and will knock down the beautiful Fall leaves. I am glad I took a hike through my area and took pictures on Saturday. I got some wonderful photos and will plan a whole book of the photos and send some to Jeff's mom, too. The colors have been so joyful. Even on a day when I am not feeling great, they soothe my soul and make me smile. Since we have no curtains on the windows (a concious choice) waking up to see the trees outside my windows is such a glorious way to wake up.
I know it is the "little" things that make life full. A hot cup of coffee in the morning. A warm fire when it is cold outside. A steaming bowl of home-made soup with crusty bread. Sitting on the porch swing. These are what make the world and every day life wonderful. They are to be celebrated. Owning more "stuff" will not make your life better. Appreciating the small things will.
The "kids" or at least some of them will be here in about a week. DD and DSIL will be here on November 2nd. I am excited to see them and for DD to see the changes to the old homeplace. We have tried to perserve the past and the flavor of the old homeplace in the process of renovations. It will be a surprise to her, I am sure. There is a lot that is the same, but in a fresher way. DSIL has not got the attachment that DD does - this has been a part of her life, all of her life. Lets hope it still feels like home.
Off to work - in the rain - but appreciate the rain too. We need it. We have it. It is a good thing.
Be blessed,
Kim
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Amazing....
Fall. The colors are amazing for this color junkie - truly amazing. So many opportunities to shoot fabulous photos - intense colors and dramatic changes. It is our first full-time Fall here in the mountains. The weather is chilly, with the midday warm up only making it to 75o. Soup and crusty breads for dinners before our fire. It will soon change again and we will slip into winter. The cold that comes with Autumn is different - it is like it plays tag - pushing and then trying to slip back behind the rays of sunshine. Eventually, it settles in and stays. It is not unwelcome at first - but some say we will tire of it. As long as we have plenty of firewood and hot,steamy coffees, teas or cocoas in our cups to keep our hands warm, it will be embraced.
I realize I have few clothes to suit the season. A few sweaters, a light jacket, my gloves (if I can find them). I keep heisting DHs socks for wearing with my boots. Slippers have replaced my barefoot ways around the house. The Birkenstocks are currently stored safely away. Sweats to snuggle in. Definitely have to consider investing in a jacket to match the season. They are predicting the first snowfall before Thanksgiving....
Lots of baking and cooking - the breads and soups - and making jams and apple butter later this week. Maybe can up some baked apples. Apple pie filling? Don't know. Being housebound will lead to some experimentation in the kitchen I suspect. The oven being on is okay now. Cookies anyone? Tonight's offering - spicy chili and corny corn muffins - two nights worth of dinner for one cooking - spicy to warm the insides...
It is harder to get out of bed at 4 AM right now...the bed is so warm and the world so cold. What will tempt me out? Cinnamon toast? Pumpkin Cream of Wheat? Options have to include hot coffee for sure - and lots of it - to set up the mind and body for the day to come. We need to start out thanking God because we are vertical and above the turf...and certainly for coffee.
DD and DSIL are coming to visit in a couple of weeks. It will be fun to see her reaction to the house addition and changes we have made - working to finish the kitchen over the next two weeks - move the hot water heater, new paint, flooring, replacing the refrigerator and stove and a new pantry cabinet. A little organization. The house will be complete, other than moving the washer and dryer inside to the laundry room....They can visit the places DD has loved all of her life and spend the chilly evenings before the fire with us. Can't come soon enough....
If you have a chill in the Autumn air where you are, find someone you love to snuggle up with - if it is not chilly, turn down the air conditioner and then snuggle....
Be blessed,
Kim
I realize I have few clothes to suit the season. A few sweaters, a light jacket, my gloves (if I can find them). I keep heisting DHs socks for wearing with my boots. Slippers have replaced my barefoot ways around the house. The Birkenstocks are currently stored safely away. Sweats to snuggle in. Definitely have to consider investing in a jacket to match the season. They are predicting the first snowfall before Thanksgiving....
Lots of baking and cooking - the breads and soups - and making jams and apple butter later this week. Maybe can up some baked apples. Apple pie filling? Don't know. Being housebound will lead to some experimentation in the kitchen I suspect. The oven being on is okay now. Cookies anyone? Tonight's offering - spicy chili and corny corn muffins - two nights worth of dinner for one cooking - spicy to warm the insides...
It is harder to get out of bed at 4 AM right now...the bed is so warm and the world so cold. What will tempt me out? Cinnamon toast? Pumpkin Cream of Wheat? Options have to include hot coffee for sure - and lots of it - to set up the mind and body for the day to come. We need to start out thanking God because we are vertical and above the turf...and certainly for coffee.
DD and DSIL are coming to visit in a couple of weeks. It will be fun to see her reaction to the house addition and changes we have made - working to finish the kitchen over the next two weeks - move the hot water heater, new paint, flooring, replacing the refrigerator and stove and a new pantry cabinet. A little organization. The house will be complete, other than moving the washer and dryer inside to the laundry room....They can visit the places DD has loved all of her life and spend the chilly evenings before the fire with us. Can't come soon enough....
If you have a chill in the Autumn air where you are, find someone you love to snuggle up with - if it is not chilly, turn down the air conditioner and then snuggle....
Be blessed,
Kim
Sunday, October 10, 2010
10.10.10 is
today - and it is fun to say! I always love fun things like this....keeps you on your toes to see who notices it first!
So yesterday and today I made one of my specialties for the church covered dish supper - it was the second anniversary of Fellowship of the Hills. I figured why not make something special. So I made my Turkey-Sausage Stuffing in a Pumpkin. Lots of compliments and requests for the recipe...I promised to put it on here for folks to copy...here you go.
Turkey-Sausage Stuffing in a Pumpkin
1/2 turkey breast, cooked (You can use Jennie-O Turkey roll if you want)
1 package mild ground sausage (you can use spicy if you like it that way)
2 pkgs. Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Herb Stuffing (the bread crumbs)
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honey Crisps are best)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 carton chicken broth (I use low-sodium or vegetable broth is good too)
3 shallots, chopped
3/4 c. chopped carrots
1 cup dried cranberries
cinnamon
sage
marjoram
Italian spice mix
butter
medium-large pumpkin (make sure it will fit in your oven with one rack removed)
large aluminum pan
1. Cut the pumpkin lid. I like mine with a stem to make a "handle". Clean out the pumpkin thoroughly.(save the seeds to roast later) Wash out with warm water and dry.
2. Rub the inside of the pumpkin with 1/2 a stick of butter. Rub cinnamon, sage and Italian spice over the interior walls of the pumpkin. Set it aside.
3. In a large skillet, melt the other half of the stick of butter and saute' onion, celery, carrots, apple and shallots on low.
4. Cut turkey into bite sized pieces to make about 2 cups.
5. Set aside the sauteed vegetables.
6. Use the same skillet to brown the sausage on low-medium.(Hold this step if you are starting the dish the night before serving. You don't want it to sit in the stuffing and make it greasy). When the sausage is finished browning, remove to paper towels to drain-dry the grease. Pat the top of the sausage as well.
7. In a very large bowl, mix the veggies, the turkey, 1 1/2 bags of the bread crumbs, the walnuts, the dried cranberries, the sausage, and the container of broth until everything is well-moistened.
8. Put the pumpkin in the pan - spoon the stuffing into the pumpkin until it is filled. Put the pumpkin in the oven, lid loosely on, and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
9. Wrap in foil and set aside. You can store it in the fridge over night and add the sausage the next morning if you wish. Put it in the oven for one hour before serving and heat at 200 degrees for 1 hour.
You can add more bread crumbs if it seems too mushy or you can add a little broth if it is too dry. There are variations you can make - if you have restrictions against pork as many of our Muslim friends do, skip the sausage or use turkey sausage. If you are vegetarian, skip the turkey and sausage and add more vegetables. You serve from the pumpkin - and you can scrape the pumpkin out and eat it as well - a delicious squash side-dish.
So I made it for church today. I love making it. A lot of folks love it too - hope you do....
Be Blessed,
Kim
So yesterday and today I made one of my specialties for the church covered dish supper - it was the second anniversary of Fellowship of the Hills. I figured why not make something special. So I made my Turkey-Sausage Stuffing in a Pumpkin. Lots of compliments and requests for the recipe...I promised to put it on here for folks to copy...here you go.
Turkey-Sausage Stuffing in a Pumpkin
1/2 turkey breast, cooked (You can use Jennie-O Turkey roll if you want)
1 package mild ground sausage (you can use spicy if you like it that way)
2 pkgs. Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Herb Stuffing (the bread crumbs)
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honey Crisps are best)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 carton chicken broth (I use low-sodium or vegetable broth is good too)
3 shallots, chopped
3/4 c. chopped carrots
1 cup dried cranberries
cinnamon
sage
marjoram
Italian spice mix
butter
medium-large pumpkin (make sure it will fit in your oven with one rack removed)
large aluminum pan
1. Cut the pumpkin lid. I like mine with a stem to make a "handle". Clean out the pumpkin thoroughly.(save the seeds to roast later) Wash out with warm water and dry.
2. Rub the inside of the pumpkin with 1/2 a stick of butter. Rub cinnamon, sage and Italian spice over the interior walls of the pumpkin. Set it aside.
3. In a large skillet, melt the other half of the stick of butter and saute' onion, celery, carrots, apple and shallots on low.
4. Cut turkey into bite sized pieces to make about 2 cups.
5. Set aside the sauteed vegetables.
6. Use the same skillet to brown the sausage on low-medium.(Hold this step if you are starting the dish the night before serving. You don't want it to sit in the stuffing and make it greasy). When the sausage is finished browning, remove to paper towels to drain-dry the grease. Pat the top of the sausage as well.
7. In a very large bowl, mix the veggies, the turkey, 1 1/2 bags of the bread crumbs, the walnuts, the dried cranberries, the sausage, and the container of broth until everything is well-moistened.
8. Put the pumpkin in the pan - spoon the stuffing into the pumpkin until it is filled. Put the pumpkin in the oven, lid loosely on, and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
9. Wrap in foil and set aside. You can store it in the fridge over night and add the sausage the next morning if you wish. Put it in the oven for one hour before serving and heat at 200 degrees for 1 hour.
You can add more bread crumbs if it seems too mushy or you can add a little broth if it is too dry. There are variations you can make - if you have restrictions against pork as many of our Muslim friends do, skip the sausage or use turkey sausage. If you are vegetarian, skip the turkey and sausage and add more vegetables. You serve from the pumpkin - and you can scrape the pumpkin out and eat it as well - a delicious squash side-dish.
So I made it for church today. I love making it. A lot of folks love it too - hope you do....
Be Blessed,
Kim
Thursday, October 7, 2010
So Fall....
is really here...our leaves are changing more rapidly...the weather is fairly consistently cool. There is talk we may see the first snow before Thanksgiving. Wow - I am loving the seasons and full-time experiencing these changes. This weekend is the start of our community's Sorghum Festival - a great chance to engage in old fashioned fun and experiences....greased pole climbing, wood-chopping, making wash-day beans, a mule turns the mill to grind the sorghum to make sorghum syrup...arts and crafts....festival food...music....just a great way to spend time on a weekend.
The food tastes wonderful - is it because it is outdoors in the cool, fresh air? Is it the old fashioned recipes? Is it the place where it all comes together? Can't be sure, but I can be sure that it will be fun - a great time for a photo-shoot.
It is great to be in the community where people love to live their lives this way. They love the sharing. Our church celebrates their 2nd anniversary with a covered dish lunch after service. I plan to make the stuffing in the pumpkin dish. The getting together and sharing makes this a beautiful community - simple and happy. Maybe that is the secret to life - simple and happy. God does not tell us to be miserable - He tells us to have Joy. I am willing to try - how about you?
Be blessed,
Kim
The food tastes wonderful - is it because it is outdoors in the cool, fresh air? Is it the old fashioned recipes? Is it the place where it all comes together? Can't be sure, but I can be sure that it will be fun - a great time for a photo-shoot.
It is great to be in the community where people love to live their lives this way. They love the sharing. Our church celebrates their 2nd anniversary with a covered dish lunch after service. I plan to make the stuffing in the pumpkin dish. The getting together and sharing makes this a beautiful community - simple and happy. Maybe that is the secret to life - simple and happy. God does not tell us to be miserable - He tells us to have Joy. I am willing to try - how about you?
Be blessed,
Kim
Monday, October 4, 2010
Welcome Fall!!
Fall has definitely arrived....temps are in the mid-30s in the mornings and the upper 50s by the afternoon...the weather...fire in the woodstove....the leaves beginning to turn colors....blankets and quilts on the bed....snuggling weather. Framed by the mountains, reminds me regularly why we moved here.
A weekend shoot....pictures of the Indian Summer Festival at Woody Gap school....home-grown and home-made....a school with only 95 students...one of the smallest in the state...K-12...and the whole community turns out to support them - this being their one big annual fund-raiser. Students who work on Local Studies Market making local native projects from jams and pickles to quilts to wood-working projects. Proud of their community and their heritage....kids were everywhere. The crafts were amazing and the homemade pies sensational. The teachers ran a concession stand, there was a turkey shoot ( no turkey's actually hurt in the proceeding - only targets). Students worked at a lot of the booths and helped with the auction. And a good time was had by all.....
Then a drive through the mountains stopping to take photos as we drove....the everydayness of farms and chores....mowing....cutting hay....pumpkins....taking the end of the season crops to the Farmer's Market...only two more weekends of the market before the season ends.
Home and making garlicky, garlic dill pickles - 9 jars. Total of 24 jars of various types of pickles. Next will be canning of applesauce and apples. Then jams from frozen fruit. Making pies to freeze. Great jars of harvest specials on the shelves.
Soon, the "kids" will come to visit - lots of goodies to cook for them. Jambalaya for LaVell. A turkey stuffing pumpkin. Maybe a visit to the apple orchard to pick apples and have lunch. Nacoochee Grille and Helen for a day. Time to visit and enjoy more evenings of fires in the stove. More warm quilts and blankets.....
Lots to do to get ready for that....cookies to bake....other goodies to prepare......off to get busy in the kitchen.
Be blessed,
Kim
A weekend shoot....pictures of the Indian Summer Festival at Woody Gap school....home-grown and home-made....a school with only 95 students...one of the smallest in the state...K-12...and the whole community turns out to support them - this being their one big annual fund-raiser. Students who work on Local Studies Market making local native projects from jams and pickles to quilts to wood-working projects. Proud of their community and their heritage....kids were everywhere. The crafts were amazing and the homemade pies sensational. The teachers ran a concession stand, there was a turkey shoot ( no turkey's actually hurt in the proceeding - only targets). Students worked at a lot of the booths and helped with the auction. And a good time was had by all.....
Then a drive through the mountains stopping to take photos as we drove....the everydayness of farms and chores....mowing....cutting hay....pumpkins....taking the end of the season crops to the Farmer's Market...only two more weekends of the market before the season ends.
Home and making garlicky, garlic dill pickles - 9 jars. Total of 24 jars of various types of pickles. Next will be canning of applesauce and apples. Then jams from frozen fruit. Making pies to freeze. Great jars of harvest specials on the shelves.
Soon, the "kids" will come to visit - lots of goodies to cook for them. Jambalaya for LaVell. A turkey stuffing pumpkin. Maybe a visit to the apple orchard to pick apples and have lunch. Nacoochee Grille and Helen for a day. Time to visit and enjoy more evenings of fires in the stove. More warm quilts and blankets.....
Lots to do to get ready for that....cookies to bake....other goodies to prepare......off to get busy in the kitchen.
Be blessed,
Kim
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