crisp (breeze and apple)

cider

crunching leaves

sweaters & furry socks

hearty meals

fragrant candles

warm beverages

sweet apples

red, orange, yellow

indoor snuggles

books, games, movies

pumpkins

fire places


WHO DOESN'T LOVE FALL???

Each day I am captivated by the ever changing beauty out my windows.

Each day I am reminded of His glorious works.

Each day I am blessed with giggles and slobbery kisses.

Each day I am loved by the best husband ever.

Each day I am assured of His infinite goodness.

::  My neighbor introduced me to Timberdoodle, a home educator curriculum catalog. I am in love. I have decided to do some official school with Abram this year. He loves it to much not to. Strike while the iron's hot, right? It is going to be a short year, only six months. I will start with him after Matthew leaves from his 2 week visit in September (something we are really looking forward to...) and will work with him through March, when Matt returns "for good". I am excited! I do have a question for those well rehearsed homeschooling mom's. Have you heard of The Reading Lessons, a phonics program? I want to get Abram started with a good one and was curious what to use. I am sure I will post more on the homeschooling front later.

::   Abram is full of talk. Literally, the boy does not keep his lips closed unless he is sleeping. At dinner tonight he asked me these questions that I found ammusing. "Are you the spanker?" and "Are you the school teacher?"

::   Samuel can say "cool" now, which I happen to think is a crack up.

::   A great, no-frills meal that I ate growing up often in the summer is what we so lovingly called, Poor Man's Soup.  Even though it is soup, it does have a refreshing summer taste. I'll pass it along...

- Saute some onions with butter in a large pot (if you are not an onion fan you can omit this!).
- Add new potatoes (cut into bite sized pieces) - red or yellow or a mix. Try and get them fresh from a         loved ones garden or from a roadside stand (or your own!).
- Add chicken broth or water just until it cover the potatoes.
- Let potatoes cook until almost done.
- Add fresh (garden fresh!) green beans, cut into bite size pieces
- Cook only for a couple of minutes. You want the potatoes to still have all their shape and just be tender. The green beans should have a slight crunch and squeak when bitten.
- Add milk (preferably whole but any will do) just until soup is white and creamy looking.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.

It is so simple.

::    Matthew will be here for a two week visit in a little over a month. Excitement is the understatement of the century!! I try not to think about it as I may have a convulsion...

::    My sister, the high school graduate, will be moving in soon. She will be going to JCC in Watertown so I make for a great commute! I am, of course, thrilled. My sisters are my best friends and I have gotten the great privieldge of having both live with me for a chunk of time. The boys with love having her around.

::    I am not sure how many of you out there use a double colon to make bullets, but I have been eyeing Brietta's for a long time now and just discovered how she does it! So, now I will be the copy cat.

::   I hear this week is going to be WONDERFUL!!! I plan on enjoying it. I am not ready to admit summer is winding down. I think I will kicking and screaming my way into fall.