My days are pretty special. I get the royal treatment most days.
I leave the girls speechless with my enchanting grandmotherly ways.
Sometimes we just exercise our brains with challenging activities.
Or satisfy our creative side with brilliant works of art.
Anyway you look at it, I couldn't be happier with the company I keep.
We see life pretty much the same way and I wouldn't change a thing.
Megan is teaching me to digitally scrapbook. This is my very first page. I am so excited to learn this new skill and use it to take care of some of the thousands of pictures I have in storage. Oh boy, oh boy! Meg is such a good teacher and I can't wait to do another one. Thanks Meggie! Eat your hearts out girls...tee hee!
So we finally got a day of hard rain. I don't know how much it will help the drought but hopefully it is a move in the right direction.
Anyway...Sonny, the girls and I went to the farmer's market on Saturday. They have the most beautiful facility I have ever seen for a market but the lamest produce. There was almost nothing. Fall in the southeast doesn't have much to offer in the way of apples and winter squash and such. But they did have some really nice zucchini and summer squash. They were small, just the way I like them so I bought a bunch of them.
Here is a delicious way to cook them and it is so easy. You could add some meat if you wanted to and have a main dish, too. I had never heard of this dish before and we all loved it!
Zucchini and Summer Squash Casserole
Cook until tender:
1 c. hot water
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 c. chopped onions
3 c. zucchini
3 c. summer squash
Drain off most of the water and Mix in:
1 c. sour cream
1 c. raw grated carrots (I didn't add this because I don't like cooked carrots that much and it turned out great without them.)
Make a box of packaged stuffing as directed.
Grease a casserole dish. Put 1/2 the stuffing in the bottom of the dish. Add the squash mixture. Top with the remaining stuffing. Cheese may be sprinkled over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Seems like there is always a lot of zucchini around to cook at this time of the year. Hope this tickles your tastebuds!!!!
We love pumpkins!
Sonny artisticly carved two, while Maddie and Ryen dictated their designs.
One happy face and one scary/grumpy face.
Two happy girls!
Megan, Maddie, and I got to go with Ryen and her class to the pumpkin farm. Yay!
It is interesting to experience the different seasons in different parts of the country. Here it is too, too hot for Fall. We still have temps in the high 70's and 80's. We only carved two pumpkins because we were afraid they would spoil before next week. (We have two in reserve.)
Ryen with her pre-school teacher.
Here is a boy from Ryen's class with a lot of personality. He answered all the questions first. Underneath his granpa's hat sits a really snazzy hairdo. (Just keep scrolling.)
Madelyn loved going from pumpkin pile to pumpkin pile. Each little pumpkin was her new friend.
We went on a hayride which was soooo hot! We sat in a pasture and watched the cows poop (right next to the wagon) and was instantly assaulted with the aroma of fresh manure. Pew!
Ryen with a classmate watching the horses eat pumpkins (their favorite food, who knew?). Note this kid's hairdo. He was so fun/ny.
While Maddie was totally taken by the pumpkins, Ryen loved the grass.
I got a pumpkin, too. Hmmm, I wonder if this would make "Pumpkin Altogether." Yummy!
Ryen was a little glazed after the pumpkin patch, but her pumpkin was her constant companion.
Even the plastic ones (I was referring to the pumpkin, but I suppose I, too, have one) have a cheery disposition.
I can't wait until next week. We get to have our orange dinner and get all dressed up. We will be attening the ward party this Sat. though. Sonny is making chili for a chili cook-off. (good luck to Kaleb on that, too) And of course there is the trunk-or-treat afterwards. Have a fun holiday however you choose to spend it!
I BOUGHT A HOUSE!
I know that is a bit of a corny name. But I like to name things. And this house sits on the corner of Lakeshore Rd. and Kott Rd. Kaleb actually came up with it and Emma already calls it the cottage. I like it and I'm sticking to it.
So I am a tiny bit defensive about this decision of mine. Only because it is such a radical turn of events and in so many ways it makes little sense. Am I crazy? Not that I have to explain myself but because it helps to put it into words...bottom line? When I saw myself living in this house I felt an overwhelming peace. This house spoke to me in a way that made me feel like it was supposed to be my home. Sometimes places do that to you. The first time Ray and I walked through the old farmhouse I felt the same stirrings, like it was waiting for us.
I am pretty proud of this house. It is modest and it is affordable for me. It is well within my means and I think it has lots of possibilities. The house itself is nothing terribly unique and certainly not at all fancy, but I like the simplicity of it.
Anyway, it is a real off shoot of my original plans but I believe Heavenly Father has presented it to me and is pleased with this decision.
It is across the street from Lake Michigan and you can hear the waves and feel the breezes from the lake. You can't see it but of course that is why I was able to get the house so reasonably. There are nature trails a short walk away in both directions and beaches (public and state park) a walk away in both directions, too.
I am having some remodeling done and then I plan to move in by April. I would welcome and love all of you to come visit. Put me on your "to do" list.
It is amazing, isn't it, how life happens while you are making other plans?
The front views of the house. Wouldn't a porch look great? And there are big huge trees standing guard in front. Reminds me of....hmmm..oh yeah, the farmhouse?
There are butterfly bushes and lilacs along this side of the house. Yay!
So this is what you see out the front of the house. The meadow is part of the Audubon preserve. Beyond that is Lk. Mich. There are cliffs at the particular spot of the beach.
It will be so fun to hike these trails.
I think we can use the beach in front of this Audubon preserve, too. I have talked to people that say it is open to anyone. This is just kiddy-corner across the street from me.
The state park has camping, too, as well as a nice beach and playground.
This is the public beach. It has these permanent park benches. You know where I'll be much of the time next summer.
And here is the party store. It is just two doors down from me. Someone told me they are reknown for their gormet treats and specialty items. We'll see about that.
