the tenth of october . . .

I know it's been quiet on the blog this week . . . but that's because it's been super LOUD in real life this week!

My sister and her crew, from Texas, spent their fall break camping with us! We've had a marvelous time, especially since her youngest are right around the ages of my grands! Hilarity and craziness have reigned this week!

So it goes to figure that there's been very little stitching done this week (a little, and I'll catch y'all up on that a little later).We've hiked and played in the creek and visited the Botanical Gardens and cooked s'mores and just, in general, have had a marvelous time! 

We had a big first -- Sawyer earned his "slept in a sleeping bag in a tent" badge this week!  He's an old pro now and has asked if if can move to the camp and live in a tent all the time. :) This is his 'morning after' cup of hot cocoa, to celebrate his victory! Please do notice the boots and pj's.   

Today, because it is 10/10 (that magic day of the year I like to refer to as the kickoff of my month-long birthday celebration), we are headed to the PUMPKIN PATCH!  Yay!!

Just in time for the kick-off . . . my order from Stash Tea . . .

Happy birthday tea for me! Hahaha!

Have a great weekend . . . I know I will!!!

:)

yet another enhanced stash report #43 . . .

Someday I will have numbers to report in the "used/donated" column.  But it is not this day (anyone get the reference?!?) 

Used/donated this week: 0 yards

Used/donated year-to-date: 36.75 yards

Purchased/added this week: 1.5 yards

Purchased/added year-to-date: 162.75 yards

Net used/donated for 2012: -126.0 yards

I'm nickel and diming my stash.  Or would that be fat quartering?  Ah well, be sure to head over to  Patchwork Times and check out how others are doing!

Today will be busy.  We're having a fellowship after church today and then I've still not quite finished our guild's newsletter.  Plus I need to finish up my stuff for my Wicked blocks.  Wanna peak??!

Mmmwaaahahahaa!!  I'm really excited about it ... so be sure to come back Tuesday to check it out!

This was the sight in the campground last evening:

What a great group of boys!  It's such fun to hear their chatter and laughter in the camp!

Be blessed today!

:)

comparing apples and oranges . . .

Or rather, chestnuts and acorns.  Haha!

I got a lot of feedback yesterday on my mystery nuts.  I have not found a single tree that matches both the leaves *and* the look of the nut.  And I scoured the Internet!  The nut matches the acorn from the Bur Oak ... but the leaves look more like a Pin Oak.  Aye yi yi!!  But Todd and I did head over to the house and while we were there, I collected some chestnut samples.

The chestnut is large and the *very* prickly outer covering starts out covering the whole nut, and then splits open to reveal several nuts within . . . 

The nuts themselves are irregular in shape and glossy.  (And, in case you're wondering, I have a bag full in the freezer now, ready for cooler temps and a little open fire roasting!)

The mystery nuts are much smaller and the caps don't enclose the nut, split open, nor do they have more than one nut.  

Here's a selection of several (at least four) varieties of *known* acorns.  

Oak trees are the *only* trees that make acorns.  I learned that yesterday.

Here's a shot of the tops and bottoms of all the acorns ... the mystery nuts are in the center.

I'm still leaning towards acorns, y'all.

Seeing the chestnuts side-by-side with the mystery nut makes it all the clearer:

To me, anyway.  But I have the benefit of being right here with them, too!  Perhaps they're a hybrid?  It's not a tree in the wild ... it's a planned, planted tree in a high-trafficked subdivision common area.  (Which also leads me to believe it's *not* a chestnut variety.)

We got out and about the camp yesterday afternoon.  We spotted a tree in the upper field that was just loaded with something.

Persimmons! 

It's full of them.

We also spotted some lovely wildflowers . . . 

I love this time of year.  Nature offering up it's fruits and labors.  So beautiful!

And since it's Friday and felines are the name of the game . . . here's an oldie but a goodie from my files . . .

Raccoon vs. cat.  That coon's back arched just like a cat's ... I'm pretty sure the coon won squatting rights, too! As per usual, I'll be linking up with Sarah's Feline Friday!

And, if you've hung in with me this long, here's a sneak peak to let you know I've not completely ignored my sewing room . . .

More to come soon!!

Happy Friday!

lovely day and a surprise visit . . .

After I'd finished swapping my blocks at our stitch-in meeting today (more on that Monday, complete with photos), Todd and I grabbed some lunch and headed back to our favorite place . . .

The colors are just coming into their peak and it was a super-gorgeous day!

So gorgeous that I couldn't help but take this shot of the drive into the camp twice. And then talk Todd into taking us out on Easy! Well, to be honest, I didn't have to talk him into it -- we mutually agreed it was the thing to do!

The air was cool and crisp and since we had a huge camping group up at the camp, there was the definite smell of campfire in the air. I wish I could share with you all how marvelous it was!

We got into Easy (which had all its batteries replaced, so it was high-powered and ready to roll) and took to the Nature Trail. This is the first time I've ridden the trails in ages. I love the woods in the fall!

This is a fairly easy trail -- some ups and downs, but nothing too strenuous. It starts at the road below the pavilion and runs all the way behind the pavilion and the campground, and then opens up at the far end of the meadow.

As we came down the meadow, we saw there were still quite a few vehicles and tents up. Most of the guys had headed to the entrance of the big meadow, for a 'pumpkin chunkin' contest!

Two different teams had created their own catapults and were ready to start chunking pumpkins down the meadow. We were originally going to park here, behind the two teams, to get shots of pumpkins hurtling through the air (boys will be boys and so will men!), but one of the guys came over to us and said that he'd looked the contraptions over and we probably weren't safe where we were. LOL! We moved.

The first team got ready to chunk their pumpkin and I pointed my camera lens for the clear, blue sky, ready to catch the shot . . .

Where'd it go?!?

Oh. Oops. That was a bit of a dud, huh?

At least it made forward progress! Several of the pumpkins from one of the teams *did* go backwards! Good thing we moved!

From there we made a detour back to the RV to take care of something real quick.

What in the world?!?

Ah . . . it never fails these days. I must have bad-Easy vibes. Something always happens when I'm out and about in the golf cart!

In case you're still not sure, that's Todd, under the golf cart, fixing the accelerator. It got stuck in "full speed ahead" mode! YIKESSSSSSS! We sure were a site hauling down the road from the meadow back to the RV! I'm soglad he could fix it. My man can fix everything!

At first I passed the time looking at the few clouds that were floating by.

Have I shared how enamored I am with our fall colors?!? Well, I am. After I got tired of looking up, I looked down and realized what a plethora of acorn bounty was at my feet! Yes, I was quite the sight, hopping around on my crutches, picking up acorns. Hey. There are things you can do with acorns. Crafty things. Things I might even get to. Those acorns I picked definitely won't just sit in the bag out in the golf cart until Todd gets tired of them and throws them out.

Todd was able to get the accelerator unstuck and we headed back out again. This time we headed down the Hidden Pathway, which leads us to one of my favorite spots in the whole camp!

Secret Creek! It's been a long, long time since I've been down here, too.

It's such a lovely spot. The water was clear and sparkling and making such lovely sounds, rolling down the creek bed.

As we headed back out, this stump caught my eye. There were actually three of them grouped together. Isn't it funny how the lichen grows up the side, stacked like that? Creation is amazing, which doesn't really surprise me, considering how much more amazing its Creator is!

After we came out of Beech Bottom Trail, we headed up the High Ridge Trail.

I'm just so enthralled with this day and the smell of brown leaves and woodsmoke and cool air, I'm nearly giddy! We got to the first ridge and looked down ... there's the beautiful Serenity Pond! You can just see it down through the trees.

And yes, Easy travels all these trails without too much problem. That little golf cart's name is rather tongue in cheek. Since we purchased him for the camp, his service has been anything but easy! Todd talks about putting a lift kit on him, so the tree stumps are easier to manage. LOL!

This was the view from the base of the pond. Another stellar shot and we turned around and headed back down the trail.

From the trail we hit the road again, heading back to the RV.

This time we went up the back way. We'd come in that way earlier, and I'd noted how lovely the fall foliage was looking on the right side.

And as we came back in, I noticed for the first time how beautiful the berries were on our holly trees!! This line of holly trees is what shields our site from the pavilion. The berries are big and red and thick on this particular tree -- won't be long before the birds find them, though!

We had to hurry back home. Earlier I'd gotten a surprise call from Kim and we were expecting company . . .

My favorite Sawyer!!! In his hat, as per normal!

He's got such a big personality. Even when he's on his knees, checking out the birds and squirrels out the window.

It struck me as I looked through all the photos I took of him today (oh yeah -- dozens and dozens), how much he really does remind me of Overall Sam, with his hat pulled down over his eyes. It's so cute! That reminds me of a quilt I need to finish. Hmmmm. Moving along now . . .

The last couple of times Sawyer has visited me, Todd's not been here. And since I'm not in shape to drive the golf cart, Sawyer's not been able to do his favorite thing when he visits Paw-paw and Neesey (his favorite thing *after* giving me Eskimo kisses) -- go for a ride on Easy! So today he got bundled up and he and Todd took a nice long cruise around the camp. Todd says Sawyer talked the whole time!

When they got back, Sawyer got busy. He's fascinated by the cap on my case and really wants me to take it off. Sawyer's daddy hates it. I think it kinda grosses James out. Sawyer just wants to see what's in there!

We distracted him by giving him a shopping bag. He then proceeded to collect every pumpkin and gourd he could find, along with 'his' remote and a couple of leaves he'd brought in from outside.

He'd drop everything in the bag, put it on his shoulder, tell everyone goodbye and give a wave.

Of course he'd make like he was headed for the door, but then run to his mama. Just in case she was worried he was really going to leave without her.

He's such a darling little boy. And truly that's what he's fast becoming. A little boy. It nearly brings tears to my eyes to think how quickly time's passed since he was a baby!

All in all it was a grand day. Todd and I capped it off with a little bedtime chocolate. For him, chocolate ice cream with whipped cream and for me, a hot chocolate and whipped cream. Care to guess who'd been wearing long johns all day?!

Today Todd has headed off to work and Joc is coming to spend some time with me. We may even head over to Tate Farms to join Kim, James, and Sawyer for their church's fall family fun day. Haha -- you know what that means?!

MORE pumpkins!

:)

fall cookery . . .

It's amazed me how much healthier I am -- spiritually, mentally, and physically -- three weeks out from my surgery, than where I was at this same time after the accident. I think probably one of the reasons I felt the need to wait so long on my surgery was I didn't want to be back where I'd been. And somehow, this time, I don't think I ever even came close. There are probably several reasons for this phenomenon . . . first I'd already been there, done that. We had the equipment, there was no trial and error to see what worked and what didn't -- we knew. Second, I think coming back to the RV and the camp has been healthy for me. It's comfortable, it's convenient -- it's home. And while I know there's no way we could have gone back to the RV after the accident, I'm so glad it was possible this time! And third, there's not all the other physical and emotional trauma that I had after the accident. I feel very grateful. And I feel *great*!! It gives me terrific optimism for the end result!

Todd went out to shoo away a feral cat under the bird feeders this afternoon, and look at what he found!

Isn't it a pretty little woodland flower? I don't know what it is, but I agree with Mr. Bumblebee -- I like it!

As I mentioned yesterday we have campers up here this weekend. It's an RA (Royal Ambassadors) group and they got up here and settled in for some outdoorsy fun.

Boys and fire. If there's a campfire going, you can be pretty sure that boys with sticks are going to be very near by!!

The weather was cool and crisp yesterday and it just felt like a good afternoon for a pot of beef stew. I'm able to get about the kitchen and do some cooking already -- and I know Todd is happy when I can! He's not complained once and has truly taken such good care of me and cooked for me, but it's always nice when the Queen of the Kitchen can resume her duties!

I make my stew the old-fashioned way -- dredging my venison cubes in flour before sauteing it with the onions and garlic. Then I put it all together in a pot with diced tomatoes, diced potatoes, carrots, green beans, and corn. I add a little beef broth and water to cover. Then I bring it to a boil and let it simmer until it's thickened and my potatoes and carrots are tender. I also threw in a bay leaf along with a handful of other spices. I had to laugh when I was watching Rachel Ray the other day and she said whenever she's cooking a soup or sauce or stew, she had to throw in a bay leaf - it didn't feel complete without it. ME TOO!!

The only problem with making this recipe is that there's plenty more beyond dinner for Todd and I! Like maybe supper tomorrow and quite probably lunch for Joc and I on Monday. At least. Huh, maybe it's not really a problem after all. :)

Then I thought I'd make a little dessert, as long as I was up and about. Jocelyn had found and tried a recipe on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago and simply raved about it. And since I had the ingredients and because it's become a sort of running joke this week about my pumpkin posts, I decided to go ahead and make this Pumpkin Mousse!

I varied slightly from the recipe on Pinterest. I took a 1 oz. package of SF/FF cheese cake instant pudding mix and mixed it with 1 cup of skim milk. I whisked it until it was well mixed and thickening.

To that I added a 15 oz can of pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, and and extra 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg and whisked it again.

Finally I added an 8 oz tub of sugar free cool whip. And whisked it again until it was all well-blended. Then I covered it and tucked it into the refrigerator, to let it set. I served it up with a little whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg. YUMMY! It was very light and fluffy and not overly *sweet*. Again, very yummy!! :)

I was taking the pics of the mousse and looked over and saw my Crimson Tide pumpkin sitting there with my Christmas runner (which I worked on last night, as well -- I may just have it finished in time for Christmas).

Do you see how nicely the pumpkin and topper look together? Hmmm . . . I may be able to carry this pumpkin thing out through the end of the year . . . !!!!

:)