Each September we try to predict the intensity of the peak autumnal display. It’s more than a coin toss, as foliage reports take rainfall, sunshine and temperature into consideration. The changing leaves in New England are so popular that visiting fall leaf-peepers drove one town in Vermont to close picturesque Cloudland Road in fall 2024. The road will likely be closed again to non-residents for a few weeks this fall. Social media appears to be the culprit, driving an unprecedented surge of Instagram and TikTok-based influencers who have turned quaint small towns and country roads into must-see tourist destinations.
If you planned outings over this past year, you were well aware of the many rained-out spring weekends. As for temperature, the first half of summer was hot—very hot. Temperatures soaring into the 90s and not cooling down overnight became the new normal. How this all “sugars out” in the timing and intensity of fall foliage remains to be seen and enjoyed this month.
More predictable October events include less daylight and cooler temperatures. This signals the migration of ducks and other birds, plus monarchs, hummingbirds and dark-eyed juncos heading south. And then there are the wooly bear caterpillars (Isabella tiger moths) with their distinctive band of October-appropriate orange. Folk lore says, the wider the band the milder the winter, so keep an eye out for them.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Ingredients
- ½ cup softened butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1¼ cup pumpkin purée
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon each nutmeg, ginger and if desired ground cloves
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° and grease the bottom and sides of a 9×5 loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
Cream butter and add sugar, eggs and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients, blend into creamed mixture.
Stir in nuts and chips. Spread in pan.
Bake for 45 minutes or more, depending on your oven.