October

Pinterest. That's where I have been.
 Don't make me explain just Google it and go and get signed up immediately. You will love it,I promise and in advance..you're welcome :) There is so much good stuff it has consumed all of my free time for the last week. While you are there look me up and "follow" me!
But that's not ALL I have been doing..
I attended my first tea party at my friend Sonja's.

 IT WAS AMAZING! Pure girly fun down to every last detail! Every girl should have a tea house in her back yard like this-

I am also almost done with my 2nd batch of apple butter. I scored two huge buckets of apples from my neighbor's tree.

 I found that if I peel,core and then run them through the food processor into pulp first I can fit an entire 5 gallon bucket's worth in my crock pot. One batch,even with my new method, takes about 3 days to finish It's a labor of love that's for sure! I will be canning them and storing them away for Christmas gifts. The other bonus is that my house constantly smells like apples and cinnamon,perfect for fall!

The Briscoe "fuppies" are getting close to adoption day,it will be hard to say goodbye but I know Shannon is screening the new families very carefully. I went to visit for a little photo shoot and brought some hair bows for the girls,they were good sports about it!

>wink<

And last but not least I have been doing a lot more cooking and baking. I am especially proud of these-
Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate chip cookie dough filling and chocolate frosting. YUM!

Apple Butter Update...

A few days ago when I blogged about apple butter...

 I was under the assumption that 14 hours in the crock pot on low would be long enough.

 At that point, I portioned it into canning jars and put them in the fridge but I knew something just wasn't right.

 For 2 days I tried to convince myself that it wasn't applesauce.I don't even like applesauce!

 Finally, I went to the fridge to face my apple mystery..

1 stir of the spoon and there was no denying..

.it was applesauce.

 Refusing to accept defeat I hauled out my crock pot and poured the applesauce back in.

 I set that baby on low and let it cook for..

two.

 more.

days.

 My end result...?

Thick,gooey,delicious apple butter.

 I started with my crock pot packed full of apples and pears and ended up with approx 8 cups of apple butter.

 The amount of reduction was amazing!

 I am so satisfied with my end result and feeling victoriously domestic!

Last night Vern used it as a rub for a pork roast and created a mouth watering apple butter bark on the outside,yum yum yum!

Looks like a new season calls for a new hobby...

I just hope my crock pot survives. 



Day 21

Favorite Picture Of Yourself Of All Time And Why

A friend of mine recently wrote a fantastic blog about this very same issue. With respect to her privacy I will not share a link but I will  share her message :)

I searched my archives of photo files trying to find the best photo of myself.

You know,one where my hair is perfect and my make up just right.

Where I look thin,pretty and happy...

Do I share a photo of just me..or with my favorite people..or maybe at my favorite places?

"Am I making this blog assignment harder than intended...this blog challenge was supposed to be FUN?!"

And then I read my friend's blog and my answer became clear,

"It's not the BEST photo of myself,it's my FAVORITE photo of myself!"

The photo that makes me smile every time I see it and brings back a memory of a precious time,

not the perfect photo where I look my best..

where is the happy memories in that?

Sooooo...

Much to my Mother's dismay...

The photo that makes her shake her head to this day...

This is what happens...

 when you leave my teenage brother alone with me...

and a camera...

in the 70's....

Every.Time. I see this photo I smile and laugh..

My brother is in his 40's now and he is still a mischievous child at heart.

It was such a different time..

A funny memory I wouldn't have without this photo

and that

is why this is my favorite photo.

:)

Apple Butter

Today I comfortably snuggled into the acceptance that fall is among us.

Last night we turned on the furnace for the first time in months after Vern almost lost me in a pile of blankets,sweatshirts and thick socks.

 I watched it rain outside the window,even the dogs refused to go out..it was wet and cold.

 I headed out for a motivational latte and a trip through Grocery Outlet for some chocolate chips. That latte worked..it motivated to buy lots of things besides the one thing I needed! Oh Grocery Outlet,you got me again!

When I came home I realized I could no longer ignore the pile of fruit on the verge of mush on my counter. Whatta waste I thought...I don't make pies..or jam...or anything with apples,pears or bananas! I can't freeze them..but I just can't sit here and watch them spoil! The idea hit me and I was shocked at my stroke of brilliance...APPLE BUTTER...wait even better...APPLE BUTTER IN THE CROCK POT! I think I saw this online somewhere....Oh and those bananas,I remembered I CAN freeze them and did so immediately.

After a few hours of peeling,coring and chopping pounds of tiny apples,big apples and pears I had a large crock pot full! I combined a few recipes I liked and added a few twists of my own-to my surprise there is o actual butter in apple butter...good thing I read the recipe!

Cara's Apple Butter
3-5 pounds of apples,peeled,cored,sliced or grated (or in my case,throw in a few pears)
1 Tbs of vanilla
1 Tbs cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar (more or less on the sugar depending on what you like)
1/2 cup white sugar (some people said it was great with no sugar)
1 packet of dry apple cider drink mix(this was my idea he he)

*Most recipes I saw called for allspice and cloves. I did not add these because I do not like the taste of them  and had none in my cupboards.

Turn large crock pot on low and add apples and then vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to apples. Stir until apple pieces look coated with sweet goodness. Put the lid on the crock pot and stir every 2-3 hours. After approximately 8 hours,mash the tender apples with a mash potato masher or hand mixer and let cook on low an additional 6-8 hours. Let cool and if needed puree in food processor to consistency you prefer. If you know how to can well...good for you. ha I have no idea how to can but if you do...can it. For those who are not quite that ambitious or domestic you can also freeze it for later use. My house has smelt AMAZING all day and I am hoping the apple butter is as delicious as it smells!

Wow,I feel so domestic! What a great way to kick of the new season of celebrating!

21 Days

21 days is how long it's been since my last post. I figure if I don't start now I may not know where to start...I'm not even sure where to start now..

Our annual Sekiu fishing trip was much better this year. The downside was that the guys didn't catch any fish :( BUT,the food,the mood and the weather was great! This year's guest list included my Parents,my BFF Jessica,Trevor,Vern and I. As Vern patiently paced across the ocean at 2 mph hoping for a bite,us girls indulged in some adventurous beach therapy. It was Jessica's first time out at Sekiu,I always get a kick out of watching a "newbie" on those amazing beaches. It's hard not to want to bring home tons of treasures,especially when it's your fist time and you aren't sure how soon you'll be back! ha ha Over the years I have hauled home my share of rocks,sea glass and driftwood.
Here's a few photos of everyone enjoying the beach...

It always saddens me to leave that magical place...

Thankfully beautiful Mt Ranier is always waiting patiently to welcome us home.

On a side note..Our little Maxine is a bit demanding of my love and attention and I sympathise that the camping thing is still very new to her. She barked,howled and had a fit if I left her in the camper. So one day while I was attempting to make lunch and she was requiring my attention..I came up with a solution that worked out pretty well-

Our Maltese had become a "Bowl" dog! ha ha As long as she could see me she stayed right there all bundled up!

(Notice here that our little Princess was cold so she has on a hooded sweatshirt,a jacket and a blanket...and I wander why she acts so spoiled?! ha ha)

In other puppy news..My friend Shannon's dog Cassidy delivered 9 healthy puppies a few weeks ago! How funny that not ONE is colored like Mama!

 Here is little Trigger (the runt) smiling for the camera!

 These sweet babies are a glorious dose of puppy love and I am soaking it up while I can before they find their forever homes :) If you are interested in adopting one of these sweet babies please let me know,they are labs and will be available mid October for $250-400.

As for our home life,things are good! Trevor is still living with us and we are all getting along great! Chipper and Maxi both got shaved when we got home from Idaho due to a hair crisis (long story). We thought Maxi would look silly with short hair and actually is it super cute! I love the low maintenance of it and I know she appreciates me not having to brush and dematte her all the time. I am not sure if I have shared these photos yet but...this is what happens when the groomer has a few extra minutes to style Maxi's hair..

Here is a before shot of her napping with her favorite toy..

Our little girl turns one in a month,amazing how the time flies! She is still a puppy at heart and at 6 pounds she will stay the size of a puppy too! I am busy looking up recipes for dog cakes and treats and have decided that a small family party will be best. I got her a special pink dress with bows and sparkles for her big day,now let's hope she holds still for a few photos!

As for Vern and I,we are both back to work on some-what normal schedules and we have found a comfortable balance of work,fun and family. Here are the pizzas we made the other night...

They were DEEE-lish! Trevor's pepperoni pizza on the left and my chicken,bacon Alfredo on the right and THEN Vern cooked them on the smoker..best pizza EVER!

Vern and I have also been able to find many opportunities to escape for dinner or a romantic beach walk. We recently became Costco members and I can for see many expensive shopping trips in our future..yikes! Not because the prices aren't good but because there is SO MUCH good stuff there! We walked out shaking our heads and questioning why we hadn't joined a LONG time ago?! I don't think I should be trusted there alone with a large amount of money for a few months..you know,after the newness wears off :p

Other than all the short stories..that pretty much sums it all up. 21 days goes by so quickly when you have good company :)

Goodbye Summer

Ah it's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter and the nights feel a little cooler. This year I feel a little bittersweet frustration while saying goodbye to Summer. I'm pretty sure we had one of the coldest and wettest summers in history and now we are left hoping our veggies will ripen before the first frost.

The last few years I have gotten better and better about embracing this time of year. I have also learned that the holidays come fast and being prepared means starting early...really early. All that crafty holiday stuff that I plan to do each year and never get to,baking all those amazing recipes I have saved for a special occasion and have never tried and the shopping for clever gifts that mean a lot but hopefully cost a little...that kind of stuff needs to start now if I want to be successful. PLUS,I am planting fall bulbs in anticipation of spring flowers. Gardening in the fall?! Wooohoo! :) Surprise flowers in the Spring?! YAY!!! See,Fall isn't that bad!

So far my plans are to make caramel apples for Halloween and a Beef Wellington over the holidays(no I have never made one before). I have some great ideas for pumpkin decorating and if all goes well we will be "making" our Christmas gifts...

OH and how could I forget?!! Maxine turns one on October 25th! Since I never got around to having a baby shower, I am hoping to make her first birthday a super special day! This fur baby of ours is the sweetest and snuggliest little girl ever and she has definitely captured a huge place in our hearts and our family.

So many good things to celebrate! So few months to get it all done! Maybe 2 more weeks of shorts and tank tops and then time to drag out the sweatshirts again...or a good excuse for some shopping?......Shopping?! Oh don't get me started on that again....