Ready for Fall

Time flies when I am having fun! Doing a lot of knitting, playing with Ryan, beginning to cook a bit again....

My grandson is doing much better after medicine to help his acid reflux. He cut his first tooth, is trying to crawl (but managing to get wherever he desires, anyway), and enjoys all the "old" toys we managed to save over the last 40 years. This has reduced Grammy's anxiety by leaps and bounds!

I have been spending a bit more time in the kitchen; cooler weather inspires me in that direction. A delicious Apricot Honey Cake was the latest baking venture; the apricots sank to the bottom of the batter, so next time I will make them smaller and add later. But the cake is delicious so I will show it to you sometime.

Before summer slipped away, we paid a visit to Biltmore to see the flower carpet. It was a beautiful warm, clear day and we enjoyed the outing greatly.

This mountain spot is worth the visit; tickets aren't inexpensive, but one could spend an adult weekend here and and enjoy every moment. The house is decorated handsomely at holiday time and so is the surrounding village, with loads of good shopping!

I am going to enjoy Autumn this year! Hope you do, too.

Beth

Fresh Summer Harvest

We enjoyed this easy meal a couple of nights ago; just put it over fragrant Jasmine rice.
I like using the crystallized ginger; I simply minced it.
Peppers are crisp and sweet; they're loaded with nutrients as well.

We enjoyed having the kids over after their return from two weeks at the beach. With temperatures in the 90s, we were disinclined to eat outside, so I made this Sweet and Sour Chicken. It was the perfect recipe for the sweet, ripe pineapple, so I cut it into chunks and put the whole thing into the pan.

Over rice, this was an entire meal. We enjoyed Denver Chocolate Pudding Cake for dessert...with ice cream. Try it!

Beth

Is It Love?

Whatever it is, Blue and Lance seem to have a thing going! Lance, the little Burmese, is the "old" man; Blue is the baby. Friendly, sweet Blue has been Lance's friend from the beginning; it's a nice thing to watch.

Beth

First Trip to the Beach!

Ready for fun in the sun! Hat and shades, swim suit, sunscreen...and Dad!

Mama says, "See? It's just water! You know what water is; it's just like your bath!"

"Eeeww! This isn't just like my bath!"

A first trip to the beach must be very much the same for many babies. Ryan looks as though he is going to need a lot of convincing before he agrees with the majority of folks who just love the beach!

Beth

Forest Floor

Rain is needed in the forests of Western North Carolina. In Joyce Kilmer, there are some trickles of streams remaining, where tiny plants thrive. Gnarled roots are visible everywhere one looks. Where bark has fallen away, the undulating markings of a burl are evident.

Beth

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

What a lovely getaway! Just a few hours from home is this wonderful world of tall trees, pileated woodpeckers, ferns, mosses, and peace and quiet. Wild waters and old growth forest allow a person to forget, for a while, the 21st century!

Beth

Rain!

We finally enjoyed a nice little rain shower this week; our town is behind 8 inches this year, on top of finishing last year with a 14-16 inch shortage. So the welcome rain refreshed people and plants alike.

Beth