Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

I hope that everyone enjoyed time with family and friends today and were reminded of the many things that we have to be thankful for. We had a special evening at church last night, starting with a HUGE dinner, a scavenger hunt for the kids, and then a devotional and testimonies. It was a great time.Brennan getting in on the kid's game

Brooke went over to Midland to see Bethany & Joe, so it was me, Scott, Brennan, & 4 college students at our house today for lots of food, games, & football! (Way to go, Packers!)

Notice my new couch slip-cover in the background - I love it!!!

B-ball & other things...

Well, I'm sure that Brooke will not be too thrilled...But look!!!! There she is #22!! That is the same number that her dad wore while playing for Northland! How nifty is that?!

(Posting this pic & using the word 'nifty' is sure to please Brooke!)

Anyway - Congrats, Brooke!
I'm still working on my bedroom and as "they" always say - "It gets worse before it gets better." Wow, what a mess. Here's what I'm ordering today -

Now, that looks relaxing! I can't wait!!

Stuff is happening!!

Well, it's about time, that's all I have to say. I have hated my bedroom - forever!! It needed something and has been a cluttered, catch-all and if you've ever been here, you know that the door is ALWAYS closed. As of yesterday, things are changing in there...Here's a quick look and I'll update as things progress!

Before:

So far the wall is painted, and some of the furniture is being painted too.

Stay tuned for further developments!

'07-'08 team

Here's a few pics of our extension team for this year!

A trip to Michigan

This past week Brennan & I were able to go over to visit Joe and Bethany in Midland. We had a good time. It was nice to be able to see where they are living and what it's like there. The fall colors in the U.P. & northern lower MI were gorgeous!!

We enjoyed some relaxing times in downtown Midland, at the mall, and at Joe & Bethany's "basement home."

Fall!!

I wondered what this fall would bring, what with the terrible summer drought & all. BUT...the colors are gorgeous this year and the days are incredibly warm. It's awesome!! I actually stuck the camera out the window and snapped these pics as I drove today :) I wouldn't recommend that, but there's not much traffic where I was! (Holmes Jct. Rd!!)

Friends

We've been enjoying spending some time with some of our former extension students ~ actually some of the originals :) It's been fun. Hopefully it won't be five years before they get back together again!!! (I have a GREAT picture of Sarah; but alas, I am refraining from posting it!!!)

Summer is Officially Over

School is starting...in 50 minutes!!! I'm always excited - for the first week or so. Then, not so much. It's not that I hate it then...just more like it becomes normal & routine. I do like normal routines though. :) So we're off to start into year 16 of homeschooling. And don't you love this mug?

A little coffee with some Creme Brulee creamer doesn't hurt to get one going.

ANOTHER beautiful day!!!

The college kids are all back!!! Somehow this year we have managed to have TWO Sunday afternoons out on the lake, back-to-back. Usually we end up with COLD days but have been blessed this year! :)(A little color swapping on the camera)

Brennan & Justin

Brandon, Brooke & Jeremy

Just want to say to all of you former extension students who happen to read this blog from time to time...we miss each and every one of you & think about you all often!!!!

...and she's gone...

Brooke went back to school today and was very excited to get back (awake at 4:30!!). I am sure that the excitement will wear off, come Monday. She has LOTS of friends coming in as freshmen. The dorms have a new look. The top bunks are freakishly high & of course that is all that was left.

So, it's back to normal here at home with my one mellow child. :)

Packing in the Last of the Summer Fun

Summer is winding down here, but we have some "annual events" to accomplish in the short time that Brooke is home. We spent some time on the lake Sunday afternoon. It's always fun when we can share that with some of our college kids. Just three were back on Sunday, plus Brooke.

Brooke & Brennan are getting some good use out of the trampoline tonight. We'll see if they make it the whole night! They even have a laptop out there to watch movies. This will probably be the extent of the camping this year.

*Update: They made it until about 6:30 a.m., when a pretty bad storm with lots of lightening blew in. Brooke was a little concerned about lying in water while their shelter was supported by metal poles. :)

She's Back!!!

We headed for Union Grove on Sunday after church to pick up Brooke. We spent the night in a guest room in Findley Center where Brooke lived for the summer. It was a long and tearful goodbye, but Brooke finally made her way around to all of her favorite residents on Monday morning. It was a tear jerker to watch. We spent Monday night in Appleton and did tons of shopping Monday & Tuesday. It was fun but very tiring.

Obviously, things are back to normal around here.

It doesn't get more normal than this...take a look...
She'll be home for just about two weeks before she has to head back to school.

The summer flew by!!!

Trying to copy...

Have you ever eaten at Red Robin? I ate there this week with my sisters and my mom. We took her there for her birthday (she suggested it!) I had the Bonzai burger ($8.29!!!) Today I made my own version. Just mixed up some brown sugar and soy sauce, and marinated the burgers with it while they were grilling. Then I did the same with some pineapple. They turned out pretty good!!

The Recipe

Well, I can't very well leave you in the dark since I gave you proper warning about store bought relish. This homemade version is great and I have been making it for years. It is also rather simple. Here goes:

Grind up-

6 qts. cucumbers

2 large carrots

2 green peppers

*(I used one red pepper)

1 medium onion

If you are as fortunate as I am, one quick trip to the basement pile of wedding gifts that your daughter had to temporarily leave behind, may turn up something like this...

JUST KIDDING!!!!!! I did NOT use her "Deluxe Chopper"!!! ;)

Anyway...once all those veggies are chopped up tiny, add 1/4 cup canning salt and let stand 3 hours or overnight. Drain well. Add:

6 cups sugar

1T dry mustard

1tsp. tumeric

1 qt. vinegar

Cook all this for 1/2 hour on high.

Then put it into jars. By this time, the relish is probably hot enough that the jars will seal, but I water bath them for 15-20 minutes just to be safe!!

It looks like this makes about 9 pints, plus a little extra that went straight into the fridge.

Obviously I have more to do today than I care to think about and I am procrastinating, because here I am...blogging about relish!!!