A Little Fall

I’ve been slowly putting out my fall decorations. Next weekend, I’ll add my Halloween things. I emptied my deck planters of the summer annuals, put in pansies and mums, and changed the wreath to a fall one. I’m doing a little bit each weekend, so that I can really enjoy it. This big yellow bowl…

Fall Blooms

My poor yard, garden, and flower beds are looking pretty pitiful due to the hot, dry weather we’ve had here in Virginia. I’ve got some tough plants who are making things a bit colorful in my yard. This fall blooming Clematis grows on a trellis in the front of my house. Hubby hates this thing…

Mixed Doubles Tennis

This afternoon I had my first mixed doubles tennis match for the fall season. I play on a 6.0 team captained by my hubby. I’m a 2.5 player and hubby is a 3.0 player, so we most likely won’t play together. That’s probably a good thing because I have a bad temper and tennis can…

A Beautiful Wedding

I love everything about weddings: the flowers, the dresses, the food, but I don’t get to go to weddings very often now that I’m in my late 30’s. Saturday, we were invited to a beautiful wedding at Oakridge Estate in Nelson County. Since I’m from Nelson, I’ve been to a few weddings at Oakridge and…

Recipe Request

Serah, from “Honeysuckle and Cupcakes,” requested the recipe that I used for the orzo salad that I served for Labor Day. Here you go, Serah! Orzo Salad with Feta, Olives, and Bell Peppers 12 oz orzo (Iused 16oz)2 T plus 1/2 cup olive oil1 1/2 cups crumbled seasoned feta cheese (such as basil, and tomato;…

Labor Day Cookout

My mother is coming this afternoon to spend the night with us and to go to the lake tomorrow. She and I are going to the pool as soon as she gets here and then we are cooking out tonight. Hubby’s parents will join us for the cookout. It is hard to believe that it…

Blondies

Do you need a dessert that is easy to make and scrumptious to eat? If you do, keep reading! This recipe for Blondies can be made quickly and clean-up is minimal. The recipe comes from the July/August 2005 issue of Cook’s Illustrated magazine. If you’ve never seen Cook’s Illustated, I’d highly recommend that you do…

Girls Night Out

A group of girlfriends and I attended a cooking class on Wednesday night. Really, we were more interested in sipping wine and chatting, but the way the class was set up, we actually had to pay attention. Our club offers these classes once in a blue moon and this is the first opportunity that I’ve…

Late Summer Centerpiece

Every fall I like to pick up the fruits from Osage Orange trees. I’ve found three trees, all on public property, from which I harvest these strange looking fruits. I’m calling them fruits because I know that they contain the seeds, and biologically they would be the fruit of the plant. They are the strangest…