geraniums and kittens and my CNB

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.

back porch

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!

kitties

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!

Christmas Notebook

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

corn maze

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.

fall fun

aunt and niece

Checking out the maze map.

checking out the maze map

Heading into the maze.

headed into the maze

corn maze

Walking a maze makes you thirsty!

thirsty girl!

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!

and they're off and running!

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…

terrible bridge

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ october 5, 2009

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.

aunts, sisters, nieces

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

pizza night

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.

pizza

pizza

pizza

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.

pizza

pizza

The crust was perfect. Crispy on the bottom, soft inside.

pizza

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.

pizza

I will make this pizza dough again. Soon. ~~Rhonda

play day

We started the day with a big breakfast at IHOP.

yummy breakfast

And a game or two of peek-a-boo!

peek-a-boo!

Then we were off to the park for some play time.

determined

It’s a beautiful day. Sunny blue skies, a slight breeze, about 60*, though it doesn’t feel cold.

beautiful day for a slide

in the round

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.

three at a time!

sliding, two by two

You have to keep a close eye on this little one. She isn’t afraid to try any of these fun playthings.

I know I can do this!

Grandpa can swing two! two! two twins at once! First the right hand, then the left hand, then the right hand…

right handed swing left handed swing

And Grandpa makes a good horsie, too.

grandpa ride

Now nap time, then a trip to the pumpkin patch and the corn maze!

~~Grandma 🙂

daughters

Our youngest daughter is having an overnight with her older sisters. Movies, computer games, junk food, soda…should be lots of fun!

our daughters

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.

fudge man

They need a “Have you hugged a Presbyterian today?” apron. 🙂

~~Rhonda

bridge therapy

Taking pictures of the bridge helps me not think about crossing the bridge.

triangles

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

macro mondays

This week’s Macro Mondays theme is “childish.” Here are my submissions.

Glitter glue…sticky, messy fun.

glitter glue

Love to mom. This (and one for dad) hangs on the fridge.

love to mom

A childish urge…don’t you just want to dip your finger in the sweet frosting goodness of it all?

a childish urge

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

menu plan monday ~ september 28, 2009

Last week seemed to fly by.

DD had riding lessons.

ready for a trail ride

We drove north to visit my mother who was hospitalized following surgery. On the way, we passed the first corn harvesting I’ve seen this fall.

corn harvest

And Saturday was apple butter day. The last two kettles were canned at the same time in an effort to beat the rain.

two apple butter lines

I didn’t follow last week’s menu too closely as our fridge was not working. It’s still out of commission, so we are keeping this week’s menu easy, too.

Monday
eat out

Tuesday
tortellini w/ white sauce and ham
Greek salad

Wednesday
chicken salad sandwiches
mozzarella sticks

Thursday
BBQ chicken / buns
veggies / chips / dip

Friday
eat out

Saturday
pizza

Sunday
roast beef sandwiches
spinach salad with strawberries
corn

You can find more menu ideas and recipes at Menu Plan Monday. Laura has a giveaway this week. Check it out. To participate, read about it here and leave a comment on her post. You don’t have to submit a menu for this giveaway. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make one! Do you have your menu for the week??

~~Rhonda

apple butter day!

Each year, our church makes apple butter as a missions fund project. This year, we made four kettles. I’m not sure what the final count was, but somewhere around 250 quarts and 120 pints.

apple butter day

Laurie checks to see if it’s ready.

checking...is it ready?

Shawn had some studying to do.

has to study

The kids climbed the old stump.

siblings

More checking…

two of four kettles

More stirring…

stirring the apple butter

And everyone wanted to hold the baby. Unfairly, I had just one turn. ::pout::

did everybody get to hold the baby?

More stirring, more checking…

scraping down the kettle

Everyone pitches in.

DH takes his turn

Then it was time to set up the apple butter line.

setting up the apple butter line

Once the jars are poured, they have to be processed quickly.

apple butter line

filling the jars

Kettle full of yum!

kettle of apple butter

The weather was beautiful all morning, through lunch, and into the afternoon. Until we were about ten minutes from being done! We thank God for holding off the rain while we finished.

hurry! it's gonna rain!

solitary seat

Then it was a mad dash for the gym!

caught in the rain

caught in the rain

Apple butter day is always a lot of fun for our church family. We have a great time together…working, playing, eating, talking. I’m already looking forward to next year!

~~Rhonda