Autumn Nostalgia, Part 2

Autumn is the season for baking and for beautiful colors!  Days of reading, watching a good movie, soaking up the Indian summer sunshine, taking walks, shuffling leaves, wearing sweaters, crocheting, and snuggling with blankets on the couch with a special person.  Days of apple cider, gingersnaps, and did you know it's almost Christmas?!!?  Yes, I'm one of those crazy people that LOVES Christmas.  Plays Christmas music all year round.  Shops for presents early.  Invents new traditions.  Tries to see how long it is possible to extend Christmas.  Plans surprises galore.  This is my favorite time of year.  But I won't go into the "why's and wherefore's" right now.  More pictures:

 French Silk Pie.  This took me six hours to make.  But it was well worth it.  So was the look on my husband's face...and the dishes he washed.  :-)

 These pictures are a sampling of the colors that surround me right now.

Smiles!

Autumn Nostalgia

Just a few pictures from the last few weeks of baking.

 Breakfast for dinner: waffles, cheesy poached eggs, sausage, and blueberry sauce.  I still have not found a way to make blueberries that induces me to like them, but I eat them anyway.  I'm not fond of berries--unless it's jelly, and I can't eat much citrus because it causes mouth sores.  But I love peaches, plums, nectarines, pluots, apples, bananas, cherries, mango, papaya, kiwi, etc...

 My healthy version of pumpkin bread--whole wheat flour, flax seed, protein powder, and wheat germ.  I'm going to start experimenting again with making everything gluten free, since I've been having some trouble lately.  It's definitely more expensive and much harder to make things taste just as good--time consuming and creativity intense.  :-)

 Iced Pumpkin Cookies!

 A new recipe of pickled eggs and beets! Yum!  Brian now likes both glazed and Harvard beets, but hasn't acquired a taste for these delectable delicacies.  We are both firm believers in trying all foods with an open mind and learning to like them. 

 Pumpkin roll.  I'd never made this before because my sister wouldn't let anyone of us make cheesecake or pumpkin roll-it was her job.  Now I have my chance at last!  I put nuts in it for the first time, but Brian and I agreed we like it best without the nuts.

 Cooking lesson #1: Poached eggs.  I've always wanted to try making these, and the attempt was successful!  It's now my favorite way to eat an egg, and I keep experimenting with various ways of doing it.  It doesn't take any longer than a fried egg, and you can even fill them with cheese!  First step is the boiling process...

 The removal process...

Time to eat!  I seasoned my eggs with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, Parmesan cheese, and sometimes dill, red pepper, and Italian seasoning.  Yes, I like my food to taste full bodied and well seasoned--with lots of variety!

Smiles

How Many Fingers Do You Have?

My husband arrived home tonight with a sad face and woeful tale.  He always manages to injure himself just before the workday ends.   I listened sympathetically and proceeded to feed him with a nice, hot dinner, and also decided that dessert was in order tonight.  The story?   He was helping a customer hitch up a trailer and the index finger of his left hand got caught in the lock latch.  The result?  A "c" shaped imprint on the front and back of his finger.  The pictures don't do it justice, though.  It is actually worse than it appears.  We cleaned it up and dressed it with a clean bandage and stint.  We are thankful that it wasn't worse, and that he still possesses all his fingers.  And, as always, a kiss makes everything better.

 Removing the bandage.  Instruments at the ready.

 The cut itself.

All better!

I thought he injured himself just to get out of dish duty for the next few days...among other things.  ;-)  Now I'm going to go read him another chapter in our new favorite book, "Dragon Spell," by Donita K. Paul.

Smiles!

Reflections on Married Life

It is now nearly two months since the declaration of two words, "I do," have created an ultimatum in my life.  Never will I be able to retract the proclamation or return to my former life--not that I desire it.  Married life thus far has been beyond my wildest dreams; truly, waiting on God's direction and timing for my life has produced unimagined blessings.  It has not been without its learning or trying moments, but it has been bliss.  I am learning every day about sacrifice, expectations, communication, respect, partnership, wifely/homemaker duties, and more.  As I am alone everyday, I have had more time than ever to pray, and that has blessed me so much.  I have discovered portions of myself that I was unaware existed.  I am learning how amazing my husband truly is!  He is always there to listen and encourage me, values my opinions and thoughts, takes such care of me--physically, emotionally, and mentally, and works so hard.  We reflected today that before we were married, we could not bear to be apart, and thought that it would lessen once married.  However, just the opposite is true.  We find ourselves struggling with being apart even for a few hours--we just genuinely enjoy each other's company, and are learning so much!  We find that we have gone into "hiding."  I think that this will balance out in time.  However, I pray that we never lose what we feel for each other now, but that it will grow and deepen, just as our love and service for Christ does.  Brian mentioned that last night, it brought tears to his eyes to think about how blessed he was.  We both remarked that it's almost impossible to describe and we have no wish to take this for granted!

For those of you out there who are still waiting for "something" to happen in your life, take heart!  And, take advantage of every moment.  Get active.  Explore the possibilities.  Make things happen.  Rejoice in the Lord our God and live free and victoriously!

Smiles!

Honeymoon Pictures

Brian has uploaded a Honeymoon album on Facebook.  Check out his recent album for our photos.

Smiles!