Weekly Menu Sept 2

Source: acorns-and-tea

For today, Sept 2 ...

Outside my window... It's warm and sunny, the air is absolutely soaked with late summer sunshine; I could almost drink it. But if you sit in the shade, the breezes have just a hint of extra crisp coolness, that very first harbinger of Fall. 

A peek into my day... We seem to have caught a late summer cold! It started with little Stephen, a day or two of sore throat before some nasty coughing and fever... The Geologist caught it the next day, and Joe the day after that. I have no idea how I escaped, though I have a few more days while I'm in the clear! Usually I catch everything!! Everyone is home from work and school today, resting and drinking LOTS of water... although making those boys rest (including the big one!) is not an easy task! Beastie needs a bath and floors need to be vacuumed, no rest for the nursemaid!

Source: Pinterest

I am thinking... I have fruit trees on the brain. Especially apples. We had dinner at the home of one of The Geologist's co-workers, and they have this HUGE, gorgeous yard. Half of it is a bit of a wild, wooly wilderness, the other half has a lawn, and apple trees. FIVE apple trees!! I am apple-green with envy!! Between their yard, reports of backyard fruit trees from Facebook friends, and counting the days till the local orchards open for picking, I have made up my mind: I need fruit trees. We have an apple tree hanging over our fence, but the fruit is still walnut sized and I doubt it's going to be worth much. Considering how obsessed I've become with canning and local, in-season produce, I just need my own supply!! Ideally I'd like to have an apple tree, pear tree, and plum tree. I don't ever want to have so much of one type that I don't know what to do with it all, so one of each sounds perfect!! Now to research the care and feeding of fruit trees... Apples are up first!

In the kitchen... We made up a giant batch of Homemade Salsa yesterday, it might be even better than last year's! I'll keep you posted. There is this fantastic new stand at the farmer's market, where you can fill a good-sized plastic bag with anything, and it's only 10$ a bag! We made more salsa than last year, for about a third as much money! Ahhh, I love farmer's markets so much. There are Colorado peaches ripening in paper bags in the pantry, it's time for my all-time favorite Peach Vanilla Bean Jam, I can't wait!!

I am going... NOWHERE!!! Sorry, the capitals have a point. I mentioned a while ago that there was going to be an anti-fracking bill coming up in September that, if passed, would almost certainly send us off to Houston. This was breaking my heart!! I love it here so much, and I adore my house!! Luckily, a compromise was made, and the bill was withdrawn, and we can stay!! And there was MUCH rejoicing. :)

Source: Pinterest

Around the house... We've been trying not to get too worried about the possibility of having to move, but plans and dreams for our home had still kind of been put on hold. It was hard to imagine long-term goals when we weren't sure if we would even be here another year... but now that we have, exterior plans have kicked back into high gear! We'd like to try and stain the brick and paint the siding this Fall, and then it's time to tackle the back yard. We need a tall wooden fence, and have decided that instead of a wooden deck, we're going to have a concrete/paved back patio area, extending a long the house, with one end framed by a pergola. I would love to have a little arbor gate on one side of the house, some fruit trees, and more lilacs. We want to leave the lawn as big and open as possible... ah, whenever it all comes together (it will probably be years!) it's going to be heavenly!

I am thankful... Bracken's feet are doing better!! We've been soaking them with epsom salts every day, and only one is still oozing and yucky. All of the others are healing!! She still hates her booties but they stay on and she leaves them alone. Thank goodness!! 

Source: UncleMacsGardenShed.com

One of my favorite things... Mmmm, summer sweet corn!! I have spent a few years getting pulled every which way, getting excited about ALL of the amazing fruits and veggies in season in Summer, but this year it has come down to two: Peaches and Corn. Hands-down, the things I look forward to most. I could have fresh corn on the cob with every meal, dripping with butter, sprinkled with pepper... YUM!! Who cares if it gets stuck in my teeth?? Who cares if husking is labor-intensive and messy?? It is so worth it for those sweet, juicy kernels. I need to go get more...

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