Today is my very favorite day of the whole year...the first day of Autumn. Of course, it means much more back home where the weather feels more "fallish", but in a few weeks, it will hit down here with stunning beauty. And with the coming of Fall is Thanksgiving...just around the corner. After spending this season in Senegal for two years, where there is no "autumn", but just continued unbearable hot weather, it has become all the more loved.

Tonight we are having a First Day of Autumn celebration at our house. It's becoming an annual thing for me to throw this little get together. Complete with hot chocolate and pumpkin pie and lots of other yummies.

This is the first pumpkin pie I have made so far this year...and when I was making it this afternoon, I remembered a time in the not so distant past when I lived in Senegal and was craving pumpkin pie something fierce (it was around Thanksgiving time)...so we asked our maid if there was anywhere we could buy a pumpkin (since obviously Libby's doesn't make it to Senegal). She brought one home (we never did find out where she got it...nor did we ever see another one!)...and I, for the first time in my life, made a pumpkin pie from scratch. It was a beautiful thing...and tasted rather wonderful (even if I do say so myself, but my tastebuds probably would have settled for anything at that point!). So this afternoon when I was making pumpkin pie, I thanked God for the States and the easy access of Libby's pumpkin in a can. :) Then about 5 minutes later when I was cleaning up, I sliced my finger on the can and nearly passed out...after I recovered I wasn't so sure that my next pumpkin pie won't be made from scratch!

I love autumn...and I think it is a thing that should be celebrated...so I do. So, to all reading, thanks...and Happy First Day of Autumn to you. :) Enjoy it!! We are blessed to have this lovely season.