A Beautiful Fall Day

Insert imaginary photo of darling daughters with steaming cups of drinks

The girls and I went out for our breakfast study. We are out of If:Table conversations and haven't started another study yet. I took other conversation cards, and we also discussed the fall schedule.  Allie and I will meet alone on Thursdays. Stacia and I will meet alone early Friday morning - we plant to hopefully be back before GG wakes up. We've enjoyed the past 2 months meeting together - but there is something precious about one-on-one time too. We'll probably mix it up this year. We'll see....but this is how we'll begin. 

We got home just as Arielle and the boys pulled up. They needed to get out of the house...and we are working at our place becoming a known and safe place for Little Buddy.  It was fun to see them. We played with playdough, visited loudly with GG, had snacks from Bachan's basket (z bars purchased for grands), the little guys perfected their duet and then they did many laps around the house. The went home tired and ready for naps. I hope. 

Little Buddy and Danny

At some point Danny wandered away from the keyboard. Little Buddy continued to play with me...and even snuggled in and took my hand to play. I felt it a personal win. 

Benny began running.... around and around they went.  Here are a few shots...

Run, Benny!

Danny & Benny

Sweet boys

Well, GG GOT his paper.... but it is still far too wet to read. I called and they'll credit him a day's paper. 

We had lunch. I visited with Nolan. GG went down for a nap. Michael ran to Spenard's and Lowes, the girls and I ran to get our eyebrows done, Alex got home from work as Nolan left for work and they transferred GG oversight...Yes, I do sometimes feel like those kids running around and around and getting nowhere fast...but expending lots of energy! LOL 

Photo to show eyebrows LOL 

When the girls were done with school - afternoon tea magically appeared on the table...tea and scones. It's time to bake some more tea treats for the freezer. It was POURING rain and we talked about hygge, embracing the season, how much the girls are enjoying their classes, and I bounced a few women's ministry ideas off of them. 

Allie went to work on chores, Nolan went to work, Stacia trained and played with Millie, Alex played video games, Michael installed an outside motion detection light, and I made Potato Cauliflower Cheese soup for dinner.  Mom Mary was right - candlelight really DOES make everything nicer. 

I think we'll either read a chapter from Inkheart or watch a video clip....we shall see.  Millie continues to pout about Stacia's divided attention this fall. I swear she's part human. 

Honey Mustard Salmon (Air Fryer)

Josiah sent a quick message one day shortly after fish camp 22.  It included a photo of a yummy looking piece of salmon....7 minutes in the air fryer.  WHAT? 

I knew I needed to try this...my doc would like me eating salmon at least 3x a week, red meat once a month and chicken the rest of the time. The rest of the family gets tired of salmon that often. I don't like to cook a huge batch and eat the same thing day after day...but if I can put one fillet in the air fryer and have it done in 7 - 10 minutes?  That's EASY to do when the family is eating something like pork loin or beef roast. LOL

The technique is simple. 

Pre-heat your air fryer by turning it on to 400 for 5 minutes if you don't have the pre-heat option. I don't. 

Turn heat to 390 degrees or leave at 400.  Recipes vary. 

Spray or brush a bit of olive oil on the fryer. 

Season fillet. 

Place skin side down and air fry for 7 - 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillet. (Josiah said his took 7 min, but OURS take 15 min or so being so much more massive than his salmon - evidently. ::snort::)  ::wink::  7 - 10 min. 

That's it. I've done it plain and with lemon and onions. I've sprinkled Old Bay on the salmon. I've brushed mayo and spices on it.  Tonight - I did this combo. 

INGREDIENTS

Salmon fillets (about a lb)

2 T honey

2 T Dijon Mustard

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Combine sauce mixture.  (Either marinate in 2/3 of the sauce, or brush sauce on salmon)

Preheat fryer. 

Air Fry 7  - 10 min. 

If you chose to marinate, drizzle the remaining sauce on the salmon before you serve. I didn't marinate this time...just brushed it all on top and Michael and I really liked it. 

Thursday - NO WEDNESDAY! LOL

BreAnne had a 28-week OB appointment today and I got to play with the kiddos! Josiah woke up after she had left, and he jumped right into the fray. 

Poor, Gideon is under the weather. He's a trooper. 

These 3 and I attempted to put a floor puzzle together. I'm sure we would have done it if Bre hadn't come home when she did. 

I ran home and touched base. Stacia and Allie were both busy with their respective course work. I made Dad lunch, Michael mowed the lawn, Dad went down for a nap and I headed back to town to get my hair cut. 

The next time I came home Stacia was playing with meringues. She wondered if she could air brush some....they didn't melt. 

Next, she torched some of them (I'm sure there is a fancier name for that). 

A nice fall plate for youth group. 

I headed out to the garden to pick a salad...and got side tracked by flowers. 

I brought some inside. 

I did get lettuce, carrots, kale, onions, cucumbers, beets and green beans from the garden. 

The girls had wrapped up their school and projects when I got back inside. They joined me in scrubbing veggies, setting the table and such. 

I planted two kinds of beets this year: Chioggia (Bassano) candy cane striped, and Ruby Queen. Michael and Dad like beets. The candy cane beets grew much bigger...but how would they taste? I didn't notice a big difference. 

Michael however is the beet connoisseur.

He likes the Chioggia (Bassano) better. He thinks they are sweeter. They certainly bleed less red than the Ruby Queen.  I had a pork loin I made for the family. I avoid pork.  I have a freezer of wild salmon...and it cooks up in 7 - 10 minutes in the air fryer. 

Dijon, honey and spices...

Michael decided the salmon looked better than the pork and joined me. There was also an entire salad, green beans, beets and a cucumber tomato salad from our garden. I felt good about a meal we'd caught or grown. 

After a bit of clean up time the girls and I left for church. The women are still not meeting so I used the time to run a couple of errands. 

Y'ALL! ONE of dad's meds cost $237 and the full cost was over $1000!!!!  Just let that sink in.  I also dropped books off at the library and then went back to the parking lot to read. 

After youth we dropped Allie off to have coffee and catch up with a friend. 

August Snippets

 

The Dahlia's are blooming. I started them from seed in the greenhouse and then up-lanted them and eventually transplanted them where I found dirt. Unfortunately, I was not aware they are perennials...and put some right in the middle of garden beds. Um...I'm going to try to transplant them "somewhere." Editors note - I've since been told that they are NOT hardy in Zone 4b - where I live. That they have to be dug up to winter over....so I'm not sure that's worth it - may just start them from seed again next year....though I need to research and see if there is a benefit to digging them up and wintering them over. 

The candy cane beets - I think we can begin to pick and eat the beets. This tasted much like any other beet. 

Stacia's famous bombs

We voted Aug 16th. Due to our remote voting locations AND our new rank-based voting we are told we'll know results on Aug 31st. 

Livie started 4th grade at a brand-new school. 

The chicken equivalent of "talk to the hand." 

Real food comes dirty! 

As the chicks begin laying eggs we have some surprises - this morning it was a double yoke. 

August comes to an end, and I realize fall is here. The leaves ARE turning yellow and orange...the rain doesn't look like it will leave until the snow flies. LOL  We will be running crazy on projects around here until it snows...but this year, I find myself looking forward to winter. It has made all the difference in the world to embrace each season for what it is. 

It has felt like the summer grabbed a hold in May and drug us through the past couple of months... I am content to slow down soon. LOL 

Michael and Jamin's Arctic Adventure

 

This is the proof of life photo Jamin sent me. He and Michael took a trip to Barrow recently. Jamin takes trips every quarter and Michael was happy to accompany him on this one.  There was talk of finding a polar bear. 

The goal of the trip was to go to the edge of the arctic and step into the arctic sea...which they did. I've not heard many stories just yet - but I will. 

I'm quite sure Michael took lots of pictures and will share them at some point. Michael arrived home at 8:30 p.m. and Jamin flew on to Florida....now there's a change of scenery. 

I will stop complaining about $4 a gallon. LOL  Do you see that? $12.99 a gal. 

About that polar bear...

I'm grateful they were able to take this trip together and I'm thankful to have Michael home. Life is so much easier and fuller when he's home. LOL 

All photos by Jamin. 

A Day at Home

The morning began with Olivia. Stacia had school and Allie was sleeping - poor Liv was left with me to entertain her. She introduced me to a Disney show...and we made banana muffins. We also had a good talk about the recent changes in her life. She is attending a new school in the new town they moved too. She told me she likes the school. She had discovered today a friend from school goes to her church - always a great connection.  It was good to hear she is liking the new school. We've been praying for a smooth transition for her. 

Stacia spreads out her books and gets it done! LOL  The challenge this year is to find a quiet place to work on school in the mornings. Allie is usually sleeping when Stacia starts the day (because she works late at night several nights a week). GG has taken to loud discussions and singing in the a.m.  My noise cancelling headphones work nicely. I gave them to her right after this picture was taken. LOL 

Stacia finished school. CyRi arrived to visit for a bit, pick up Livie and head to the state fair.  The girls and I visited and ran a couple of errands. 

I took Allie to work. 

I noted the chicks, which are now pullets, were pecking at the tiny new chick. I couldn't find all the things for the brooder but set our new chick in the other side of the rabbit hutch, caught the broody hen and put her back to work. LOL  We've raised a chick by hand before, but if she will do the job, it's much easier to integrate the new chick to the flock. 

I picked veggies for dinner...made dinner, started a batch of chicken broth, and waited for Michael to come home. 

Stacia and I DID begin the Monk series again...it's been 5 years since we watched it. I think it's o.k. Watching MONK puts me instantly back to our days of living in the RV.  LOL 

Michael arrived home. GG went to bed.  I waited up for Allie. 

Three eggs tonight - we suspect 1 from Golda (her eggs are bigger and white), we also got a green egg and another BIG brown egg. I am guessing we have 3 of the pullets laying. We are dreaming of being overrun by eggs once again. Last time we had this many hens we sold eggs.

More yellow is showing up in the yard...I think fall is here....and if I refuse to admit it much longer I may miss it altogether. LOL 

Surprise in the Chicken Coop

We've had a hen sitting in a nesting box for weeks. First, we thought she was dying as she had been ill and picked on. Then we thought she was avoiding the rooster. We left her alone. Tonight, when I went to check for eggs the box was empty and there was a tiny brown egg in the box. Our new chicks have begun laying a week early! YES. I look forward to swimming in eggs again. 

I was surprised to find the hen sitting on the floor of the coop. She moved to grab some food and look what I saw! She HATCHED A CHICK. I sat and watched; she is doing a terrific job at being a mommy. This obviously did not hatch from one of her eggs. My guess is maybe it's one of Golda's eggs...Godla has been a great hen for 4 years. I hope it is not a rooster. 

It took Stacia, Livie and I 30 minutes to get them all inside this evening. They ran us ragged. One even flew out of the coop. We finally got Alex. He's much less intimidated by them than we are.