Hello, Autumn!

Huh- who knew?

As a foods teacher, I find this totally interesting! See what you think!

Apple Salsa

Our school has a salsa competition each fall. Last year I just brought in a bottle of homemade chili sauce. This year I decided to find something new and yummy. After searching for hours to find that special something tasty, I combined two recipes into one and this is the result. I'm calling it Apple Salsa.

3 cups Rome apples, diced (or something crunchy and a little tart/sweet)
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 Anaheim pepper, minced
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1-2 tbs cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3-4 tbs honey
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix together the apples, peppers, red onion, walnuts and cilantro.
In separate bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey and garlic. Make sure honey is dissolved before pouring it over apple mixture. Add to apples, etc and blend well. Let it set in the fridge and marinate with each other for about an hour prior to serving.

I added salt and pepper to how I liked it after that. It took a little extra of this and that but I think this is as close as I can get. :)

Good morning :)

On my way to work...

My nearly perfect weekend :)

Well, it started out being Favorite Aunt on Friday night for my sister, Emi. She has a newborn, in addition to three others. My parents are out of town so I called and volunteered to come watch the kids so she and her husband could get out. There is nothing quite as fulfilling, that I'm aware of, of hearing the kids clamoring to get to the door yelling out "Aunt Amy! Aunt Amy!" Awesome.
Then Saturday I made my weekly visit to the farmers market. Can't help it- fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious! I got 18 ears of corn and froze all of it. The tomatoes, both yellow and red, are being eaten. And the peaches got made into jam. The Frankenstein pumpkin has a place of honor on my dining room table. By the way- those tomatoes are heirlooms. The farmer described them as Romas on steroids and he's right! Oh my gosh they are so good!

And finally! They were honoring some season ticket holders at the soccer game Saturday afternoon. My friends and I were all part of the "honored" group. This is what I walked away with! Seriously! Now I can go visit the rest of my nieces and nephews in the picture from above! (oh- and my siblings, too.)

Like I said... nearly perfect weekend!

Thanks, Meg!

My sister's been telling me she bought something for me all summer, but didn't know how to ship it. Now I can understand why! Its the most darling chips/dip/snacks/m&ms platter ever! How cute is that going to be in my house?!

p.s.- that mound of bubble wrap is as squished down as it comes... she told me it was an entire roll haha

Trying something new!

I turned this.....
Into this!

It was actually fairly easy now that I can look back on it... but canning is intimidating!

Welcoming fall to my house :)

I hate to see summer go but its been lovely having some transition between the seasons this year. I finally took some time to get out my fall decorations, turn off the a/c and open the windows!

My darling niece stitched this piece of handiwork for me. Its one of my favorite things on my walls this time of year.

And then two of my favorite friends, Trinette and Bernadette, came over on Saturday for a chili sauce extravaganza! We went to the farmers market first thing Saturday morning and purchased all we needed fresh from the fields. I also picked up some new red potatoes and fresh garlic. Cannot WAIT to roast that all up together.

Every ounce of counter space in my kitchen was taken up with tomatoes and green peppers and onions and canning stuff and snacks and US!

We finally got everything boiling down and some of the disaster cleared. When all was said and done, we ended up with just over 15 jars of chili sauce and lots of fun memories. My house smelled like cinnamon and onions. Perfect way to bring in autumn!

I'd mark with the sunshine

Years ago when I first started teaching, I was sitting in new teacher meetings. Some lovely veteran teacher shared a poem with our group that I've been trying to find for years and years. I've asked the people who were in the meeting- no one even remembered what I was talking about. It apparently made a huge impression on them. I've searched just about everywhere on the internet I could think of. It is the reason I don't use a red pen... ever.

I know a woman from my old ward. She is a librarian and very well read. She does a book club for some of us, and while I don't attend that particular book club, I've asked her to keep me on the list because she chooses such lovely readings. It dawned on me the other day to see if she's maybe heard of the poem I've been searching 14 years for. I received an email back from her today and she found my poem! Here it is!

I'd Mark With the Sunshine
If I were a teacher
I wouldn't mark in red
Because red reminds me
Of blood that
Oozes out of cuts,
And fire engines that
Rush to fight blazes
So hot you could
Die in them,
And STOP signs
That warn you of danger.

If I were a teacher,
I'd mark in yellow-
For corn muffins,
Mustard on a fat hot dog,
Gardens of dandelions
And sunbeams that
Dance on daffodils.

If I were a teacher,
I'd throw out
My STOP pen,
And I'd mark
With the sunshine itself!
To give light to an A
Warmth to a C
And hope to an F.
- Kalli Dakos

My Boys of Summer

Housing Update

The builder finally got back to us. They claim there isn't substantial enough evidence to warrant them doing anything so they don't plan on lifting a finger. Not. A. Thing.

So our HOA is going ahead with a lawsuit. We have a meeting later on this month and we'll go from there. The statute of limitations is getting close to running out and we have PLENTY of problems and evidence. Our attorneys feel confident we can get it resolved. So that's that!

Blackberry season with the Tagge's!

I ate every one and loved it :)

Too funny!

My sister, Meg, sent me the link to this blog... Catalog Living. It is HILARIOUS! Someone, who obviously has too much time on their hands, has taken pictures from catalogs and created a family using the pictures. Gary and Elaine have quite a life! Please go have a giggle, compliments of me and Meg.

I may also suggested seeing the latest and greatest prom attire at this spot.