The photos below were just taken this afternoon. I left my camera behind the evening of Halloween. Sometimes I just need to be in the moment and not behind the lens.

Molly really “got” it when we took her out for trick-or-treating. She insisted that she go up to every door instead of stay back in the stroller. She held out a little pumpkin purse to collect goodies and refused to have anyone else touch her treats. She was a happy lil’ pumpkin.

My knight in shining armor! Here Ryan is posing to “look tough” for his role as a brave knight. He loved to stomp around in his “king” boots and charge with his sword through the leaves with his friend Jack. He wore black clothing for his original costume. Today however was unseasonable warm and he was in shorts!

I worked as an independant photographer for about 3 years but “closed” shop right before Molly was born to focus more inwardly on my family. A few people close to me have coaxed me out for a few jobs in the last year and a half. The family below is one such family.

They are such little treasures. Plus a little red wagon, how could I resist?

This maple tree shot was the closest I got to a photo "walk" this season. Yes, notice the lovely street of garbage day, sigh....I guess there has to be some ordinary in the extraordinary.

While driving in the car with the kids one day Ry and I had the following conversation:

Ry: I hate God.

Messy Jessy: thinking…..biting tongue…..praying….

Ry: I hate Him because I can never see Him.

Messy Jessy: Ry I can’t make you love God and I can’t make you see Him. But, if you ask Him, He’ll show Himself to you.

Ry: Okay

Messy Jessy: hoping…

Ry (some time later): Hey Mom! I just saw God! He is making all of the leaves come off of the trees. That’s awesome.

Messy Jessy: It sure is buddy, it sure is

Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Lil’ Miss Molly sat on her tuffet eating her apples and whey.

Aunt Carly’s “cute” apple Uncle John (Neat Pete’s little brother) heroically jumped to give pick for her in the orchard lane.

Uncle Tim (Neat Pete’s middle brother) and Ry strut their stuff through the orchard.

Aunt Lisa showed Ry the antique tractor.

Uncle John took Ry on a pony ride.

Not enough room for your pickings? Fill your nephew’s hood with apples. Uncles I tell ya!

Applicious I

Applicious II

Making caramel apples was more fun than eating them. Time with friends and candy corn was time well spent.

Ryan and his friend Jack. Really, two peas in a pod.

We used mini yogurt pretzels, sunflower seeds and candy corn to embellish our caramel apples.

Nora and my daughter Molly. Two peas in a basket.

Nora making apples with her Papa Chris and Mama Dawn.

Bin-style candy corn vs. Brach's bagged candy corn. It was a draw! Both types were yummy. Which do you prefer? Could you tell them apart in a blind taste test?

]]> http://justablink.com/2008/10/applicious-i/feed/ 0 http://justablink.com/2008/10/menu-plan-monday-an-apple-a-day/ http://justablink.com/2008/10/menu-plan-monday-an-apple-a-day/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:04:06 +0000 Jessica http://themcwilliams.info/?p=993 This post was linked up with Org Junkie and Life as a Mom

Instead of planning whole week of meals I am featuring a whole weeks worth of apple recipes!

M: Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings Neat Pete (my new blogging nick name for my darling husband) may try this recipe with our son while I am away at a wedding shower.

T: Warm Apple Pockets

W: Apple Leathers This link calls for an oven. I will be using a dehydrator on 160 degrees for 10 hours.

Th: Apple Sauce

F: Dried Apple Rings

S: Applesauce Honey Rolls (recipe below)

Sun: Apples with Homemade Caramel Dip

Applesauce Honey Rolls

This comes from Apple Lovers’ Cook Book by Shirely Munson, Jo Nelson.

2 loaves (1 lb. each) frozen bread dough
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup honey
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
4 Tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup applesauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup raisins

Allow dough to thaw in plastic bag. Let rise until doubled in bulk.

Mix the 1 cup brown sugar, honey and 3 Tablespoons butter. Sprinkle mixture over the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

Place dough on lightly floured pastry board or sheet and roll or pat into a 14×12-inch rectangle.

Combine the 4 Tablespoons melted butter, applesauce, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar and raisins; spread evenly over dough. Roll up and seal.

Cut into slices about 1/2 to 1-inch thick. Place slices on honey mixture in pan.

Bake in 350 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and turn over onto a plate or tray.

Makes 12 rolls.

I love to celebrate the harvest season. I do not really get into the spooky stuff. But I do love the beautiful colors and natural inspirations that are around for fall.

I am linking up with Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land for an Autumn/Halloween decor and craft “party”.  Check it out and add your own photos!

Pier One mosaic trivet for my kitchen table. Thrift store find of course.

An old white washed chicken coup board from the farm serves as a backdrop for my seasonal items.

I splurged this year and bought a metal frame pumpkin from a local arts and crafts store. It was on sale for $5. I could not resist. Look at the beads!

This charming little stained glass window hanger was a hand me down from my MIL (Mother-in-Love) aka Grammy Kris.

I made filling for the cornucopia (rip off from Grammy Lu) from ribbon, leaves from outside and faux autumn berries on a stick. I usually keep my autumn hand towels in the empty bowl but they were all in the wash pile! The apple corer just happened to be by the bread box it is not a decoration but it could be if I weren't using it everyday! That's what 20 plus pounds of apples will do!

I like to add just a hint of the season in already existing collections.

Sometimes it is just the little things that can make me smile.

I keep a little bag of candy corn stashed above my cupboards so my little ones can't beg for it all day long!

I still have a little craft fair flair in my blood.

Fall display on top of my entertainment center in the living room. I am "blessed" with the special task of incorporating two black speaker boxes into my theme.

Mini white pumpkins were 3 for $1.89 at the orchard. I think they are just delightful.

A 50 cent postcard from the orchard. I love the green color and it will remind me of a great memory every year I pull it out to decorate!

Apple picking.

Bee swatting.

Cider drinking.

Doughnut hogging.

Extra money spending.

Fresh air breathing.

Goat watching.

Hay jumping.

Spending time with good friends over cider and doughnuts in the windy sunshine was superb. We already miss our TX crew. I loved looking at my home state with a fresh pair of eyes. Kristin pointed out to me how green everything looked. I was so busy looking for reds and yellows I forgot how pretty just green can be!

Here are a few images from our time together with the Donovans. For a full look check out our flickr set.

Ryan follows Jaimes up Goat Hill.

Jaimes with a Honey Crisp apple.

Gracie at snack-time.

Molly in stripes.

Penny for your thoughts. Ryan in a wooden train play set.

We got our doughnuts right away--a perk of a mid-day mid-week vacation.

Matt, Jaimes, Kristin and Gracie - Safe travels home. I hope you enjoyed the "cold".

My nails don’t sport the vampy dressings very long but it is a dramatic run while it lasts.

I have a metromint water bottle on display. I hate it. Peter Loves it with a capital L.

The season of preparation is upon us as temperatures dip to hat wearing depths. Good news the sun is still warm and the trees are changing so slowly and beautifully. I have a photo walk in the plans- no photos yet.

Grammy Kris harvests transplant shoots to nurse over the winter as Ryan draws her glasses.

We have friends in town that we adore. The Donovans! Now a family of four Matt, Kristin, Jaimes and Gracie are in MN to celebrate a family wedding. We are going to steal them for a day. We are going to the apple orchard tomorrow. I already have visions of homemade apple sauce swirling in my head.

Ryan visits with Jaimes up from Texas in the summer of 2005.

Jaimes, 4, and Ryan, 3 11/12. They are already fast friends that love to play yard games, eat S'mores and watch cartoons.

Some mornings we are laid back and let our spirits lead us to do fun stuff.

After writing a letter to Grammy K, Ry works a finger loop loom while Molly reaches for the scissors. Ehem...I can't even pick up the camera for a second without my little one climbing up something.

Other times we have a goal to do a specific project.

A trip to the mail box inspired us to gather a leaf collection in a mason jar. I keep a small bag full of "junk" crayons from restaurants to use for rubbings or shavings.

Occasionally we have a theme. Our recent theme was based on the book Sam and the Firefly.

Written by P.D. Eastman, Copyright 1958, by Beginner Books, Inc.

Sam meets a quirky firefly named Gus. Together they create words and shapes in the night sky using Gus’ light. Gus finds out that with great power comes great responsibility

Our interpretations of the illustrations using black paper and sidewalk chalk.

Firefly tooth brush gets buzzed around during our bedtime routine.

Batman shadow puppet in Mom and Dad's bed.

Flashlight art on the wall. Ryan made a lot of circles.

We read nighttime stories with flashlight. This book was Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd.

What a day!

Love,

Jess