almost fall, y'all!

I am beyond THRILLED  that autumn is sooo close...so close you can almost taste it in the air!  Since September heralds the beginning of autumn, here are just a few of the things that make this my absolute favorite season...



dark nail polish...so dramatic

Halloween

my favorite seasonal candy

(it's a little blurry, but the credit at the bottom of the photo is Hanna Kaminsky)

football season...Roll Tide!

my birthday

AND...

my first autumn in England.

Gorgeous, no???

A Refreshing Happy Hour

So, why "Pimm's and Proper" you may ask.  Let me introduce you to my favorite British beverage...one I became well acquainted with during my initial trip to England:

It's light, refreshing, and oh-so-perfect for those lazy summer days.  Invented in the 1840s by the London bartender, Mr. Pimm, this gin-based drink is absolutely deeelish.  Here's a very basic recipe I found online; almost all are very similar, however, I prefer mine with chopped apples and strawberries mixed in rather than the cucumbers. 



Ingredients

• 2 oranges, cut into half-moons
• 2 lemons, cut into half-moons
• 1 Persian cucumber or one 3-in.-long piece English cucumber, washed and sliced
• 2 cups Pimm's No. 1
• 4 cups Sprite or other lemon-lime soda
• 6 to 8 large sprigs mint, crushed gently, plus a few loose leaves

Preparation

• Fill 2 pitchers 1/4 full with ice. To each, add a layer of orange slices, a few lemon slices, and a layer of cucumber slices. Repeat the layering. Pour in the Pimm's and Sprite, dividing between pitchers, and mix with a long-handled spoon. Poke mint sprigs and leaves down into drink. Divide drink among 8 tall glasses, with a few slices of fruit and cucumber in each glass, along with some mint leaves.
• Notes: Persian cucumbers are small, thin-skinned, virtually seedless, and very tasty. They're sold at well-stocked grocery.



photo by French Tart

Enjoy!

Cheers, Brooke