In 1998, shortly before I began my teaching career, You Got Mail premiered at the theaters. Already enamored with Meg Ryan, I couldn’t wait to see her in this latest rom-com. It did not disappoint and, in fact, quickly rose to the top of my favorite movie list. Now, 26 years later, I have easily seen it more than a dozen and a half times, and despite being able to quote the movie word for word, I still love it like I did that day I saw it for the first time (but without the large buttered popcorn and soda in hand).
There is not just one thing about the movie that captivates me. The overall vibe just fits - flowing skirts, hanging twinkly lights, the description of New York in the fall, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, street-side pumpkin stands, memories of twirling with her mom, and, of course, the quaint independent children’s bookstore.
For many years, I longed for her bookstore. Old fashioned paper mailers, greeting customers by name, a gathering place for the community, being envelope in quaintness and simplicity… Although a quaint independent bookstore in a historic area of town was not meant to be, Teal Rabbit has gifted me the essence of what her bookstore stood for. And for this I am grateful.
Today is September 1st, and despite still being weeks away from fall, I am ready for the change. As an elementary school teacher, my seasons are marked by the first and last day of school along with the breaks in between. With the new school year already in session for three weeks, I am well into this new cozy season. I can almost hear my vintage jeans and boots calling to me from the closet along with the apples and figs that have snuck onto the tables at the farmers market. I even saw my first bin of pumpkins at my local corner store!
This is such a fun time of year in the kitchen. Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg slowly start becoming the stars of the show again, bakery boxes start dressing for the part, and party orders begin to trickle in. And this year, for the first time, we will get to take part in some holiday markets with our pastry trailer. Thank you in advance for helping me celebrate my favorite season of the year!
As I plan for the upcoming fall season, I look forward to penning in a few traditional fall favorites on my to-do list
like harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, apple pies, and pumpkin muffins. But this year I also plan to keep a few lines open for new and unexpected opportunities.
Don’t you just love the Foothills in the fall?
xx
Stephanie
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