Friday, September 30, 2011

What to do, what to do???

Creative friends, what should I do with these? 


I am stumped, so I am thisclose to sending them to my sister-in-law since, after all, they are from her grandparents' home. 

They must be glass inserts from an old door or something.  Each is approximately six inches wide and twelve inches high. 


Ready [to brainstorm]?
Set...
Go!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Stuck in Colder Weather

Instead of mourning the loss of my favorite season, SUMMER, I am going stay positive and remember one of my favorite things about colder weather:

Scarves!


Mine are washed up and ready to go.  How 'bout yours?  Please enjoy these scarf-tying tutorials on this website.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

R.I.P.

My favorite shoes...

...and the heel is broken beyond repair :(

[silent tears]

Any normal person would not waste time writing about this, but I want to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to some of my favorite places: the shoe repair shops.

I have brought many-a-shoe into the shoe repair shop at West Acres, and for next-to-nothing they have replaced heels, straps, laces, snaps, and soles galore.  Imagine my delight when I patroned a similar place now closer to home in GF!

[Insert happy face...
then, insert sad face]

Unfortunately, these red beauties are unable to be fixed, so into the burn barrel they go.  I'm going to take this as a sign that since I am pushing thirty, four-inch heals are not advised AND the boney-bump-growing-on-my big-toe-that-I-am-convinced-is-a-bunion-that-I'll-eventually-need-surgery-for is an indication of that.

Friday, September 16, 2011

How do ya like them apples?

This marks the first fall that we have truly appreciated the fruits of our very own apple tree. 


I am sorry to say that it has been ignored and neglected up until this August when Little L noticed all the "ap-pohs" laying in the grass.  He was so excited, so we got a bowl and picked apples until it was heaping full, and L has been eating ap-pohs (right down to the stem) for breakfast, lunch and dinner ever since!

 
Daddy came home from work to a special treat of warm apple crisp and ice cream. 
 

Here is the recipe that I received from a dear friend and former co-worker:
 
Apple Crisp
1 C. all-purpose flour
3/4 C. rolled oats
1 C. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 C. butter or margarine, softened
4 C. chopped, peeled apples
1 C. sugar
2 T. cornstarch
1 C. water
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Plus, my friend adds nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.
 
In a bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Press half of mixture into a greased 9" square baking pan.  Cover with apples.  In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, water, and vanilla; cook and stir until thick and clear.  Pour over apples.  Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.  Bake at 350-degrees for about 1 hour or until apples are tender.
 
There is something very satisfying about making homemade goodies grown from your own soil with your own hands.  This year, after so much rain delayed the planting season, we did not have a garden besides a couple of tomato plants.  I am still hoping that there will be enough tomatoes for homemade salsa!
 

Friday, September 9, 2011

J+J@NDSU

I wish this happened in real life:
This magically photo-shopped postcard was mailed to us in hopes that, in return, we would be more than happy to send a large check to our alma mater.  Cheers to the graphic designers who know how to coax a proud alumna!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Harvest

We are full swing into harvest, and sometimes I still can’t believe that a short time ago, I didn’t know the difference between a tractor and a combine. Gosh, I wasn’t even positive when harvest was!


Back when I was completely naïve to the entire concept of farming, I thought working outside all day didn’t sound too bad. I’m even going to tell you that I once said that I could catch a nice tan on top of the combine. Don’t worry, I now know that the only “tan” I would catch would be a thick layer of dust and wheat chaff!

I have come a long way since then, but occasionally, the Zsa Zsa Gabor in me comes out. I had a Green Acres moment this spring while riding with my farmer and son in a tractor. I noticed a nifty roller shade on the windshield, and commented, “This is nice, is it new?”

I got the “you’ve got to be kidding me!” look. Then, he said, “Jill, the whole tractor is new!”

Oh well, they still all sorta look the same to me :s