Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have a great holiday.  I will post again on Monday.

Veteran's Day

My father passed away April 20, 20ll and was a Vietnam Vet.   He treasured his service time so much he asked to be buried at sea by the Navy.  He also sent me a gift.  This is how the tree that faces my yard and I see every morning has changed, a gift from my Dad.

This is the first Veteran's day that I will not be calling him while he is getting ready for the parade to wish him well and thank him. 

So, Happy Veteran's Day Dad, I miss you and thank you.  Happy Veteran's Day to all the Veteran's out there and thank you!

Fall Back

The clocks went back but the internal clock of my dog did not.  At 4:30 a.m. I woke to find her standing over me staring down.  She then proceeds to push me with her head, the day begins.
It's been another week of running here and there and class projects.  I am tired of looking a poster board.
After faithfully baking bread for a while my traitorous husband bought bread.  Not just any bread, the white fluffy bread, the kind we used to mix with glue in art class and make shapes out of it.  Yuck.
On a happier note, I made chili in my new dutch oven.

It may not look pretty, but it tasted great!  Best of all it didn't stick to the bottom so I seasoned it well.  Chili is always a good thing to cook in a newly seasoned cast iron dutch oven.  Marica over at Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life suggested this, check her out!

One Down...

That is how I think of Halloween...one down.  The kids had a multitude of activities and parties and I can finally say I have gotten my money worth out of costumes this year.   Next is Thanksgiving.  I have to can some homegrown frozen produce to make freezer space for my deer.  Construction has ground to a halt for a week and I have to finish up in the greenhouse for winter.  One good thing is that I have stopped buying all commercial bread since I've been making more of an effort to keep on top of it and having convenient memory loss when they ask me to buy some.  I baked another loaf this weekend and will be making rolls today.

We have a small mom and pop hardware store here.  There are actually two, one in my town and one in the next, that have survived two Walmarts, Ace, Lowes, and Home Depot.  The one in the next town I have to avoid for the most part because they have a huge supply of cast iron.  My local hardware store has a smaller supply and I am still tempted.  I try to frequent there as much as possible and while there last a corn stick pan caught my eye.  This is the kind my MIL has and I've been on the lookout for one at a decent price.   The price was right and of course I didn't notice it before because I am short and it was hanging high over my head.

As you can see it has some surface rust that scrubbed right off and seasoned beautifully.  I will have to take an after picture and I still could use another one so the hunt is still on!
I hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather.