Fall 2011

Just had to take some pictures of the beautiful autumn colors in our neighborhood this year. I do believe Fall may be my favorite season.

The Red Maple trees in our front yard were so ablaze with color, they seemed to set the house afire when the sun hit them just right. Wish these pictures captured the feeling...

  

Meanwhile, all down the street, leaves changes color of various hues, making our daily drive past them a true delight.

   

Another highlight each Fall is Sarah's birthday. Although she elected not to have a party with her friends this year, we had a good time going out to dinner and celebrating as a family. The Mounds birthday cake was definitely a hit! Still can't believe she's turned 18. Where has the time gone?

Meanwhile, an early cold snap caught us off guard. Emily ventured out to the upper deck and found a bit of ice that made the perfect sword! No shortage of excitement in this household!

Thanksgiving brought us a return invitation to the home of our friends, the Overholsers. So nice of them to include us each year. Good food, good company, always a fun game. This year's choice: Pictionary Man. What a hoot!

Still, it's not the same if you don't experience the aroma of turkey wafting through your own house, so on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, we had our own family mini-feast with turkey and all the trimmings. 

A feast for the eyes and stomach, and leftovers for soup! 

 

Napkin folding courtesy of Sarah; kitchen help by Emily, including making the Sweet Potato Biscuits.

I truly enjoy cooking with my daughters; they are such a help in the kitchen. Emily, especially seems to really like getting in there and whipping up something to eat from whatever happens to be around. That will serve her well in the future...

Halloween 2011

This was a transition year for us - our girls are definitely growing up. Neither girl had plans to go out trick or treating or with friends; it looked like they would both be here at home that night. Emily decided she would take on the task of decorating the front porch for the holiday. She wanted it to look good and spooky.

She spent a lot of time planning her look. She found some creepy fabric, cut it to fit the windows on either side of the front door, and then ripped it up to make it look old and worn.



She bought new spiderwebs to string from spot to spot, flanking both sides of the doorway. Her traditional carved jack-o-lantern was joined by numerous candles and a "lighted" cauldron to illuminate the area.

   

A skeleton on the door, the Bates Motel sign in the window, our Halloween flag and spooky music completed the atmosphere.

 

After all her hard work, Emily decided a couple of days before Halloween to go out with friends. Her costume - executed solely on her own - was very last minute, but effective. Old sheets torn into strips make a convincing mummy! She hot glued the strips onto existing pants and a shirt from another costume for ease in getting on and off. Worked beautifully!

Emily joined Elise and Sydney and they trick-or-treated in Sydney's neighborhood. The weather cooperated for once, dry with mild temps, so no coat was necessary. Certainly not always the case here in Portland, and much appreciated!



Happy Halloween, all!