Just In Case...

you're tired of turkey. I made this Black Bean Soup last week and LOVED it. So quick and easy and a refreshing change from what I usually make.

Black Bean and Salsa Soup

1/2 an onion

2 cloves minced garlic

2 (15oz) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup chunky salsa ( I used a can of Ro-tel)

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

4 tablespoon sour cream

Saute the onion, then add the garlic until fragrant. Mix in beans, chicken broth, salsa and cumin. Simmer for 10-20 minutes, until all flavors are well mixed. Use handheld blender to mix. I left it a bit chunky and it was great!

Enjoy!

5 things...

ahhh, Thanksgiving week! Turkey and stuffing. Pumpkin and apple pies. So without further adieu:

1. I'm thankful for my husband. We've known each other since May 1985!! He's my best friend. Don't know what I would do without him.

2. I'm thankful for the two spirited young men in my life. Matt and Ryan make my life. oh so interesting and exciting! They're good kids! Raising boys is a glorious adventure that I wouldn't miss for anything!

3. I'm thankful for my family. They keep me grounded and know when to make me laugh. Each and everyone is so very different, but that's the way it's suppose to be, right?

4. I'm thankful for my friends. They get the brunt of my complaining. From the days of "Play Group" to the "Middle School Years," my friends have been there as support to me, showing me that I'm not alone in this road of Motherhood.

5. and last, but so not least! I'm thankful for my Internet friends. Your constant creativity inspires me every.single.day. I'm so glad that I'm part of this amazing community!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...enjoy your preparations...and try to relax in the upcoming weeks.

A Trip to the City...sans kids!

The inside of our hotel.

I have to apologize, I did not carry my big camera. Just didn't want to lug it around with all the shopping bags that I was carrying. So we all have to make due with iphone pictures.


the '09 retirees

We had a relaxing two days away, although I think it was hard on my husband to be back amongst the people that he really admired. His old firm really does give out the perks! It is hard to give that up....but then again, he is spending much more time with his family and that's the best perk yet!

One of the highlights of our trip was hearing an ex-president speak. Are there rules for posting pictures? I'm not sure, so I won't write his name. He spoke for an hour and was quite interesting. Can you figure out who it was?

30 rock--oh, how I love that show!

We had a wonderful dinner with my sister at Becco. Nice little Italian spot on restaurant row. I give it two thumbs up!

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center

The boys survived and really did quite well with my mom. They knew we needed this time away so it was a win-win for everyone!

ice skating at Rockefeller Center

Back to the old grind and on to Christmas shopping. oh joy!

and what's a trip into the city without seeing the naked cowboy!

We Went For a Walk

The weather was perfect for a late autumn walk with a good friend. Ryan with his and me with mine.

We explored the house at the end of the lane. How could someone leave something so precious.

An outhouse for an art studio.

Barns that use to house animals.

An old family plot...discussions about the families that came before.

Discoveries to bring to the science teacher.

Old trees planted years ago...all in a line.

It felt like a walk to another time and place.

Break A Leg!

We'll be spending the weekend at the hockey rink and at the school auditorium! Matt's in the opening scene of "The Music Man!" Break a leg Matt!

We are beginning to feel better around here and I hope to be back to the living next week. Happy weekend everyone!

I Made Hats

I was bored this week and in need of some instant gratification. The Spud and Chloe, that I bought while in New York City, was calling from my stash hidden deep under my bed. I also knew just what project to cast on. Leslie's Chunky Knit Beanie. Easy, fast and oh, so satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, I made another. With Rowan Big Wool. I'm in love with both of them!

I have to say I really enjoyed knitting with the Spud and Chloe. My stitches were a bit loose due to the cotton content but I love the feel of the hat on my head. I'm not wishing for winter weather anytime soon, but when it comes, my head will be very warm indeed.

Five Things...the weekend version

1. A Friday night seventh grade dance. I ran the photo booth. The kids will get their pictures in homeroom this week.

2. Our yearly visit to a local corn maze.

3. and 4. Children of the corn

5. and a wonderful squishy alpaca!

Two Down

and two to go! A while back I participated in a pay-it-forward activity on FB. I commented on one of my friends notes and she made me something. The hitch, I needed to make something for five other people.

Our yearly trip to Florida was fast approaching and being the ambitious person that I am (all of you who know me, please stop laughing now!), I set to work and made this Amy Butler hat for my sister-in-law. One down and four to go. That was back in April.

The person who started all of this, for me, was Kerstin. She sent me these beautiful reading gloves. I wear them everywhere and have had so many nice compliments when people see them. So, since she fulfilled her end of the bargain, I knew I needed to get started.

So, the Wisps are growing.

And so is my Nuss from Berroco. I'm using Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed instead of Berroco Blackstone Tweed . The back is almost done. It's an easy knit which I take to the hockey rink with me. Although, with my husband not traveling as much anymore my rink time has been cut dramatically. Sorta feels strange....

5 Things...

1. The boys and I went apple picking. We decided to pick local this year and are glad we did. Because the weather has been so rotten, no one has come out to pick so they are practically giving the apples away. Ten bucks for a bushel.

2. So I came home and made applesauce and this. I couldn't get a picture of the pie fast enough...it was that good!

3. I have begun the hibernation process around here. Cleaning, organizing and throwing away. Looks like the squirrels have begun too. Found these piles (five in all) in my garden. I have never seen anything like it before.

4. It's way too early for that white stuff...but it surprised us on Friday morning! Thankfully, it had all melted away by noon.

5. This couple made me smile. The Sartorialist is taking a lot of pictures of couples lately and I'm intrigued.

Happy Weekend to all!

Go Ahead...Make Them!

I found this recipe in this month's Country Living

Grandma Mollie's Oatmeal Raisin-Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients, plus raisins, walnuts and chocolate chips. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir to combine. Stir in milk. Drop dough in heaping tablespoonful, about one inch apart. Bake until golden brown and slightly crunchy. About 15 minutes.

I didn't add the walnuts and did not let them get too crunchy. I like soft oatmeal cookies.

I hope you enjoy these as much as my husband did!

5 Things

Every.single.day. I put Flickr and my blog on my to-do list. AND every.single.day. I pass over these two items, to say, clean the bathrooms or do laundry, you know, stuff that makes the house run a bit easier! As the washing machines spins and the bathrooms smell (briefly) like lemons I have a few minutes to update.

1. October will be a busy month. Matt has decided to tackle: cross-country, hockey and the school play. Con: I'm in the car a lot! Pro: the boys are separated, leading to less fighting!

2. I love my dinner plate dahlias! I buy them from here each year. I tried digging them up and saving them from one year to the next, but they rotted in my basement. It's easier to buy new each year.

3. I'm reading this in between reading my MORE magazine. One makes me feel like I should be out climbing a mountain or starting my own company. The other validates how I've been handling my middle schoolers. Both make me feel tired.

4. Ryan, when he's on, which means, he's not complaining, his stomach is full and his homework is completed, is a pretty funny kid. The other day,when we were driving to his ENT (Ryan is an ear kid. I don't think I've told the story of Ry's ears yet..on another day I will.) doctor, we drove pass a mega-church. We talk about it a lot when we go to the doctor's and I think it has Ryan truly perplexed. Evidenced by the sentence I heard muttered from the backseat, "God, that's a helluva church!"

That's my boy!

5. A look that caught my eye from The Sartorialist's site. Love the bag, jeans and sneakers. The jacket reminds me of what I wore in the '80's. It even looks as if she has the shoulder pads to complete the look!