Bookish signs of autumn

There are all kinds of signs around my home that autumn is not only on the way but here. I went out to the garden yesterday afternoon to check out what was ready to harvest and was quite amazed to see many of the plants turning colors already. That didn't stop a super harvest of bush beans, those cute purple eggplants, and some cherry tomatoes.

However, the true sign that autumn is here came yesterday after I dropped my hubby off at the bookstore (they asked him to stay a few more days than planned... we could use the income!) and I drove to the library near the University. When we were still homeschooling, we mostly went to the large County library but now I find I prefer this smaller campus library. It has a great selection of BBC and other British comedies, mysteries, etc.

During the summer, I would find myself perusing titles and going home with nothing. Summer reading is much like summer cooking... I usually enjoy both but hot weather makes me turn to light reading (magazines, cooking and garden books with pictures, easy novels) as well as light cooking.

Now that the leaves are changing and even 70 degree temps feel cooler, times they are a changing. I checked out the latest Paula Deen book, The Deen Family Cookbook, which contains many recipes I want to try. I come from Kentucky DNA... Paula cooks a lot like my mother did when I was growing up. Her idea of health food was fried okra and breaded tomatoes.

I was very happy to find a biography of Alice Waters by Thomas McNamee on the New Nonfiction shelf. Ummm... yes... we are at polar opposites as far as politics and such but I have long been fascinated with her Chez Pannise restaurant in Berkeley, California and how one person could make such a difference in making organic and "local" food popular.

I suppose she reminds me a lot of Julia Child and Jacques Pepin (to name just a couple famous cooks) who helped Americans learn there is more to food than cream of mushroom casseroles. Not that there is anything wrong with those... which I why I love Paula... and butter.

I also brought home the new book by Ted Dekker called Sinner. Looks good and typical Dekker... a little on the scary side. My favorite scary book was Monster by Frank Peretti. Which is rather odd since I have that whole Bigfoot thing... living at the edge of a forest and all...

I recently checked out The Great Influenza but then I came down with the flu. Umm... not the book to read if you have flu symptoms. Especially since this is the book people are talking about when they discuss the next pandemic. It's due back soon so it may be the next serious book I read (or at least skim).

I brought home two DVDs from season two of Foyle's War. I just discovered this absolutely wonderful TV series even though it has been on in England for years. PBS recently played a few episodes and I so enjoyed them. It takes place in WWII England. This kind of show is why I have a love-not love relationship with PBS and have since the 1970s. :)

Last... but certainly not least... I pulled this book off my own bookshelf:

I love this book. I know many of you do, too. I found it really cheap used on Amazon either last year or the previous autumn. It all kind of runs together. However, it stays out all season and I look through it quite often for inspiration and recipes.

I'll post some more autumn scenes from home from time to time.

Added: The three framed photos in the top picture are wedding photos... my in-laws WWII wedding, our 1970s wedding, and my parents 1950s wedding (they were in their 40s).