Another Busy Week

It's been another busy week and September has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

We had an apple orchard tour with our homeschool group during the week.  The kids (and Moms) learned about the different varieties of apples and how they tell when the apples are ripe for picking (when the seeds turn black; just in case you were wondering).  

:-)

The tour guide told them about quality control; firsts, seconds, cider apples, animal apples and the ones you just throw away.  The kids were all fascinated with the machine that sorts the apples in sizes and in the end we all got a taste of homemade cider donuts and some fresh apple cider in which to wash it down.  

Then, dear son had his weekly swimming lesson...

and after three LONG years...

HE IS FINALLY SWIMMING ON HIS OWN!  

You should have seen the smile on that boys face!  He just beamed with delight!   

And so did I.  

:-)

This afternoon was the first day the sun decided to show her face and we took a little walk through the neighborhood...

to see what the change in seasons has brought for us to explore...

 

the Sedum is in bloom and full of gorgeous color...

and we visited with an old friend to say hi and see how she was doing....

She's still weathering the storms.

I've been working on something fun on the crochet front and I'll share that with you in the next day or so.

Until then...

HDP

Thinking About...

"The weather grew colder...The days were growing short and a little fire burned all day in the cookstove to keep the house warm.

The attic and the cellar were full of good things once more, and Laura and Mary had started to make patchwork quilts.  Everything was beginning to be snug and cosy again."

excerpt from Little House in the Big Woods

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

   I just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods to my son.  I read a chapter a night to him at bedtime.  

The Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books were some of my favorites growing up and they have a great historical view point of how the early "pioneers" lived.  

The above excerpt is from the last chapter of the book and really struck a cord with me; even now as an adult.  The coziness of home is as important today as it was back then.  We may not build a storehouse of food for the winter, but I'm looking forward to putting my crock pot to good use making soups, stews, chili's and casseroles for my little family.  Who knows, I may even bake in it this year.  Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook has some interesting recipes for breads, steamed puddings and cakes that I may try.

About this time of year, every year, I start to yearn for the change of season from hot, humid summer to cool, crisp autumn.  

Not much longer...

and in the meantime, we have air conditioning.  

:-)

HDP

One Of The Things I Love About Fall...

...is the crisp cool weather......

...where a walk through the neighborhood is a delight to the body, mind and soul......

And upon return, walking through the door to the aroma of soup, chili, or stew is a warm embrace saying, "welcome home"...

This morning I made Taco Soup.  This is one of those recipes that has been around for a long time and most people have some version of it.  I don't know where it originated, but my recipe below is the one that was passed around my office when I was working.  It is very tasty and hearty.  I'm hoping it will be ready for lunch!  I've got the crock pot on "high".

Taco Soup

• 1 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 2 large onions diced
• 1 qt canned diced tomatoes*
• 1 can great northern beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 can whole kernel corn (drained and rinsed)
• 1 package dry taco seasoning
• 1 package dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (I used generic)
• 2 bay leaves (optional)
• 2 C water*

1. Chop onion (I used my food processor - so much easier!)
2. Brown beef/turkey w/onion until fully cooked (drain grease)
3. Combine remaining ingredients in large pot (or crock pot)
4. Cook until hot and boiling (in crock pot 4 hrs on high or 8 hours on low)
5. Let simmer approximately 30 minutes (cook top only; add additional water if necessary)

*Note:  I can't find the 32 oz cans of diced tomatoes any longer so I added a 28 oz can and a 14.5 oz can and reduced the amount of water to 1 cup.

Weight Watcher Points:  1.5 C = 3 points

Wishing you a beautiful Fall day!  Can you believe Monday starts November?!?

HDP

A Few Ramblings...

An Apple a Day...

You know the old adage, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away".  I don't think they meant loaded in pies and crisps with sugar, cinnamon, and butter........

I was going to make applesauce with the remainder of my apples, but dear husband begged for another crisp.  So I made THIS recipe.  It looks really good, but I haven't tasted it yet.  And really, how can you go wrong with those ingredients?   

Apples are just one of the reasons I love Fall.  There is something special about the season.  To me, Fall is the start of a new beginning; a prelude of sorts.  I know most people probably look at Spring that way, but plants and flowers need to die off first and rest before new growth can take place.  People are that way too.....there is often something planted inside us, a bad habit, thought patterns, etc., that need to die off before we can experience new growth.  I think Fall is a good time for self evaluation and thoughtful introspect.  (And, the colorful foliage is certainly a delight for the eyes!)

Joy in a little quiet thought.....

HDP

Marching to My Own Beat

Marching to my own beat, I decided to put the scarecrows out today.

I put one out back and the other is in front of the house by our light post.  I need to get a little hay bale for the one out back to sit on.  His post broke a few years ago, so he doesn't stand up.

Included on my fall list; hay bale, corn stalks, Indian corn, mums, and pumpkins.  I did see the first mums out at Lowe's last weekend.  They were really small though and the flowers weren't open yet.  In due time.

No turning back now!

Joy in changing seasons; even if it's on my timetable.  :-)

HDP

Introspective Morning

We woke up to a cool morning today and I'm so thankful.  The heat we've been experiencing lately, has really been taking a toll on me.  It is supposed to get up to 89 later today, but this mornings' cool temperatures are a welcome surprise.

I'm not one to wish away time, but I am really looking forward to fall with it's crisp air, the colorful leaves on the trees, and the bright yellow school buses driving down our street.  It's a time for hot soups and chilis, homemade bread baking, and casseroles in the oven that send their soothing aromas wafting through the house.  Fall is a time for color, bright orange pumpkins, earthy plaid-clothed scarecrows, and yellow gold corn stalks.  Fall is a feast for the senses. 

I can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. 

Joy for the day is in knowing, while the summer temperatures will continue for the next month or so, cooler weather and my favorite time of year, are just around the corner. 

HDP