It was the best summer of my life ☺

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That was the thought on my mind as I drove north to the Adirondacks to the usual campsite that I get here early on the Friday before Labor Day Weekend on Hardwood Hill to camp at. Being forty I’m much happier than ever before, some of its my diet, my professional success but I also just feel so much more confident in who I am even as I watch the world go further to shit. Absolutely beautiful day for sure.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! ⛺ Mostly clear and 70 degrees at the Perkins Clearing. There is a southwest breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 51 degrees.

Got up to camp ⛺ on Hardwood Hill, technically the hill next to it a little after ten and got the campsite I’ve been camping at each Labor Day Weekend 🇺🇸 since I think 2017 when I stopped here to overnight on my way to Moose River Plains and ended up deciding I really liked it and it was even more perfect 👌 once remote work became a thing. No remote work this time but I did enjoy a nice nap in the sun ☀ after setting up camp and having rice and squash for a late lunch. 😴 Then in the evening I rode down to Perkins Clearing and Jessup River, almost down to Sled Harbor – actually past the Miami River and also past campsite 9 to the swamp in the other direction. 🚲 Hardwood Hill is tough to bike up, I ended up just walking my bicycle up part of it.

Tonight will be mostly clear and moonlit 🌃, with a low of 45 degrees at 4am. 13 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around October 4th. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Always cool in the Adirondacks. Good night for sitting by the fire with the hoodie on. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 48 degrees. The record low of 38 occurred back in 2017. It is September after all.

As I slept for a while this afternoon 😴 going to try to stay up late, though in my experience that’s easier said than done but the moonlight will help along with a good podcast. Thinking tomorrow of staying up late to see the lit up fire towers 🗼, maybe after watching the sunset 🌇 at Lake Pleasant and the celebration there, get ice cream 🍦then drive past Mason Lake to see Snowy Mountain lit up. Just an idea 💡 for tomorrow. Not set in stone.

Tonight will have a Waining Gibbous 🌖 Moon with 95% illuminated. The moon will rise at 8:39 pm. The Harvest 🌽 Moon is on Saturday, September 16. The darkest hour is at 12:59 am, followed by dawn at 5:52 am, and sun starting to rise at 6:22 am in the east-northeast (78°) and last for 3 minutes Sunrise is one minute and 7 seconds later than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 7:00 am with sun in the east (84°). Tonight will have 10 hours and 45 minutes of darkness, an increase of 2 minutes and 52 seconds over last night.

It always seems the early sunset 🌇 happens so quickly. I was out riding this evening 🚵 and knew I had to turn back a little after 7:30 pm knowing that it would get dark early. Always happens this way come September.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 73 degrees at 3pm. Six degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 19th. Maximum dew point of 54 at 10am. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. The high last year was 80 degrees. The record high of 100 was set in 1953.

Cooler than I expected 🍂 but then it’s September and I’m in the Adirondacks. I had thought about paddling Indian Lake or Lewey Lake and doing a night hike up Watch Hill to see Snowy Mountain lit up but that would be a very late night by the time I was back to camp. Those lakes might be choppy with the wind too. Maybe an evening in Spectulator would be better after an afternoon paddling the Sacandaga River down to the Kunjamunk 🛶 then a bike ride along NY 8 over to Lake Pleasant.

In four weeks on September 29 the sun will be setting in the west (268°) at 6:44 pm,🌄 which is 50 minutes and 46 seconds earlier then today. In 2022 on that day, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 62 and 46 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 69 and 47 degrees. The record high of 86 degrees was set back in 1921.

Looking ahead, Autumn 🍂 is in 3 weeks, October 🎃 is a month away, Average High is 55 🍂 is in 2 months, November 🥧 is in 2 months, Buy Nothing Day 🛍️ is in 12 weeks, December 🎄 is in 3 months, Bill of Rights Day 📜 is in 15 weeks and Days are Getting Longer ☀️ is in 16 weeks.

Soon summer will be a memory

Pumpkin Time 🎃

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With autumn coming, I’ve thought about different ways I can either use either canned pumpkin or baked sugar pumpkin in various meals without it becoming junk food. I thought what better to ask ChatGPT for ideas on pumpkin meals. As he notes, pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes beyond just pie. Here are some delicious recipes to try:

  1. Pumpkin Soup:
    Make a creamy and comforting pumpkin soup by sautéing onions, garlic, and a bit of ginger in a pot. Add canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, a touch of cream or coconut milk, and your favorite spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin. Simmer and blend until smooth.
  2. Pumpkin Pancakes:
    Add canned pumpkin to your pancake batter for a fall-inspired twist. Mix it with your dry ingredients, along with some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then cook as usual. Serve with maple syrup and whipped cream.
  3. Pumpkin Smoothie:
    Blend canned pumpkin with a ripe banana, Greek yogurt, milk or a milk alternative, a dash of honey or maple syrup, and your choice of spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Add some ice cubes and blend until smooth.
  4. Pumpkin Pasta Sauce:
    Create a rich and creamy pasta sauce by sautéing garlic and shallots, then adding canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, and a bit of heavy cream or coconut milk. Season with salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss with cooked pasta.
  5. Pumpkin Chili:
    Add canned pumpkin to your favorite chili recipe. The pumpkin adds depth and a slightly sweet flavor to balance out the spices. Include beans, tomatoes, ground meat or plant-based alternatives, and your preferred chili spices.
  6. Pumpkin Hummus:
    Give classic hummus a twist by blending canned pumpkin with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and your choice of spices. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.
  7. Pumpkin Oatmeal:
    Mix canned pumpkin into your morning oatmeal for a hearty and nutritious breakfast. Add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, along with your choice of sweeteners and toppings like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
  8. Pumpkin Curry:
    Create a warming pumpkin curry by cooking cubed pumpkin with your favorite curry spices, coconut milk, and vegetables. Serve over rice or with naan bread.
  9. Pumpkin Energy Bites:
    Make a healthy snack by mixing canned pumpkin with oats, nut butter, honey, and a variety of add-ins like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and chopped nuts. Form into bite-sized balls and refrigerate.
  10. Pumpkin Muffins:
    Bake moist and flavorful pumpkin muffins by adding canned pumpkin to your favorite muffin batter. Include spices like cinnamon and cloves, and add nuts or raisins for extra texture.

Canned pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient to experiment with in both sweet and savory dishes. Enjoy your culinary creations!