Company Comes and the Seasons Change!

I know fall is officially a couple of weeks away but we are getting a preview this weekend!  A cold front complete with branch breaking wind has moved through and reminded us winter is not far away! 

She just made herself useful!

We had almost two weeks with Mom, and her sister Evelyn flew out for the last 4 days.  We had a wonderful time!  Mom helped with the garden - she is comfortable pitching in around and doing whatever needs doing!  We picked beans and corn, went on a couple of sightseeing tours around the area, and visited a lot.  She has not been to our home since we moved as she was taking care of grandma so this was fun to show her around!

One meatball nearly fills the ladle!

We used Aunt Ramah's spaghetti recipe (she had an Italian mother in law!) and substituted fresh tomatoes, simmered it for hours and put in the marvelous meatballs!  Yum!!

It was warm but overcast - dining al fresco!

We drove around Boise and looked at the wonderful huge old homes, a couple of antique stores, the fair trade market and then we had fish and chips at the 13th St Pub in Hyde Park!  (Hyde Park Village in Boise!)  But it was good food and good fun!

Standing on the Banks of the Snake River,

When the 3 girls were little they came west on a trip and thought they remembered the Snake river, so we went to see it and do a little family history sleuthing as well.  They had to see all the places that our family settled or lived in many years ago that I had found in the area! (In this post)

Standing in the actual ruts made by wagons on the trail!

And since we have found relatives all over the family tree that came west on the Oregon trail it seemed only right that we would visit the Oregon Trail Interpretive site in Baker City OR.  If you are ever in the area this is definitely worth the trip!

All good things must come to an end and eventually they left to continue their adventure.  The two of them will drive up to Glacier National Park (it has snowed while they are there) and then over to the Pacific Coast and down to California to visit with sister number 3 for a few days and then to Mom's house for awhile!  I think they are kind of amazing - Mom will be 81 this month and Aunt Evelyn turned 78 last spring!  They take after their mother!




The house is back to normal and I have been busy freezing the corn and beans, but it is a little quiet with them gone! 

Slow Living September Review

I am late doing this for September. The kids were here and then I rode along with them to my Moms house so my September went by really fast!  Slow living Essentials is the link to follow if you are interested in participating, it's kind of fun to look back and organize your thoughts and memories!

Nourish – sent some of my canned stuff home with Son #2, he lives in a house/dorm with 10 guys and he is a foody, he said all the pickles were awesome and the sauerkraut is so good he has just been eating it out of the jar. So satisfying for me to hear!

Took the kids to the mountains - Son #2

Prepare – Hubby stayed home and cut up all the wood from the trees the boys helped him fell while they were here. Pretty sure they just wanted to play with the chainsaw! (BOYS!) Good start on next years woodpile!

I never let them do this when they lived at home!

Green – I'm thinking taking the bus instead of driving or flying counts – yes?

Grow – Came home to some serious cold and the growing season is over – for now we will go over what did well this year, what we need more of or want to do differently next year.

Create – Started another cross stitch, and am almost done with my idea for cold weather curtains, quilted, to try to help keep the house warm.

Discover – Since our youngest (Son #3) and his wife found out they are expecting my first grandchild due in May I have been pouring over baby craft ideas – this is so much fun!

This is the only time your hubby lets you touch him with a stick you peed on! :)

Enjoy – Truly enjoyed spending time with all three boys together and each separately, loved having the time to visit with my Mom, I think I had way more fun in September than hubby! I will have to make chocolate chip cookies here pretty soon!

Mom

   Behind this giant root is a giant tree in the fog!

 Mom and I took a day trip to the closest Giant Sequoias to her house, it was foggy and eerie and beautiful!

Son #1 and DIL #1  Cute couple!

 I had a wonderful September - and knowing the kids were coming motivated Hubby and I to get a couple of things done that we had been putting off (the other bathroom - pics next time!)

Yes, I am thankful!

I think it is a good thing to list the things I am thankful for, to remind me that whatever happens out there in the world, that here in my world life is pretty good!

I am thankful

-that our country had an election and there were no riots or military takeovers. I am sure that the endless second guessing will make me just nuts any day now. (in case you were wondering – Barack Obama won because God has a plan, and this is how we get to where God wants us. It is not any more complicated than that. So now all the pundits can go home for Christmas. Just an idea!)

- for a year with no major health concerns for myself or hubby.

- that my kids are all doing well.

- that my grandmother turned 100 and I got to help her celebrate!

- that my mother seems to be following the same path and going strong.

- that we have a wonderful church and friends from the church.

- that I have hot running water – this will stay with me for awhile I think  (smile)

- that the wood stove we had not tried till it got cold has worked like a trooper.

- that we added another daughter in law to our family this year (can grandchildren be in our future?)

There are many more things to be thankful for, but I run out of time and energy, my memory needs to be jogged, I lose focus and start thinking of other things.... but the big one is this

- that the Lord has blessed us and kept us and made his face to shine upon us and given us peace!