Mums the word.

If you know me than you know how excited I get when fall arrives. Seriously, I can't get enough pumpkins, mums, candy corn, Halloween, hayrides, apple picking...you get the picture. It's my ULTIMATE favorite season for sure.



This past weekend I visited Petittis in Avon for their Fall Festival. It was a gorgeous site, mums of all colors for as far as the eye can see. I actually got cold chills when I stepped outside into the outdoor greenhouse, the sea of fall flowers filled me with excitement! Did you know that Petitti's all pumpkins are just $2.99, big, small, tall, squatty, no matter the shape or size $2.99. I bought eight of the brightest orange hue, two bags of decorative gourds and a few bails of hay for my fall yard. (Actually I may need to go back this weekend and get more!)



For fall decorations visit any of the Petitti's in Northeast Ohio. If you love fall like I do, you are in for a treat. Happy fall. :)

Oh, and if you are looking for something to do this evening swing by the Happy Dog on Detroit. The Cleveland Orchestra is performing a quirky chamber music performance, complete with piano. 8-11:30pm A beer, a hot dog and some Johann Sebastian Bach sounds delightful.

It's time for the WEEKEND!

Another gorgeous week in Cleveland. The fall weather is slowly creeping in, giving us plenty of time to pull out are cardigans, knee high boots and TIGHTS!

This weekend I really need to stay at home, rearrange my closet, do a bit of painting, bake some goodies for my first true tailgate experience, rake up the “melting” pears from my backyard tree...and so forth and so on....



But when I get the yearning to go out and play, these are the things I will do my best to go see....

> 12th Annual Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival. Celebrating the cultural and artistic endeavors or Tremont and Northeast Ohio. Lincoln Park, Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm

> Both the Rocky River Arts Festival (Old Detroit area) on Saturday AND the Fall Art Festival at Crocker Park Saturday AND Sunday

> I may try to go to One World Day, it might be fun to ride bikes through the gardens?

> GO BROWNIES! Game time starts at 1:00!! (check out the display at the Giant Eagle on 117th!)

> Petitti's Fall Festival starts this Saturday...(@ Bainbridge, Avon, Oakwood, Strongsville locations) Make a pumpkin planter AND get a pony ride!

> Half Price appetizers at Pearl of the Orient to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival all weekend in Rocky River

> F*SHO : A furniture design show featuring the work of 19 locally and nationally known designers. Saturday, Sept. 18, 6-10pm @ Battery Park Powerhouse

Celebrate Fall in Ohio!

The other day I was driving on 90 and noticed the onset of gold, red and orange.in the trees. Beginning in September, visitors of Cleveland flock to witness the brilliant colors that make up the region's fall foliage. Add to that the areas wealth of seasonal harvests like apples and pumpkins, and we've got a traditional autumn getaway complete with hayrides, crisp color and crafts.



Celebrate the season at one of these fall-themed festivals.
> Yankee Peddler Festival: Sept. 18-19, 25-26 at Clay's Park
> Village Peddler Festival: Sept. 18-19 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Cedar Valley Settlers Celebrations & Music Festival: Sept. 19 at the Rocky River Nature Center in the Cleveland Metroparks
> Fall Fest: 18th Century Festival: Sept. 26 at the Brecksville Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks
> Fall Harvest Festival+Antique Tractor Show: Sept. 25-26 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Corn+Pumpkin Harvest Weekend: Oct. 9-10 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival: Oct. 15-17 at Historic Roscoe Village

Bakery Breakfast

With the time change and the bright morning skies, I feel like I have all the time in the world before my work day begins. Yesterday I took my little pup for a long walk to the Lake, while this morning I made a pit stop at the new bakery, Blackbird Baking Company. With the brisk temps outside there is something so comforting in a warm cup of coffee and something sweet and yummy for breakfast.

This morning I was lucky enough to arrive as they were pulling the Pumpkin Pecan (seasonal flavor) Cookies from the oven. The soft, chewy and sugar-coated treat reminded me of a cross between a moist pumpkin pie and my moms banana bread.



If you miss this cookie flavor some of the other goodies include Cranberry Oat Cookies ("oat," it MUST be healthy?), my friend Elizabeth really likes the Sweet Cream Biscuits, Cleveland Magazine voted the Stick Buns the "Best" and the french baguettes make every sandwich or bowl of fall soup better.

If you can carve out an extra 15 minutes, swing by the new Blackbird Baking Co. for your fall carb. fix! Located in Lakewood before you cross the Detroit Ave bridge to "River."

Weekend Plans?

Its fall right?

I mean, I've switched over my closet, flip flops to knee hi's, straw beach bags to suede slouch bag...so now what? What's with the dog days of summer? The September humidity is enough to make my hair curl like Bernadette Peters.



I mean, I love it! Don't get me wrong, there is till more summer fun to be had this weekend...the questions is, how to fit it all in...

> The Tribe is in town against Baltimore. One last soft pretzel before snowfall?
> Opening weekend at The Great Lakes Theater Festival. I think the Twelfth Night looks super fun!
> Did I mention the party on the Bridge?
> How about a drink at Great Lakes Brewing for Ocktoberfest? Doesn't dumplings, cabbage and pretzels sound dreamy?
> Let's go Brownies! Game time 1:00 against Baltimore.
> Feel like an afternoon movie? This documentary looks amazing, although I'm not sure I want to know about how tuna will be extinct in a few? (sorta yummy!) Playing at the Cleveland Art Museum.
> Or maybe I'll go pick a pumpkin out at one of the many NorthEast Ohio Farms

Guess I'll go try and "mapquest" my plan of attack. I HEART fall!

Happy Fall (9/22)

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2009

This past weekend I drove out past Chesterland to attend an "almost-fall" wedding. The leaves were changing and there were pumpkins for sale at every country road inetrsection.



With cinnamon spice and apples gallettes, why not welcome in the first day of fal with an infamous pumpkin spice latte or a kick through the tree lawn leaf pile.

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, Fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Bronte

Happy first day of fall! :)