Dress Shopping

 

My sisters, mother, and I converged to a little shop in a small coastal town to pick out and buy Anna's wedding dress today!  Because the appointment for the shop was at 2 pm, the children and I woke up very early and drove to one of my favorite churches for Sunday Liturgy.  Afterward, we met up with everyone and ate a delicious lunch at a diner where we were treated like long-lost family!  The atmosphere was so great!

Anna tried on a few dresses and by the end of our appointment, she had picked the winner!  She looks so gorgeous in the gown and I can't wait to show you photographs of her in it in the spring.  We'll be getting together soon to choose bridesmaid dresses and outfits for the children.  Weddings are such exciting times!

We all went our separate ways after the dress appointment and I decided to treat the children to dinner at their favorite restaurant as a reward for being so helpful and good humored during the long drive, church, and dress shopping.

This Week's Menu

Breakfasts
Cereal
Toasted Bagels
Toasted Apple Bread
Waffles and Bacon

Lunches
Leftovers
Salads
Chick-fil-A
Bean Burritos 
Sandwiches
 
Dinners
Chicken Stew and Buttermilk Biscuits
Steak, Potatoes, and Veggies with Dip 
Ravioli with Meat Sauce and  Salad
Tuna on Toast 
Chicken and Mushrooms over Egg Noodles
Vegetable Fajitas

Desserts
Ice Cream
Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Oh, I Do Love Saturday

 

 

I find that it is only when school is in session that I am able to fully enjoy Saturday.  There's time for a leisurely breakfast, mid-morning baths, a relaxed wander through my favorite grocery store for necessities like Olives!  Flowers! Fresh Rolls!, and an afternoon sprawled out on the bed with a good book.  

What are you up to tomorrow? 

Autumn, at Last

I am made for autumn. Summer and I have a fickle relationship, but everything about autumn is perfect to me. Wooly jumpers, Wellington boots, scarves, thin first, then thick, socks. The low slanting light, the crisp mornings, the chill in my fingers, those last warm sunny days before the rain and the wind. Her moody hues and subdued palate punctuated every now and again by a brilliant orange, scarlet or copper goodbye. She is my true love.”

Alys Fowler

Our Thanksgiving Menu

   

Each year we celebrate Thanksgiving early with my husband's side of the family.  Rather than holding our festivities in the beginning of November as we usually do, we will have our meal on October 2nd.  Here is our menu:

Hors d'oeuvres

Vegetable and Dip Platter

Bacon Onion Dip 

Cheese Platter

Sausage Stuffed Jalapeno and Sweet Peppers

Main Course

Turkey (as long as I can find one!)

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Cranberry Sauce

Christmas Cauliflower

Squash Casserole

Grean Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good

Creamed Onions

Dessert

Monica's Pumpkin Pie

Sour Cream Apple Pie

Vanilla Ice Cream 

On a Gloomy Tuesday...

 

Today was sneaker shopping day.  Two children found what they were looking for and we ended up ordering Little Man's online.  He's disappointed to have to wait, but it'll be worth it when they arrive!  Homeschool gym class starts on Thursday and the children cannot wait.  Gym day is their favorite.  

Father John is finally starting to really feel like himself after his surgery on September 1st.  Today was the first day that he did a full day of work and though he is tired, he was able to accomplish quite a bit.  It's amazing how much surgery takes a toll on a person.  We are so thankful that he was healed and is doing well.

Though it is still warm and humid outdoors, autumn is just around the corner!  I was able to snag the very last beeswax pumpkin candle at our health food store today, which makes me very happy.  I'm looking forward to lighting it for the first time on Thursday morn.

Living and Learning: The Week Ahead

In The Kitchen

Our daughter has wanted to learn how to cook and bake for awhile now and I have made a concerted effort the past couple of weeks to teach her the little I know.  Our strategy, thus far, has been to have her help prepare different parts of our meals on a daily basis and also to bake once or twice a week.  When she really likes making an item, she copies the recipe onto a card for her recipe box.  We've also been going over proper kitchen safety and cooking etiquette (asking before you begin, checking to see that we have the ingredients needed for a specific recipe, cleaning up your work space, etc.) and it has been a lot of fun for the two of us!

Listening

I don't know where I heard Debussy first, but I love listening to his music.  I found Debussy:  Piano Favorites available for free for Prime Members and have been enjoying it very much.  My favorite piece is Clair de Lune...  have a listen below:

On My Bedside Table

I bought a gently used copy of Excellent Women by Barbara Pym and am enjoying it very much.  Pym's writing reminds me of Miss Read, who is my favorite authoress.  I'm looking forward to reading more!

Watching

Season 2 of Poldark begins this coming Sunday on Masterpiece and I cannot wait!

Autumn

Thought the weather is still pretty warm and humid, I have started to really get into the autumnal spirit.  I retrieved some of my pumpkin decorations from the attic last night and Sugar Plum made Apple Bread tonight.  I'm going to check the store to see if I can find a pumpkin candle like we had last year.  This is such a wonderful time of the year!