fall's here

this week fall finally arrived in ankara, and by this weekend it's supposed to be winter (snow!).  there is no time wasted on the changing of seasons around here-- we've gone from 80 to 60 (ferenheit) overnight, and now more like 50s with freezing cold rain.  it can be a bit jarring, this abrupt change, and leaves me homesick for upstate new york.  i miss the foliage and the smells and the apple picking.   but, i'm doing what i can to enjoy it & make it feel more like home.  last weekend we took a walk around the lake near our house (more like a big pond) where we collected pinecones for my fall decor and actually smelled woodsmoke.  we also saw about 20 rabbits hopping around-- i guess the tea cafes raise them there?  anyway, it was nice & made me feel a little bit like i was home.

the selection of fruits and vegetables in the market have changed once again with the season.  ben's grandmother picked up these goosberries, which were a treat.  did you know that one of these tiny things has more vitamin c than 2 oranges?  in turkish they are called 'golden strawberries,' though to me they really taste nothing like a strawberry-- more like a citrus tomato.  anyway, they certainly are pretty to look at and apparently a fall fruit here in turkey.

gooseberries

and in turkey, as i'm sure everywhere else, apples abound right now.  apples are my favorite part of fall, so i've been making the most of them.  last weekend i made applesauce, a pie, and for sunday dinner a delicious apple sage cream sauce over white meat (shhhh... i'm not telling what kind).

apple pie

apple sage sauce

this weekend we'll partake in another fall tradition: octoberfest at the german embassy.  it'll be my first octoberfest experience, and from what i hear, it's a lot of fun.  it's going to be outdoors (in a tent), and they are calling for snow, which could be interesting... but, i'm sure the beer will keep us warm!