Lentil soup, stary pies, and dam good english muffins

Plus, every title in my children's book advent calendar

Fall is really here; I busted out my down parka a few mornings on the school drop-off run. My mind’s running to lentil soup and berry pies, and while not quite to the holidays, it’s on the horizon. We had a mild frost this week, and the hard frost can’t be far away.

A. Pretty, pretty pie!

B. Neon yes!

C. The best Christmas book for kids

D. The absolute last gasp of the garden.

E. Lentil soup! This is my hands-down favorite lentil soup recipe. The key is to use black lentils.

F. This sweater makes me laugh and laugh - it’s been following me around the internet recently. Trout? Why not!

G. This was a random purchase (along with these) after I got tired of rotting onions and sprouting garlic.

H. Discovered these delicious English Muffins at Tri Corner Feed - also available here.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is our Book Advent Calendar. Every year, I wrap 24 books in wrapping paper and put them in a basket in Ben’s room. This is a tradition I built over time. In the first year, I think I did 12 books total - I had 4 or 5 Christmas books already, and I borrowed the rest from the library. Here is a complete list of our favorite Christmas books (bought over the years) and stored in a special bin in the basement off-season.

A. The Church Mice At Christmas

B. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

C. The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits: A Christmas Story for Advent

D. The Jolly Christmas Postman

E. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

F. Holly Hobbie’s The Night Before Christmas

G. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice

H. The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper & Carson Ellis (Illustrator)

I. The Year of the Perfect Christmas

J. Winter: A Solstice Story

K. Who’s That Knocking On Christmas Eve?

L. Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale

M. The Christmas Pine

N. The Snowy Nap

O. Christmas Eve At The Mellops’

P. We are Starlings

Q. The Christmas Crocodile

R. Snow Horses

S. A Christmas Like Helen’s

T. The Polar Express

U. The Magical Christmas Store

V. Christmas at Hogwarts

W. The Tomten and The Fox

X. Four Friends at Christmas

Y. Night Tree

Z. Wintercake