Rudi and I kicked off the weekend by catching the late show of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I have complete faith in J.K. Rowling, so I went in expecting to enjoy the show, and we’re pleased to report that our faith was justly placed.

I slept in later than I’d hoped on Saturday, which meant that just after I headed out for my bike ride (which I’ll write about another day), the clouds moved in and the wind picked up and the clothes I was wearing for the 70 degree day where no longer nearly enough.

When I got home, I promptly piled all the clothes I owned on and dove under a blanket and a cat and dozed the rest of the night away. Sure, I woke up to eat homemade pizza and to drowsily watch the first hour of Free Birds, but mostly it was an unproductive evening, although I did get the laundry into the washing machine before I went to bed.

Which meant today needed to be far more focused. I got up at a more reasonable hour and got myself into the shower before heading to the farmers market to procure vegetables and breakfast. I cleaned a little and hung up the laundry. When Rudi got home, we went to the grocery store and the library together and were grateful for prompt bus arrivals that meant we didn’t have to wait long in the chilly, gusty weather.

Rudi made a delicious gardener’s pie (a vegetarian shepherd’s pie) for supper, and I worked on sending out our Christmas party invitation and evaluating our Christmas card stock. (It’s lower than I’d hoped; apparently my post-holiday stocking up was the year before last.)

We watched a little tv, and then Rudi retired for the night. I listened to an audiobook and worked on my Christmas mitts. (I think I figured out the rolling picot problem, but it’s going to require redoing the top of that one mitt. I also knit a thumb onto one of them, but it’s too wide, so I need to rip it back and decrease a couple stitches and try again.)

Now, having had a cup of cocoa, I’m going to go find a place in the fridge for the leftovers and the quince we pulled out for me to poach, and wash the dishes, so I can get to bed.

I hope you had a nice weekend!

I know this weekend will fly by. Here’s some of what I hope I can squeeze in:

• Watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• Get outside early on Saturday before the rain moves in and the temperature drops 20 degrees.
• Complete two final Coffeeneuring bike rides.
• Knit on my Christmas mitts.
• Return books to the library.
• Send out our tree-trimming invitation.
• Do laundry (including handknits).
• Write an Into the Stacks post
• Clean the kitchen.
• Buy Christmas stamps.
• Assess the Christmas card situation to see if I have enough.
• Poach the quince I have in the fridge.

What are you hoping to accomplish this weekend before Thanksgiving?

I’ll be honest: After Tuesday, all I really wanted to do was to take to my bed and stay there. So, Saturday morning, I did just that, not getting up until I was done being asleep. But the problem with post-return to standard time is that the sun sets here at 5. Therefore, sleeping until afternoon is not really as good a thing as it is in the height of summer, when the final daylight drips from the sky close to 10.

I biked over to the library to pick up a book I had on hold, and then meandered around Georgetown for a bit.

Rudi came home from his bike ride, and we headed to the grocery store, coming home with three bags of supplies. (It’s less exciting than it sounds; toilet paper and cat litter take up a lot of space.)

We enjoyed burgers for supper and watched Saturday Night Live.

This morning, we got up early and were off to the farmers market, arriving home just in time for the moment of nature on CBS Sunday Morning. I had time for a muffin and a cup of tea before I had to race off to the garden where I met a fellow gardener to help rake up leaves from the park for our compost bins. Afterwards, I picked two beans, three peppers, and the final tomatoes from the plants.

Rudi and I went for a bike ride in the afternoon, heading over to a cafe he knew of past Georgetown. We sat in the sun for a while, and I started a book and found my place in a piece of knitting that had been sitting for ages.

This evening, Rudi had plans, so I took myself up to the park to enjoy the final rays of sun with a thermos of tea and my book.

At home for the night, I did some laundry, made a sandwich for supper, and baked a batch of cookies, before finishing my novel.

It was a good weekend, and while I’m glad I got some sleep, I’m glad I got up, too.

How was your weekend?

Carole’s 10 Things Tuesday has become 10 Things on the 10th, but that fell yesterday on a Three Beautiful Things day, and I figured no one would really mind if I were late to the party as long as I brought my dancing shoes, baked some snacks, and offered to refill everyone’s drinks while I was up.

So, today, on the 11th, here are ten things I enjoy about this time of year:

1. Fall color: Is it possible to see the trees turn and not feel a little bit more in love with the world? I mean, not when you’re raking, but while the leaves are still firmly attached to the branches, resplendent in their cerise, ochre, and gold? On a side note, no one can convince me New England with its achingly beautiful sugar maples doesn’t have the prettiest fall colors.
2. Apple cider doughnuts: This is one of those things I just used to take for granted. Until I moved south and finding these cinnamon-sugar covered doughnuts became so much more of a challenge. Sarah and I usually take road trips to find local ones (within 2 hours of D.C.), but this year, each of us traveled and brought them back as souvenirs.
3. Wrapping up in knitwear: I love me a colorful hat and some cozy socks. And maybe a shawlette draped loosely around my neck.
4. Coffeeneuring: I’ll be honest: I don’t love riding my bike. But I live in a city, and, honestly, sometimes it’s really just the easiest way to get around. But MG’s annual challenge makes it far more likely than not that in October and November you’ll find me on a bike both days in the weekend, pedaling on errands and quests to find hot beverages.
5. Window open, A/C off: Rudi and I routinely disagree during the summertime about what temperature the apartment ought to be and whether the window should be open or closed. But in the fall we both agree that the air conditioner no longer needs to run and that the window will stay open until neither of us can type for how cold our fingers are.
6. Plentiful holidays: My office is open on Veterans Day, so I had to work today, but every month from September through January, we get paid weekdays off. (That spring period between President’s Day and Memorial Day is a killer.)
7. Fallen leaves: I realize this is a controversial choice, and I’m not sure I’d feel as fond of them if I had to remove them from a huge amount of land. But in the city, shuffling through dry, musty leaves on the sidewalk is a very satisfying feeling.
8. Local fall fruits and veg: Fresh ginger. Quince. Broccoli. More types of squash than you can identify. Apples, both giant, juicy hybrids, and sweet, little heirlooms. Bounty at the farmers market, and you aren’t yet tired of the sameness of it all like you will be by February.
9. New tv: I like a new season of tv. You get new episodes with old friends, and get to make new ones. This fall we’re liking Pitch, Speechless, Conviction, Timeless, and Pure Genius.
10. Apple crisp: I could totally make this at other times of the year, but it just seems right in the fall.

How about you? What are you enjoying this fall?