Saturday, October 26, 2013

MarkGetSetGO!

After the lazy days of summer, fall sure knows how to kick it into gear... Between Pinocchio rehearsals (Winona), gymnastics classes (Jez), quilting classes (Julie), Halloween festivities (all), and trying to keep good food on the table, we're going to work and school and getting sleep where we can get it!


It's possible that it's all making us a little crazy. 

In an effort to balance life with only half of my thyroid, I'm finding that gluten has to go. I've done lots of research and experimenting and I can't deny it, so I'm diving into Gluten Free living, and feeling a huge change... It's a lot of time in the kitchen, but sometimes it really pays off in spades. This GF pumpkin pie with a coconut almond crust was one of the best desserts I've ever made/tasted!  

Lots of rice and veggies: delicatas stuffed with wild rice with nuts, pomegranate seeds, olives, celery, etc. pictured here. I took this picture to send to my friend who made us the beautiful handblown glass pumpkin! 
                                                 

 My Rotary Club hosts a Dia de los Muertos party at a couple of schools every year-- Winnie was my date this past week; the whole family will go to the one this coming week. No pictures, but Jez and I went to the Y Halloween Party last night (she was a ballerina; I was a gypsy) and had a great time... let the spooky festivities begin!! 

Today was my third and final quilting class. Here's the "top"-- still have to finish it, but I'm really glad to be learning these skills. I've been a bit of a "guerrilla" sewer-- making stuff up as I go along. This has been a good lesson in learning how to do things properly... and taking the time to do so. :)

Here's what I, Bodhi, have been doing. Fall is cold.

And we're taking great joy in the nights we have when all we have to do is this... 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Fun With Fall

This is Fall. We've been enjoying the beautiful weekend weather, heading out into the sunshine to find treasures,

 spot wee creatures, 

 find cool waterfalls,

 and more cool waterfalls,

 ...and be together! 


Then on to the coast for a rare sunny, still, blue skied afternoon picnic and beach romp.




We went out to get our pumpkins....
 These guys pulled our hay wagon! 


 And then, onto the Cow Train (this pumpkin patch is more like Disney Land than a farm).


And here are just some shots of the Oregon October. It's my favorite time of year here...



 You can't buy or make Halloween decorations as good as this... :)





Sunday, September 22, 2013

Fall. Right On Time.

Last  week it wasummer--80 Degrees, sunny, blue skies. Days that beckoned us to head out and do summery things like this:

 Then, the Fall Equinox came, and BAM! wind, rain, and dropping temperatures. Mother Nature is paying some serious attention to the calendar this year, I guess. Off with the bike helmets, on with the aprons!


 And off to the orchard.


 "Nona! You get the high ones, I'll get the low ones!"

Then, into our matching pjs...
 

Wait! No! THE OTHER matching pjs! Then, dig into our apple crisp...

...and cozy down for a bedtime story.

HAPPY FALL!!! 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Smile, Darnit. It's The Obligatory Back-To-School Shot!!


Ah, Summer. Sweet Sweet Summer.

Although they say that a picture speaks a thousand words--and I'm using here the equivalent of many thouands of words--they will never do justice to lazy days on the beach with Aunt Jenny,
 kayaking
 with cousins
 music on the beach
 long, gravel driveways
 glorious beach days
 home sweet home
 the candy store
 trying on G'ma's wedding dress
 pool play
 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
 time together
time lost in our own creative thoughts
 fairy houses
touring mama's childhood home (now a B&B)
 celebrating 50 incredible years (with beer ordered to the table from Son-In-Law in Chicago!!)
 exploring the wonderful world of books-- in this case, Little House on the Prairie
 blowing bubbles with Gma
 and KooKoo!
 chillin'
the wide open, subtle beauty of the Wisconsin Countryside
 sunshine
 Lake Michigan
 lots of Lake Michigan
more (bigger this time) bubbles
 and the best food you're going to find anywhere on planet earth. 
 To top it all off, we got to see Grammy in LA on our way home! 

Augusts just don't get much better than that! 

So Far From February

 The idea of "catching up" on this blog has been far too daunting... and paralyzed me for far too long! So, with many gaps in ...