I’m posting these pictures just because. 🙂
I love ’em all. Can’t wait to see them again. Did I tell you they’re coming here for Christmas?? 😀 ~~Grandma
Autumn is showing up in the yard. The asters are in full bloom. These plants came from the family farm. They bloom beautifully in late September and well into October. The butterflies and bees swarm to it. It’s great fun to shake the branches and watch all those pretty insects flying up in a cloud.
There are a few daylilies and purple cone flowers still blooming.
Last Wednesday DH spent some time cutting dried flower stalks. The driveway looks so much better.
Here’s the menu for the week…
Monday
eat out
Tuesday
pork chops
mashed potatoes
sugar snap peas
corn
green salad
Wednesday
hamburgers / buns
chips / dip
Thursday
chicken in the crock pot
steamed red potatoes
peas
corn
Cesar salad
Friday
homemade pizza
Saturday
fridge food
Sunday
pork tenderloin
rice
corn
sauteed spinach
You can find more menus and recipes at Menu Plan Monday.
~~Rhonda
Autumn is really here. The huge oak in the back yard began changing leaf color this week. Some autumns it’s a bright beautiful yellow and this looks to be one of those years. The first few leaves are beautiful buttery gold.
The geraniums on the back steps have finally come into their own. So pretty! But they’ll be coming inside soon. It won’t be long till we have a killing frost, I’m sure. I didn’t even clean up for this shot. As is…leaf and dirt debris, old flowerpots, and all.
We were heading to our friends’ home for supper when I took the above shot. And when we got there, DD was delighted to find kittens!
We had a great time at supper. Lots of laughs which is always good. Great food! I want that avocado salad recipe, Laurie! A good evening all the way around.
Today I’ve been going over my Christmas Notebook plans for the holidays. I have several projects I want to accomplish before the open house and need to get them organized so I can get started. I set out my Christmas Notebook and my Room Pages binder and began making lists. To buy. To do. To make. More ideas kept popping into my head. So I added those to the idea pages in the Room Pages binder and am trying to concentrate on the plans I already have!
The wreath in the Room Pages binder is an idea I’m contemplating for the guest room door. I think I’ll get a wreath of blueish eucalyptus, spritz it with some white and silver, and put the ring of white twigs over it, then add clusters of multiple sized pearl beads. Whatcha think? Don’t you love Christmas??
~~Rhonda
While we were out east visiting our family, we took everyone to a corn maze one afternoon. It was a beautiful autumn day. Sunny, but coolish.
The twins had a ball, running around, picking up walnuts, looking at pumpkins, and riding the toy tractor.
Checking out the maze map.
Heading into the maze.
Walking a maze makes you thirsty!
I tried to get a picture of our three daughters and three grand-daughters together, but twins wanted nothing to do with such foolishness. They had things to do and places to go!
My camera was on the wrong setting when I took this picture, so the color is awful, but I’m posting it so you can see the awful bridge we had to cross to get to and from the farm. One skinny lane, and the railing on the right side of the picture was totally pushed over into a horizontal position. Yikes! And I’m *sure* there was an ogre nearby…
~~Rhonda
We just got back from a five day weekend with family. Got to see two of our daughters and our older son and his family. Here are our three daughters and grand-daughters. The grands are the almost two-year-old twins and their sister in the pink shirt.
Now we’re settling back into a routine again, including the weekly menu.
Monday
eat out
Tuesday
pizza with homemade crust
homemade vanilla ice cream with strawberries
Wednesday
Crock Pot Orange Chicken
rice
romaine salad
Thursday
Cheesy Potato Sausage soup
rosemary crackers
Friday
Cheeseburger Buns
carrot / celery sticks with Ranch dipping sauce
tomatoes / cucumber slices
Saturday
fridge food
Sunday
BBQ ribs
coleslaw with peanuts and Craisins
steamed sugar snap peas
corn
cornbread
You will find more menu ideas at Menu Plan Monday. Check it out for menus, as well as recipes.
~~Rhonda
We decided to have pizza for supper Friday night. I made the crust from the recipe found here.
Pizza Dough
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 tsps. yeast)
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 cups bread flour [I didn’t have bread flour at hand, so used all purpose flour.]
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white sugar
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, olive oil, salt, white sugar and the yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until a stiff dough has formed. Cover and rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Spray a cookie sheet or round pizza pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle flour around the ball of dough and turn out onto cookie sheet. The dough will be soft and loose. Sprinkle flour on it if it sticks. Form dough into a round and use your fingers to push it into a pizza crust shape.
Cover with your favorite sauce and toppings, sprinkle with basil and oregano if you like, cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
The crust was perfect. Crispy on the bottom, soft inside.
I doubled the recipe for two cookie sheets. The pizza was delicous! We added pepperoni to one and green peppers and pepperoni to part of another one.
I will make this pizza dough again. Soon. ~~Rhonda
We started the day with a big breakfast at IHOP.
And a game or two of peek-a-boo!
Then we were off to the park for some play time.
It’s a beautiful day. Sunny blue skies, a slight breeze, about 60*, though it doesn’t feel cold.
It was tons of fun to watch the kidlets running from one play station to the next. Even the big girls joined in the fun.
You have to keep a close eye on this little one. She isn’t afraid to try any of these fun playthings.
Grandpa can swing two! two! two twins at once! First the right hand, then the left hand, then the right hand…
And Grandpa makes a good horsie, too.
Now nap time, then a trip to the pumpkin patch and the corn maze!
~~Grandma 🙂
Our youngest daughter is having an overnight with her older sisters. Movies, computer games, junk food, soda…should be lots of fun!
And fudge. DH made some for them. Did you notice the lamp? DD found it at the Salvation Army store for $4. 🙂 We also found a nice recliner for their living room.
They need a “Have you hugged a Presbyterian today?” apron. 🙂
~~Rhonda
Taking pictures of the bridge helps me not think about crossing the bridge.
I guess I was too young when I read a Reader’s Digest article about a bridge falling into a river, taking cars with it…left a negative impression on me that lingers to this day…but this looks like a strong bridge, doesn’t it?? Did I mention I can’t swim?
~~Rhonda
This week’s Macro Mondays theme is “childish.” Here are my submissions.
Glitter glue…sticky, messy fun.
Love to mom. This (and one for dad) hangs on the fridge.
A childish urge…don’t you just want to dip your finger in the sweet frosting goodness of it all?
Three posts instead of five to Macro Mondays this week, but I’m tired and am headed for bed, so three it is. Night, all! ~~Rhonda