Animal Park Visit

During the fall, we plan many family outtings. On Sunday, October 12 we went to a local animal park after mass. The weather was perfect – sunny, low 70’s and the autumn colors were breath-taking. Our son called the trees a “rainbow forest.” We had been talking about visiting this farm park since last year and today we drove the 15 miles from home to get there.

When we arrived, we saw an expanse of fencing, corrals and wide walkways. After paying for admission, pony ride tickets and 4 bags of corn, we started our walk. We were joined by a young, active German Shepard (our little man calls them German Checkards) that wanted to play fetch with a long stick. We were more interested in the baby goats, sheep, horses, ponies, longhorn cow, donkeys, chickens, ducks and turkeys, llamas and yes, even the ugly ostriches. Do you know they flounce as the walk? Their head is just so ugly. We fed them corn and continued our walk. We strolled through the park and feed corn to the animals.

We watched the dog run around the duck pond several times as well as jump into the water and swim. His attempts to catch a duck were not fulfilled. I have a feeling he never is successful but you could tell he enjoyed the game!

The big man took pictures and did a great job. Before we left, they kids rode a pony. As one rode, the other got to lead the pony around the riding rink. Riding Sunny, was the highlight of the trip. We spent almost two hours there – sharing the park with just one other family, so it was wonderful. No crowds!

We voted to visit again next fall. I am sure by then, word of mouth will have promoted this farm and there will be more families in attendance next year, but we look forward to that visit and perhaps there will be more people so we can enjoy the hayride.

Delicious Breakfast

Tired of cold cereal? Do you like oatmeal? Try this recipe! It is delicious, easy to make and very satisfying!

2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups low-fat or skim milk
1/2 tsp. best-quality vanilla
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit
1 large unpeeled firm apple, grated
4 Tbsp. maple syrup

Mix all together. Pour into a greased 3-quart dish. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Yummy!

If you make this the night before, to warm in microwave, add a little milk to each bowl, mix with oatmeal and warm.

His Beauty

Slow down, look around and know that Gods' love is every where around us and He gives us beauty every where, every day. Have you noticed? Do you stop and look?

So easy to miss, yet right there! Open your eyes, your ears, your heart and look, listen and feel!

Breath taking art from our Lord, right in our backyard. Enjoy....

Thank you dear Father for the beauty you wrap us in!

Autumn Tobogganing

All you need:

A hill

A wagon

A helmet

Hang on, squeal and laugh!

Stressed

New job. New routine. New schedule.

It has been a stressful September. I switched jobs. We put my dog down. My routine has been uprooted. I am settling in. I am adjusting. Or am I kidding myself?

Our economy – need I say more? I worked for an automotive manufacturing business. I enjoyed working for this company a little more than 12 years. I met my husband there. I made more friends than I thought possible. Those friends showered me with a bridal shower and two baby showers as well as yearly birthday cakes. Great friends and wonderful memories! The time had come - it was time to leave. Layoffs and down-sizing were common and I wanted to find a job, one that I chose, not one I was forced to take as a result of unemployment. I submitted resumes and interviewed twice. An offer was put on the table and after consideration and discussion at home, I accepted. In doing so, I said farewell to old friends and tried to train co-workers as best I could in two-weeks’ time, while still taking care of my responsibilities.

With a new job, there are changes. I have had to navigate through a campus and catch buses from a parking lot to an office building and turn that around each afternoon. Stressful! I have now opted to catch a bus near home and ride into the city. Our morning routine has changed. We have a shorter and now rushed morning. I drop the kids off at daycare instead of watching them get on the bus at our driveway. I get home later – only 20 minutes or so but that is time away from my family. I am now forced to create my two-week dinner menu and make sure I have all ingredients on my shopping list. (This is a good thing). I make sure I do more at night to prepare for the short mornings.

The new position is going well. I enjoy the people, the work and the environment – an Ivy League University. I am working in a great school and it has good benefits. One benefit, there is a library in the building I work in. Yes, a library or even better, the university’s library system is at my finger tips! (Feel the power.) It has a great selection of cookbooks and nutrition. I have visited twice and have checked books out. A small slice of bliss for me! With the bus ride to and from work, I have time, uninterrupted time (yes, I am selfish) to read. I had hopes to crochet or knit also but it gets rather crowded so I’ll stick to reading for now.

Change is good. It has been good for my stress level as it is now very low. My husband and I are not talking “shop” all the time and that is great for our family. I miss the ability to go see my husband whenever I want but it does make me appreciate our time together even more.

We are all adjusting and we’ll make it work. Time is ironing out the little changes I have been fretting about. Or so I thought…I have come to the conclusion that living with less stress may not be good for me!

Last night I boarded the WRONG bus. I sat down, took my book out and started to read. Then I realized the bus drove straight when the night before the bus veered to the right? Why were we going this way tonight? So I asked the lady sitting next to me, “Is this the T Transit?” Yes, but it was going to towns C&O NOT towns S&W. I would be dropped off one town beyond the town I park to ride. So I called my family and asked them to come rescue me. HaHa (only I was not laughing)! I did not have to wait long before the red chariot with three happy family members in it pulled over to pick me up! And we made the most of it. On the way home, we went to dinner at the new golf course clubhouse. We were the only people there and all they had was the typical fast food – hamburgers and fried stuff but it tasted good as I don’t make fried foods at home. The kids liked looking at the pool table, dart boards and we sat at a high table so they loved the high chair stools. Little joys!

Yep ~ other than that small adventure, it was a regular night. [I hear you laughing! That is good…laughter is good for your mental health – glad I could help].

Before leaving the house this morning, I said to our children, I would make sure I boarded the correct bus! So our Pre-K school boy told me his bus has a cat and a number on it and it matches his tag. Then he asked me, “Does your bus have that?” I had to say no but said maybe it should. Just to help me!

So, how is life treating you?

Autumn Festivities

Our family continued a fall tradition on Saturday, September 20. We went to a local apple orchard and picked apples. It was a beautiful day ~ sunny and in the low 70’s. Perfect apple-picking weather!

We were home from the kids swim lessons, had eaten lunch and they still had energy abound so we loaded them into the truck and headed to the orchard, approximately 8 miles from our driveway. We picked a bag of apples before enjoying fresh apple donuts at the barn. Our daughter was our official “apple taster”. She let us know if the apples were juicy and sweet. I am not sure how many apples she tasted but it was good to see her eating them as I remember the first couple of years, she wouldn’t try to eat an apple. Given time and a lot of patience, things change!

We were smart this year and picked a lot of small apples – the right size for lunches so there will not be any waste! Once home, the big man grabbed my new cookbook and chose a recipe (see below) ~ it is delicious and so simple to make. We topped it with whipped cream but warm it up a bit and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ll have a nice dessert! Enjoy and eat slow, savor the flavors!


Apple-Berry Streusel Bars

2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, melted
3 cups thinly sliced and peeled tart apples
1 jar (12 oz.) raspberry preserves
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Beat in butter just until moistened. Set aside 2 cups for topping. Pat remaining oat mixture into a greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss apples with the remaining flour. Stir in the preserves; spread over hot crust to within 1/2-inch of edges. Combine nuts and reserve oat mixture; sprinkle over fruit mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars.