I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced a more glorious Autumn than this year in Australia.
I wake up to cool, foggy mornings that are quickly dissipated by the rising sun, turning into breathtakingly sumptuous days of sunshine, brilliant blue sky, and a cacophony of bird song.
After a year of nearly incessant travel, I am luxuriating in quiet days in the country with time to just be.
Time for hanging laundry to dry in the sun, for walks with Luna and Fletcher through crunchy leaves, and for washing dishes as afternoon light streams through my kitchen windows.
I think it’s the light that gets me. It seems mellower, more golden and soft than the summer light.
It comes through different windows than during the spring and summer, and I love how it makes my kitchen glow with warmth as it shimmers off the wood walls and glints through the old glass bottles on the window sill.
The yard looks magical at sunset with the light shining through hundreds of feathers from our molting ducks, geese and chickens.
It’s inspired me to embrace Autumn in all its richness and depth of color. I even bought new nail polish in a gorgeous Aubergine as my own little salute to the changing season.
The farmer’s markets have been overflowing with tomatoes and capsicum (bell pepper) lately, so my oven has been running overtime roasting them for soups, sandwiches, and even snacks between meals.
I made a crustless quiche with them the other day, and as I set it to cool on the counter it looked so gorgeous in the afternoon light that I had to capture it.
Alongside these simple pleasures, I’ve been working hard on some exciting projects and I can’t wait to tell you about them. 🙂
What is projects are exciting YOU these days?
Roasted Tomato and Pepper Quiche
(makes two quiches)
Ingredients:
1 cup roasted red bell peppers (capsicum), diced
1 16 ounce container cottage cheese
8 large eggs
1 4 ounce container mild green chilies
2 cups diced ham
4 scallions, sliced
2 Tbsp powdered mustard
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup feta cheese, cubed or grated
24 oven roasted tomato halves
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Mix all ingredients except roasted tomatoes and pour into two greased pie pans.
- Top with roasted tomatoes and bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden and firm.
Love the nail polish Krista. The autumn light is fabulous.
 Thank you, Barbara! 🙂 So glad you like it too. I love your beautiful light here. 🙂
These roasted tomatoes look heavenly! I’m so looking forward the summer here in Hungary so I can eat fresh, juicy tomatoes!
 Thank you, Zita! They are so delicious, made with lots of garlic and olive oil. Mmm. So happy you will have fresh tomatoes soon. 🙂
Krista I relish your ability to see the beauty in the most simplistic facets of seasonal change in our wonderful country. It fills me with an understanding of how important it is to calm ourselves from the daily hussle and bussle of life, and just allow our eyes to bathe in your outlook of our suroundings. I, myself, have recently noticed how many beautiful butterflies I see in my home garden. Now I smile when I see a catapiller eating one of my plants.
I love the colours in your quiche. I bet it tastes as good as it looks
 Aww, I’m grinning so big picturing you shaking your head and smiling at those almost-butterflies in your garden, Neil. 🙂 What a wonderful way to look at them. 🙂 You have such an amazing country and I feel so grateful that I get to be a part of it. 🙂
Aurumn is defintelty mt time of year, although we are just starting Spring so that is a welcome sight after as well. I will be in Seattle next weekend staying with bloggers we have both met and hitting one of the local restaurants, I am hoping the tulips might be blooming for the Skagit festival so Bow is also  must.
 Oh how wonderful, Val!! I will think of you all eating and talking and laughing together. 🙂 I hope the tulip fields are in full bloom for you. 🙂
I’m so glad to hear you’re so happy! The roasted tomatoes are jut gorgeous…especially when baked into a quiche!
 Thank you so much, Joanne. 🙂 You are such a wonderful cheerer-onner. 🙂
oh yum! and not just the food … the mood in that land is just lovely!
 I’m so glad you think so too, Susan. 🙂 I just love it. 🙂
Would you send me some of that quiche. Â What is better than roasted tomatoes?
 I would absolutely love to send you some, dear Chaya. 🙂 Better than that, I’d love to have you at my kitchen table visiting like mad while we each devour a big piece. 🙂
That quiche looks fabulous. It sounds like the perfect autumn. And you reminded me I need to give myself a pedicure.Â
 I’m so glad I could be of service to your feet, Deanna. 🙂
you are sounding happy and more settled Krista. 🙂
 I am feeling more happy and settled, dear Linda. 🙂 I can’t help but smile as I think how different things were a year ago. It reminds me that there is ALWAYS hope. Always. 🙂
What a gorgeous day you had! Love the feather shot!!!
 I love it too, Andi! 🙂 So ethereal and magical. 🙂
Oh, Autumn has long been my favorite season but this just made me enjoy it more. I love all the beauty and simplicity here, and the light. What glorious light. Such refreshment on a dreary not-quite-spring day. =)
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 I’m so glad this glorious Aussie light brightened your day too, luv. 🙂
Mmmmm! Â your roasted tomatoes are making me drool. Â It’s way too early for decent ones in California but I can’t wait until summer! Â
It’s incredible how you make washing laundry appear so marvelous. I’m at home this afternoon running a few loads and don’t feel at all excited about it.Â
 I’m so grateful that I can get fresh tomatoes here even into Autumn. 🙂 I’m afraid I’m one of those odd souls who LIKES doing laundry. And dishes. And vacuuming. But NOT dusting. 🙂
Enjoy that beautiful autumn weather, These are the days that I open the windows and let the fresh air into the house. Beautiful.Â
Velva
 I love flinging the windows open too, Velva! 🙂 It’s pouring rain at the moment but I still have the door open, even though I have to be under a blanket. 🙂
It’s odd to think of Australia really having seasons. Love the funny purple toes. And I’m game for any food that has roasted tomatoes in it.Â
 It’s odd to me too, Duchess. 🙂 I’ve only been here in Spring or Summer so this whole Autumn/Winter thing is entirely new and quite the adventure. 🙂 I’m very happy in a country where I can still wear sandals and sundresses in what would be our October/November. 🙂
I love you, Krista
Having grown up in a region so temperate that Spring and Autumn were non-events, I have adored both seasons since moving to the UK. Â Spring with its optimism and blossoms and rebirth energises me, and I love the woodsmoke and earthiness and colours of Autumn. Â Love the colour of varnish on your toes!