First Day of Fall

 

 

Today is the first day of fall.  Since I love seeing the leaves change in my back yard I think I will try to take a photo a week in the same place and try for the same time of day to see how things change over the next three months.  So here is a part of my back yard today 9-22-2012 at around 8 am. 

 

 

While I was taking the photo my little man came out rocking his late 70s early 80s flair.

 

And then we went to

 

 

for our third swimming lesson.  This time he was the sad boy who did not want to be there but he was a willing student once he got in there. 

 

And then we stopped at

 

for a donut for Baylor and a sandwich for me.  We were going to stop at a local diner but the line was really long and neither one of us wanted to wait for food.  Because Baylor was having a hard time going to swimming class today we had Daisy with us.  She also likes pink sprinkle donuts apparently.

 

We headed to

 

 

to see what Halloween items we could find.  We found a few other items and Baylor found a few hats to try on.  He asked me to take his picture so of course I did. 

 

 

Next door was

 

He found a motion sensitive ghoul and had a blast setting him off over and over again. 

 

Then it was over to

 

to find some more drawer pulls for the dresser project.  I bought out the supply at our local store and I found more at this one.  I decided on a larger and slightly different style for the drawers on the upright dresser.  We also needed some spray primer and spray sealer for the second dresser.  Baylor made friends with the two door greeters.  I am amazed he has no fear of these things.  He actually enjoys them.  I am not very into the scary side of Halloween but I think Baylor is very attracted to it. 

 

We headed home and stopped by

 

for a few things.  We played a bit outside, I made mini apple pies, and I worked on the laundry mountains.  Eventually I found this one the couch. 

 

 

I let him sleep for about two hours and I had to wake him up to go to Oktoberfest at Ann and Rick's.  I convinced Lori to go because there was food and beer.  Baylor and I went last year but it cold, raining and not as much fun. 

 

 

I went for the bread and bratwursts and had saurbraten, roasted pork, and German potato salad.  Maybe I had room on my plate for a few more bites of other goodies.  Baylor loved the bread, my little carb addict. 

 

He was playing battling clappers with Pop-pop Robin.  They had a good time clapping with the music also. 

 

Today was a good way to start fall! 

 

 

Day 94

Today is the last day of Summer 2012.  Lori and I worked and Baylor played with the boys at the sitters.  After I picked him up we went to the local garden center to see the fish in their pond.  I forgot to grab the camera which is a shame because the fish were about crawling out of the water begging for food.  We loved it.  They had a little hay bale maze he ran through and really wanted to walk the bales instead.  We checked the clearance items in the bottom floor and walked through the Christmas trees.  I stopped at the Halloween displays and Baylor tried on an electric orange witch hat.  We did not buy anything, which is pretty shocking for me.  I may have to go back for one Halloween thing but we will see.  Then we stopped at a frozen custard shop, Maggie's, and Baylor got a chocolate with chocolate sprinkles in a dish.  He wanted to sit at the kid's picnic table which was way too small for me and quite a bit away for the adult seats.  I did not not like sitting so far away from him because I missed him all day and wanted to be closer to him.  He enjoyed his treat and we headed home. 

Last night we pulled the winter clothes out of the attic so a laundry mountain range has formed in my laundry room.

 

It looks pretty bad and then from a different angle a few more colored peaks appear.  And this is after one load done, one in the dryer, and one in the washer.  It will be a long weekend folding laundry.  But hopefully by Monday Baylor's large dresser will be done and we can start loading it up. 

 

The size threes will go in the attic until we get with some friends to see if they want any and then we will pass the rest on.  There is an equal dish mountain in the kitchen and I guess I will tackle that in the morning. I hate doing dishes at night. 

 

Not a very exciting end to summer but I think we did quite a lot in 94 days.  I am not sure how we will document fall but I think I have an idea.  If I can get it started tomorrow, it will be a miracle. 

For Mina

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

 
12-16 jumbo pasta shells

water for boiling pasta

4oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese + 1/4 cup for topping

3 tablespoons prepared pesto (homemade or store bought)

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste





In a large pot over high heat, boil water and prepare pasta shells as directed on package. Cook pasta shells only until al dente. The pasta will finish cooking when the dish is baked. Drain the pasta shells and set aside.



In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, except the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. Fill the pasta shells with the filling and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese over filled shells.



Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake shells uncovered for 30 minutes or until shells are bubbling hot and cheese melts.


***We added a bag of shredded Italian cheeses also because who does not love more cheese? 

And I wish we lived closer also.  We could all have a great time together. 

Day 93

 

Wednesday Zakiya came over for dinner.  She moved down to our area a few months ago and we love her visits.  Baylor is always very shy at first and then takes over the show.  She picked Pesto Chicken stuffed pasta shells and we all had a blast making them together.  We suited up in our aprons and mixed away.  She is not very experienced in the kitchen and they both enjoyed the process. 

 

 

While the shells were baking Baylor took her out to pick our tiny tomatoes.  They had to pick off the little green caps together at the table.  Dinner turned out great and having a dinner guest is a treat.  Of course Baylor still wants me to play and do stuff with him.  I did have to take a break from our visit to look for a stuffed kitty, that we still cannot find.  Zakiya works for Her*shey and brings over chocolate.  She leaves here with lots of cuddles from us, leftovers for lunch the next day, and toilet bowl clearer or Airwic*k (from where I work).  I still think I get the better deal! 

 

After she left Lori and I moved the dresser body inside.  I have to finish the bottom drawers and doors for the top but they should be done this weekend. 

 

This is the other dresser I am painting so the 'match'.  I painted the first row of drawers before taking a before photo but I wanted to paint all the drawers the same color at the same time.  The idea did not go over very well with Lori and I only have the first row done. 

 

Thursday Lori worked OT and was let out at noon.  She picked up little man and they stopped at a farm wagon full of pumpkins.  This beauty was $7.00 which is not too bad.  There was not stopping Baylor from wanting to cut the pumpkin, which to him is stabbing it with the tools.  Just like last year.  And he won't touch the guts.  Just like last year.

 

Lori called it an acupumpkin!  She can be pretty funny!!! 

 

 

Do you know tomorrow is the last day of summer? 

Day 91

The pool is now closed. 

 

 

 

 

Day 90

 

Even though Baylor and I spend the entire weekend together, I am usually busy with things needing to be done and while we do play, it is not enough for him.  Which I do understand, he is an only child after all.  Who else is he going to play with?  Mondays seem to be the night we reconnect through play.  Tonight we made a huge fort in the living room.  I suggested the king size sheet, which did not go over very well at first.  After the mood swing had past, he had a great idea to use the big sheet and low and behold, it worked.  The fort was big enough for all of us but Lori was not able to join Baylor, myself, and all his little friends. 

 

 

We had a picnic in the fort and dessert in there as well. 

 

Then he amazed me with his balloon blowing skill.  He could not do that yesterday so it is a new skill for him. 

 

He wanted me to catch him letting go of the balloon and it blowing away but that happens very fast.  I never knew when he was going to let go.  We got this one. 

 

And he caught this one that I blew up and let go. 

 

 

Eddy even came in to join us after we spilled out half of Baylor's dinner on the blanket. 

 

We cleaned up the yard of the pool toys, started the pool closing process, and I did a few drawer fronts in paint or sealer coat. 

 

And I have been working on these little beauties for the last day.  I picked up a silicone ice mold at Home Goods on Saturday and used candy melts to fill them.  They will look great for the Halloween party! 

Day 89

 

We have been busy this week but my laptop is acting up ( I wonder if in all my web surfing for Pinterest finds I picked up something that is eating away at the system).  The other two computers in the house are working so we know it is something with that one.  I just found the CD to put the camera stuff on this computer so now I can catch up.  Last Sunday we did some work outside.  The weather has been very cool, more like fall than end of summer.  I love fall weather but when it is summer I want it to be summer weather.  While I painted dresser parts in the garage, Baylor made an obstacle course in the driveway.  Once we had both mastered the course, he asked if the could paint the driveway. 

 

 

We headed inside to make the paints (dollar store shampoo, cornstarch, water, and coloring)  I had five bowls and he picked the five colors he wanted and went to town. 

 

When he started throwing the enamelware bowls around the driveway, they were cleaned out and put inside.  But it was just as much fun washing away the paints as it was putting them on there. 

 

Because it has been so cool, Baylor has been asking for footie jammies.  I pulled some out and he was so excited to wear them and has worn them almost all week.  One night he picked out a pair of 3s and they were a bit too short on him but he insisted on wearing them.  Around 11:15 he woke up because he was pulling on his neck when he stretched out.  We changed into a 4 and went back to bed.  The 3s have been bagged up and passed on the Lucas to enjoy. 

 

Mom and Dad were here on Thursday and Friday to watch Baylor.  The sitter was off for three days and Lori had to work on Thursday.  Lori usually gives Eddy her morning lovins, belly rubs, while they are both waking up during the week.  On a work day, she does not get them and look how sad she gets.  She cannot even hold up her own head she was so sad.  I made sure she got lots of lovins and she perked up enough to have breakfast. 

 

While she was eating breakfast, Baylor and Buddy moved in on the couch and Baylor piled up all he friends next to Buddy. 

 

Not quite like E.T., but close enough. 

 

Saturday, Lori was off because the plant was closed and got to see Baylor at swim class.  He protested all morning until we left and in the car.  Once he was there he ran right in and was the only one who did not need coaxed to do anything.  If he had been in the first position instead of the third, I think he would have been even more excited and apt do do the lessons.  He was third and saw the other two protest and not want to do anything the teacher was asking them.  But in the end he did great.  I am sure next Saturday he will protest all morning also. 

 

After swim class, we headed to VA to visit Tara, Julie, and Lucas.  Tara summed up the day very well and I had a blast.  But, for some reason I never took out my camera.  Tara again saved the day and took quite a few nice shots of the boys and one of me with a giant cracker.  We are definitely cut out of the same fabric when it comes to shopping.  We were very lucky that Julie and Lori were more than happy to take the boys back to their tree house and we were able to shop the way we like to; slowly, one aisle at a time, covering as much shelf space as possible, picking up, checking out, making jokes along the way.  It was a great time to get to know each other better and build our friendship.  The girls had a quite time, Julie took a nap on the couch, LOL!  Lucas napped too and Baylor played and watched some shows with the girls.  They played well together and Baylor was very gentle and sweet with their cat Charlotte.  She is a sweet cat and a great addition to the family. 

 

The only photos we took were on the way home.  I looked to the left and found a rainbow 'spot' almost level with the sun.  Lori tried to catch it but it did not come out very well.  It was very odd, because it really was a spot of rainbow. It was also odd because when we drove down in June we saw a rainbow in around the same area.   Baylor was asleep within 10 minutes and woke up at 6 am on Sunday.

 

We found some spots in the spare room where it looks like Eddy got sick and we had to clean it up.  Baylor is still a willing helper when cleaning tools are involved.  He ran the vacuum.

 

\

 

And the Resolve stick thing.  He loves that thing and whenever he sees a spot of any kind he drags it out of the closet to clean things up.  (Tara, notice he slept in his clothes to bed and wore them for half of Sunday also)

 

After the morning clean up, we went outside. Baylor swamped while I painted. 

 

But we also cleaned a rug from the car that had a coffee stain on it.  Again, my little helper took over and was on the job. 

 

He also helped with the sanding.  And I can use the help. 

 

 I have to get this done soon and it is dragging on. Paint, dry, sand, paint, dry, paint, dry, paint, dry, sand, paint, dry, sand, paint. Every piece, every drawer. 

 

We did go to the pool store to get the stuff we need to close the pool.  We will do that tomorrow night as I have to let the choline vapors dissipate for 24 hours.  It is too cold to swim anymore and fall is right around the corner!  We stopped at the fabric store to find some Halloween prints to make bean bags for our up coming Halloween party.  I am so excited about this party and as soon as I am done with these dressers I be getting ready for the party.  I am so excited!!!