BOO!

Hubby and I are hoping we get a few trick or treaters tonight.  We should not be left alone with the candy.

Still Rearranging, It's All Good

 You may be wondering, what is the significance of an empty landing?  Well, for a few months I have been moving things around, changing things up, as it were, which resulted in a huge mess on the landing.  Max had a narrow path to get to his bedroom.  It was an eyesore, a hazard and it made my blood pressure peak every time I went upstairs.  This week Hubby used one of his days off to create more storage space in the attic, I consolidated, purged and downsized until the landing was empty.  I'm kinda proud of us.

Then we switched some beds around, mopped and waxed the upstairs, and created a comfy sitting area in Max's room.  Max now has a queen sized bed, an easy chair and sofa for easy TV viewing and gaming and wants his mini fridge back in his room.  The only downside is that it may be so comfy, Max may never leave home.  I'm still crafting for the guest room.  Oh, and some more painting to do for that room.

Last night Hubby had a board meeting and I went with a friend to the Haggen's Fall Festival of Food and Wine.  Max texted me that we "got ghosted".  The little lighted ghost was in a treat filled bag from our favorite little ghosts, Ethan and Evan.  It's so cute to hear them giggling while hiding in the bushes, I was sorry I wasn't home.  I'm loving the way the ghost changes color.

This weekend, a party, cozy time by the wood stove, lots of baking and time on the sofa.  Oh, and I'm working on the guest bedroom. Have a good one!

Ginger Cookies

Ginger Snaps
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1 egg
2 c. flour
1 T. ginger
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix the dry ingredients and set aside.  Cream shortening and sugar until light.  Beat in the egg and molasses.  Add the dry ingredients and mix.  Roll in balls the size of walnuts, roll in sugar* and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Unless you want crunchy cookies, then bake longer.
*I used regular white sugar and big crystal sugar.
This cookie recipe comes from my Mom.  No matter how many times I bake them my guys always tell me that my cookies are not as good as Grandma's ginger cookies.  She makes them for the grandkids if they're sick, she puts them in college and military care packages, she makes them for son-in-laws when they clean the gutters.  They are a treat!  Enjoy!

Senior Moments, Max's, Not Mine

On Saturday Max had his senior shoot with the Snapsisters.  BIL Bill was the assistant shooter.  He runs around checking the light, changing cameras and replaces the memory card.  It's pretty much a thankless job. So, I just wanted to say, "thanks Uncle Bill."  I took a few pics of Max with his photographers.  I think this one was where Aunt Jodi used the word, "adorbs", slang for adorable.  That went over real well.  It was a lot of fun watching the Snapsister that is my sister work with a diva.

 Max and Kassie went to Stoney Ridge, carved pumpkins and then had dinner with Hubby, myself and Tyler. Hubby grilled flank steaks.  I made roasted potatoes, cauliflower with cheese sauce and salad. A delicous fall dinner with great kids.

I'd like to clarify that Kassie's feet are not that big, she borrowed slippers for the picture.

After dinner I mentioned that we could play games.  Those teens scattered like leaves on a windy fall night.

Hubby and I hit the couch and love seat for some serious relaxing.  Which is what we wanted all along.

A Perfect Autumn Moment and a Drapery Question

We have some projects going on at the Stone House.  We are sprucing up the living room.  The first step is cleaning, mopping and waxing.  Hubby takes care of our floors.  Isn't it shiny?

We found new furniture, which Max came to the furniture store, laid on it and pronounced it to be comfortable. After that hurdle we were closer to the new furniture than we've been in three years.  Men loved our old sofa.  It was amazingly comfortable but it was 15 years old, survived three moves, and three boys.  There was a list of guys that wanted our old sofa a mile long.  Max ended up moving it up to his bedroom.  Curt wants to move in but Tyler already has moved in and has taken over the sofa.  

So, in the middle of redoing the living room we had to go up to Max's room, take out the futon, clean, clean some more and move everything.  When Hubby and Max went to pick up the sofa they bought Max a new bed frame, so that had to be switched out.  He did have a really squeaky bed.  It felt as though the entire house was torn up at that point.

Why is it that one project always leads to another?

I've found ideas for drapes, but am a little overwhelmed with all the ideas and choices and decisions.

Would it be weird to have the drapes just cover the windows and the trim, but not go to the floor?

That is the HuGe question I am facing this morning.

Of course, while I'm trying to decorate the living room I find fabric and accessories to finish the master bedroom.  Well, maybe not finish... we still need crown moulding, back splash, more artwork...  But I think I found fabric for the chairs

 Thankfully I had a break from cleaning and decorating yesterday at Stoney Ridge Farm.  Sheryl and I hadn't been there in years.  Our kiddies got too old and cool to go with us.  We've been at ball games for years.  We wanted to get back to Stoney Ridge.  It is the cutest, best punkin patch in the world.  Bar none.  

We mention we are going and suddenly Michelle is coming with(I'm happy cuz I feel like we need a kid to go with us) and Max is miffed that Michelle gets to go and he doesn't... It's rainy and windy, Michelle gets a better offer and we are back on our own again.  We had a quick look around and ran to the shed for hot apple cider and hot cider mini donuts, enjoyed by the fire in the wood stove.  

It was a perfect autumn break in the midst of a mess.

I'd like to move in at Stoney Ridge Farm.  On Saturdays  they make pumpkin donuts, however; I can't go back today.  I have a mess here at the Stone House.  I have painting projects. A guest room to finish,with a bunch of crafting involved.  A living room to put together even though some pieces are still missing.  A master bedroom to  finish.  Many, many unfinished projects.  

And the perfect rainy day to stay in a get them finished.

Well, maybe not finished...
maybe just a running start.

Who Hogs the Shower at Your House?

When Sam lived at home he never got out of the shower without being told.  Ever.  When we lived on Cherry Street we had to run upstairs to tell him to get out of the shower.  He would hear us coming, and just as we were about to bang on the bathroom door and commence yelling, he'd turn off the water. Okay, that is irritating.  I've gotten mad, I've stopped whatever I was working on in the kitchen, I've argued with Hubby about whose turn it is to run upstairs, I've run upstairs, and all for naught.  I want to let him have it!
I have to admit that I took an evil delight in thinking about Sam in the army at basic training getting a 10  second shower.  {insert evil Mom laugh here}
Now Max has taken over the hot water.  It's a new thing for him.  Now I have to stop what I'm doing, go bang on the bathroom door and then I really get him... I call him Sam.  Brothers hate that.  Then the difference between Sam and Max follows.  Max has to come out of the bathroom and argue about how long his shower took and how he is entitled, that he got up at 7:33, walked downstairs and now its 7:50 and it was only an eight minute shower and blah, blah, blah.
Hubby says to enjoy this Max phase as it's his last year before college at home, however; it's difficult to enjoy while I'm taking a cold shower.
There are things a Mom misses as her chicks leave the nest and there are somethings that she does not miss.  I'm just sayin'.

Regular is Good Too

Last week was a lot of fun.  It was the museum open house and for Max it was Spirit Week/Homecoming at school.  I worked Friday morning, came home, and took a 3 hour nap.  When I got up, it was ugly.  I kinda had the whole tired sore throat thing going on and wasn't feeling too good.  

Hubby made dinner,  got Mexican food takeout Friday night.  We crashed.

After a fun filled week at work and school, everything falls apart at home.  I spent Saturday making things right by catching up on the laundry and the cleaning.  I baked chocolate mocha cookies, pumpkin bars and calzones.  The guys had lived on leftovers long enough.

Sunday afternoon through the evening we watched Parent Trap, A Bugs Life and Matilda.  It was a movie marathon.  Hubby made us kettle corn.  Max drank over a half gallon of milk.  Refueling, I guess.

Now it's Monday and just a regular week.  I'm ready for regular.  It's all fun until someone get tired...

Night at the Museum

The Lynden Pioneer Museum Open House was hugely successful last evening.  Everyone was there, literally hundreds of visitors.  We moved it to a Thursday evening, rather than compete with Friday night lights.  Plus, we were part of the Lynden Music Festival, with the Polecats playing Bluegrass music.   And our very own publicist, Jerrie Luginbill did a super job of getting the word out.  And lastly, the deal clincher... Starbucks brought the coffee and my docents baked cookies.

Ms. Branham was the schoolmarm in the museum's school room.  She had adorable students.  One of her past students heard that his favorite teacher would be at the museum so he came for a visit.  Max had a great time catching up and reminiscing with his second grade teacher.  We love her!

Tonight

Tonight is the Lynden Pioneer Museum's Annual Open House.  

It is this evening from 6-9 p.m.  So many cool things going on this year.  

Be there or be square.  

Oh, and it's free.  

And Starbucks will be served.  

Enough said.

Into Infinity and Beyond

It's Spirit Week at school and Curt, Max and Kassie made for a great Toy Story cast.

Fall Y'all

We had our last cord of firewood delivered Friday evening. Hubby stacked it on Saturday morning. I was inside baking, fall cleaning and decorating for the season. If you look at the photo out the kitchen window you will see Hubby outside moving the firewood.

I baked a pumpkin roll and I made our favorite fall snack on Saturday morning. When Hubby and I were first married I made the Karmel Korn recipe, that one of my students shared with me, on Saturday mornings. We'd get our chores done and then snack and watch football all afternoon. Then we had boys and spent every Saturday at Bender Fields. I didn't have time to lay on the couch, snack and watch football. But I think those days are coming back.

I got our popcorn popper from my Aunt Shirley for a bridal shower gift. Love it! We used it camping, for kettle corn, popcorn and for Karmel Korn. And uhmmm, yes, I do know how to spell. I'm just sharing the original recipe and using the K.

I use my biggest bowl, and make two batches of popcorn.

I stir occasionally while the butter, sugar and syrup are boiling. Notice the difference after the soda is added.

I mix the popcorn and caramel in the bowl but you could mix it in the paper bag.

I stir, shake the bag twice during the four minutes. I wouldn't dream of having something in the oven for an hour when I can get it done in four minutes in the microwave. But suit yourself.

Let cool, break apart and enjoy! Be warned though, this is a crack of a snack. You may go to bed with a tummy ache if you're like me and have NO self control. I did do a lot of yard work to rationalize all the Karmel Korn I ate.

Happy, happy Fall Y'All!

Outside the Walls

Once every four years Lynden Christian High School has Outside the Walls. It happens once every four years so that each student has the opportunity to participate during their high school career. I think it should be called, Outside Your Comfort Zone. Four years ago Karen and I hosted Creating Mosaics, this year we hosted Entertaining, a Five Course Meal and Table Manners. A Martha Stewart, Food Network, meets Emily Post combination workshop.

We started at my house, each student had a pile of dishes and silverware. A BiG pile of dishes that had to be set as instructed. I made menu cards with their names for place cards. They were given a pretty piece of paper with it and then they had to assemble it. I had stickers and glue sticks set out in the laundry room.

Each student had a different place setting so that we could show them the many different ways to set the table. Christmas, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, and a travel theme were just a few.

After we sorted through our piles and set a beautiful table we went to Karen's house where she had stations set up to prepare each of the five courses. We chose the courses for teaching moments. The students learned how to caramelize onions, make a salad dressing, prepare chicken cordon bleu, pipe potatoes, pipe chocolate, make a mousse, make a roux for sauce, and so much more.
The students were great! They got busy with assignments, trading off so everyone got a turn, and helping us keep up with the dirty dishes. There were fourteen of us!

There was 'thyme' for some jokes and puns too.

Our Menu:

Appetizer

Caprese Skewers

Soup

French Onion

Salad

Mixed greens with a Poppy seed Dressing

Served in a Cucumber Cup

Main Course

Chicken Cordon Bleu

with a Thyme Sauce

Twice Baked Potatoes

Roasted Asparagus

Dessert

Chocolate Treasure Box

Our menu wasn't chosen just for teaching opportunities of cooking techniques but also for teaching manners; such as removing the appetizer from the skewer, how to cut your meat, how to properly eat soup. We were all chanting, "Like little ships gone out to sea, I push my soup away from me." Did you know it is good manners to eat your asparagus with your fingers? They were each assigned a course to serve, refilling water and sparkling cider properly, clearing and keeping straight who had which place setting.

We staged dessert in the laundry room. It was a beautiful presentation and delicious!

Most importantly, good manners are to be respectful and kind. These students had very good manners. This wasn't a group of student that signed up as a group of friends, it was a very diverse group that came together, worked well with each other and ended up with having a fun lunch with great conversation and lots of laughs. Great conversation and delicious food are what makes for a very successful party!

Struck my funny bone... While we were having a lesson on setting the table, one student said, "I know this is a bracelet but it's way too small for me." "Uhmmm, no that would be a napkin ring, and I'll show you how to use it."