Summer's end from the cottage

Summer’s End
Didn’t we just put the boats and piers in the water? Wasn’t it just yesterday, July Fourth, we watched the amazing fireworks over the lake? It seemed like the rain never stopped this summer. And here we are in September, lawns parched, looking for a little patch of green, learning to do a rain dance.
According to the calendar, there are several weeks left of summer. But the real story is, it is virtually over for most of us.
Oh, there may be a pontoon ride here and there, or a last speedboat ride around the lake. But it’s kind of a "I don’t want to give up the summer". The last hurrah.
Most of the vacationers, week-enders, and visitors have packed up their SUVs, vans, or little cars, and headed for home. Our family did just that for many years. There were years we packed kids and stuff into out vehicle at that time: a Ford wagon with the wooden side, a brown and beige Suburban whose main feature was rust that started at the doors and worked its way up.
Now, I wave good-by, sit on the deck, and am glad I am already home.
Labor Day we had what was probably our last hurrah for the summer. As we enjoyed the weather and the sights on the lake, the smells of summer didn’t even occur to me.
A neighbor was gassing up his boat. Deb said the smells were her favorite: gas fumes mixed with the smell of the lake, and Coppertone, coming across the breeze. A goodd memory.
It has been, in my words, "A lovely summer." On Labor Day, we took a ride around the lake. . Jade’s big dog, Pearl, had her first ride in a boat. Her eyes said, "A lovely ride." She loved it.
Our family is between babies and young ones right now. My kids are grown with grown kids of their own. I’m thinking the next several years the grandkids (great-grandkids for me) will finally outnumber the dogs in the family.
The end of summer really is a new beginning-of Autumn. That’s what makes the Midwest so lovable. The seasons. The reasons for starting anew.
Soup and the Fall just go together. I’ll get a jump on the season with this squash soup. Now if you do not care for squash, there is nothing in this recipe that will cure that.
If you like squash, I bet you will love this. I tried to copy this from soup we had at a lunch with old friends. I think it turned out pretty well.
Squash Soup with Mangos
you will need:
one medium squash-any kind, like butternut or acorn, seeded, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups half and half or whole milk
3 T butter
4 T flour
½ t each nutmeg and cinnamon
1 T dark brown sugar
1 mango, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
salt and pepper to taste
cook squash in one cup broth
mash squash
make roux out of butter and flour
add remaining broth to squash
add roux to soup, stirring on medium heat until beginning to thicken
stir in spices
add cream while continuing to stir
when soup is thick, add mango and turn off heat.
Sprinkle nutmeg on top
Serve with croutons (optional)
Enjoy