Hello September

 The mornings have been getting cooler and its definitely welcomed. It feels like we are just on the brink of fall arriving. When I asked the kids what their favorite season is everyone agreed....FALL. Sweater weather, cooler weather but not cold, pumpkin season, holiday season, the change of leaves. We don't typically hike a lot in the spring and summer due to the heat and our son's allergies so once Fall hits we hit the trails consistently even through winter. When everyone else is ready to stay indoors we are getting out and about even more.

We are a little late on fall garden planting but luckily in Arizona we can still get everything into the ground in September even the items should have been done last month so this weekend we worked on laying out plans, getting area's prepped and some seeds planted as well. We'll continue to get it done this week. 

Fall plantings will include: Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Chard. Pumpkins, Winter Squash. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage. Fall Bush Beans. And possibly turnips, radishes, carrots.

 The last week or so we have been gardening, tending to our farm animals, working, schooling, hiking, having picnics downtown, visiting our library, enjoying family time and home cooking good meals. Life is good and we are blessed. 

Some photos of the last few weeks....

Downtown picnic

 Our sweet 'MaryAnn' kitty....she loves waiting on the front porch to follow us around during animal and garden chores.

Sweet 'big pig' Scarlett aka grumpy face. Breakfast time and cooling off in her mud pool looking like a hippo girl.

Pumpkin growth

Morning glories taking over the lattice in the front -

Newly adopted chickens and 1 duck. 7 regular size hens, 2 bantam hens, 1 sweet duck. Names to come!

Our pups. Rusty enjoying his new old dog orthopedic bed. And Ernie taking over my spot in the bed.

Girls hike every Sunday morning....

Looking forward to enjoying Fall.

This Week...

 Lake Lunch Date just hubbie and I

Garden blessing us each day with food

Preserving Squash (next weekend we'll preserve zucchini)

Home cooked vegetarian meals

Weekend Dessert

Arizona Sunrise

Finally Monsoons are here!

 This week has been much of just the daily normal our life entails - farm animals, gardening, chores round the house, lake trips, home cooked meals, enjoying time with each other as a family. But what a blessing normal every day is. Our animals bring such joy. Our garden is constantly growing and providing food for us. The beauty in our area with its many lakes and hiking trails. And just being together as a family daily in this life is a huge blessing. Happiness and blessings are surrounding if we only seek them.

We were also able this week to get to the squash and preserve/freeze a bunch and able to bless another family with a huge bag of it. We love that we have enough for us and enough for others.  

We thought Monsoon season had skipped us over only to have a few good storms the last few days- thankful for rain!

 

 

 Vegetarian White Bean Skillet:

2 cans of white beans, 1/2 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of artichokes, 2 tbps of sun dried tomatoes

Onion- garlic - oregano - thyme - salt - pepper

And 2 cups of kale last.  - Served over rice /or pasta - or even by itself. We did it over rice with some crusty bread on the side.

Vegetarian "Beef" Stew:

Can you really say 'beef' stew when there's no meat in it?  But hubbie swore this is exactly like beef stew, same great carrot onion flavor and gravy.

1 lb Mushrooms cut in chunky pieces, Baby Carrots, Baby Onions

1 cup vegetable stock  &  3/4 cup vegetable stock mixed with 2 tbsp of flour to thicken sauce

1 tbsp tomato paste- thyme - pepper - garlic - 2 bay leaves

Cook mushrooms-baby carrots-baby onions in pan with small amount of oil for 5-10 minutes letting mushrooms release juices then add remaining ingredients (except bay leaves) - simmer for a few minutes then transfer to oven safe dish and add bay leaves - Bake for 40 minutes on 375 until carrots are to your liking. We like them semi firm, definitely not too soft- we baked for exactly 40 minutes and it turned out perfect.

Serve over mashed potatoes.

 Mock Eclairs:

Every Saturday is dessert night...so this was ours last night. No bake - quick -easy - good.

1 lb. box graham crackers

1 can chocolate frosting

2 pkgs instant french vanilla pudding

1 small container of cool whip

3 cups of milk

*Due to the milk content already in the pudding and cool whip also does have a milk protein in it - I went with almond milk for the 3 cups of milk.  Next time I may see if I can make this completely non-dairy.

Mix- pudding- milk- cool whip together. Layer in dish/pan graham cracker, pudding mix 2x then on the top the chocolate frosting. It says to fridge it over night- we did 12 hours and it turned out great.

 

Arizona sunrises never disappoint.  So blessed to see this out my backyard each and every morning.

 And finally!! Monsoons are here!

 

May you find blessings in your every day life. May you enter this week with a thankful and grateful heart for all you have in this life.

August - Nature, Farm, Cooking - Life

 Life Happenings...

Wednesday Picnic-Lake Day

 Flowering beds & Tomatoes growing

Dessert Baking

Sunday Morning Girls Hike

Family Time

 

 One of our favorite lakes to picnic at and walk around. Half the path around the lake is paved. Picnic tables all around. Families picnic, boat, kayak, fish. Its a perfect gorgeous area in the pines in the mountains.

 Garden growth...tomatoes are getting larger, turning red. We planted 3 varieties. Cherry tomatoes, yellow ones that look pear shaped and regular sandwich tomatoes.

Flower bed update...blooming and growing like crazy. Daily we see bee's, humingbirds, butterflies, dragonflies and regular birds come visit.

Quick and easy after diner dessert...Mixed berry crumble.

Berries: use frozen or fresh, line bottom of pan.

Crumble: yellow cake mix, oats, chopped walnuts, melted butter stirred to a crumble - layer on top.

Bake in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve with ice cream!

 Sunday morning girls hike: After animals get fed on Sunday's our daughter and I have been hitting the trails together. Just short ones since summer heat is in full force even by 830 in the morning. But we need that weekly dose several times of nature and there are many trails surrounding us to choose from.

 

Living the blessed life daily. Finding happiness in every moment in every thing.