It’s Fall Already Giveaway

by | Sep 12, 2023 | Autumn, books, Fall, giveaway | 30 comments

Oh my!  I’ve been working so diligently on the final edits to my latest novel, I’ve barely noticed that we’ve slipped past August and are already in mid-September!

The days are getting shorter and wetter, and I’m noticing that the bird songs of summer are quieting down. The Pacific Northwest is a birdwatcher’s paradise all year long, but it’s especially impressive during the fall migration seasons, which can last a couple of months. Swirls of starlings and the honking vee-shaped flights of Canadian Geese overhead, compete with Trumpeter Swans and Snow Geese for attention. As my husband and I drive up to our house on the island, we often stop in Mount Vernon to watch the tens of thousands of Snow Geese that visit the Skagit Valley between November and early spring.

Snow geese flying in the Skagit Valley.
The migrations also remind me it’s time to put out my backyard bird feeder. While I leave the hummingbird feeder up all year long, I take down the birdfeeder in April and put it back up in late September. I don’t want the birds to forget how to forage for themselves during the summer months! I find endless entertainment watching the chickadees, sparrows, finches, robins, juncos, and so many others. I’ve got at least 15 different bird species visiting my feeder on a regular basis. My feeder is just a simple one, but I make sure I’m feeding my backyard friends a good quality bird seed mix to that’s applicable to the birds in the area.
The quizzical expression on this Gold-Crowned Sparrow makes me smile.
While I’m not a huge fan of pumpkin-spice (which makes me a definite minority around here), I do love a good apple crisp, and the way the house smells after baking.
Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

6 cups tart apples, cored and chopped (about 6 apples)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease an 8×8 baking dish
  2. Mix together chopped apples, granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp of the cinnamon and lemon juice. Pour into prepared baking dish
  3. Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt, and diced cold butter, until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs.
  4. Spread topping over apples in baking dish, and gently pat to even it out. Bake 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
  5. Serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, or for a totally decadent treat, drizzle with caramel sauce.
It’s been a very busy summer for me, and I’m looking forward to finally catching up on some me-time. I’m anxiously awaiting my copy of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s latest novel, Lost and Found, from the author, which releases on September 26. It’ll go perfectly with a bowl of warm apple crisp!
Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found.

What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.

Suzanne has generously agreed to send a copy of Lost and Found to my giveaway winner. And I’m giving away a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of one of my books. U.S. only. Winner will be announced Tuesday, September 19, and has three days to respond to my email.

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30 Comments

  1. Karen fossett
    Karen fossett on 09/12/2023 at 10:35 am

    Love fall time out in the country with my animals and enjoying your books

    • Patricia Hastings
      Patricia Hastings on 09/13/2023 at 1:46 pm

      I love fall and the crispy air and the little tricker treaters and love me some hot chocolate

  2. Tammie
    Tammie on 09/12/2023 at 11:19 am

    I love fall and had some apple crisp today. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    • Patricia Wright
      Patricia Wright on 09/12/2023 at 12:16 pm

      I love the cool crisp air and wearing sweaters

  3. Joannah Cotta
    Joannah Cotta on 09/12/2023 at 12:11 pm

    I enjoy reading books by Kate and Suzanne. Fall is a great season, beautiful colors and the start of baking season. Thankful for the opportunity of this giveaway.

  4. Andy Haburt
    Andy Haburt on 09/12/2023 at 1:50 pm

    I really don’t like fall because I know that winter is around the corner, then I am stuck in the house for like six months.

  5. Karen G.
    Karen G. on 09/12/2023 at 2:44 pm

    Love the cool weather, Fall and Spring are my favorite seasons.

  6. MaryEllen Ashenfelder
    MaryEllen Ashenfelder on 09/12/2023 at 3:24 pm

    Love the fall season…the beautiful colors, wonderful scents and cooler weather…perfect for sweatshirts and cozy sweaters.

  7. Rita c Vaughn
    Rita c Vaughn on 09/12/2023 at 5:04 pm

    Love reading Amish books

  8. Ruth
    Ruth on 09/12/2023 at 5:42 pm

    I love all the beautiful leaves

  9. Debbie Earls
    Debbie Earls on 09/12/2023 at 6:37 pm

    Thank you for the fi giveaway. I like fall with the cooler temperatures and changing leaves.

  10. Joan Kurth
    Joan Kurth on 09/12/2023 at 6:50 pm

    That apple crisp recipe sounds delicious! Makes me want to go to one of those orchard places and get some! Thank you for the giveaway.

  12. Brenda Murphree
    Brenda Murphree on 09/12/2023 at 8:48 pm

    I love fall! The cooler weather and the beautiful colors of the leaves.

  13. Kay Garrett
    Kay Garrett on 09/13/2023 at 8:52 am

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win such a fabulous giveaway!

    Fall is a time for things to slow down. There’s no running the roads to those little getaways (or the packing to get ready or the cleaning up when you get back). There’s less yard to mow and gardening to do. The temperature turns cooler to where you can really enjoy being outside. And I love sitting on the porch watching all the nature around us! It’s the time of pumpkins and apples meaning lots of goodies to make. Nothing makes me happier than time spent in the kitchen and then sharing my kitchen’s bounty. And maybe best of all, fall is a time for me to have more reading time!

  14. Susan Campbell
    Susan Campbell on 09/13/2023 at 3:48 pm

    I enjoy reading on my front porch and watching the leaves change color. After I read a book I donate it to the nursing home up the street.

  15. SARAH TAYLOR
    SARAH TAYLOR on 09/13/2023 at 3:58 pm

    Love Fall season and all the ways a person can enjoy Apples Have a Blessed Day Kate!

  16. Kate
    Kate on 09/14/2023 at 4:04 am

    What a fun giveaway! I have been reading Amish fiction for at least 10 years now and it’s always something new! 🙂

  17. Linda
    Linda on 09/14/2023 at 4:36 am

    For us, Fall means a trip to Holmes County, Ohio specifically to Walnut Creek or Berlin. We have found accommodations that make us feel as if we are nestled away yet close to everything! We got to Hillcrest Orchard to get apples to make our homemade applesauce and of course, apple crisp! Your recipe looks similar to mine, although we add a touch of pure maple syrup to the apples to give it a little different twist. And, of course, I dive into an Amish fiction book which is just right for our stay in “Amish Country!” Actually, Amish fiction is my choice any season of the year! Thanks for writing great ones!

  18. PATRICIA SINES
    PATRICIA SINES on 09/14/2023 at 5:53 am

    Yay! What a great giveaway! Thank you!

    • Jennifer Raska
      Jennifer Raska on 09/14/2023 at 1:36 pm

      Thank you so much for the wonderful giveaway, opportunity, and recipe! Happy Fall!

    • Melissa Ellison
      Melissa Ellison on 09/14/2023 at 2:15 pm

      The apple crisp looks delicious. I can’t wait to make it, I know my husband will love it. Susanne new book looks and sounds very interesting.
      You and Piper sit back and kick up your feet and enjoy the birds and take a little rest lol

  19. Sally Davison
    Sally Davison on 09/14/2023 at 6:19 am

    Thank you for offering this giveaway!

  20. Sonja
    Sonja on 09/14/2023 at 7:35 am

    Love all your books. I am a big fan of yours! Thanks for the opportunity, Kate!

    • Susan Brownson
      Susan Brownson on 09/14/2023 at 2:06 pm

      I love Fall. The smell of Apples and Pumpkins are wonderful. The leaves on the ground. It’s just a Beautiful time in Pennsylvania.

  21. Marcia Bowers
    Marcia Bowers on 09/14/2023 at 7:51 am

    Kate, this would be a great birthday present for me September 20 I will be 73 and love Amish books.

  22. Lori Smanski
    Lori Smanski on 09/14/2023 at 9:00 am

    What a wonderful give a way. Thanks. Thanks for your apple crisp. I have learned that I need to be as sugar and gluten free as possible. I finally found an apple crisp recipe that I can eat and it tastes great.

  23. Debbie Schmitz
    Debbie Schmitz on 09/14/2023 at 9:56 am

    Thank you for the giveaway! We are blessed to have our own apple trees!
    So, soon it will be apple picking time- thank you for the recipe!

  24. Deborah Hazelton
    Deborah Hazelton on 09/14/2023 at 4:14 pm

    Thank you for the chance to win. I had apple crisp with vanilla ice cream today. Have a blessed weekend.

  25. Michelle Proper
    Michelle Proper on 09/15/2023 at 11:57 am

    I enjoy the colors of fall and changing from my summertime food to cozy meals and apple desserts of course! The garden gets put to bed until Spring and I get to enjoy my bounty of canned goods. Great feeling!