right there with you and will be breaking out all my soup recipes shortly. I don't really need the recipes though because I know them by heart. My green bean plants this year in the garden were spectacular. You would have loved them! I did get some canned for winter too. Sweet potatoes? We love them too. They are soooo much healthier than white potatoes. But, I can eat my weight in sweet potatoes fries...which might not be so healthy! 😆 I'm always up for pasta.....let's pair it with some nice red wine. Hey Ron....Autumn is HERE!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey Ron, I wanted to stop back to let you know that I didn't wait until next month to make the So Italian zucchini soup, I made it last night and my husband loved it. And so did I. The only thing I did differently than the recipe was that I didn't break the spaghetti, I left it whole. The next one I'll be making is the Italian lentil soup. Can't wait! Thanks again for sharing these yummy dishes! x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Elaine, thanks SO MUCH for stopping back to let me know that you tried the recipe and that you and your husband loved it. Isn't it deeeeeeeeelicious! And it's ironic that you mentioned leaving the spaghetti whole because I did the same thing! It made the soup seem more like a combination of a "spaghetti soup!" LOL!

    The lentil soup is to DIE for! When I made it, I mixed both red and green lentils. And the next time I make it, I think I'll try adding a sweet potato!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yes and yes again, Ron, to the arrival of Fall and comfort Foods. This is my favorite time of year as well as it seemed that summer was never-ending. I was SO ready for cooler temps by mid-September, which did not happen, but then last week (finally) they arrived! The soups you featured here look wonderful and next week, I'm making a personal favorite - butternut squash soup.

    There is a Trader Joe's in Nashua and after reading about your recent experience there, we will be going there next eek...but will skip jumping with excitement.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey there, D!

    "This is my favorite time of year as well as it seemed that summer was never-ending. I was SO ready for cooler temps by mid-September, which did not happen, but then last week (finally) they arrived! "

    YES to all of that! Same here, last week the cooler temps FINALLY arrived. I was actually able to wear a light jacket and it felt wonderful!

    YUMMY....I LOVE butternut squash soup! In fact, I found a recipe on one of the blogs I read and it looked delicious! Can't wait to make it this week.

    "There is a Trader Joe's in Nashua and after reading about your recent experience there, we will be going there next eek...but will skip jumping with excitement."


    LOL!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, D! Hope you're enjoying a faaaaabulous weekend!

    Happy October!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  26. " My green bean plants this year in the garden were spectacular. You would have loved them!"

    Yes, they most certainly did, Lisa. I saw them on your Instagram.

    Aren't sweet potatoes the best? And yes, so much healthier than white. I even found sweet potato chips (at Trader Joe's) and they are delicious.

    Pasta is such a staple in so many of my recipes. Pasta, and CHEESE!

    Happy Autumn, and thanks so much for stopping by!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ron, what a beautiful post! The photos you shared are magnificent! I do believe that trees have healing powers. And not only trees, but the earth in general (plants, flowers, herbs). When I was in college, I took an elective class in Native American Healing Traditions and found it so fascinating. They frequently used the bark of a tree to create medicine.

    Living in a city, I'm glad to hear you have parks where you can go to reconnect with nature. Like you said, it clears the mind and grounds you. The benefits surrounding yourself in nature are plentiful.

    "You can actually communicate with trees. If you just listen." So true!

    Thanks for sharing this uplifting post today. And over the weekend I'm going to spend time in nature -- hugging a few trees! xo

    ReplyDelete
  28. Spreading a blanket below the tree's canopy and laying down, looking up thru the branches, viewing the filtered sunlight, listening to the whine is comforting and soothing. Watching one lone leaf fall is mesmerizing. The fragrance is healing. Sometimes, if a tree root is exposed and the texture is exposed, it's educational to our senses knowing that above all else, a tree digs deep to find its strength.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey Ron, I read the book "The Giving Tree" so many years ago, and can still recall just how much it affected me. It's truly one of the most powerful "life lesson" books I've read. I think it should be required reading in school!!

    I admit it, I've been known to hug a tree too. Several years ago I took a meditation class and our instructor would often (when weather permitting) have the class take our blankets outside; sit around a tree to meditate. And what I found incredible was how much energy I could feel coming from the roots of the tree. And what I noticed was that when we would meditate outside, versus inside, my meditations were much more profound.

    Stunning tree photos, Ron. WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Morning, Candice!

    There were so many BEAUTIFUL photos to choose from, I had such a hard time choosing. I kept changing the photos yesterday because I would find more and more. I finally had to tell myself, "STOP!" LOL!

    ".And not only trees, but the earth in general (plants, flowers, herbs). When I was in college, I took an elective class in Native American Healing Traditions and found it so fascinating. They frequently used the bark of a tree to create medicine."

    YES! YES! YES! to all of that! I took a certification course in aromatherapy many years ago and it was through our studies, did I find out just how much the Native American Indians discover the healing benefits that come from the earth. In fact, I still use certain herbal supplements to this very day. And they WORK!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing, my friend. Have a grrrrrrrrreat weekend hugging trees!!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  31. OMG, Daniel, that book had the same affect on me when I read it! I initially read The Giving Tree back in 1975, when I was attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and used the book to do some sort of acting exercise, I can remember exactly why or what the exercise was, but I know it was powerful. I cried the first time I read it because it was so touching; especially the ending of the book. And I agree...it should be required reading in school. For as simple as the book is, it is extremely powerful.

    " And what I found incredible was how much energy I could feel coming from the roots of the tree. And what I noticed was that when we would meditate outside, versus inside, my meditations were much more profound."

    Ditto! I can sometimes even feel a vibration coming from the roots of the tree. And that's why I try to get outside on my days off and meditate, sitting by a tree. During the initial COVID lockdown, I spent MANY afternoons in the park, sitting by a tree because it gave me such strength and clarity.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Daniel! Always enjoy reading your comments!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anni, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED your comment!!!! Your words added SO MUCH this this post!!!!

    "Sometimes, if a tree root is exposed and the texture is exposed, it's educational to our senses knowing that above all else, a tree digs deep to find its strength."

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You TOTALLY get it!

    And isn't looking up thru the branches, viewing the filtered sunlight, while listening to the wind....such an incredible experience?

    I am so looking forward to taking walks in our parks, once the leaves start changing color and falling on the ground. There is nothing quite so beautiful (both visually and audibly) as walking through autumn leaves.

    Have a terrific weekend, my friend. And thanks so much for sharing on this post!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ron, it's so cool that you used the book as an acting exercise in class. I looked it up on the link you shared, which said that the book was first published in 1964. I had no idea it went back that far! And me too, cried as well. Such a sweet story!

    "During the initial COVID lockdown, I spent MANY afternoons in the park, sitting by a tree because it gave me such strength and clarity." That's awesome! I should have done that.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I know, can you believe that? 1964?!?!? I think I may have done a monologue; using the text in the book as the monologue. And I can't remember if the teacher assigned the book to me, and that's how I discovered it. Or, I discovered the book on my own, and then used it as a monologue?!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Excellent advice, Ron! You're 100 percent right, of course. Trees are living, breathing things, and I pity those who don't fully appreciate them. Yes, they can be spectacular in Fall with their dresses of red and gold, but have you noticed them in Spring when they're just waking up, or in Winter when they hibernate?!


    I'm so blessed to have LOTS of trees here! Yes, they give so much of themselves and ask so little in return. And I, too, like The Giving Tree. Did you get any of those postal stamps depicting the boy and his tree? I did, and they made me smile every time I affixed one to an envelope!


    Have a superb weekend, my friend! xx

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hellooooooooooo there, Debbie!

    "Trees are living, breathing things, and I pity those who don't fully appreciate them."

    Me too! Trees should be respected and honored for their MANY contributions to this earth. If it weren't for trees, we wouldn't have oxygen. Trees are AMAZING!

    And yes, absolutely...trees are gorgeous in the Spring and Winter as well. Being that I love WINTER, I especially find them beautiful when they lose their leaves. There is something so beautiful in their temporary barrenness. They look like artwork made from pencils or charcoal. Like an ETCHING.

    Isn't The Giving Tree such a sweet and powerful story about trees and how much they GIVE? Makes me weep anytime I read it.

    And no, unfortunately, I never did get those postal stamps depicting the boy and his tree. Happy to hear that you did, though. I bet they did make you smile!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaaaabulous weekend. We finally got a break from the rain for the past five days. Today was bright, sunny, and about 70 degrees. HEAVENLY!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  37. I find that so cool, Ron!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ron, the way you express yourself is so beautiful. You say so much in so few words. That's a gift!

    I feel as you do about trees, and nature overall. We don't always have the most respect for nature, in spite of how much we rely on it, but take it for granted; Assuming that it will always be there. I recently read a book, "Into the Forest: The Secret Language of Trees" that I found fascinating and so informative about trees. I too believe trees communicate. And not only with us, but other trees as well.

    I'm going to share an article I found online that I think you might find very interesting. Some are articles and others are audio. The website is "To the Best of our Knowledge' and the link to the episode is : https://www.ttbook.org/show/secret-language-trees

    Hope you enjoy, Ron! And thank you for posting this today!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Clair, thank you for your sweet and encouraging words.

    And a BIG thank you for sharing the book AND the link to the website. I can't WAIT to check them both out. I clicked over on the link briefly, and I could tell I'm going to enjoy it. LOTS of interesting things to read and listen to.

    "We don't always have the most respect for nature, in spite of how much we rely on it, but take it for granted; Assuming that it will always be there."

    How true that is! My mother was very much into nature, so she taught us at an early age to respect it. She loves taking us for walks into the woods. She taught us to respect animals, as well.

    I can actually hear trees talking to me. It's not like I hear an audible voice, it's more like an inner knowingness that I can FEEL as they communicate.

    Thanks so very much for stopping by, and sharing such great information and knowledge. You've added much!

    Have a terrific weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  40. What an appropriate post for Autumn, Ron! I loved reading about the healing powers. How fascinating is that? It certainly makes me want to hang out with trees more! I’ve heard of forest bathing and I think it’s a wonderful concept. I had a friend 20 years ago (our paths separated) who I would go hiking with and she would always tell me that nature was her church. That always stuck with me.

    My best tree memory is when we visited a redwood forest in California. It was magnificent in every way, enveloping sight, sound, touch, and smell. And yes, I absolutely hugged one and my husband took a picture! I was also struck by the unworldly beauty of Bristlecone trees in Utah. They are ancient trees and you are struck by how strong they must be to survive the heat and dry temperatures.

    Over the years, I’ve become so interested in the trees that are native to my area. My favorite is the Tulip tree because they grow so straight and tall and have very pretty leaves with large ‘blossoms.’ Thanks for such an interesting post. Much needed today! XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a great time of year for this post, Ron, just when so many trees are showing off their finery. All of the photos you included in this post were spectacular and now it makes me want to go on a tree walk with my camera and some relaxing music.

    To be honest, I have never really hugged a tree so can’t address whether there is any the healing power. That’s not to say that I don’t believe there is, but just have not experienced it myself, yet.
    But, after reading how you beautifully expressed your feelings in this post, I just may go out and hug a few trees, so thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I thought the same thing, D! I LOVE this time of year, so what better way to celebrate them than to post about them. Aren't the photo fabulous? I had such a hard time deciding which ones to choose because they were all great! I'll be sharing one more post on trees in the upcoming weeks (maybe even into Nov.) on Autumn leaves. We haven't had much of a change so far because it hasn't been that cold yet. However, once the colder temps roll in, the leaves will suddenly change color. So, I plan on getting outside and taking some photos.

    "To be honest, I have never really hugged a tree so can’t address whether there is any the healing power. That’s not to say that I don’t believe there is, but just have not experienced it myself, yet."

    I find that you really don't need to hug a tree to feel its power because I can feel it just from walking amongst trees. I mainly hug a tree as a way of saying, "Thanks".

    Thanks so much for stopping by, D! Have a glorious weekend! It's finally feeling like Autumn here!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  43. "What an appropriate post for Autumn, Ron!"

    I sooooo LOVE this time of year; therefore, I felt the desire to share a post about trees, and how much I respect them.

    I know, isn't it freaking A-MAZING how they really do have healing powers? And you can actually feel it when you're around them. Whenever I'm feeling out-of-sorts, if I spend an hour or so sitting under a tree, I come away feeling so much better. My mind feels clearer and just feel better all over.

    " I had a friend 20 years ago (our paths separated) who I would go hiking with and she would always tell me that nature was her church. That always stuck with me."


    OMG...I love that! And it's so true because when I'm around trees (and nature in general), I feel closer to God!

    "...we visited a redwood forest in California. It was magnificent in every way, enveloping our sight, sound, touch, and smell senses. And yes, I absolutely hugged one and my husband took a picture! I was also struck by the unworldly beauty of Bristlecone Pines in Utah. They are ancient trees and you are struck by how strong they must be to survive the heat and dry temperatures.."

    Thank you so much for sharing that because I have always wanted to visit a redwood forest in CA. They look MAGNIFICENT! And anytime I've seen photos of Utah, I'm in AWE of its "nature" beauty! And doesn't it blow you away by how resilient trees are? They can withstand such extremes, and they survive!

    Before I left my comment, I googled "tulip tree" to see what they looked like. OMG...they are STUNNING! I will have to see if we have them here in PA.

    Much thanks for stopping by and sharing on this post, my friend! Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  44. What an inspiring post, Ron! With all the media driven negativity that's going on in the world, I find myself spending more time in nature because as you shared, it ground me. It also allows me to focus on the "good" in this world. So, I do greatly believe that the earth; particularly trees, contain a healing power.

    I spent a vacation in Portland, Oregon many years ago, where tree hugging is so common. The trees there are not only abundant, but so GRAND! I had such a wonderful time there.

    The photos you shared are gorgeous. I love trees in any season, but Fall is my favorite. They move me to tears.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hiya Matt!

    OMG, that must have been such an INCREDIBLE experience! I have seen so many photographs of Oregon and have always thought it so utterly beautiful!

    "With all the media driven negativity that's going on in the world, I find myself spending more time in nature because as you shared, it ground me. It also allows me to focus on the "good" in this world."

    My feelings exactly! And that's why I spend a lot of my off-work time in nature. I always come away feeling so much more balanced in so many ways. Like you said, it causes me to turn my attention to the good in the world.

    Thanks soooooooooo much for stopping by and sharing, Matt! You've added much!

    Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  46. Oooops, and I totally forgot to respond to your comment about FALL being your favorite "tree time." Meeeeeeeeeee too! And I am so looking forward to when our trees start to turn.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh, Ron, Ron, Ron...this is one of the major things I miss about not living in the Northeast, the TREES!!!! I'm sorry, but palm trees just don't have the same effect at a spruce, oak, or maple tree. One of my favorite things to do in the fall was to take a road trip to upstate NY to see the fall leaves. There is no place like it. I'd come back completely refresh and recharged. What you say is true, trees have the ability to heal. I believe that!

    Gorgeous photos! My faves are the second and final one. FALL!!!!

    Hope you're enjoying the season, Ron! I wish I were there! xo

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hola Denise!

    Being that I lived in both places, I TOTALLY agree! Palm trees are lovely, but there is nothing quite like the trees here in the Northeast. In fact, when I first moved back, I didn't realize just how much I had missed them.

    "One of my favorite things to do in the fall was to take a road trip to upstate NY to see the fall leaves. There is no place like it. I'd come back completely refresh and recharged. What you say is true, trees have the ability to heal. I believe that!"

    LOVE upstate NY! What a glorious area; particularly in Autumn! Upstate PA is fabulous too! I love this whole Northeast coast.

    The FALL ones are my favorites too! I cannot wait until our trees start turning here. They've changed a little, but I'm looking forward to when they look like they're on fire with COLOR!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Happy Monday!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  49. Ron, I remember reading "The Giving Tree" when I was in high school and thought it was such a beautiful and very powerful story. After I had my children, I gave it to each one at Christmas time. I think my daughter still has her copy, and when her son gets older, she said she will pass it on to him.

    LOVELY post! I think trees are amazing. And yes, I most certainly do think they heal AND communicate with us. My two favorite trees are a red oak and a spruce. I love the smell of a spruce!

    Stunning photos! My favorite is the final one. Isn't Autumn the best?

    Hope you're enjoying this weather and having a great week! xo

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hey there, Elaine!

    " After I had my children, I gave it to each one at Christmas time. I think my daughter still has her copy, and when her son gets older, she said she will pass it on to him."

    OMG...that is so SWEET! I think "The Giving Tree" should be required reading in school because it teaches so many wonder life lessons. The ending breaks my heart anytime I read it.

    "My two favorite trees are a red oak and a spruce. I love the smell of a spruce!"

    I freaking LOVE the smell of a spruce tree. It always reminds me of Christmas!

    And yesiree....AUTUMN in the BEST!!!!! And enjoying the weather.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  51. Recently, I spent an afternoon wandering among the trees in three nature parks in our town. There was a light rain coming down while I was in one of them and it was ethereal. To be in nature is cleansing to the mind and soul. And, nothing will make you feel more insignificant than standing in an old forest (except maybe a good thunderstorm). Trees are references from beginning to end in the Bible and are associated with wisdom. Yes, trees are magnificent! X

    ReplyDelete
  52. "There was a light rain coming down while I was in one of them and it was ethereal. To be in nature is cleansing to the mind and soul."

    Oh, Lisa, that sounded WONDERFUL! And you're so right, to be in nature is cleansing to the mind and soul. And I think it's so important, particularly if you live in a city like me, to find places in nature where I can cleanse. Thankfully, Philly has a lot of really beautiful parks.

    "And, nothing will make you feel more insignificant than standing in an old forest (except maybe a good thunderstorm). Trees are references from beginning to end in the Bible and are associated with wisdom."

    Yes to all of that!!!! It's amazing to me how many religions and spiritual practices make reference to the POWER of nature.

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, my friend!

    X

    ReplyDelete

I moderate all comments before publishing. Thank you for stopping by.