October is Over

Oh my,last day of October!
Halloween never has been one of my favorite holidays. But, how I do enjoy the colors of fall.
Even though it was a rainy cloudy day yesterday and today....
the colors of the trees in southern Iowa seem to be in their peak.




It was a month of my family birthdays, moving a daughters family to a new home, learning to make corn husk dolls, (For" Harris and Me "Day at the round barn with the Jr. High students), finishing some little projects for another daughter's (Eyes Open Iowa) conference auction.
That was quite another doll learning process. They were called "Dammit Dolls".
I did some experimenting on a few before I got them figured out. When i ended up googling them, I found a whole gambit of versions.
This is what I eventually came up with....



The dolls have a poem...
Whenever things don't go so well, And you want to hit the wall and yell. Here's a little Dammit doll. Just grasp the legs firmly and find a place to slam it. And as you give it whacks, yell dammit! Dammit! Dammit!
When I sent to my daughters office her coworkers added the little crowns... Nice touch girls. ;).

Indeed it was a busy month and now my mind is filled with thoughts for November.
Which I planned to kick off with having book club here to discuss my November choice.
"The Chair" by James Rupert.
So on to thinking about fall food and home decor.
Oh yes, sadly the vultures left this week. So the colors of winter will be coming soon.
Take care and have a safe holiday today.


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Fall Enjoyments

Fall evenings enjoyment are the watching World Series ( St. Louis Cardinals) with a hot cup of gingerbread tea. My Dad always loved the St. Louis Cardinals. So I find myself rooting for them against the Red Sox's team.
He would of also got a kick out of watching the 22 year old rookie pitcher Michael Wacha. He was born in our state of Iowa, but grew up in Texas. Quite a pitcher Dad!


Ingredients:
Cinnamon, roasted chicory, ginger, natural flavors, (soy lecithin) roasted carob and luo han guo.

My evening also a included a warm bowl of homemade chili with bonus of using final pickings from the garden.
This afternoon, I finished picking items from the garden before losing to the coming freeze tonight.
So I decided to make a soup using up that harvest.


What I created was....

Sauté 1 chopped onion with 2 cloves of garlic in a little olive oil and cumin.
Removed and set aside
Cooked in same skillet 1/4 lb. of ground beef (a little added Worcestershire, salt, pepper) then to that added remainder of those last picked tomatoes. Chopped all together while cooking. ( love using that ground beef pounder from pampered chef)
I Also Added from my garden some of my chopped carrots , shelled green beans, parsley.
Then 1 carton of chicken broth
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can black beans
1 can red beans
1 can corn
1/4 cup of quinoa
Now I added back the onions and garlic
Simmered for 90 minutes
Baked some cheese biscuits.
Let me say it was indeed yummy!
Husband agreed and we both went for that second bowl.

So now watching those St. Louis Cardinals hit the runs ( know you are up there happily watching Dad) but i know Dad would of been enjoying a cup of coffee not gingerbread tea.
But for me it completes a warm finish to a great fall evening.

Fall Blessings

Fall has arrived rapidly bringing beautiful colors. It also brings many of my family birthdays along with many activities of harvest time.


A visit to the Harvest Barn, last Sunday was indeed sunny and full of fun. Everyone enjoyed many kid friendly activities and fall displays at every turn. Smiles were a constant on little 2 year old Hudson and our 4 year old Laura faces. Madalyn was very focus on finding just the right pumpkin for artful carving.
Joella and friend Kole took time away from college to enjoy this fun also. It allowed time to catch-up with them and learn about their college life.


Hudson insisted on pulling those pumpkins all the way to the car. Such a strong 2 year old.
It was indeed a day of enjoying granddaughters and daughters too. They moved among the many displays, sipping on hot chocolate and munching on caramel apples. It was a memory I cherished.
Oh how,Life is good!

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Plaids and Clansmen.

Scotsmen along with butterfly's have been filling my thoughts this week.
Having just finishing reading the voyage back to clansmen in the "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon... It kept me in thoughts of plaids and Clansmen.
Today, Susan of Plays with Needles blog had posted these Scottish pictures from the 2012 Chanel fashion show at Linlithgow Palace in Scotland. Plaids appear to be alive and going strong.
But drum roll for me was.... I went Centerville to do some more family research this week on the Cochran family who also came to Iowa in 1830s. Actually the first one came to America in the early 18th century. That ancestor was born Angus Dunkee, Scotland.
The Drake library had much on this early pioneer settler whom who was born Bourbon county, Kentucky (1815). Along with his wife and children traveled across Indiana and settled in Appanoose County Iowa.

In fact, their roots come from Scotland along with Ireland. They were known to come from the Clan Bucaleugh with allegiance to Clan Campbell. They shared the plaid with them. Large square of dark green and black, enclosing a smaller square of narrow white and yellow stripes.






This looks close, but not exact it seems. Oh yeah, maybe not so red.
I have learned that your plaid colors representing your Clan was always very distinctive and very important.
Note, from my niece Jessica's husband, Gary ( born and raised in Scotland) is that tradition is not so much in ,during present day. Mostly used on soccer teams etc.

So on this day, to Centerville i did find the grave for J.W. Cochran. The Cochran clan who brought the family to Iowa. He died here in Sept. 3,1855 of cholera at home in Centerville, Appanoose County. Was there a outbreak in area? Was there more w
Who lost their lives? Guess I need to look more into that part of the history too.
J. W. Cochran is the only family member at Oakland Cemetery. Ironically, close to my husband's early settlers graves.
J. W. Cochran's wife, Elizabeth and son James H. Cochran is buried at Salem Cemetery much further south but still in Appanoose county at Exline. I had found those graves many years ago.
James H. and his Brother Harvey fought in the Civil War. It was much easier to find their graves.
My husbands ancestors also fought together in Iowa regiments. I imagine they knew each others families. Wish I knew more of their stories...
Funny how our families have shared the same paths.
On this first day of August, I will put this on hold for a bit and go back to reading about the monarchs butterfly's and maybe a bit more stitching.

Monarchs wonder

I'm busy reading the very well written book, " Flight Behavior" by Barbara Kingsolver.



A book club choice by my dear friend Brenda B. Im finding so very interesting. Why do they fly so far? What a beautiful creation from our Lord. I'm not even quite half way through the book,but I find myself constantly thinking of these marvelous creatures.









Do you ever just stand in awe of our world's glorious creations?!

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Summer time MIA

It has been quite some time since I have posted and much busy living has continued for me. But truly, the why Of the MIA in blog world has been due to my Internet issue. I truly enjoy our home, I have been blessed with in my part of the world. But a few sacrifices are made, one being unable to receive a good Internet service. We are now trying a different company and looks promising to start. So I begin, with a first post since March. Let's hope it can continue.
Missed seeing everyone's comments and visiting the many informative, beautiful blogs!
So hopefully welcome back everyone...

March Birthdays

March Celebration
This month Has brought more snow, but a few blessed days of melting. Yeh!
It also brings Daylight saving time, not my favorite.
But thinking of Birthdays, yes a favorite.
The month begins with one of my granddaughters turning 18 years old !
Her senior year now and facing life journey changes..


Today would of been my Dad's 83rd birthday so miss him. We always celebrated our birthdays together, as mine was the the day before.
Mothers birthday is this Saturday. I look forward to celebrating her 81st.
Mom loves to celebrate birthdays and always made our birthdays very special growing up. So time to celebrate her!



So soon we will have some birthday Funtime with mom. Love celebrating mine of course also. In fact, I'm Enjoying a cup of hibiscus tea in a beautiful mug from my daughter and enjoyed lovely delicious meal from my other daughter.
You just got a love birthdays in March...
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