As The Leaves Fall

This season is certainly being true to form. We have been delightfully busy with family, cooking, cleaning, work, activities, lessons, play dates, etc. And this week we are gearing up for even more!

Our visit with Nana and Grandpa was absolutely wonderful; what a blessing to have had them in our home! Also, our visit with The Long Lost Hunt Family was glorious. (I'm quickly running out of synonyms for delightful.) It was such an encouragement to our hearts to be near Doug and Shelley, and all the kiddos played so well together. Basically our kids were on Cloud 9 throughout the entire month of October.

Believe it or not I did actually get a little pumpkin-ed out. I guess when you become infatuated with anything (or anyone) and obsess over it and manipulate it and devour it, you're bound to get bored. (Draw profound analogy to failed relationships in past.) I must admit I was a little disappointed in myself when October 31 rolled around and I had an unopened can of pumpkin in the cabinet--and no aspirations to turn it into something delicious; it's still sitting there. I'll get the pumpkin itch again, and it'll just have to keep until then.

In the midst of all of this delightful, wonderful, great, glorious chaos, we have still had several opportunities to sneak away, just the five of us, and enjoy our city in this beautiful season. And I must say, That is no small thing for this young family!

Breaking in our new boots "Mountain Climbing":

Daddy was throwing armfuls of leaves into the air for the kids to enjoy.

And they were enjoying it. :)

Making a Leaf Angel. It was actually a very convincing Leaf Angel.

My little buddy for this day's excursion. We did a lower level of mountain climbing than the other spider monkeys.

The most fun daddy ever!

Possessed by Pumpkin

And we continue our October journey through all things pumpkin! My kitchen is constantly in shambles, I've hardly worn make up all month, and my two year old spends most mornings running around stark naked. But, Oh, those Pumpkin Muffins do smell delicious!

I stumbled on this next recipe when I was still a new enough bride to try unusual recipes. I have since been conditioned to shy away from anything that doesn't obviously tout Meat, Cheese, and Potatoes--with no weird vegetables messing up the good stuff.

And here is where I clarify that my husband will eat anything I make, and not complain...per se. He swears he's not a picky eater. ;) An ongoing debate in our house. I resolve within myself that he is a very Respectful and Kind Picky Eater. Meaning, I know when he doesn't like something, but he'd never be rude enough to comment on it. And since I am the Help Mate in this whole thing, I do not want to make something he won't enjoy.

So, here's the weird recipe. And B.daddy does indeed like it a lot. "Maybe not as much as regular chili... But it's good. I like it. I do!"

You get the picture.

Pumpkin Black Bean Chili

~10-12 servings; fills up a big Crock Pot or dutch oven

2 lbs. chicken or turkey, ground & browned or breasts cooked and shredded

1 medium onion, chopped

2 yellow bell peppers, chopped

3 tsp. minced garlic

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

3 T. chili powder

3 tsp. ground cumin

2 19 oz. cans black beans, drained

2 16 oz. cans pumpkin puree

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes (or diced if your husband doesn't mind the chunks) ;)

water & chicken bullion

1~Prepare the meat and set aside. Saute the onion, pepper, and garlic in oil till tender. Stir in spices and cook for 1 minute.

2~Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Add enough water and appropriate amount of chicken bullion to fill pot.

3~Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours.

Now, this Chili doesn't need the Southern fixin's of Fritos, cheese, and sour cream. It is so delicately delicious that it's perfect with corn muffins or plain ol' Saltines.

And without further ado, here are some more photos of our children. i.e. Grandbaby Pictures!

Pumpkin Head

Since it is officially Fall I am making every single pumpkin incorporating recipe I can get my hands on! (Similarly, on the day after Thanksgiving I will start playing every single Christmas CD known to man.) I love this season and all the little delights we are blessed to enjoy. So here's another recipe I've come to love. In its original form it calls for chocolate chips, which would be equally delicious. But I'm partial to butterscotch.

Pumpkin Butterscotch Chip Cookies
(now that's a mouthful. pardon the pun.)
Preheat oven: 350 degrees F
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups butterscotch chips

1~In medium sized bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
2~In mixing bowl blend together the pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. Dissolve baking soda in milk. Add baking soda/milk and vanilla to wet ingredients. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add butterscotch chips.
3~Drop on greased cookie sheet by small spoonfuls. Bake @ 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown.
4~Just try not to eat them all in one day!

In other news...

Our Sweeites are just being their adorable selves. We are pressing onward in this crazy homeschool venture. Understandably, it consumes most of my time and mind. Li'l Bit enjoys her lessons (for the most part), and Gizmo and The Little Rascal love to have their "lessons" too. With all of the self-doubting I deal with, my heart is encouraged when my crazy-active four and two year olds ask if they can do lessons too. B.daddy is doing quite well. He is working his tail off, as usual, and is excelling in his position, as usual. This week he gets to work in the city, which is a nice break from the norm. But he has to wear a suit everyday, and he's gone from 6:20 a.m. to 7 p.m. There's always a trade off. But this is a great week for it because.....
We're gearing up for Company!! I am very excited to report that tomorrow evening I will be picking up my Nana and Grandpa from the airport! I'm so happy to have them in our part of the country for a spell. Then at the end of October we will be graced by a visit from the Long Lost Hunts! Then Thanksgiving week---Aunnie and her sweet girl will be with us all week! And I've heard rumors that my blessed mother will be visiting in December. Then some dear friends of ours are getting married right before Christmas which will bring into town even more dear friends! So, needless to say, I am very excited about all the lovin' we'll enjoy in the next three months. And I don't know what the heck I'm going to do with myself from January to May. Those long, cold, dark months. Oh, how to battle the depression and boredom of cabin fever and Vitamin D deficiency! Oh yeah, just move to Florida for the Winter with every other New Englander over the age of fifty. :)