Not today.  It was a day to bake to warm the house.   I didn't want to use all the wood just yet.   I made 8 loaves of regular white bread, 4 loaves of herb bread, and 2 loaves and a few small biscuts of sweet potato bread.   For all my labor, I made cookies with chocolate/caramel chips!  Now the freezer is full for a day or two!

The girls did school while the two of the boys played.  They have a hard plastic tube they play with for a short time.  Then they start to tear it apart , then I have to hide it again for a while.

Then looking out as Tom was headed off to work at 6:45 this morning...

This is just since yesterday afternoon.    The beautiful fall leaves on the tree line now look like this.   It isn't as cold as it looks, it is more of the wet snow.  It is going to be like this all week, so I have to get us in the mind set of settling in for a while.

My mind will be on my oldest son today as he is to get in touch with the doctor.  Seems as though he found a tick on him Saturday.  He successfully pulled it off and put it in a jar for observation.  It seems that it left a red mark though.   Who would think that there would be any this time of year?

eating out so much.  Last night was the dinner for the "horse people".   These are some friend we sat with. All members were treated to a great diinner of steak, big potato that was a meal in itself, and salad.     Everyone brought great desserts.   There was everything from cheesecake to pumpkin desserts.   I made chocolate brownies with chocolate frosting which is always a favorite but I took peppermint candies and crushed them to sprinkle on top.

 Check out this way to cook mass steaks!   It was a huge fire ring under a tent. I'm glad that it was only a little rain when they were cooking.  The huge wet flakes came as we were getting in the car to come home.

a blog I was reading this morning.   Homemaking Homesteader  posted some pictures of projects she was finishing.  Being an apron wearer myself, I fell in love with this one she made.  It looks so easy and you can appreciate the pattern in the material.

Jess had a friend over last night.  They went to the gym with Becky when she went to work.  When I drive her in I get to go shopping!    To bad it isn't for fun things.  I did happen to get  these big soup mugs.  It seems that the kids love the soup for lunch almost every day!  I think what I really need are large bowls with a handle. 

Today, since it is raining, I thought I would work on my sewing/extra room.  I need to get to the repairing stack that is on my chair in there.   Maybe after I put some goodies in the oven as we are all going out to eat tonight.   

The  Ohio Horseman's Council    is having their annual steak fry tonight for its members.  Everyone is to bring a dessert of some type.  I picked up big aluminum cookie sheets last night.  I may just do brownies!

Let me thank   Marsha  for her comment.   I just thought she viewed me as a nut.   I guess that  it made an impression on her with my wackieness.  I'm glad that I have that effect on someone!

Thought I would share my new idea for the bathroom.  It doesn't look like the paint matches the curtains, but it does.   Actually, it looks pretty good.  Better than I expected.   I just need to get some finishing wood for around the doors and floor.  I am thinking 1/4" round for the ceiling?

The stalls are getting put up.  I am affraid we won't be able to put rock down in them until spring so I hope that the wood we lay will withstand the horses until then.  At least they will be divided!

Tom also put up the wood valance over the livingroom curtains I made.  It makes it a cleaner look to the room.  I hope to get the diningroom windows done soon.

You think you know what you are doing and what is expected of you day after day.   I am a pattern person.   I have my  "schedule" to keep and do things in a methodical way.  I was teased long ago when my kids where small that when they put their  little toys away,  each must go in it's own space! (Marsha! )   I am weird that way.  Even though you would walk in my house and it would appear I have lost that uniformity I still try hard--inside, anyway.  

I took it upon myself to change the bathroom this week.   I stepped out and took the challenge of painting it  RED ONION.   Now, it's not red as you may guess.  Colors in the paint can are never what they say.  It could say sky blue and the painted wall would look green.   Well, the red onion is more of a fuschia color.  Wild, especially in our very small bath, but it goes with this material I have that I wanted to build around.   Now, if I can find the time to get to the trim and second coat....

Today is Bob's  anniversary!  He has been with us one year today.  We love you, Bob!

So it is my turn to turn another page on another year.  I couldn't have ask for a better day.  Who would think that in November I would still see dragonflies about? 
My oldest took the pains of riding his bike 40 miles out to see me on my birthday.   He made it here in about 4 1/2 hours.  Just in time to hop in the truck and go out to eat with us.  We headed south to a restaurant that we never were at before.  More for the kids. 

 It was a pizza buffet!   The boys were thrilled.  And stuffed.

Being election day,  I'm getting ready to go out and vote!   This is going to be some interesting and exciting coverage tonight.  Go and parcipate today!

Over the weekend there was a small get to gether for my sister. It was fun getting out and seeing all of Debbie's friends celebrating her induction to the 40+ club.  She thought she was going to a surprise party for her friend but it was really for her!

A real suprise for me was that Mom and Dad took time to play some pool while they were there.  Let's just say Dad had nothing to worry about playing Mom.

Snow was in the air and you can see it.  Just hand me another log, would you?  It is nice having a small fire in the moring and then by noon the sun warms it up just enough coming in the window we don't have to use the wood to fast.

The night time temps have dropped enough that I thought it was time to bring in the last of the garden.  I cut two (and only) heads of cabbage that were no bigger than your fist and very light! And two small bulbs of cauliflower that turned brown as they warmed up in the house.   Next year...yeah, next year....

I did get to the last farm bought head that had been on my counter.  Finally turned it into sauerkraut and it is back on the pantry shelf.  Those apples are still there.  Hmmm, maybe today?

The cold weather has come.  The frost has killed off the flowers.   The scary spider has expired, but she left   behind something to look forward to in the spring!

Always something with the animals.  The boys were out running and playing and I think Stanley or Jack were a little hard on Bob.  He is pacing, pacing, pacing! This is all I see all day long.   He is RIGHT there.  

  I went to the vet and got some anti-inflamitory for what I think may be something they did to his back.   He was rammed before but did all right with home meds but this is a bit more.  Poor Bob.

Jess experienced baby bunnies and again, they lasted a day.   I really hope that they stay seperated from now on.   I know she wants to raise them, but for some reason she doesn't have luck.  Maybe to much curiousity and anxiousness when they are born?

I had these staring at me for the last week.  I did do a bushel and a half, but still have more.   Oh, I don't feel like it.   The kids are eating some but  I really am tired of apples for now!