Halloween Past

Happy Halloween!

I got a little sentimental this morning thinking about when the guys were little and I was throwing costumes together.  I miss the guys. but I am so happy to have those costume creating days behind me.  The costumes had to be comfortable, warm and their idea.  And they would change their minds until I said NO, you are what we decided yesterday.

The pictures are not in chronological order nor good quality.

I do have a better picture of Danny as a leopard but I can't find it.  Suffice it to say, he was adorable.

The pirates were cute but I think there were a few melt downs when they got their faces washed before bedtime.

 This is where Sam's infamous bat smile began...

 Reptile guy, a crusader and a cowboy.

 Braden was a great little pirate with a cute treat bucket.

 Getting this picture was harder than it looks.

Everyone was jealous of Dakota's Thomas the Train costume.

 An army guys, a nerd and a cowboy.

 Yes, Max was a cowboy every year except for one.  I can't remember why he deviated from his theme but one time he was a pirate.

 This was telling...

Have a fun Halloween, be safe and to all the mamas, good luck making costumes!

Down River

Hubby was off last weekend so we took a little trip.  Our first stop was an RV recycling and parts place in Centralia.  It was kind of a bust for us 

 We had lunch at the Olympic Club in Centralia.  Great history with a hotel, restaurant and theatre.  A little junkin' after lunch and we were on our way.

 Our destination was Jeremy and Rene's float house on the Lewis River.  The girls were out to greet us when we drove up.

Best welcome ever!

 Staying on a float house is a bit like a cruise; however, you're going no where but still on the water.  This was good for me because I do have a history with boating.  Remember these trips?  Fraught. With. Danger.  Staying on the dock here,  here and here and then getting out there.

Sheryl, Shelly and Chris, I did ask Jeremy to explain his electrical system.

 It is so much fun on the dock and we must have looked like we were have fun because these guys going past on their boat couldn't resist stopping and introducing themselves.

 Y'all know how graceful I am.  It was a modern day miracle that I made it to our cottage safely the entire weekend as it was on a separate dock.

After a fat boy breakfast on Saturday morning we put on our barn boots, and crossed the road for the trailer tour.  It is impossible to decide on a favorite. Jeremy and Rene have started  Down River Trailers.  

Jeremy and Rene with their new babies!  It's not a complete family picture though as Tin Lizzie is parked in storage and the Jewel is in the shop. 

We went to visit Jewel and I fell in love.  She has a lot of potential, so I can't wait to see what they do with her.  And she has a pretty, pink stove and fridge.

We drove into town for a craft show and lunch. Someone spotted a Cardinal in the blackberries. Hit the brakes and turn around!

Then it was back for a great evening of  Jeremy's home brewed beer, playing corn hole and the best brisket, ever.

Thank you Jeremy and Rene for a wonderful weekend!  We had the best time and it was fun to meet your new trailers too.

Curried Pumpkin Soup During The Storm that WASN'T

On Saturday evening we celebrated Karen's golden birthday. I'm calling this year our golden birthdays as we turn 58 and we were born in '58. 

 Any excuse for a party.

Saturday was predicted to be very stormy so I chose comfort food for our menu.  For a starter we had curried pumpkin soup.  My sister, Kathi has made this recipe for years and I love this soup in the fall.  I think she got the recipe from a Junior League Cookbook.  Those leaguers always have good recipes.   I served the soup in teacups with pumpkin cranberry crisps and a Darigold sharp white cheddar.

I don't have any pictures of the cooking process.  On Saturday the weathermen were predicting doom and gloom and power outages so I was cooking quickly to have every thing prepped before I was without power.  Of course, now we know it was The Storm that WASN'T.

 Curried Pumpkin Soup

1 large onion, diced

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

3 cups canned pumpkin

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups half and half

Sour cream and fresh parsley

In a large saucepan over medium heat saute the diced onions in butter until soft.  Sprinkle in the curry powder. Pour mixture into blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  Return to the sauce pan and add chicken broth, canned pumpkin. salt and half and half.  Heat through over medium heat. Do not bring to a boil or soup will curdle.  Garnish with sour cream and parsley flakes.

 I enjoyed leftover crisps, cheese and soup on Sunday during the Seahawk's game.  The leftover soup reheats nicely.  I am going to get to Trader Joe's for more crisps because they are autumn in your mouth delicious.

 The best part of The Storm that WASN'T was that I bought myself new rain boots.  And that the power didn't go out at our house so I was able to cook the birthday dinner in the house rather than on the BBQ grill and in the trailer.  Annie has a propane oven so that was plan B.  After the soup I served Pioneer Woman's Meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli and corn pudding.  I baked an Almond Cream Cake for dessert.  It was a pinterest recipe that was accurate until the frosting.

 I am thankful that there was minimal damage and power outages but honestly, The Storm that WASN'T  was a little bit of a letdown after all of the media hype. If the forecast is correct I will have plenty of opportunities to wear my rain boots this week.

Enjoy the soup recipe and stay dry!

Random Monday

Hubby and I tore into the Curtis Wright last week.  Everything is off the floor.  It feels good to be this far in the going backwards stage however; this is the part where I have misgivings, remorse and trepidation. Completely overwhelmed here.

 One of my jobs is to photograph every inch of the layout so that we can get it all back together.

 Now there is some decison making going on here.  I want tear it to the frame and put down the new subfloor and marmoleum.  Hubby wants to wait until spring.

 It's not been all work and no play here, we had dinner at the Black Forest with our friend, Adelene.  I think that counts as our Octoberfest for the season.

 My new favorite from the grocery store is Greek whipped cream cheese and Greek yogurt.  It's great with a spicy jam and crackers or on bagels.

 I've been pairing it with toasted pumpkin bagels, Liz's blackberry jam and Black Forest ham.  I made up this little sammy and I love it.  It's a bit like turkey and cranberries on a sandwich.

 I've been crafting too.  On November 19th, I'll have a small booth at 'Tis the Season at Van Vino.  I'll post more details later.

 I'll have some train cases and a lot of vintage Christmas.

 I went with an ombre look for one of the wreaths.  It has been fun putting some things together but honestly the whole thing is starting to freak me out.  What if I don't have enough things made?  What if no one buys anything from me?  What if I price it wrong?  What if I can't make my booth look good?  What if ... UGH!

Max came here this weekend.  Bo came along and Bo spent most of the weekend with me.  He is super good in the house.  Oh My, does he shed.  Bo looks like he is suffering from severe depression if Max isn't around but really he had a nice time with me.  And I with him.  Well, except for when I took him for a walk and a squirrel ran across the road.  Then he pulled my arm out of its socket.

A Curtis Wright update, a sandwich recipe, Octoberfest, some crafting and insecurities and a cute dog, that's it.  Pretty random here.

We're all caught up for now.

Let's Get Caught Up

 Last week was a blur for me.  No posts on the blog but there was a lot happening here. On Monday Hubby and I trimmed the hedges.  It's the worst day of the year, every year, at the Stone House.  But we got it done and now we shall enjoy fall.  I've even done some fall decor in the house and planted some mums.  Good thing, as it's now October.  

I can't even say that out loud.

Let's get caught up, shall we?

 When we picked up the Curtis Wright this spring he wasn't the only trailer in the field.  There are others and two in particular that I'd like to have some day.  In the meantime Jeremy and Rene were looking for a bigger trailer than Tin Lizzy.

 I told them I had one in mind for them but that it was laying on its side so it may be really trashed on that side.  I showed them some pictures and they were interested.  I called my friend and he said sure they could have it.  Arrangements were made and we met in the field on Tuesday morning.  

 With a tractor, its bucket, a chain and some hi-lo jacks we got the Duke flipped.

 Hey, he looks good after laying around for 10-15 years after a severe wind storm that tipped him over.

 Rene is thrilled!  I know that the Duke may not look like much right now but just wait.

We love our vintage trailers!  It's hard to have just one.  It was fun to be part of another rescue with Jeremy and Rene.  I know they will save the Duke.

 Meanwhile, the CW is getting torn down.  We hope to have him down to the trailer frame this week.  The cabinets that can be restored will go into the garage and our winter work will begin. 

 I did a little junkin' with Chris and Shelly on Friday morning and we ran into Kim.  She bought a wheel barrow for pumpkins.  Won't that be cute?  I hadn't been junkin' with the girls for a long time.  They found a lot of treasures, me not so much.  It is difficult to purchase junk treasures when you have just been to the dump with four truck loads of junk.  It was fun to see my junkin' peeps and get caught up and now I wish we'd taken a selfie.

 I have sorted all of my extra vintage Christmas. Now I can start crafting.  I plan to be a vendor at 'Tis the Season at Van Vino in November.

 I'll have a lot of vintage Christmas and luggage.

I tried a new ghetto soda, the Safeway lemon seltzer, which technically isn't soda pop, and I like it.  Just thought I'd pass that along.

We got our Pizzaque oven and so far we like it.  Hubby had to read the instructions to get it together...

Last night my family came for pizza and I think it tasted pretty good. The stone is now seasoned and it's going better.  It is fun to have everyone bring toppings. 

  And lastly, the Seattle Seahawks are back!  It felt like Richard Sherman got his game on yesterday and it reminded me of a Thanksgiving game he'd played.  My theory was that Russell Wilson limped around in a brace during warm ups to psych the Jets.  It worked. Hah!

Well, I think we are all caught up unlike my laundry.

Until next time...