An Homey Aroma

Seriously... fresh homemade bread is one of the reasons I don't work full time! 

When I was a child, our company often complimented my mom on her delicious homemade bread.  She accepted the comments simply and graciously, but I love to remember my dad's response:  "Homemade bread was in our marriage contract..."   As a child, I didn't really understand that, and didn't know if Dad was really serious, or joking!  And, get this!  I even thought it was a treat to have store-bought bread!  Now I understand the value of homemade bread.  Even though I often take the "easy way out" and make it in my breadmaker (unlike Mom who made 6 loaves at a time with her Bosch mixer) I still think homemade bread is worth staying home for!  And the aroma in my house cheers me, makes me feel "at home," and greets my children as they arrive home from school.  YUM! 

Halloween at Home

 The kids celebrated Halloween at school on Friday.  I was asked to sub for 2nd grade that day...  How many opportunities will I have to sub for Halloween???  So, I borrowed a costume and got in on the festivities....

Sunday night after meeting, we came home and carved pumpkins, gorged ourselves on a big assorted bag of candy (bought it "just in case we got any trick-or-treaters!" - a favorite line I have borrowed from my dad :), and roasted the seeds.    Mmmm.... good fun and a quiet evening!

We took the pictures after the mess was all cleaned up!  Well, I guess I did take a few during the process.  Must not make everything appear TOO perfect!  For you young mothers, though... it DOES get easier (and considerably more boring!)  The kids actually did a lot of their own clean-up, and no one got sick from the smell or ate any raw pumpkin seeds or innerds!!!

October Memories: Fun Family Moments

I love these pictures I found when I went digging for a Memory Lane Monday post.  Carving pumpkins!!!  Check out that little boy with the big knife!  That's my brother, Ryan.  I loved searching this picture for little details.  Like the little pumpkin candle that we took out of storage every year at this time, the chairs, the soap,the plant, etc.... I'm just so impressed with my mom's smile too - you know that kitchen had to be a goopy mess! 

Okay, here are the four of us in costume.  If you look carefully, two are sitting on their knees.  That will help you figure out who is who!

Fall Family Pictures

Yesterday was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day!  We had fun with a few photos.  I wish I could capture and keep the beauty of this fall we've had....

Happy Birthday to my Brother!

This picture was taken of my brother Randy when he got these new wheels in 1989.  I'm thinking of him today on his birthday, and the pictures I found brought back so many memories of great times we had together.  Happy Birthday, Randy!

Pretty Kitty

Ritzie looks very relaxed and sleepy in this photo.  She does indeed have a knack for choosing peaceful and beautiful spots in my flowerbeds and making them her own.  I KNOW she enjoys the beauty of my flowers, because she often chooses a new place to go whenever something looks really nice.  I try to take this as a compliment, and I don't mind her presence, as she doesn't usually make a mess. 

This morning, however, life was a bit unusual for my pretty kitty.   She's been behind on getting her shots because I KNOW what it's like to take her to the vet....  But, finally this morning we did it.  She survived, and most amazingly, I SURVIVED!  She creates such a yowling ruckus in the car....  Once she gets out of her carrier, she is the most friendly, good-natured (well, we are talking CAT here!) cat for the vets.

Ritzie is a youthful 12 years old.  We got her and her sister as  kittens from Rob's folks right after we moved to This Dakota Garden.  The sister cat decided to leave us after Evan and Lana came along.  Ritzie has stayed faithfully with us and been our mighty mouser.  She even stuck with us when we got Mattie, and has since become "tolerant" of her canine companion.    

Hope

This Gerbera Daisy called my name so sweetly early this spring. I couldn't resist it's bright color in April. It has done so well this summer, that I am inclined to save it... I don't know how it will go, but we'll give it a try. That's why I called this post "Hope." We're supposed to freeze tonight, so I dug it and potted it up. I know it will be a big adjustment for it to learn to live indoors for the winter...

Hoping for the best!