Friday

Welcome to the last Friday of September, my friends. I love September. It is the calm before the storm. September allows the first taste of autumn splendor, a chance to relax and enjoy the new season before the flurry of upcoming holidays begins to occupy our minds.

This is Flynn. I play a game called Club Penguin Island and called CPI or CP Island. You are penguins and you can be your favorite color and you can dress up make your own Igloo and you can have friends. We have Animal Jam and you can be your favorite animal and dress it up and play games and have your own den and you can have friends on that game too.  It is very fun. I have Block Craft and you level up and when you level up you get to build new stuff and you can look at other people's lands. Mine is called Cookie Landing and all of these games are VERY fun.

( I start them young around here! Lol! She actually typed that all by herself, and we used it as a learning tool to practice sentence structure and punctuation. Winning! )

Favorite Fall Recipe Number One ~ Quick And Easy Chicken Soup

Fall! Yay! Also...Fall Food! Yay! Here is an easy recipe for some delicious chicken soup for you and your family to enjoy on a cozy autumn evening.

Cozy Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1. Rotissierie chicken carcass
2. One stick celery, chopped
3. One onion, chopped
4. Two 32 oz. containers chicken broth
5. One teaspoon salt
6. One teaspoon poultry seasoning
7. One eighth teaspoon pepper
8. One container water~fill a broth container with water
9. One large bag Kluski noodles, cooked and drained

Directions:

1. Put chicken carcass in large pot.
2. Add celery, onion, chicken broth, salt, poultry seasoning, pepper, and water.
3. Cook at boiling, covered, for one hour. Remove any foam.
4. Meanwhile, in separate pot, boil noodles. Then drain and set aside.
5. Drain bones, fat, and veggies until only broth remains.
6. Add cooked noodles, heat, stir, and enjoy!!!!

This is a great recipe for the day after you have a rotisserie chicken dinner.

Simply wrap the chicken carcass in foil and place in the refrigerator.

Also, I use two chicken carcasses and three containers of broth for our family, and we have some leftovers. : )

What I Wore The First Day Of Fall

I've waited for it. I've dreamed of it. And last weekend it finally arrived. Fall! And wouldn't you know it, the weather was perfect! Crisp and cool, and perfectly fall like. Fortunately, we had somewhere to go, and I had the perfect outfit to usher in this most lovely of seasons. 

Downsizing And Organizing

I have had a few requests for some information on how we prepared for our move last spring. The simple answer is...We Purged! Details on that later. First, though, although I have become a bit more relaxed through the years, I am still a fairly organized person. I must admit, though, the thought of transporting every item in our home to another house miles away was daunting. The keys to success: organization and patience. Here is how we went about sorting, organizing, purging and packing the contents of our lives.

The First Day Of Fall

It is the summer’s great last heat,

It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.

–Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt

Enjoy!

Friday

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your week provided some fun and some rest, and possibly some good food as well. Here are probably way too many photos of the past week in our cozy world.

Third grade is going wonderfully! I feel blessed to be able to spend my weekdays doing two things I love: being with my Flynn and teaching. I tell my children often, that whatever they choose to do in life, choose something they love. 

One Word Wednesday

49

Last week I turned forty-nine. My birthday was wonderful. I homeschooled, napped, went to dinner with my people, and ate Dairy Queen cake.  When I think about this being my last year before I turn half a century old, I actually feel a sense of peace. And thankfulness. Because forty-nine is awesome. Forty-nine is...

~knowing who I am and what I like, while not really giving a damn what other people think about it.

~using the word "damn" on my blog without worrying about someone being offended.

~accepting my middle age body, curves and all.

~ letting small things go...because...who cares if all my silverware matches anyway?

~watching my children embrace adulthood with confidence and joy.

~living each day in the moment, not wanting to rush life along.

And

~enjoying perfect nights with the ones I love.

Nights like this...

The First Day Of School 2018

Not so long ago, our schoolroom was filled with four students. This year, we had one. One little, sweet third grader! Rhett began his cyber schooling last week, and was at work when we took these pictures. He is a junior this year. I know. How? In any case, my girl and I had a wonderful first day together.

Random Photo Friday

Happy Friday, my friends! Another week behind us. Another weekend ahead! First though, please join me in sending prayers and thoughts to all those affected or in the path of the hurricane, as well as the first responders. 

Here are a few photos of the past week here in our cozy home...

We completed our first week of Third Grade!

We are really enjoying it!

I was sad to leave the preschool~kindergarten~lower elementary grades behind.

I have a special spot in my soul for young learners, ABC's colors, stories, and songs.

But I am finding I also really enjoy our third grade curriculum which includes geography, sentence structure, scientific method, art appreciation, and cursive handwriting to name just a few of the things Flynn is studying.

We still love our story time too. : )

A Touch Of Fall...For The First Time!

I have been waiting to decorate our new home for fall since the day we moved in. April 1st, to be exact. After a beautiful summer, the blissful days of September finally arrived. Here is a peek at our cozy home, all decorated for my favorite...autumn. Some of our decorations survived "The Great Purge of 2018" as Marian refers to the frenzied whole house cleanup that occurred before we packed to move. And others are new and are adding a fresh cozy feel to our new home.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We flew home from Las Vegas on Steve's birthday. And my children made me so proud. We returned home to a clean house and a wonderful birthday dinner party for Steve. Few things in this world make a mother happier than when she realizes her children are carrying on the traditions she began and holds dear. So now Steve has caught up with me...for a few more days that is!

Madison made dinner...Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes.

And Peyton made Steve's favorite cake...

Chocolate with Peanut Butter Icing!

Relaxing In Vegas!

Yep! You read that correctly. We relaxed in Vegas. Steve and I, along with his sister and her husband, spent a few days in one of our favorite cities...Las Vegas. In my humble opinion, Vegas gets a bad rap. Yes, certain undesirable people and activities are available to those who are so inclined. Yet, Las Vegas also offers beautiful and affordable accommodations complete with amazing pools and spas, fun and exciting shows, and the most delicious array of food choices. Which of course is of utmost importance to me. Here are a few pictures of our little getaway in Vegas...

10 Things To Do In September

1.   Sip A Favorite Pumpkin Spice Beverage

2.   Watch Sunday Afternoon Football

3.   Light A Spiced Pumpkin Candle

4.   Go Apple Picking

5.   Make Homemade Applesauce

6.   Snuggle Under A Soft Fleece Throw

7.   Buy A Fall Mum Or Two

8.   Wear A Fall Lipstick 

9.   Read A Fall Cozy Mystery

10. Plan A Fall Television Schedule

What is tops on your list, my friends?

Happy Labor Day 2018!