Autumn Saturday

 

Freshly-made cider and donuts.

Saturday morning visit to the Dexter Cider Mill. A favorite place to go in autun.

Pumpkins and mums for sale.

After a ride in the countryside: Browsing at Schuler Books.

We had dinner at Alice’s apartment.

photos © 2026 mae sander

Week in Review

 Friday with Family

Souvenirs

Two people brought us a souvenir from the famous Wall Drug after a drive cross-country.

Taco Dinner

We ate dinner at a downtown restaurant called TAQ.

Classics (Earlier in the Week)

Black beans with cheese and tortillas

Cheeseburger on a bun.

As always: Kellogg’s Red Berry Cereal for breakfast.

Inedible but Pretty

A little white mushroom. Can you tell it’s been raining a lot here?

Photos © 2026 mae sander

On TV

“The 2026 BritBox adaptation of Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence follows former college sweethearts and ex-lovers who reunite at a high-end wedding and get drawn into an amateur detective partnership.”

September in Michigan

Summer is coming to an end, along with cooking dinner outside.
Not only is it cooler, the sun sets earlier and earlier.

In the Kitchen 

We included a few interesting foods, but mostly old favorites. 

An omelet on a Micky Mouse plate; shrimp and rice; Dan Dan noodles; another omelet with salad.

Indoors and Out

One New Kitchen Item

New dish-drying mat in a funny color.

More Cooking and Eating

Fresh figs.

My long-time favorite cereal at Elaine’s house in Lafayette.
When we came back, Len bought me two boxes of Special K Red Berries.

A Trader Joe’s croissant and some blueberries. 

In Lafayette; Elaine’s delicious Apple Pie.

Back home 10 days later: time for more pie by Len.

Labor Day Barbecue.

Chicken from our grill, which will soon need to be put away for winter.

A delicious chicken and olive dish that Carol made for us.

Lamb steak with a salad of peaches, feta cheese, and pine nuts.

Potatoes in olive oil with capers (Pommes à l’huile).

Chicken in tahini sauce and a salad with corn, peppers, and lettuce.

Outside the Kitchen: An Ice Cream in Dexter

Dexter is the next town from Ann Arbor. It has a perfect small-town Midwest vibe.

The last Sunday of the month: a beautiful day for a drive and an outdoor ice cream.

A Fall Display Near the Park

Far Away From Us

From Alice’s trip to Germany

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Not quite so far we visited Elaine in Indiana. Here she is with Len, in her kitchen.
See above for her apple pie!

Blog post © 2026 mae sander

Food on TV: Great British Baking Show

First Episode of this Year’s Great British Baking Show

The Great British Baking Show is back. We watched the first episode with veteran hosts/judges Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding and Paul Hollywood. The other previous judge, Dame Prue Leith, decided to enjoy her summer at home rather than in the big baking tent, and the famous Nigella Lawson has replaced her. I did not find this particularly earth-shaking. In fact, I think maybe there’s not much more this show can do after 14 years — I believe we have watched around nine of them. Nevertheless, I’m sure we’ll persist for another season. Here is the NYT headline (link) followed by two publicity photos:

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The judges in a publicity shot.

Blog post by mae sander, 2026

Finished a TV Series

 

We have now watched all the episodes of Marble Hall Murders, featuring the detective Atticus Pundt in the embedded story written by fictional author Susan Ryeland. The plot is very complicated! 

Saturday

Breakfast 

Walking in the Park

In the park near our house yesterday.

In Gallup Park around 2.5 miles from home, this morning.

Gallup Park.

Photos © 2026 mae sander