November in a Nutshell

Autumn leaves turning coloring and falling outside, and candlelight and knitting wristlets indoors.
There was a little family reunion to celebrate Mom's birthday, but I had to miss it due to being a sicky.  My Sisters were able to go with Mom to her monthly Neighborhood Ladies Birthday Party.  She totally played up her turning 80, complete with a cane, and was all decked out in black!
The last  of our apples were made into applesauce, which we've been enjoying this winter....some is on the menu for tonight, with pork loin, actually.
Blackbottom cupcakes with cloudburst frosting, were on the menu when Kate and Fam came for supper the day after Thanksgiving.  Little Violet, is such a dolly.  Ethan went from happy-to-sad in literally one camera click, he was soooo tired.

The Rest of October

We went over to my parents.  Mom had surgery, and I spent the week there, while Jim kept the home-fires burning.  We bribed him with an apple pie....his favorite.  For distraction, Mama and I had fun putting together pretty flower puzzles, except they are in a book and would sometimes fall apart when we turned the page....so we ended up putting some of them together ....several times......  We were constantly amazed at how God used our devotions in "Jesus Calling" to minister to us.  If you don't have a copy of it; I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed watching all of the birds at their feeders.  So many!  Dad and I did our own chowing down, on home-made, smoked oyster pizza.  Mom wanted it...and the smell... gone from the house before she got home. :-)
The trip home was rainy, but pretty with all of the leaves, turning color. 
When I had left home, I was thinking the birds could just have the grapes. There wasn't time to do them up, and we still had plenty of grape jelly and juice in the pantry.  When I got home and saw how the rain had beaten away all of the leaves, and just how many grapes were there....my conscience got the better of me, and with apologies to the birds, I went to work steaming and canning juice.
Liliana supervised from the high chair whilst eating peas, and babysitting her little baby in the pack-n-play.  She's so cute, patting it's back, kissing it, and covering it up with a blankey.

Kitchen Re-do

I was thinking I had already posted pictures of the kitchen after re-painting and re-doing hardware, etc. this summer, but after looking back, there was just talk.....So here ya go.....TA DA!  We're really enjoying the "new do".  I like things neutral with a punch of color.  Thanks to my girls gifting me some cute Anthropologie finds....it's perfect!  Well almost.....it would be, if the girls were here making a cup of tea with me.

Whole Lotta Hootenanny

Fall rains have entered on the scene.  Breakfasts of oatmeal, or bacon and puff pancakes ie. dutch babies ie. hootenannies, have been cozy morning treats. Served with strawberry freezer jam, with syrup, or plain, we love them.  This morning's hootenanny was topped with a spoon of home-canned apple pie filling, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup.  The Little Farmgirl was sick last night, and didn't eat much dinner.  She totally made up for it this morning!

September

Jen's garden was awesome, so she blessed me with lots of yummy tomatoes to can.  They yielded 8 jars of tomato juice, 11 jars of picante salsa, 12 jars of tomato sauce, and 11 jars of burgundy spaghetti sauce.  The weather cooled down some, and there were some pretty sunrises.  The highlight of the month definitely was Women's Retreat.  A communion service, I will never forget. The sweet presence of the Lord was with us all weekend.  Good food, and special ladies to fellowship with, and I loved the yurt!  Can't wait for next year!

A Full Plate

I'm sure we have had busier summers....but this one has seemed like a whirlwind.  In addition to projects, and chores, the months were filled with new mown fields, flowers, friends, family, and food.   Twilight Summer suppers.  Light lunches, of canteloupe, and blueberries. Afternoon breaks of black currant (and peach...and earl grey....,) iced teas.   Breakfasts of vanilla Greek yogurt, Kashi Lean Crunch, and fresh picked blueberries.  Desserts of a delicious, fresh Plum tart, or warm Blackberry cobbler with Vanilla Bean ice-cream.  A tooth-i-less grin on a giggly girlie, Beauty and the Beast, and a very special Birthday Boy.  Henny "Virginia" trying to get in on family pictures with Visitors, from across the country.  Cozy breakfasts including  buttermilk biscuits, complete with berry jams (freezer strawberry, and freezer raspberry.) Summer....short ......and....sweet.