'Tis the Season for Pumpkin Goodness

A couple weeks or so ago I said I wasn't ready for Autumn and everything that comes with it, but that's changed.  Maybe it's the occasional lower temperatures mixed with remnants of Summer.  Maybe I've fallen victim to supermarkets bringing out seasonal Autumn goodness.

Pumpkin goodies really are the best.

While at Trader Joe's, which is quickly growing to be one of my favorite places (thanks to the most interesting items), I spotted this Danish Kringle.  It was obscured in paper, no hints peaking through.  What was it?  What could it be?  What loveliness lie within?

Visions of Solvang, that glorious place that's totally worth a gander if you've never been, sprung to mind.  Variations of Danishes taunting their various flavors.  My Mom tried a sample of this Danish Kringle earlier in the week and said it was heaven, so I had to try for myself.

 This Danish Kringle from OH Danish Bakery was so good and tasty, one of the best Danish pastries I've ever had, and that includes all the many, many times I've visited Solvang growing up till now.  It's $21.49 on their website, but at Trader Joe's it was about $7.99 or so, maybe more.  Can't remember the exact price, but reasonable enough to try something new.

 And now I'm ready for Autumn!  More pumpkin goodness and apple crisp please.  And, gasp, I'm even starting to itch at seeing a Christmas Hallmark movie, though I really shouldn't get ahead of myself! 0_0.

Stopping to Smell the Flowers

Last week I finally went into Trader Joe's here in Utah.  I did a quick peek out of curiosity last year, but nothing more.  There aren't many locations, but this store seems to have a cult following of sorts.  

It's not that I haven't been to Trader Joe's as my Grandpa was always going into the Ventura location.  He loved getting the dark chocolate.  (Just realized we're coming up to his one year passing, a little sad, but it's good remembering the good times.)

For my birthday one of my friends gave me a gift card, so last week I went to see what I could buy for fun.  I'm not buying groceries with birthday money.  That sounds lame.  But flowers!  And chocolate!  That is birthday money worthy.  So today I made another stop, getting groceries, just to see what they're like, and to buy more flowers.

Flowers are good for the soul.

They're happy little things.

And I've decided that once a week I'm going to buy fresh flowers.

Below is the little bouquet I bought today for $4.  Tiny and wild.

Simple little pleasure, but simple small things make life grand.