Same ole', same ole.

Hiya friends!  I hope everything is well in your world!  Not much new here, school is still going well for all the boys, I'm trying to adjust to getting up with the birds instead of going to sleep with they get up!  Things have been calm and quiet, relatively---as quiet as it can get with 3 boys with raging hormones, LOL!

Labor Day was a blast.  The family came over and we ate.  And ate.  And when that was done, we ate some more.  We had a huge bonfire, well, so they tell me.  I was lying down with Seamus trying to get him asleep and I missed it.  Oh well, the rest of the day was great!  Here's some pics of the food Jeremy and I made:

We had BBQ'd pulled pork shoulder, homemade rolls and coleslaw, 7 layer salad, Pasta Caprese, Baked Beans, Zucchini Appetizer, Artichoke dip, My brothers' fabulous Ribs, and NY style Cheesecake for dessert!

Homemade buns for the pulled pork and coleslaw sandwiches.

The beautiful pork!

7 layer salad, all mixed up.  YUM!!!

Pasta Caprese---bowties with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzerella with a olive oil/lemon/garlic/shallot sauce

My wonderful baked beans---lots of bacon and onions!

I didn't get many pictures, since I'm always busy with the food, I'll start taking pictures and then someone will need something and I'll forget.  Oh well, take my word for it, we had fun, LOL!

So, fall is here, basically--I know, 21 more days but it's feeling like fall now and I'm LOVING IT!!!

Anyway, now that fall is here, I'm feeling the pull to be crafty.  I think my muse is returning, I hope so, I've missed making things!  I've got 3 tops in boxes, waiting to be pieced, I've got 4 quilts that need to be quilted and bound.  I've got 4 Halloween/Fall cross stitch projects to get started and I want to start crocheting again, and attempt to learn to knit again.  Lots of stuff to happen, not much time to do it all---so I'm going to pick one----the cross stitch.  It's more portable than the quilts ATM.  I'm wondering, though, I haven't made a sampler in probably 20 years---and my eyes have changed considerably.  I'm hoping I'll be able to see AND that my carpal tunnel doesn't force me to stop---I acquired that in the last 20 years as well.  Ah, the joys of getting older!  Here is the project I'm thinking of working on:

I'd like to make the pillow---but as a wall hanging instead of a pillow.  Actually, I have the supplies to make all of them, but for this year, I'm hoping to get one done!

I had to bring the bunnies in the house, one of them wasn't looking too good after the last heat wave.  She lost weight and was just lying in her cage, not eating, not doing much of anything.  I brought her in, cleaned her up and gave her fresh food and water and she's been eating real well and seems to be getting her energy back.  This summer was SO hot, the hottest I remember in a long time---I'm sure it was really hard on the rabbits.  Our other rabbit is fine, she seemed to get through the heat waves ok.

Our poor sick bunny Oreo, she's looking better everyday!

The dogs are wondering who this new animal is---and is she tasty???

Sean and Oreo

Cream, not liking being held.

I don't think I ever posted a picture of the finished cubicle shelves loaded with stuff---here they are!

Here's the shelves next to the cubicle, all full of magazines and fabric!

My wonderful cubes, I am in love with this shelf, I want to marry it----no, I think I'd rather be married to it's creator---wait, I already am!!!  I'm a lucky gal!  (and a weirdo, I know;-)

Seamus with his foot in the stove pipe thimble.  His favorite activity is to see how much of mama's fabric he can throw down the hole until I notice.  Luckily, it lands on the couch in the living room.  I can't wait until Scott can remove this thimble!  I usually have it covered with my knitting basket.

Ok, that's it for tonight!  Thanks for stopping by---do me a favor, drop a hi to me in the comments section, I love to hear from my readers!  Thanks!

Leslie:-)

School has started, fall is on its way (after the heat wave this week, I hope!)

It's always exciting this time of year, even when you homeschool--although I'd have to admit that I am probably more excited than Sean and Jaret!  Jeremy was happy to get back to school, he's starting his Chef and Restaurant management training, so that is exciting.  Seamus was very happy to hop on the bus today, he really loves school!

Such a cheerful and excited boy!  Now, here are his brothers:

Not so excited, LOL!  Although, I think, deep down inside, they really like learning stuff.

Seamus was just as happy when he arrived home, but he's a happy kid most of the time.

It's been hard for me to get back to daytime hours---not that I slept late or anything, I was usually up by 8-8:30.  But for some reason since school has started I've been waking up at 6 am and I cannot get back to sleep.  And since I have to be up at 7 anyway, what's the point!  I've been trying to get to bed earlier, but last night that wasn't until 1 am.  It'll be earlier tonight!  The boys had a productive day, although it seemed to go on forever.  That's ok though, I have no problem with them spending hours learning stuff!!!

I'm planning a big shindig on Sunday for Labor Day weekend.  I haven't decided yet what to cook--although I'm thinking pitas, hummus, grilled pork or chicken---maybe a Middle Eastern themed meal, gyros and other yummy foods.  We'll see, I have to see how much energy I have left after this week!!!

The garden is nearing the end---it was such a good harvest this year, I am very happy with the yields considering we had to deal with blight and Colorado potato beetles.  It's getting near time to start clearing the beds out again, put in some manure and peat and compost and get ready to plant my garlic in a month.  I'm hoping for a good crop next spring, we didn't do so well this year, but again, better than expected!  My herbs have been fantastic, I'll get 3 harvests out of them before winter.  I've still got quite a few tomatoes out there, I think another canning session is soon to be in order!

  

We got 6 1/2 quarts of tomato sauce and 3 pints of salsa---but only because about 6 pints were already eaten!  I think I'll make more salsa with the remaining tomatoes, that was really good!

Off to make lunches and jump in the shower before bed!  See ya soon, hopefully I'll have some project started REAL soon!

Leslie:-)

Mystery Peppers and other stuff

I'm wondering if anyone can identify this mystery pepper. I got it at a local greenhouse, all the tag said was Extremely hot pepper, 2-4" in size, lime green in color. We picked some when they were lime green, but there was no heat to them, not really anyway. So, if you can tell me what kind of pepper it is, I can figure out if they are truly ready--I'm thinking they need to be red.

Thanks!

So, this has been a cruddy summer, my mojo/muse is gone, I've not be able to do a whole lot until recently---but I did read TONS of books---wow, did I read!  I'm not complaining, I know it sounds that way.  This year hasn't gone too well, but that is all going to change---I'm gonna MAKE it change!  Next week, I go to get an endoscopy, I most likely have an ulcer so that has to be taken care of now.  BUT, it'll all be done and over soon and I've been feeling much better lately so that is a good thing!  While I've not been able to do anything of the creative nature, I have had wonderful luck in the garden this year---even though my tomatoes got blight AGAIN, they are still truckin' along---we've already picked a bushel and I'm sure we'll have close to that again by the end of the season.  We've had a plethora of peppers, a multitude of melons, a ton of tomatoes, a crate of cukes, a selection of squashes, you get the picture :-D.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure, click on picture for full size:

It's been a great year in the garden!!!  Tomorrow, I have 12 more pounds of tomatoes that I picked today, they are going to become some more salsa---omg, it is SO good!!!  I love my garden!

So, the kids are getting ready to go back to school.  Jeremy starts at the Career Center for his Chef school on the 25th, Sean and Jaret start their 4th year of OHVA on the 25th as well (we homeschool---or home educate) and Seamus goes back to his school on the 30th---which will make things so much easier for homeschooling!  I am looking forward to fall, that is when I am usually at my most creative---since I haven't been creative at all this year, I am hoping/planning on my creativity being reborn this fall!  I've got quilts to quilt, tops to make, samplers to cross stitch, hats and socks to knit or crochet and tons of other stuff I'd like to do!  Send me some creative mojo, please!  LOL!

See you soon, I won't stay away as long this time!

Leslie:-)