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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