Homestead, Nature Nicole Brunner Homestead, Nature Nicole Brunner

Leaf Peeping in Mountaindale

A collection of photos showcasing the beauty of Autumn in our small town.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
Albert Camus

Fallen Beech Tree leaf found on the Mountaindale Rails to Trails

In 2021 we had a quick and mediocre fall. Right as the leaves began to change an enormous storm rolled in. Within a few days most trees were completely barren. It was a pretty strange feeling to be tossed into the visuals of winter so quickly. Thankfully this year was different.

The first year of us living in Mountaindale we collected fall leaves and other plants to press. Once completely pressed we used a float frame to create a first year memory collage.

Take a look at all the beautiful leaves we saw this season and let us know your favorite!

Our studio at sunset right at the start of fall

“Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling, and they're falling like
they're falling in love with the ground.”
Andrea Gibson

“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Easily one of my favorites - red oak leaf

“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.”

―Rainer Maria Rilke,Letters on Cézanne

Beautiful yellow maple leaf

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Food Nicole Brunner Food Nicole Brunner

Fall Season Meals: Radicchio Salad with Chicken, Pear, and Pomegranate

In search of some very fall forward recipes to serve out of our large speckled serving bowl, I stumbled onto this beauty of a salad over at bonappetit . There were a few things that I changed because of what was available at the store vs how much work was I about to embark on - like using chicken instead of turkey, adding more greens and using store bought dressing. I must say as a person who barely eats salad this one was a wow and will be made again for sure.

ChickenSalad-6.jpg
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