Catching up

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a good start to your week. The days sure do go fast, I haven't posted since Thursday! I wasn't very well over the weekend, I think it was allergies. On Friday I started getting a huge cold sore on my lip too - man do they hurt. Usually I can 'nip them in the bud' (I use Abreva, if I so much as feel a tingle - if you've ever had a cold sore, you'll know what I mean) but for some reason I didn't feel this until it was quite a large lump! And even though I put Abreva on it straight away, by the next day it had really broken out and was huge :-(  I also had a fever on Saturday and spent most of the afternoon asleep on the couch while Jason took Kristen to his work picnic.

I felt a lot better on Sunday and actually went up to the gym with Cheryl and Steve. I've decided to join again! I really need to get active. Most of my afternoons I seem to be spending on the couch, after I've done housework etc, trying to knit Christmas gifts. I know I can find the time to pop up to the gym for an hour every other day. I didn't go yesterday because I was feeling pretty tired, from the workout I did on Sunday and probably the allergy problems right now. I don't want to over do it, so I'm going to try and go again today.

I'm finding there's not much to blog about right now because I'm not really doing much. Other than housework and knitting, and baking! I did say I'd share my apple pie pics with you last week, so here they are. . . .

As I mentioned, I made the pie because we got some apples off our tree :-)  I actually made the pastry from scratch and although it was ok, I didn't think it was GREAT!  The ice cream, now that was delicious. Homemade ice cream = yummy! And it couldn't be easier, it's just milk, cream sugar and vanilla and I pour it in to my icecream maker and turn it on. 20 minutes later you have delicious creamy ice cream. 

We're still waiting for the weather to cool down here! The mornings aren't too bad, usually in the low 70's, but by the afternoon we're still hitting high 90's. This is how the garden is looking at the minute. . . . 

All those plants you see there (spilling out on to the paths) are tomato plants! We planted them back at the beginning of the summer and haven't had any tomatoes off them? I think it was just too dry. Now that we are able to water a bit more we are trying to get them going again. They are full of little yellow flowers now, so we're hoping we get a huge crop of tomatoes in the next few weeks.

The grocery store was selling plants and herbs again so I bought a few including another tomato plant! some peppers and some new herbs.  I cleaned out my herb garden. The basil I had was huge and had gone to seed, so I cut it all down and now it's growing new leaves. You can see him below looking like a small tree without many leaves.

 

This basil plant below is purple and actually smells like licorice and basil!  I haven't used it yet, and actually probably wont. I just like to have a nice selection of herbs to smell as I go around the garden!

 Another new plant I planted last week . . . cauliflower :-) I've never grown one before, although we did get broccoli a couple of years ago, so I'm sure I can do cauli too.  What about you, are you still growing anything in the garden?

Knitted Creations!

Thought I'd join in with Kristen this week and show you what I've been creating. I posted these photos on my Knitting blog yesterday but wanted to share them here too. The buttons above don't actually link to my other blogs (as I would like them to do), they are just all posts that I label 'Knitting Den', 'Healthy Den' etc.

Anyway, as well as trying to knit things for family Christmas gifts this year, I sometimes see something I want to knit for myself! There's a new book coming out next month from two lovely designers, it's called Coastal Knits, and I pre-ordered a copy last week (it comes out in October, my birthday month!)  

With the pre-order you got to download two of the patterns early. One of them was a really pretty beret with a lovely leaf pattern on it. I had some yarn already so I decided to cast on for me a few days ago :-) I don't often wear hats, or berets, but I think I need to start. This one turned out really nice. . . 

Trying to take pictures with the self-timer is never easy!

 You can see the leaf pattern on the back view

The beret comes off the needles rather crumpled looking! To get the shape you simply slip the hat over a dinner plate and dampen it. Once it dries you have the perfect beret shape. I also knit a quick chunky beret this week for a friend. This has no pattern and is so quick to do, only took me a few hours . . .

 

So, that's what I've been creating this week. What have you been up to? 

PW - Cookies

It's PW time :-) Did you all see her show at the weekend? She made her hubby's favorite sandwich which looked SO easy, and YUMMY! I haven't tried that yet, but I'm dying to now that I've seen her make it 'for real'. 

I didn't get a chance to share a recipe last week! I was going to show you something we'd made months ago because I hadn't made anything new during the week. I'll still share what we made months ago (and I didn't get to blog about) but, I actually made them again last week so I could see if they were ok when the correct amount of flour was used!  We made Angel Sugar Cookies - you can find the recipe on Ree's website HERE.

We made these quite a few months ago, and I made a note of what we thought ready for when I blogged about them (I just never got around to blogging about them until now!) . . . . 

I think Kristen didn’t put enough flour in these, I first gave her a half cup measure because the ‘cup’ was dirty, so she measured 2 halves in to the bowl, then I had washed the full cup measure and gave her that but I started taking her pic while she was measuring the rest and when I asked her later how many big cups she had measured, she put up two fingers!! One cup short!  Funny taste too, not sure if it’s cream of tartar or icing sugar that does that?Wouldn’t make them again!
 

They still looked good, but I said at the time I wouldn't make them again - I know there's lots of other good sugar cookie recipes out there.  I did decide to make them again though last week so I could at least see what we thought when we used enough flour. I made them while Kristen was at school!

The dough was firmer, but  they still seemed to spread alot once baked.

I didn't get a pretty picture this time around! They tasted ok, I didn't notice any 'funny taste' like before, that I thought was the cream of tartar. But I'd still not bother making this recipe again.  Over the weekend I also made apple pie using apples from our tree AND homemade icecream! I'll share that later this week with you all. 

Dancing in the Street!

It rained!!!! We finally got a downpour on Saturday afternoon and Kiki said when it rained she would go out and dance in it - and that's just what she did. . . . 

 along with Connor, Emily and Boo!  I stood under the porch (had to keep the camera dry!) and snapped away at them jumping about like crazy :-)  I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see rain, and SMELL it! I never thought I'd appreciate it so much, but when you haven't had any in over 3 months, it is a blessing when it finally falls.

Boo wanted in on the action, but then realized it wasn't as much fun as it looked!

Kristen and Emily were loving it!

 

It lasted for about 10-15 minutes with a few rumbles of thunder along with it, but that's all we've had. We still need lots lots more.

It Starts Today!

Are you ready for it? Yes, today is ONE HUNDRED DAYS to Christmas!! And in perfect timing our weather is forecast to cool down a little, and I mean just a little. Apparently we're going to be having a cold front come through this weekend, although the highs will still be mid 90's  - but thunderstorms are also forecast so we are hoping and praying we will finally get some rain. I think Monday is the biggest chance of rain at 60%.  But I'm ready for it, Fall is coming, and with it the preparation for the Holidays begins. 

I try each year to get organized and have things bought (and planned) in advance, and although I haven't quite achieved it all, I do seem to get a little better at it each year. So, today's Christmas Challenge (which you can read about over at 100 Days to Christmas website (if you didn't already buy the ebook) is to gather your supplies to create a Christmas Planner. Now, I did this last year, so I already have my binder, well actually I've incorporated it in to my Daily Planner now, with the tabs being at the back of the binder for Christmas.  Here's my Planner . . . .

It has calendar pages and household chore lists etc. . . . 

I get the printed lists and calendars from MomsToolBelt.com 

and this is the printed page from 100 Days to Christmas site, I also get some of my lists from their (via ListPlanit.com) Usually the Christmas site will have a link to the lists if it's part of the challenge to download them and put them in your binder.

This is one I use, and like - the Holiday Gift List. Names have been blacked out for obvious reasons ;-)  I've only just started filling this in, so it looks pretty blank right now!

So, how about you? Are you starting to plan for the Holidays, or do you think it's way too early? I might not do everything that is on the website, but I do like to read the challenge for each day and keep in mind what is coming up and will need doing. And as we all know, it's not just Christmas coming, but we've got Halloween parties too, Thanksgiving get togethers, and for me a 'soon to be' 11 year olds birthday (which always falls the week of Thanksgiving). It makes for a few busy months, which is why I love to PLAN AHEAD :-)

1925, what a great year!

Happy Birthday Mam

Today is my sweet Mam's 86th birthday :-)  I wish I was with her to celebrate her special day. 

I'd smother her with hugs and kisses, because she taught me what true love is. 

I'd bake her a beautiful birthday cake because she taught me  how to  bake. 

I'd make her a wonderful meal, because she taught me how to cook. 

And I'd buy her expensive gifts, but I know those wouldn't be the important things, because she taught me that nothing is more important than the love you have for your family, and being surrounded by them today will fill her heart with joy like no other gift can. 

I wish I was there with them all.

Happy Birthday Mam, 

We love you SO much

x x x x x

Giveaway Winner

Hi guys, I must apologize for not announcing the winner to my giveaway on Saturday as I had originally intended. I bought some new herbs and plants for the garden and was out there a lot with Jason, I totally forgot about getting on here and posting! So, without further ado..... The Winner IS:

CarolM

Congratulations Carol, I'll be contacting you with the information about how to download your free software. Thanks to everyone that entered. I'll be back later today with a 'weekend catchup' post.

"Evacuate - Get Out Now!"

Those were the chilling words I heard yesterday when a policeman came knocking on my door!!!!!! After just telling you about the wildfires raging around here yesterday,  you still never think it's going to happen to you. I actually saw flashing lights in the cul-de-sac first and was just getting up to 'investigate' when I saw a policeman coming to my front door. "You need to evacuate now, there's a structure fire right behind you" he said. I didn't hesitate, I went calmly up stairs, grabbed the fire safe we have all our documents in, got Boo's leash and my purse and got in my van and pulled out of the garage. The fact that I couldn't smell smoke, or hear sirens was probably what helped keep me a little calm, although I must admit I was still shaking a little.

It hadn't really sunk in what the policeman said, the 'structure' part that is, so for some reason I thought the fire was something to do with construction (they're still building in our neighborhood, but not directly behind us), whatever it was, I did as I was told and got out of there. Now the question "where to go?"  I was about to leave the house in a little while to take Boo to the groomers, so my plan of action was, take him there as planned (just an hour earlyr) and see if they would take him, then go and get Kristen from school (wasn't sure when we would be allowed back in the neighborhood, and I just wanted her with me) then call Jason. Just as I was leaving Petsmart, Cheryl (my neighbor) called my cell, she was at home and the fire she explained was in the house right behind me!! It was out by this time, so it was safe to go back home. I decided to leave Kristen in school and just headed home.   This is the house that sits right behind me  . . . . .

and this is what I saw when I got home (from upstairs in my game room) . . . . 

 :-(

Devastating!!!  and SO sad. News is that the owners weren't home and a neighbor had called the fire department, and last night Cheryl had been told that all the pets had perished! :-(  This morning though, I've seen on a local newspaper Facebook page that the pets got out? I am SO hoping that is the case.  The cause is possibly a dryer (so the FB page said). It's so hard to think this can happen to any one of us, any day?  A few months ago the house just across from our cul-de-sac was on fire when it was hit by lightening (that was probably the last time we had rain here too, it was a really bad storm that night). The couple living there have had to move out for at least 6mths, because the house was 'fried'! All the wiring in the walls had to be replaced. The whole roof was taken off and replaced too, they still aren't back home in it. We can see the workman are still there every day, removing sheet rock etc.

Makes you realize that we shouldn't take anything for granted, every day is a GIFT.

It's that time . . .

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Many of you may have heard of the awful fires raging through Texas right now. The main one is in Bastrop which is only about an hour south of us. But over the weekend there was one very close to home, just  10 minutes along the road to be exact, near our local library! The fire destroyed 11 homes, and damaged 9 others (you can read about it HERE), but what is so sad is that they are suspecting arson, 2 young guys and 2 girls, ages 15-16 :(  What are these kids thinking?!!!!

 This picture above was on a friend's FB page, this is in Bastrop, TX. The fire is 20 miles wide, and 6 miles deep, 100's of homes have been destroyed. We so desperately need rain here.I'm praying!

Despite the drought we are still experiencing and the high afternoon temps (still in the 90's) it has been a lot cooler here in the mornings for the past  few days - I would go so far as to say there was a chill in the air! :-) The lows have started to drop in to the low 60's and it feels WONDERFUL! Which brings me to my title, time for . . . .  Fall Decorating of course!  I am joining Kristen again this week for her 'Share Your Creations' party. I had a little trip to Michael's today and bought some new fall garlands. I also dragged out my Rubbermaid filled with Fall decor. As usual I'm trying to decorate on a budget (we are still trying to be frugal and pay off my van). Let me show you what I've been creating today. . . .  

Here'

So, I bought a new garland and when I got home I just placed it on the burlap runner - then I stepped back and thought hmmm, I rather like it :-) So, there it is staying (for now). You'll also see that I have one chair cover on (waiting for the others that I ordered from Walmart) and I bought some sunflower clips from Michaels and tried one on the back of the chair. I'm thinking I might like to get some twine and create something around the top of the chair with the flower and some other greenery?

Here's another look at the garland from another angle, AND do you see the curtains :-) I added them the other day, bought them months ago at Ikea (you can read about my ongoing dining room Redo HERE).

 

Once I get the other chair covers, the room will be complete for now. I decided not to buy a new chandelier just yet (after sending the other one back), it's just too pricey right now. It's looking rather Fall'ish and cozy, don't you think?

I also made a start on some decor in the living room. I'm keeping the mantel rather simple with just another garland and a candle (I put corn in the base, like I'd seen on some pins on Pinterest). It's funny how the poppies take on an orange glow once I added the leaves, instead of the bright red I usually see :-)

My favorite Yankee Candle was burning as I was decorating. I love this 'Harvest' scent!

Judy will recognize these two little characters :-) I won them in a giveaway she had last Fall. I had them on the top of the fridge last year, but I think they look cute sitting on the stairs here.  

And lastly, something I was 'creating' in the kitchen yesterday - pear jam using the pears from our trees :-)  I also made pear sauce the other day (just like apple sauce but I used the pears and blended it til smooth).  They both taste sweet and yummy!

So, what have you been creating this week? Visit Kristen to see other great creations.