SOUPS ON!

With the cooler temperatures and fall in the air I think it is a perfect time for a soup party! Yes, invite some of your girlfriends, have several soups to taste, a couple different salads, bread and presto, everyone is stuffed and feeling all warm and cozy. Well that's the plan!

The table is all set and I am waiting the arrival of guest.

Soup is done and simmering for full flavor. Of course I've had several tastings!

Bowls are stacked, love these fall colors. You have to have plenty of these when you have grand kids around!

Beverage ready, yes there were other options but I know these gals!

We consumed our soup and no pictures of us eating since I was a little piggy and didn’t want to be bothered. But we all had room for dessert and are waiting with anticipation.

Does this look yummy or what? Shhhhhhhh, no calories, honest!

Yes, everyone is happy, content and visiting. Girlfriends are so much fun!

What are you waiting for? Soup on!

Enjoy June

WEEKEND FUN

I sometimes wonder how I manage to cram so many activities into one little ole weekend. Somewhere I haven’t learned that weekends are for relaxing. But when you have apples, grand kids and painting, yes you heard me. I decided part of my restlessness was that wall in my living room. So with the help of my daughter, I picked out a new color, wait – she picked out a new color. Perfect, spot on, now why can’t I do that. It is the light green I’ve been wanting but couldn’t see it in the swatch. I try to take a picture to share but it just didn’t turn out.

A friend brought me over some apple so what to do but make applesauce.

The house smelt wonderful as the apples were cooking down. I need to find a candle with that scent minus the cinnamon.

Then it was my old handy dandy sieve and I just love this wood whatever you call it. Hum, I know it has a name but lost, gone, vanish out of the brain.

I had various numbers of grand kids this weekend. It is always so much fun to watch them interact and there is never a dull moment.

They always head out to see the chickens and they found the last picking of raspberries. Grammy can we have a bowl to pick raspberries? Hum, the bowl was empty when then came into the house. Yes, some remnants of juice that maybe there had been a berry or two.

The girls were busy all day play with their Bratz dolls. I must admit I’m not a fan of them, what happen to plain baby dolls?

The boys of course were outside playing football. Oh my, let’s hope it dries off so I can mow the grass that is still growing. Hey, it’s Fall, go dormant darn you so I don’t have to mow!

After some hard play it was lunch time. Now what to fix for lunch when I hadn’t planned on grand kids. Every kid loves hot dogs, right. So some wiener wraps, thank goodness for croissant rolls in a can. Plus some warm fresh made applesauce.

In all a fun weekend was had by all. So onto working this week and mowing my lawn!

Enjoy June

RESTLESS

How does one settle them self down? Fall is here and I’ve decorated the house, done some baking, lot of yard work still to do but I can’t put a figure on why I feel so restless. Is it because time is moving so fast and I’m not getting some projects done, like the remodel of kitchen? Is it because I know the holidays are going to be here before I know it and I haven’t started my grand kid sewing? I haven’t been able to put a figure on it. I painted one wall in my living room and it is not quit the color I envisioned. An acquaintance had this color in her home and I loved it, but it doesn’t work in my house, hum! So I know this is making me uncomfortable in my own living room. I have this thought if I paint my living room, dining room and kitchen I will feel better. I’m thinking it is too dark and bringing my mood at home down. Or is it because the rain has returned and the sky is so gray. Maybe I need to move south! So if anybody has a cure for my restlessness just let me know.

It the mean time I keep busy as usual. I had the family over Sunday for dinner, some couldn’t make it. But I was in the baking mood so I made an apple pie for I knew my son-in-law would appreciate it. And then I decided to make cupcakes for the kids. Have you seen this Halloween cake mix?

I thought it would be fun to make so I whipped it up, filled the pan and baked them. As I was taking them out of the over I had to kick myself for I forgot to put the confetti in the batter.

So plain ole yellow cupcakes it was. I’m thinking the grand kids won’t know the difference. Isn’t it the frosting they want?

A great dinner was had and afterword do we play cars at the table. I guess anything goes at Grammie’s house.

YES, I am left with the left over dessert! Do you see another 10 lbs coming on?

Come help me enjoy!!

June

GUESS WHERE I WAS?

Yeah, I made it to a Duck game Thursday night. My daughter in law had to work so I got to go with my son! Oh, the excitement! Of course a normal 1 1/2 drive turned into a 2 1/2 hr drive but it was so worth it. Traffic, traffic!!

The band is playing and the excitement rising! Yes, there was a little mist but as the announcer says it never rains at Autzen Stadium.

Here come the Ducks! Everyone YELL OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The Duck fans are one of the loudest in the nation!

I was trying to take a picture of a play on the big screen. As usual I'm not the photographer!

I had a terrific evening at the game especially being with my son. Yes, the Ducks won 43 to Cal 15. GO DUCKS!

As I crawled into bed at midnight I was one happy Duck fan!

GO DUCKS!

Fall & More

We all agree that summer is over and Fall is here. I think the nesting is starting in all of us. But, I still have outside work to do. My tomatoes are still producing even if they are small. I picked a few last peppers and I still have potatoes to dig. So what did I do but go off and play again.

The industry I work in had a dinner and overnight stay in Astoria. The dinner was yummy but the room was wonderful. The hotel set on pilings in the Columbia River very close to the bridge between Oregon and Washington. I had wonderful thoughts of taking lots of pictures, but again I failed. So a few, but I sure don't do the view justice.

Right off the balcony and yes you feel like you are sitting on the water.

I could have sat in this window seat all day! Curled up with a good book and a cup of tea, ah!

How about a nice bath in this tub, soaking away with the shutters open to see the river. So if you are looking for a place to stay in it is called The Cannery. You see it was an old fish cannery building that has been restored into a beautiful hotel.

But alas it was back home and back to reality. Remember I said I still had tomatoes! I had about a dozen in the refrigerator and I picked another dozen when I go home. So tonight I cut them up and put them in the dutch oven on the stove.

I ran then through this sieve for I wanted to make some tomato sauce. Now I know there are modern food processors but I happen to love this old sieve. Maybe it is the memories of my Mom canning.

I filled the jars, in the canner they went and on the stove!

While they are boiling in a water bath I did up the dishes. How can once have so many dirty pans?

Yes, the finished product. All that work for only 4 pints and a little one! But I just couldn't waste all those little tomatoes. I'm sure this winter as I open a jar of my own tomato sauce I will think it was well worth it.

So now I take myself off to bed chuckling over all the work, nah, the fun I had putting up only 4 pints .

Yawn, it's past my bed time!