I don't know what it is lately...

 ...am I burned out, with blogging?  Is there anything else to say?  Well, let's try, this fine morning...

We have had glorious weather, a strange string of sunny warm days, beach type days.  Yesterday was dark and rainy and delicious, but we are still in a drought, not enough rain.  It's cleared up already.  

Look at those sunshines!!!   But a possible frost early Friday morning, so the garden is going to be done.  Can you believe that I went out there and picked grape tomatoes this morning?  Every few days there are a couple dozen of them ripened...the rest of the green ones are probably deer food now.  I do pick the large green tomatoes and ripen them on the windowsill.  

The deck pillows and cushions, and umbrella have to dry off and be brought in.  I want to pick and freeze basil and rosemary, for cooking this winter.  But, I am in an organizing mood.  My kitchen makes no sense, I have baking things in this cupboard and in that and in the pantry, I would like to put it all together.  I have this can organizer, a wire rack, but it's at the bottom of the pantry, and I have no idea what's there because I can't really reach it or see the ones in the back.  So, it's not working for me. 

There's always something to do.  

On Monday, I was out and about because Miss Cam had an in-person exam at the college.  I went to Marshall's all by my lonesome, and found some things for Anya's birthday, she's turning 12 soon.  I picked Camille up, and we went to Aldi for a few things.  Then Paul texted me that Sam and Grace had a plumbing issue at their house, so she was coming with the kids to spend the night.  I had no idea what I would make us all for dinner, so we ran into Walmart and got a few pizza doughs. (they were out of them at Aldi).  I got some chicken drums too, marinated them in lime juice and seasoning, then rolled them in bread crumbs and baked them in a hot oven, then browned them up in the air fryer so the pizzas could go in the oven.

The kids were super happy to be spending the night at Grandma's!  (Or at "Della's", as they've always called me Della, which is strange to me, but it is what it is...). I had to hurry home and change and wash bedding and get the guest room ready for them.  They bounded in the door and the fun began!  

I made pancakes for brekky, and sausages, and they tried Camille's cinnamon Life.  They played with the new hula hoops I bought, and with puzzles, and with playdough, and Ruth with the bin of Barbies.  They ran quietly around the living room and kitchen circle, because they knew the girls were studying.  They played outside on the trampoline, and I read them some stories.  

Anyway.  Today I went to the pool, and am home for the day, as far as I know.  I stripped the guest room beds and have the bedding in the wash.  I vacuumed in there, and straightened up, and am in the organizing mood.  I need to think of a plan first, of how I want to do things, then get busy.  

Have you noticed the price of meat lately?  Beef especially.  Burger used to be the cheap option, when I was a kid my mother even made hamburger soup.  Now, it's hard to find it for under five dollars a pound.  I did luck out last week again at Target, the t-bone steak was half price, so it was seven dollars a pound, which is still crazy, but it was so good, pan fried in the iron skillet.  

This week, I decided to do something different and bought a bone in frozen chicken breast, $1.49 a pound.  That's nine bucks for a six pounder, which isn't very big, but it's an affordable meal.  I plan to brine it, then roast it on Friday, and make mashies and stuffing, and green beans.  

I also have two packages of stew beef in the freezer that was 50% off at Target a few weeks ago.  I will make the stew in the instant pot, with a recipe I found during the summer when I made some for a rainy camping trip.  (I cannot imagine paying the ten dollars a pound, the original price on the package, ouch!)

We do eat a lot of chicken.  The chicken drumsticks run around a dollar a pound, and boneless chicken breast is still under $3 a pound.  Last night, Camille made dinner.  Two pounds of chicken breast, and she made a gnocchi soup, with fresh carrots and celery.  It was very good, and there's nothing like having someone else make dinner!  ( I did chop the onion, so I helped, ha.)

It's always nice when the seasons change, and the food we eat changes too.  We have evolved into picky eaters, haven't we?  Stews, pies, pumpkin things, mmm.  I'm actually thinking of peanut butter cookies...low carb ones that always taste not-so-great, with almond flour...:)

Target has their sweaters on sale for 40% off, today only, and they're still expensive.  I like a new sweater every year or so, last year's was from Costco, and it's a bit stretched out now.  The thrift store is the best place, you can get older ones that are wool blend and actually hold up nicer than the new ones.  I did order a sweater though.  I was in Target yesterday with Cam and Sonja, and tried on a sweater that caught my eye, but $40, no way!  Sonja said they were going on sale tomorrow, which is today, so I went online and ordered it.  You need to spend $35 for free shipping (it isn't available for store pick up), so I added a 40% off Christmas garland with lights, and a small package of ornaments.  So go broke saving money, I guess.

Okay, time to get moving again.  See, not too much to blog about these days!  But I do keep busy!  This weekend, I'm going to some wineries with a few of the older kids, and I am so excited about that.  The scenery in the Finger Lakes never disappoints, but in the autumn, oh dear, it's breathtaking!  

You all have a good day!

how did you spend your day?

 I hope you used it well, it's the only Thursday, October 2nd 2025 you'll ever get.  I had plenty of fun in mine.  I woke up early, and had some coffee, a light roast Ethiopian, freshly ground, and a pour-over.  I did add a little bit of cream to it, because the cream brings out the fruity taste of the coffee beans, and oh it's good.  (I have been drinking the morning coffee black, to lose a few pounds!).  

Camille and I headed to the city on Lake Ontario, to stop at the vet's office to get meds for Miss Sunny Sunshine.  Then we went to Evelyn's house, and had a little visit while she finished up some work stuff, then she hooked Newton to his leash, and he got to ride in my car for the first time!  We went to the Amazon store.  They had one dollar bins, but fill-a-box for $20.  We had at least 30 items, so it was a good deal.  What sort of items, you might ask?  Well.  Party items, balloons, a few hair clips, popsicle mold, some Maybelline blush, some two packs of throw pillow covers, some rolls of wallpaper (for lining drawers), Christmas ribbon, velvet ribbon for Camille's upcoming Phantom of the Opera party...and I don't know what else.  But I will say this:  we had twenty dollars worth of fun, digging through those bins.  

Evelyn had to get back to work, so we brought her home, then stopped at the grocery store really quickly, for some burger, a package of chicken marked down to $1.98 (chicken thighs, I put them in a lime juice marinade with cajun spices, then later browned them up in the iron pan with olive oil, then put the pan right in the oven for half hour...they were SO good!).  

Home...but not for long!  I got things put away, made a batch of popsicles with sugar free pudding mix, then left with Kathryn.  She needed diapers and milk.  Walmart...I bought a few grandchildren gifts on clearance, and some crackers, and cookies for the kids in the car.  I kept two year old Jamie entertained, which is super fun and easy to do, Rhys also, and Achilles...they were so good!  

Kathryn came in with the kids for a few minutes, then headed home to make them dinner. 

So yes, it was a lovely day.  The trees around here are stunning, the day was gorgeous with sunny skies and in the middle seventies.  Not too hot, not too cold, just right.  

I saw a post on Facebook today about how a woman's work is never done, and a mom never gets a day off.  Christmas, she decorates and buys gifts and wraps and bakes and plans...Thanksgiving, the pies and the table settings and all the food and the stress...and on and on.  But, isn't this the best part of life?  Isn't it FUN to buy all the gifts and wrap them?  Also, when the kids grow up, they can help!  No one should be putting on a Thanksgiving dinner all alone, either!  I do agree, the majority of it falls on mom.  Maybe now that I don't have the little ones any more, I look at it differently.  I know there were tiring times, and I tend to wear my rose colored glasses, but life is so rich and full and good and fun, maybe moms need to take a breath and be more thankful.  

Because it's just the one ride through life, and that's it.  A lady in the pool the other day was lamenting  about life's trials (appointments, bills, fixing things), that it's just one thing after another...it never ends!  I just couldn't say it, what I was thinking:  oh yes it does, honey, oh yes it does.  It ends.

Oh, did I tell you about my baby toe? I stubbed it but good, earlier in the week.  Oh dear.  Here in the north east, at least at my house, we have Asian stink bugs.  They don't like to die, they swarm in the autumn, and some get in the house.  I keep the vacuum cleaner plugged in and ever handy, so if one comes a-buzzin', I can swoosh it up.  Well, the vacuum cleaner was lying in the hallway, handy to both our bedroom and the living room, lying there without the base piece on, and la-di-dah, I forgot it was there, and I hurried down the hall...wham, hit my baby toe right on the end of the hard plastic nozzle, whacked it so hard the top skin peeled back, bled all over the floor...it hurt like the dickens, whatever that means.  I wanted to say bad words.  Paul asked if I was bleeding, I think he may have thought I was exaggerating...but he sat me in a chair and wiped it off and put a band aid on it, which I promptly bled through.  It finally stopped bleeding, but jeepers it hurts.  Newton the French bull dog stepped on it today, then Jamie stepped on it.  It's like now that I have an owie toe, everyone steps on it.  :). It is funny how small an injury it is, and how much it hurts.  

Ah well.  You all have a good night....:)

wednesday...

 This fine morning, I headed to the pool.  Parking was an issue so I had to walk a bit, but what a gorgeous morning, sunny and chilly.  I was chilled, so the pool water felt warm.  Walking down the ramp into the water is always wonderful, I love being in the water.  

The Dollar General on the way home from the pool for a few things (Band-aids, a new toothbrush), and a few things I didn't need:  the fall stuff was buy one get one, so I got a nice $3 mug and a free pumpkin candle.  I also got some nice Thanksgiving plates, buy one get one free, and two nice baskets for Char and Cam, they were buy one get one 50% off.  

Home...I set my backpack, purse, and baskets on the deck steps, and watered my flowers.  I pulled some out of the front box, puttered around in bare feet, and enjoyed the sunshine.  Then into the house to hang up my suit and towel, vacuum, wipe down some counters, then sit on my rear end in my comfy chair...but wait, I should make cookies!  I tried a new recipe that calls for 4 teaspoons of vanilla, and cornstarch!  Chocolate chip cookies, I should add.  I didn't try one, but they looked super good.  I only had time to bake a few before Susan pulled into the drive way to bring me to visit her mama, my sister Cheryl.

I brought her some cookies, and we had a nice visit. It was so nice to talk to her!   She's doing much better but is still very tired and weak.  Pray for her to regain strength!  Also:  it's SO hard to sleep in a hospital, especially if you're Cheryl.  She can't fall back to sleep when they wake her up to take vitals.  

Home again...I made bacon and eggs for dinner, and here I sit, back in the comfy chair.  Shh, I am having a little bit of apple pie.  That is why you shouldn't make apple pie.  All that work, and a masterpiece comes out of the oven, and you HAVE to eat it.  :)

One of my favorite earthly treasures, my mother's rolling pin, which was my father's mother's.  

This one is one of the two chicken pot pies...lots of rosemary, salt and pepper on the top.

Aunt Sonja gave Ellis some ponytails.  

What a beautiful baby boy.

Elise and I at Activity Club!  

Ah well.  Today was the day the dr. office was supposed to appeal the refusal of coverage for my knee surgery, so hopefully I'll hear the verdict soon.  The procrastinate-y part of me doesn't mind, I'm in no hurry....but the part of me that wants to get more mobile is ready!  

You all have a good night, and thank you so much for all the kind words and prayers for Cheryl.  :)

still here....

 If you're here in the north east of the U.S., what is it with this weather?  Since when do we have a whole week of smiling sunshine emojis, days of sunny bliss?  Days in a row, lined up as if we're in Phoenix or something!  It's going to be eighty today, and we're thinking of going to the beach!  

Yesterday we took an impromptu trip to the apple orchard, and got a ride on the wagon behind the tractor out to the picking trees.  Wulf and Tennyson thought it was great fun!  Apple cinnamon donuts and a gallon of cider, some cute little mini pumpkins, and we were all good!  

I'm headed out the door to the pool, so no pictures this morning.  My sister is doing a bit better, I think she's going to be much better with more rest.  It's SO hard to see her struggling, but pneumonia is rough, and she wasn't in the best health to begin with, so it's been a difficult week for her.  

Anyway...running late, have a really good day, and maybe I'll do a nice catch up post later!  

joy and fun and seasons in the sun...

 Oh heavens, was this ever a surprise and a pick-me-up!  Molly and Josh got this beautiful plant for me for my birthday, it had other plants and blossoms in the planter, but yesterday, this appeared!  I had to look it up, it's fuschia.  I can bring it in the house, keep it cool and dry, water it once a month, and it'll come back next year!  

This fine day, I went to the pool.  Then home....ahh, home.  I vacuumed and puttered, and sat in my chair, until it was time to leave for my annual dermatologist visit.  Well, I had one little spot on my face, an actinic keratosis (possibly pre-cancerous), which was cyrosurgeried off...frozen with liquid nitrogen.  It hurts for just a minute or two, not a big deal.  The rest of me looked fine, the skin anyway ha.  (the dr. had to look at my tummy, he said, "Not much sunshine there..."  Nope, I said, not in about 40 years.)  (When I got in the room, the nice nurse asked all the questions, then gave me the gown, leave on the bra and underwear, she said.  So I whip off things, get on the table in the gown, in a wicked hurry, because heaven forbid they come in when you're still undressing, even though they're gonna see you anyway during the exam!  Well.  I sat there in my gown on the exam table, and glanced at my reflection and how saggy I am without a bra...WHAT?!  oops, I took off my bra!  I was not supposed to!  He was going to open the gown and surprise!  no!  I got down and loosened the bra from the tangle of the shirt (I had so smartly and swiftly taken it all off at once...and after I dropped the gown down to my knees and got the bra halfway on, tap tap on the door, which swung right open...I think I yelled.  It was a beautiful P.A., she closed the door quickly.  I fumbled and fiddled, and was still not all the way gowned when she came in.  She did not care at all, I told her what I had done, because of course I had to babble like an idiot, "I took off my bra!" she was absolutely like whatever.  I was so embarrassed...at least it wasn't the male dr. who came in shortly afterward!)

Anyway.  I endured the humiliation of showing my tummy to the physician's assistant, then again to the doctor.  The good thing is that my skin looks fine.  

Anyway, after that I went to Wegman's because Grace and kids were coming over, and meatballs sounded good for dinner.  The six pound package of burger was $30.   Twice what it was a few years ago.  The sauce is only $1.29 a jar, and it's good.  I got  pasta, oats, and more bread crumbs, we already have garlic and onions.  

Home...and a call from Abigail!  She's doing well there in Delaware, and it was good to talk to her.  I got my groceries put away, and the meatballs started, and Grace got here with Grant, Ruth, and Maeve.   Grant wrote his name for me, read a sentence I wrote, and played some tic-tac-toe with me.  Maeve is super friendly and I can get some good hugs from her...Ruth is hilarious.  She loves pink, and she is sassy.  She kept quite busy tonight.  

In all of it, all day long, I thought about my sister.  She is doing better, but is still weak.  What I didn't realize was how often I think of things to tell her, during the day.   That look she gives me when she knows exactly what I'm thinking...the way something is said and I know better than to glance her way, because if we look at each other, we're done.  I hope she gets strong enough to endure our hour long phone calls.  :)

Ah well, you all have a good night!

the earth keeps spinning...

 ...tilting us away from the sun little by little.  Rain visited us, and it's been a good day to stay inside and organize some drawers and cabinets.  How many junk drawers are too many junk drawers?  How many pens does one need?  We have 13 pairs of scissors, what shall I do with them all?  Why do I have a baggie of rubber bands?  

Then on to the laundry room shelves...oh, I found a bag of presents!  (It occurred to me that I need a Present Closet...) (need, ha).  I am donating the panini maker and the bowl and mixers from the old Kitchen Aid, a few pans, bowls, mugs...things I just don't use.  I got the instant pot out and put some half price brisket in it, it'll be done soon.  

All these normal things going on, and my sister is in the hospital.  Fifty times I've looked at my phone today, so see if there are any updates.  I have heard she is feeling a bit better.  With respect to her privacy, I won't say much more, but she does have pneumonia.  

We had her party on Friday, and it was wonderful.  We went around and said things, and everyone there:  Cheryl's best friend.  But shh, I know it's really me:). She has had such an impact on her friends and family.  And, as Margaret told her, she's the funniest person I know.  She is also extremely thankful for everything that comes her way.  She seemed A-okay on Friday, then by Sunday morning, she was very sick.  So, if you are a praying person, please pray for her!  I don't want her suffering.  Pray for her husband too, and her girls...I stole this picture and am going to post it, she can slap me silly later, but it's a good picture!  

Cheryl and Bill and their seven daughters:  Audrey, Claire in the back (she came all the way from Australia!), Ellen, Becky, Katie, Janet, and Susan in the front.  

God has the hairs of our head numbered, and sends everything for our very best when we love Him and are called according to His purpose.  It still hurts our hearts, and tears at our souls when those we love go through sufferings.  We're human, and we love, so it's going to hurt sometimes.  

You all have a good afternoon, and enjoy the cooler weather, if you're here in the northeast...:)

the dreams we dream...

 As you know, we have a lot of kids.  They're grown now, only the two girls here at home.  But once upon a time, not too long ago, this house was teeming with small children.  High schoolers, middle schoolers, elementary kids, toddlers, babies, all at the same time.  I miss those days with all my heart, but I don't miss the exhaustion and the sleeplessness.

Anyways, last night I had a dream that I had gone away for a few days, and when I got home, Suzanne had painted a kitty mural on my bedroom wall, it was beautiful, but on my bedroom wall?  I woke up, saw it there, and hmmm...then I got out of bed, and Sonja was there (her little girl self) with little Camille...she said Cam had woke up so she got her out of her crib.   In the dream, I had forgotten I still had small children, I had been taking my time in the bathroom, unheard of!  

I sat down to play with Camille, and reached out and snuggled her into a big hug, and kissed her big smoochy cheek, it was so real I'm going to cry.  She tried to wriggle away, but I held her tight for just a minute.  I said, "I cannot believe you are going to be three years old in a few months!  How did that happen?"  

I woke up.  Three years old.  ha.  She's going to be eighteen in November!  (In my dream I knew it was September!). 

What does everyone think about Jimmy Kimmel?  I don't think people should be cancelled and silenced for their opinions.  I don't love Jimmy, and totally disagree with what he said, assuming it was a MAGA kid who murdered Charlie.  He should have left it alone, at least for a bit.  But people getting fired and ostracized for how they feel and what they say is not sitting well with me.  

Oh well, off to the pool I go...have a good day!

I do believe I stayed home all day...wow!

 Yes, I did, I stayed home today.  I went outside with Sunny a few times, got the mail, raked up some messes from the yard, thank you Little Miss Sunshine.  I washed dishes and three loads of bedding.  I vacuumed, then Mariel came over in the afternoon.  She baked five dozen cupcakes, and brought them over with frosting.  Chocolate with peanut butter frosting, vanilla with vanilla buttercream, and gluten free carrot cupcakes with browned butter cream cheese frosting.  They look lovely, and it was fun.

Char and Cam were busy doing their classwork, I don't think they even went outside today.  Paul is getting up, in Budapest, at four am, and heading to the airport and towards home.  It's been a long two weeks, and I'm super excited to see him again.  I hope his flights are better this trip, and that his luggage makes it here too.  (he finally received it after eight days...and Swiss Air only wants to compensate him for half his clothing purchases...)

Some random pictures because although Random is not my middle name, it should be.  Ben and Ashley, taken by Anya...(Benjamin is my oldest son...isn't he handsome?  Ashley is so pretty too...:))

....with Anya, Elise, Declan

The oldest grandchild (Anya is almost 12) holding the youngest (Kaia is three weeks old)

These two put with a lot from me...ha.  We went thrifting the other day, and I found two "fat lady bathing suits", no offense, but that's what I call them, for $3.49 each.  A roll of wrapping paper, some grandchildren clothes, and some things for the girls.  We declared it a good thrifting expedition.  

Just a beautiful morning on the deck.  The flowers are so lovely, I hate this time of year, because of saying goodbye to them all...ugh.  The garden too, so many half formed tomatoes!  Soon I'll just pick them and see if they ripen in the windowsill.  We still get so many grape tomatoes though, every time I go out there, I get another bowl full.

Sometimes I miss my mother so badly, so out of the blue, it hurts almost physically.  I clean something and my hands smell like bleach, and like a punch in the gut, I think of her.  It didn't take much to make her happy, I would pick her up and take here along on my errands.  If I had to run in the pet store for chinchilla food and that stuff they roll in to take a bath (yes, I once paid money for "dust", the things you do for your kids!), she would gladly wait in the van with the kids so I didn't have to unbuckle like five car seats and bring them all in.  She would tell them stories and give them tic tacs and make it fun for them.  (sometimes I remind myself exactly of her).  (I remember her pushing Aaron in the cart in Kmart and giving him the Tic Tac container, he put it in his mouth and bit it and cracked it...oops!  Once she had him in Walmart, and took him into the photo studio and had his picture taken...he was like 18 months, and SO cute...(he's our sixth child, I probably had the other five with me, including newborn Molly Rose...)

I remember going into Kmart not long after she died, and the old woman in front of me in line, her hands!  Her hands looked just like my mother's, long fingers, wrinkled...it broke my heart.  I just had such a strong longing for my mother, I wanted her back.  

If you still have your mother, call her, visit her, tell her you love her.  :)

I miss my mother-in-law too.  She was a bit spicy, and not always the nicest to me, to be honest, in the early years.  I can't say I blame her, she just didn't understand us having all these kids, and she worried about us, which I get more now.  But in the later years, she mellowed out, and we became genuinely good friends.  She was astute and very smart, and she could figure people out, and she said some outrageous things.   But she had a good heart, and she became quite humble in her old age.  I would love to go back in time and give her a big hug too.  

Ah well.  Tomorrow is water aerobics, then I am going to pick up something for my sister's birthday celebration.  It's very exciting, her daughter from Australia came, and her daughter living in Norway, and the one from Ottowa...hopefully Elle from Ohio too, to join her three daughters who live locally.  Yes, she has seven daughters!    I'm looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow!  

And...good night!

I just don't understand...

 ...but, my total knee replacement surgery is un-scheduled, it will not be happening on September 30th.  Now, the part of me who is a teeny bit terrified of this whole ordeal is jumping up and down!  But.  The rational part of my brain is saying NO!!!  Just get this over with already!  (I want to be able to bend my knees when I need to! (tmi, but have you ever had to go to the bathroom really badly?  Have you ever been on your feet too much, so that your knees resisted bending when you tried to bend them?  Did you ever have these two events collide?!...I've heard of it happening, ha.)

United Healthcare has determined that we cannot file for an appeal until October 1st, 2025.  So, sometime after that, I'll have my surgery, IF they so kindly allow.   As if we haven't paid them tons of money through the years.  harrumph.

This fine autumn day has been wonderful.  I watered my garden, and my flowers, pretending they're not headed for their demise in the coming few weeks.  I walked barefoot around the yard when I got back from the pool, and threw the stick for Sunny.  

My sister and I solved the world's problems, then I made some burgers with sautéed onions, and garden tomatoes.  I've puttered around and washed some dishes.  I also went to Target, all by my lonesome.  I bought a package of chicken, some cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, and a few clearanced baby outfits for new grand babies that are coming in the next months.  

Now today is another day.  I never hit "publish" yesterday, because it felt like a distracted and disjointed post...Jonathan came for a visit last evening, so good to see him!  He and Rosie are going to stay here this weekend, Paul is coming home Friday night.  But shh, I won't be picking him up from the airport, because I'll be at Cheryl's seventieth birthday celebration!!!

Ruth and Rhys, cousins, best frenimies...I got some dresses for them to play in, from the thrift store.  I'll be keeping my eye out for more things...they seemed to like dressing up, imagine that!

Ah well.  I'm tired these days.  I stay up far too late when Paul is gone.  Sunny has lost all pretense of hemming and hawing and putting her chin on the bed and wagging, waiting for someone to pat the bed and give permission...she just hops right up onto Paul's side of the bed as soon as we retire for the evening.  I come out of the shower, and there she is.  

You all have a really nice day, we're having wonderful weather here in the north east...all sunshine and roses...:)

heartbreaking...

 Since when...has it been even remotely acceptable to rejoice when someone is brutally murdered?  This has made me heartsick.  The coldness, the indifference...it's psychopathic.  

September 11th is a poignant, sad day as it is, but today is like a bad dream.  We know things will get worse in this world, but the hate is still unbelievable.  

God created us, gave us this earth, and here we are.  My favorite verse is Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (psalm 133).    

Here are some random pictures...

Orange Guy likes the new bedding in the guest room.

The trees are turning!

Old Kitty...

I got to rock this baby last evening, he's so sweet!  

Life goes on.  I saw this and it really comforted me, so I'll share it with you...

You all have a good day.

oh, hit me up!

 Pumpkin spice, love love love it.  The sugar part though, ugh.  On a trip to the park last week, we stopped at Starbucks, and I decided to get two pumps of pumpkin in my iced Americano, I would not get the normal, which is SIX.  Char ordered pumpkin cold foam on hers, and guess what?  Mine came with it too.  Well.  I didn't really want the extra sugar, but shh, it was SO good.  

To satisfy this all encompassing pumpkin passion, I buy a bag of Starbucks pumpkin spice coffee every fall.  I can mix a scoop with some regular coffee, make a pour over that's not overpowering, just a nice strong hint of pumpkin spice.  

Today's the first one of the year, and it's extra special because today I went to Trader Joe's with Mariel.  There is such a thing as Salted Maple Cold Foam.  There was one can left, so I bought it.  It only has two grams of sugar, but that's if you get the full 85 servings from the can, ha.  Anyway, I added some to my pumpkin spice coffee, and it's SO good without being sugary or over-flavored.  

Camille went with us to T.J's, and summed it up like this:  We made it worthwhile to come here without getting too much junk we don't need.   That is always the hope.  One bag of chocolate chips, two bags of their movie theater popcorn, one container of milk chocolate peanut butter cups (the cashier said the dark ones are better...), two bags of orange chicken, one half gallon whole milk chocolate milk, Ezekial bread, the gummy sea creatures (no artificial dyes), Halloween spooky bats and cats, one can coconut cream for the dairy free coconut cream pie I am going to make for Emily, one vanilla pumpkin candle...not too bad.  

Yesterday, I wasted four dollars.  I made a double batch of pie dough, for four crusts, all at once in the food processor.  Well.  The bottom dough totally overmixed and turned gummy, the top butter didn't go to the bottom and get mixed, so I got my scraper in there and tried to fix things up...turned into one big gooy mess.  I wrapped it into four disks, put it in the refrigerator, then decided to just admit it, I wasted four bucks...on that entire pound of butter.  

See, I saved money by making my own chicken stock with the chicken carcasses, so you win some, you lose some.

Pot pie...chicken pot pie...doesn't it sound yummy?  I'm going to remake the pie crust.  Tomorrow won't be a good day to make it though, as I'm going out to lunch for my sister's birthday:). 

In a few hours, I'm going to meet Emily at a place to get a new stove, for her, not for me.  I found it on Marketplace for her, so I sure hope it works well.  Most of the time, it is well worth it to get things second hand.  (I asked the guy, he said it works, I believe him.). 

Going out and about with Mariel this morning got me thinking.  When she was seventeen years old:

She was the fourth child...

Emily, the oldest, was out of the house...she went out west for six months, lived at a friend's and at my parents while she was in nursing school, went to Norway for a year, ect...Abigail went to college for four years and was super busy with that...Benjamin went to college before he went into the Army, and honestly, at that time was more of a hindrance than a help around here.  Then there was Mariel.  Then Joseph, who...well, he wasn't much help, although he was a good kid and no trouble.  Then Aaron, who was a super good student, then Molly, Sam, Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, Suzanne, Sonja, Jonathan, Charlotte Claire...and I was due for Camille....so it was around the time I started this blog...Mariel was 17, and had 12 younger siblings.  

I apologized to her today, for all that she went through.  She went to public school, and was in chorus and ran cross country, and was in band and went to youth activities, so she had her own life.  But when she was home, it was busy here, and she was organized and helpful.  She loved to cut coupons and shop with me, and she liked to cook and bake.  I did work hard not to rely too much on any of the kids, to spread around the chores, but she did A LOT.  She was always so responsible, and thorough, and tidy.    

Anyway.  Here's a totally different subject...Orange Guy is a huge brat, he was trying to get Sunny to play:

And...these are not my cookies, but I would like for them to be...aren't they lovely?  They do embody autumn, and I bet they taste good too.  You all have a really good afternoon...

what can I say?!

 When life is the same old same old, yet wonderful each and every day...what is there to write about?  It smells lovely in here, if you like it when your house smells like soup.  Yesterday I roasted two big fat chickens, which turned out juicy and delicious, so now chicken broth is being made in the crockpot.  

Let's see, I went to Target today, big surprise.  The girls like one bag of pumpkin spice coffee each season, so I picked that up.  I also got some frozen veggies and a package of chicken, to make some pot pies with, hopefully.  A new rug for over near the door, half price, it looks autumn-y.  There was construction so we had to take the scenic route detour, with Miss Char driving, so it was fun.  Kathryn met us there, so I grabbed little Jamison for my cart:). He is too funny.  Last time we were in there, he tried to stand up in the front seat of the cart, so I sang him the Five Little Monkeys, but changed the words to One Little Jamie, who stood up in the cart, fell and bumped his head, grandma called the dr. and the dr. said....no more Jamies standing in the cart!

Of course I had some treats in my purse for him, and I talked to him about everything and everyone we saw in the store.  I let him touch things, and let him open the freezer doors for me.  Char and Cam had baby Ellis, and Kathryn shopped with Achilles and Rhys.  

Home...ahh, home.  I vacuumed, put down the new rug, washed the comforter from the guest room and put in a new blue floral quilt I've had for a while, then puttered around, cleaned up some things, had a late lunch, which is probably my dinner:  leftover grilled chicken wraps, with salsa Evelyn made with tomatoes from the garden, on Saturday.  (onions, cilantro, garlic, salt, into the food processor, yum!). 

Paul made it Hungary, finally, but his luggage did not.  It's either in Heathrow or New Jersey, or at the airport in Budapest, no one knows for sure.  

Saturday morning, after driving him to the airport, Evelyn and I and this little guy were going garage sale-ing...but the weather was rainy and chilly.  We went to one sale, then to Marshalls/Homegoods.  She found some sneakers, I got some adorable autumn kitchen towels, shampoo, conditioner, and not much else.  But Newton was a good boy.

Emily came over last evening, and these two little boys love their Aunt Emily, Achilles and Jamie.

Random:  this came up in my memories, 13 years ago...the five-girls-in-a-row-in-five-years, Margaret Cheryl, Kathryn Grace, Evelyn Joy, Suzanne Eleanor, and Sonja Kathleen...  They are all married now, Margaret has three kids, Kathryn four, and Sonja one little Kaia.  

Ah well.  The dryer buzzed, and I have other things to do, like take care of the chicken broth...it's been bubbling away in the crockpot for 24 hours.  

Embracing the fall season is hard when you absolutely love your seasonal deck flowers.  Flourishing flowers, new blooms, all doomed.  You know all summer, as you lovingly water them, and prune them and place them just so, making sure they get enough sun, or not too much...that they are going to die, and you will start all over the next year.  You get a little attached.  The tomatoes in the garden that are big and green and so promising...do I pick them and put them in the windowsill?  Summer just isn't long enough.  I got up to go to the pool this morning and it was 50-something out there, my toes chilled in my Birkenstocks.  (ha, going into the pool with cold feet is good though, makes it feel warm!)

The trees are mostly green, but lots of them are starting to orange up.  It's beautiful, of course it is, but dang, summer is too short.

You all have a good day...I'm organizing a trip to go pick up a stove on marketplace for one of the girls...there's always something fun to do!

sometimes...life is just wonderful!

 ... It's a beautiful day, and I'm going out into it!  I've been to the pool, then to town with Paul to have our signature notarized on some documents, then came home and mixed up a triple batch of cookie dough.  (I got the dough all finished and in the fridge to chill, when I started putting things away and realized I hadn't added any vanilla!  oops.  Yeah, I got the dough back out, put the just-washed beaters back into the mixer, and mixed in three heaping teaspoons...the dough wasn't cold yet, thankfully.)

I ordered cookie scoops from Amazon, and they're coming today!  I am so unreasonably excited about this.  Since they're not here yet, I'm going with Char and Cam to meet Sonja and Oscar to take their new baby out for a walk at a park on a lake.  I was just going to stay home, but...?  I can bake later.  (Paul is leaving for Budapest tomorrow, and wants to bring some chocolate chip cookies with him to share with co-workers.)

Anyway.  The birthday party yesterday was wonderful.  I had gone to Aldi earlier to get hot sausage, and fruit:  watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, and green grapes are so delicious all together, watermelon cubed and strawberries sliced!.  I got cheese puffs for the grandkids, and cookies.  I made little prize bags for them with different kinds of cookies, Reeses' pumpkins, and little KitKat bars.

Let's see, Cam in the back,Oscar, Ruth in the pink, Grant in the front, Tenny with his new tool box, Grant, Achilles, Sam, Adrian in the front chair...

Happy birthday, dear Tennyson!

Blythe turned two years old!

Wulf and cousin Achilles

Sonja and baby Kaia, Jamie in the chair, Kathryn and Rhys in the kitchen...

Anya, Char with baby Ellis, Oscar, Camille

Declan, Blythe with her new dolls...

Emily still in her scrubs...(can we agree I am a terrible photographer?)

Sunny with her donut...she hates it, and we laughed ourselves silly.  But, she needs to stop chewing at the sore on her leg, it's for her own good.

Margaret made an amazing cake for Tennyson, a dirt bike trail with toy dirt bikes on it.  I had a pumpkin pie from Costco, so there was plenty of dessert.  Margaret and Adrian went out in the sprinkle rainy weather and grilled coneys, hot dogs, and hot sausage, and husked the sweet corn.  I manned the air fryer, making fries, corn dogs, and mini corn dogs.  

All 17 of the grandkids were here:  Anya, Elise, Declan.  Lydia, Ophelia, Denzel.  Achilles, Rhys, Jamison, Ellis.  Wulf, Tennyson, Blythe.  Grant, Ruth, Maeve.  Kaia.  (Did you know she's the tie-breaker?  8 grandsons, 8 granddaughters, then...9 granddaughters!  The girls are winning, and Grace and Sam's baby girl is due in December, so the girls are going to be in the lead, 10-8!)

It's one of those days that make you fall in love with autumn.  The sun is shining, the wind blowing, partly cloudy.  The trees are just starting to turn, just a few red or yellow leaves nestled among the green.  

The Owasco outlet, Owasco Lake...

It was windy!  Char, Oscar, Sonja (and Kaia!), Camille

It's evening now, all quiet in here.  The park was lovely, then a quick trip to Wegmans.  Home...ahh, home, time to bake those cookies with the new cookie scoops!

After filling my six cookie sheets, I scooped the rest onto parchment, to make it quicker to fill the pans.  Two pans in the oven, timer 6 minutes.  Then switch the bottom pan and top pan, six more minutes.  Remove from oven, put two more in, timer back on...this went on and on for hours, ha.  I didn't count the cookies, but around 120.  

And, no pictures of the finished cookies.  Paul has some packed up for his trip, and we have lots here too.

Tomorrow, it's to the airport, then to some garage sales with Evelyn, then to make chicken fajitas for whomever ends up coming here after the football game in Syracuse.  Kathryn will be coming with the kids, and probably Sonja and Oscar.  I'm thinking of stopping at my favorite bakery....what?!  It's near the airport!  It smells heavenly in there!    Oh I dream of having a bakery.  I'd like to bake and sell it, make some extra money.  But I'd like a countertop four rack 1/2 sheet convection oven, or as long as we're dreaming, a full sized whole sheet one, and an extra huge refrigerator with a freezer too.  :). As long as we're dreaming.    

Anyway.  It's been a busy enough day, I've enjoyed the heck out of it, and I'm tired.  Good and properly tired.  You all have a nice night!