Pumpkins

2 weekends ago we visited a little pumpkin patch called Spyglass Gardens.

It is actually an All Natural Farm that has pumpkin patch in the fall. What a cool place! We were on our way to Linder Farms but it was so crowded that we didn't want to bother. Especially with at 18 month old who is very independent these days and does not want to hold your hand.

The day was beautiful and we had a great time (mostly). Jake was really excited about the pumpkins. He sat on them, laid on them, and tried to pick up even the biggest ones up. They had a hay bale maze that he ran through over and over and chickens that he thought were hilarious.

I think his favorite part had to be the rusty old wagon we got to pull our pumpkins around in. He didn't want to ride in it and he didn't want to push it. But it didn't move well enough for him to pull it so he just stood there hanging onto the handle...If I tried to help he got mad and when we finally had to go (after more than 30 minutes of this) he was so upset! I have never seen him throw such a big fit. He calmed down as soon as he saw the dogs in the owners yard so we quickly paid for our pumpkins an left. At that point I was really glad we decided to go to the much less crowded pumpkin patch!

When we got home we enjoyed even more of the nice day by carving the pumpkin in the back yard. Jake loved to play with the pumpkin guts. And the dogs loved it too....they ate most of them as well as the top of the pumpkin. I managed to save some of the seeds from the dogs to roast which turned out great.

Overall this was the perfect fall weekend. I am excited to go back to Spyglass Gardens through out the the coming year for fresh produce, a farm tour, and maybe a class.

PS.....I have a ton more pictures to post but my computer is slow and I so am I when it comes to this stuff. I will get them up soon. And if you can see the scarf I am wearing...I made it!

A little bit of Politics

In 2 weeks we will vote for President. What happens this day will have an impact on all of us....and a major impact on what is going to happen in the great ol' USA for the next 4 years. Needless to say November 4, 2008 is a day for the history books.

Today, America and Americans are at a crossroads. We have come to an intersection on a stretch of road that is somewhat off the beaten path. Far away from the direction that we have intended to travel. Now is the time to make a decision. Are we going to read a map and plan out where we need to be and make the right changes to get there?....Or are we going to continue to fly by the seat of our pant and rest on our instinct and experience even thought the places we are traveling are dramatically different?

At this intersection, the paths we can take couldn't possibly be more different. I am not going to tell you what I think it right (at least not in this post)...although I have a very strong opinion on the topic. But what I will say is please make an informed decision. It is MUCH too important not to. And please make a decision because it is MUCH to important not to.

Don't listen to everything you hear in the news, always on the same channel, and take it as fact. Too often this if from biased sources. Seek out information from a variety of sources. Find out where candidates stand on issues that are important to you and your family such as education, the environment, and health care. If you are not sure what something means or who someone is or what an organization is, look it up before you assume it is bad because Fox News or MSNBC told you to think that way. And please stop forwarding emails that are full of propaganda disguised as the truth. This election is, and has to be, more than that.

Go to CNN.com and click on the Politics page, then click on issues and you can see where each candidate stands on each one. And then most importantly go vote on November 4th. Don't see this as an inconvenience see it as an opportunity for your voice to be heard. After all this is a democracy and if we don't take advantage of our rights they might not always be there...and you will most definitely not be heard.

Artist for a Date

This Saturday Shawn and I had a rare opportunity for a date. We went to Artist for a Day by Edwards to make a present for his Aunt and Uncle for Christmas. In an effort to save some money this Christmas we were able to get a present and a date for one price.

Our intention was to make 2 popcorn bowls, one for his parents and the other for his Aunt and Uncle, but because the prices were pretty high we decided to make 2 smaller bowls...one for the Aunt, one for the Uncle.....and then just figure out something cheaper for his parents.

We had a really fun time. I have done the paint your own pottery thing a few times but this was Shawn's first. I was nice to sit and talk (which you can't do at a movie) and do something a little different. We laughed a lot and enjoyed each others company.

We ended up paying about $30 for everything. Each bowl was $10 and then you pay a $6 studio fee for each person. But when you think about the cost of a movie and figure we got a present out of it too it wasn't really that bad.

By the way for anyone who is interested this coming weekend, the 24th and 25th, there is no studio fee which will make it cheaper. And a friend was telling me to ask about pieces people never finished which you can get for really cheap. You can was off the glaze and basically start over for a much cheaper price.

Over all it was a pretty fun thing. Although it was more money than I remember spending before it was worth it. We pick up our bowls next weekend so I will post pictures then.

And to finish the present off I have made a couple of dish rags that are yellow and white that I bunched up to look like popcorn and I have a salt shaker I am going to fill with some seasoning for the popcorn. Then toss in a few bags of microwavable popcorn...and there you have it.

This one's for the Dogs

For dinner tonight I am making the following:

Cheesey Dog Cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp.garlic powder
1/2 c. vegetable oil
4 - 5 Tbsp. water

Combine everything except water. Whisk in food processor until consistancy of cornmeal. Then add water until mixture forms a ball. Roll it into 1/2" thickness and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets about 10 min. (depending on size of shapes) at 400. Cool and store in refrigerator.


Beefy Doggie Cookies
2 6-once jars of beef-and-vegetable baby food
1 cup of wheat germ
2 cups of nonfat dry milk

Preheat your oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a fork. Drop by small spoonfuls onto a greased pan. You can flatten slightly or you can cut into fun shapes such as bones, paws, ect. Bake for 12-15 minutes until slightly brown at the edges. Let cool. Store in fridge for up to one week. Give to your pooch and let them enjoy!

Actually, this is what I am making for all of my k-9 friends for Christmas. How easy?! And really....who doesn't have a dog.

I am going to wrap them up in newspaper or butcher paper so it will look like meat from the butcher. I suppose you could make cat treats too...if you are into that kind of thing...which I am not! I just googled dog treat recipies and there were tons. Some easier than others...and some that I thought about really making them for dinner. Hope you try making some too for your furry friends...and who knows some of these might wind up in your paw!

For my sister

My sister just bought a house this year and it has a huge garden. She just got done planting some tulips and daffodils that she hopes to be able to cut and have fresh flowers in her house through out the spring. She also has a ton of beautiful rose bushes.

So for Christmas I am going to make her this. Thank you Martha Stewart. Although I will probably make mine a little less Martha and a little more Maggie if you catch my drift. I am going to get the cool jar/vase for sure and the scissors/clippers. But the rest of the things I am not sure if she will use. I thought I might include some cute gloves and maybe a note card with some arranging tips.

I am really excited about this idea. This weekend I am going to hit up some garden centers or nursery gift shops. On the down side it might be slim pickings this time of year...but on the up side I might find some great deals. When I am finished I will be sure to post some pictures.

What happened to funny?

Really....what happened to funny. I love jokes. Simple jokes that are funny because they are just plain funny or punny. Not dirty, crass, inappropriate humor.

I am working on a homemade joke book for my dad for christmas. I would have to say that he is one of the funniest people that I know. And I don't think that I have ever heard a dirty, racist, or inappropriate joke from him. Of course I have included some of his personal jokes...but in my quest for new material I have been sorely disappointed with the jokes out there these days.

Maybe I am getting old and I'm just not hip anymore. I have reached the ripe old age of 26 and I can't laugh at something just because it is gross or so out there. Where has funny gone?? Until we find it...here is a little something.


A women gave birth to identical twins but was not able to care for them. When she gave them up for adoption one was sent to Egypt and named Amal. Then other was sent to Mexico and named Juan. Many years later she received a picture of Juan in the mail. She was so happy to see her son but wanted also to have a picture of the other. When she told this to her husband he replied "Well, if you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal"


A three legged dog walked into a bar and shouts in a gruff voice "I'm looking for the man that shot my pa"

Please share some good ones with me for my book!

The Holidays a different way

Fall is here! The leaves are changing, the weather has cooled, and the holidays are fast approching. This is my favorite time of year....or at least it was when I was little. I love raking leaves, scarfs, the sweet smells of the holidays, a prefectly wrapped gift, a pumkin spice latte, and all the wonderful things that come along with this season.


But for every year older I get, this season has been steadily losing the magic that once made me love this time of year so much. Now when I think of the holidays I think of long lines, too many obligations, never enough money for all the gifts to buy....but always a HUGE sale at every store, crowds, angry-pushy people, high expectations, greed, and the list goes on.

This year I am saying enough. I will not wait in long lines to buy a gift that I settled on simply because it was on sale. I am going to take things slow and enjoy this time with my family and close friends. I will take the time to smell the freshed baked Gingerbread cookies. And get back to what is important.

Christmas this year is going to be a homemade Christmas. I have already started working on some gifts and have a ton of ideas for more. I hope you will get some inspiration from my families simplified christmas or a good idea or two. And I hope to get some good ideas from all of my friends as well.