THE PLEASURES OF AUTUMN... A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

Autumn might be my favorite season… I mean, I love all seasons.  Each one has something different to offer… I remember when I moved to US/New York my first years here I used to be so excited waiting for the fall season to come. I mean, REALLY excited about it.  You have to think that I am girl from a tropical country where the colors of autumn is a little less defined compared to here.  In the tropical countries the fall colors are not so bright as much as here...  and also there isn't the red tons.  


Fall has a quality that is earthier then the other seasons, with a deep and soft vibrancy that makes me feel good. The warm tons of color, the spicies fragances, the textured materials of wood, baskets and wool, the so and so cold in the air… Oh... Ah... the crispy days with blue skies and gold yellow leaves...  Ah, it's a season that makes me feel like escaping to the countryside; and enjoying all the "goodie & goodie" pleasures of life.

LET'S START HERE!

If you don't have one of these "cutie beauties", rent one and head to the country!

 Next day: maybe you are lucky enough to get this kind of glorious morning...

(Photo: via The Paper Mulberry from 1st-Option)

How about a mellow walk?

Hum... feeling a little tired after your long walk?  So, now... how about grabbing a good book,

 and enjoying a relaxing time in the couch?

(Photo: via one of my old Elle Decor - Designer: Michael S. Smith)

LUNCH TIME!

Maybe some warm and delicious soup from the book "The Soup Bible".

NAP TIME!

(Photo: via one of my old Elle Decor - Designer: Michael S. Smith)

In the afternoon: going to the local art gallery would maybe be a good choice...

Don't forget to bring "organic apples & pears" to home!

(Photo: Still Life by Cezzane)

Before supper I think would be fun to go shopping online...  Jayson Home  is one of my suggestions; if you are looking for something charming for your home or garden!

Hum... but while your are shopping for your favorite item, how about that yummy cupcake

with coffee or tea?

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

by Barefoot Contessa

{Makes 10 cupcakes}

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup canned pumpkin purée (8 ounces), not pie filling

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Maple Frosting (recipe follows)

1/2 cup coarsely chopped Heath bars, for serving (2 1.4-ounce bars)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush or spray the top of 10 muffin tins with vegetable oil and line them with 10 paper liners.

2. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined.

3. Divide the batter among the prepared tins (I use a level 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop) and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.

4. Spread the cupcakes with the Maple Frosting and sprinkle with the chopped toffee bits.

Maple Frosting

6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon Boyajian Natural Maple Flavor

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth. Stir in the maple flavoring and vanilla extract. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

AND FOR DINNER  _  A RICH STEW!

(One of my favorite kind of food: Stews)

Oxtail Stew in Red Wine - Rabo de Toro

from the book: The Culinary Institute of America One Dish Meals

{Makes 6 servings}

Oxtail stews have incredible body and flavor. We recommend that you make this a day or two before you plan to eat it—the flavor deepens as it rests. Boiled, mashed, or pan-fried potatoes are good accompaniments to this dish, along with a glass of the wine you used to make the stew.

 

1/4 cup olive oil

2-3/4 lb oxtail pieces

Salt as needed

Freshly ground black pepper as needed

2 cups chopped yellow onion

1-1/2 cups chopped leek, white and light green portions

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 cup diced plum tomato

1 tbsp sherry vinegar or as needed

1 tbsp honey

2 cups dry red wine, such as a good-quality Rioja

3 cups beef broth or as needed

4 parsley sprigs

4 thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp chopped parsley, for garnish

1. Heat the oil in a casserole or Dutch oven over high heat until it shimmers. Season the oxtail pieces generously with salt and pepper; add in a single layer to the hot oil. (Work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the pieces.) Sauté the oxtail, turning as necessary, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate, letting the oil drain back into the casserole. Cover the oxtail loosely and set aside.

 

2. Return the casserole to high heat until the oil shimmers. Add the onion, leek, and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the diced tomato and cook until it deepens in color and smells sweet, about 2 minutes.

 

3. Add 1 tbsp sherry vinegar and the honey and stir until the honey is dissolved. Return the oxtail pieces and any juices they may have released to the casserole and fold the oxtail into the vegetables gently with a wooden spoon.

4. Add the red wine and enough of the broth to cover the oxtail. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together into a bouquet garni and add to the stew. Cover the casserole and simmer very gently over low heat until the meat on the oxtail is nearly falling from the bone, 2 to 3 hours.

 

5. Transfer the oxtail pieces to a heated serving bowl and keep warm. Remove and discard the bouquet garni. Return the casserole to the heat. Skim the fat and oil from the surface and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer rapidly until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with additional sherry vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour the sauce over the oxtail pieces, garnish with parsley, and serve at once.

Happy "tummy"...?!  Get a glass of wine; or some hot chocolate and the blanket...

A little romantic movie... I think would be an excellent option after dinner!

And if you have a fireplace to go with the movie it would be more then perfect!

(I know... the image shows a living room during day time.  Please, just use your imagination to make the room at night time.) I just love this living room _ another beautiful creation of

designer Michael S. Smith.

Ok... next day is time to go back to the city.  I feel so bad to leave the country, don't you?!... 

I love all about it!  How about you? Do you have any suggestions that apply to our intenerary?

Ok...  Let's not fell bad about it, next time let's create an "Autumn Day in the City". 

I promise to you that I would come up with one.

By the way,  before you head to the country don't forget to check the:

NYSTATE FOLIAGE REPORT

CHINA EXPERIENCE

I have disappeared longer then I thought I would be… Coming back from vacations, long trips, always been very difficult for me. I know that happens for a lot of people… and I am one of them. Those who experience that kind of feeling understand what I am talking about. But anyway, it’s been two weeks since I came back from my trip to China. Well, the first week it was really tough because I was sick and felt awful about the time difference, which is 12 hours. The second week I was trying to catch up with my life with all the personal and professional details that had stayed behind and the new ones. Well, they never end!
Ok. Finally, I think I am back. China is kind of behind me already… I started contemplating the experience in a more serene way. I will never forget that trip! It was an really intense and rich cultural experience that has added a lot to myself personally and professionally. There is a lot of magic in the Chinese way… starting with the buildings, the interiors and details. It seemed that the past of China is intricate and that is clearly reflected in their houses, palaces, furnishings, clothing, food and art. I would like to share some photos of interiors, decorative details, gardens and architecture that explain visually what I am talking about… things that you have seen already in books, film or even in person. I would love to discuss with you about this style. It’s intriguing for me as much as it is intricate. How about for you?

THE MAGIC ASIAN LANTERNS

I have disappeared! Here I am, but ready to disappear again! Wait a minute I will explain. The last few weeks I have been so busy with my mom and brother in town, who came all way from Brazil to enjoy a little of the summer with us! I tell you: We were busy together and having a lot of fun! But the truth is… summer is going to become busier {for me and Mike} from today on! We are leaving to China this afternoon, going for an adventure for 21 days. I am excited, but not with big expectations. Sometimes I think I am going to be really surprised…!

We try to watch movies and documentaries about the place where we are going… I think it’s important to learn about the place where you are going to visit before you go, in that way when you are there you would experience the culture in another level. The last movie we watched was “Raise of the Red Lanterns” (a movie I watched so many times already), but I wanted to watch again to get in the “Chinese mood”… So talking about lanterns… today I would like to share the magic of the Asian Lanterns!

Well, if you are not going to Asia… and maybe is a little bit jealous of me I would like to help you to bring Asia to you, just to your backyard! To start: get inspired by these amazing indoor and outdoor spaces… table arrangements… from these images. All beautifully designed with an ancient kind of touch_ the paper or silk lanterns; creating a magical mood to your space. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution to make your party a visual delightful experience with an oriental detail.



A little of the history of the paper lanterns…

According to China Travel , the precursors to Chinese paper lanterns might have been torches carried on the eve of the Chinese New Year by Buddhist monks as early as 250 B.C. Monks carried these torches at night in hopes of spotting the ethereal figures of the Buddha and his bodhisattvas. Soon, commoners began making lanterns with frames of bamboo, redwood or wire and covering them with thin, oiled paper, gauze or silk. Today, lanterns are largely unchanged in design, though paintings of historical or heroic figures, divinities, and landscapes on the paper are popular.


Here some great new designs of paper and silk lanterns:

If you are interested in shopping for lanterns go to:

Paper Lantern Store

Just Lanterns

Allsop Home & Garden

SEE YOU IN 3 WEEKS!



THE ENCHANTMENT OF THE CASTLES

I wish a Royal Day for you Darling!!!

I definitely didn’t grow up in a castle, nor did I make sand castles… and I did not have fairytale books with stories of castles and princesses. But as most young girls did, I grew up dreaming about castles and princesses. I don’t know where this comes from… I guess most girls want to live in a castle and most boys want to find a princess, riding their strong white horses… Well, I am not a child, nor a young girl anymore, but I still get fascinated about the enchantment and splendor of  castles and their surroundings.

…And speaking about royal weddings, castles, princesses and princes, I would like to share my research about castles. Here are some of my favorite ones!

A Sand Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, pronounced [nɔʏˈʃvaːnʃtaɪn]) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner. The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886.[1] Since then over 60 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle.[2] More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer.[3] The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle[4] and later, similar structures.

Mont Saint Michel   (English: Saint Michael's Mount) is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (just over half a mile) off the country's north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 41, as of 2006. The island has been a strategic point holding fortifications since ancient times, and since the 8th century AD it became the seat of the Saint-Michel monastery, from which it draws the name.

Prague Castle  (Czech: Pražský hrad) is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world (according to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle)[1] at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

Château de Chambord  at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Italian structures.[nb 1]
The building, which was never completed, was constructed by King François I in part to be near to his mistress the Comtesse de Thoury, Claude Rohan, wife of Julien de Clermont, a member of a very important family of France, whose domaine, the château de Muides, was adjacent.[nb 2] Her arms figure in the carved decor of the château. Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley; it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for François I, who maintained his royal residences at Château de Blois and Château d'Amboise. The original design of the Château de Chambord is attributed, though with several doubts, to Domenico da Cortona. Some authors claim that the French Renaissance architect Philibert Delorme had a considerable role in the château's design,[2] and others have
suggested that Leonardo da Vinci may have designed it.



Himeji (外国語ページ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period.[8] The castle is frequently known as Hakurojō ("White Egret Castle") or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight.[6][9].  Himeji Castle dates to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex.[2] Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618.[4] For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.[2][7][10].  Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.[7] The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures.[4][11] Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan's three premier castles.[12] In order to preserve the castle buildings, it is currently undergoing restoration work that is expected to continue for several years.[7]

Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror, and since the time of Henry I it has been used by a succession of monarchs; it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish, early 19th-century State Apartments are architecturally significant, described by art historian Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste".[1] The castle includes the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by historian John Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.[2] More than five hundred people live and work in Windsor, making it the largest inhabited castle in the world.  Originally designed to protect Norman dominance around the outskirts of London, and to oversee a strategically important part of the River Thames, Windsor Castle was built as a motte and bailey, with three wards surrounding a central mound. Gradually replaced with stone fortifications, the castle withstood a prolonged siege during the First Barons' War at the start of the 13th century. Henry III built a luxurious royal palace within the castle during the middle of the century, and Edward III went further, rebuilding the palace to produce an even grander set of buildings in what would become "the most expensive secular building project of the entire Middle Ages in England".[3] Edward's core design lasted through the Tudor period, during which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I made increasing use of the castle as a royal court and centre for diplomatic entertainment.  Windsor Castle survived a tumultuous period during the English Civil War, in which the castle was used as a military headquarters for Parliamentary forces and a prison for Charles I. During the Restoration, Charles II rebuilt much of Windsor Castle with the help of architect Hugh May, creating a set of extravagant, Baroque interiors, still praised today. After a period of neglect during the 18th century, George III and George IV renovated and rebuilt Charles II's palace at colossal expense, producing the current design of the State Apartments, full of Rococo, Gothic and Baroque furnishings. Queen Victoria made minor changes to the castle, which became the centre for royal entertainment for much of her reign. Windsor Castle was used as a refuge for the royal family during the bombing campaigns of the Second World War and survived a fire in 1992. It is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and the Queen's preferred weekend home.

The Alcázar de Segovia (literally, Segovia Castle) is a stone fortification, located in the old city of Segovia, Spain. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of the rivers Eresma and Clamores near the Guadarrama mountains, it is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape - like the bow of a ship. The Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy since then.  The Alcázar of Segovia, like many fortifications in Spain, started off as an Arab fort, but little of that structure remains. The first reference to this particular Alcázar was in 1120, around 32 years after the city of Segovia returned to Christian hands (during the time when Alfonso VI of Castile reconquered lands to the south of the Duero river down to Toledo and beyond). However, archaeological evidence suggests that the site of this Alcázar was once used in Roman times as a fortification. This theory is further substantiated by the presence of Segovia's famous Roman Aqueduct.  The shape and form of the Alcázar was not known until the reign of King Alfonso VIII (1155–1214), however early documentation mentioned a wooden stockade fence. It can be concluded that prior to Alfonso VIII's reign, it was no more than a wooden fort built over the old Roman foundations. Alfonso VIII and his wife, Eleanor of Plantagenet made this Alcázar their principal residence and much work was carried out to erect the beginnings of the stone fortification we see today.

Eilean Donan Castle  (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnáin) is a small island in Loch Duich in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. Eilean Donan (which means simply "island of Donnán") is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. The island is dominated by a picturesque castle which is widely familiar from many photographs and appearances in film and television. It is part of the Kintail National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.[2]

Chateu of Chenonceau (French: [ʃa.to də ʃə.nɔ̃.so]) is a manor house near the small village of Chenonceaux, in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley in France. It was built on the site of an old mill on the River Cher, sometime before its first mention in writing in the 11th century. The current manor was designed by the French Renaissance architect Philibert Delorme.

 Cinderella Castle Walt Disney is the fairy tale castle at the center of two Disney theme parks: the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Both serve as worldwide recognized icons and the flagship attraction for their respective theme parks. Cinderella Castle was inspired by a variety of real and fictional castles. These included Fontainebleau, Versailles and the chateaus of Chenonceau, Chambord and Chaumont, as well as Castle Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, and Alcázar of Segovia, Castile and León (Spain), the oldest of all, which is 9 centuries old. The chief designer of the Castle, Herbert Ryman, also referenced the original design for the castle in the film Cinderella and his own well-known creation — the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in California.[1]

CREDITS: All information about the castles taken from: WIKIPEDIA - The Free Encyclopedia

WHICH CASTLE WOULD YOU PICK TO LIVE...PRINCESS?

WHICH CASTLE WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR PRINCESS TO...HANDSOME PRINCE?