She makes me smile too...(by Daddy)

Every fall, hordes of people spend enormous amounts of money for hunting leases, camo clothing, all terrain vehicles, weapons, ammunition, elaborate stands and enclosures, odor elimination sprays, multiple types of game calls and various synthetic animal urines (some real ones too!) all for the purposes of harvesting the elusive whitetail deer. I've even heard that venison has been referred to as the most expensive meat per pound of any meat in the entire world. Having thought of what I've spent already this year, I totally agree. After investing an amount of money over the years equal to the cost of a quaint, Italian cottage in Tuscany, I have finally realized the benefit!

That's right! My little hunting buddy just harvested her first whitetail deer! It was the exact moment captured in the above picture that I realized, "It's all worth it." I was absolutely overcome with excitement, pride, love and a satisfying sense of accomplishment. We live through our children, and I WAS ALIVE!

There are many "traditions" associated with deer hunting that I've seen and heard about over the years. Most (I repeat "most" - not all) of them I have participated in in some form or fashion. When I was a young hunter, most of my shirts didn't have a shirttail. If that last sentence confused you, consult an avid deer hunter. It was explained to me many years ago when I was but a child myself that the Native Americans honored the spirit of the large game animals that they harvested. Such displays included painting the hunter's face with the blood of the animal. I, with much protest, received the "Indian Stripes" when I harvested my first deer, and my daughter did too. She was way bigger about that whole deal than I was when I was a kid! Her doe was a monster. It weighed in at just over 150 pounds! She made a great 60-yard shot on the deer, and she did it ALL by herself. I only set the gun up on the ledge of the shooting blind and let her take over. She whispered that she was ready to shoot, and all I said was, "take your time and squeeze." Her "brand new" little .243 rifle (thanks, Nona) roared, and the rest, well, is history. And what a great history it is. Man she makes me smile!

veggies

This is one of my favorite ways to prepare veggies. It is quick, simple, pretty and yummy.

Day1, we like it as a side with grilled/roasted chicken or maybe steak. Day2, I like to cook a little pasta, toss veggies with a little olive oil, and top with Parmesan cheese - maybe with some left over chicken. Day3, (if there are any left), I like on top of a little spring mix-left over chicken a bonus. Day4, (if there are any left at this point, it is because Kenny has not eaten at home the previous 2 nights), It makes a great omelet or frittata.

...

frozen whole green beans

red bell pepper

mushrooms

purple onion

yellow squash

(these are my typical choices, but you could choose others -

sometimes we substitute asparagus for the g.beans,

and/or omit the squash)

few cloves garlic

toss all in a tiny amount of olive oil

season (salt, pepper,etc)

spread on a cookie sheet

roast on 400

15-20 minutes

They should still be crunchy.

she makes me smile

My darling child has recently been using the word "specific" quite frequently only she says "pacific" so you hear something like this...

Where "pacifically" are we going?

Which generally gets a....

as opposed to "atlantically"? from Kenny or I.

This makes her look at us as if we have lost our minds -

well maybe we have, "pacifically"!

fall evening

Southern Living has nothing on us.

Supper was on the patio by the fire.

And what is more fall than chili and cornbread?

Hopefully we can do this again soon.

What should we eat next time...hmmm?

in the woods

Carly's ACT class (an accelerated class that Carly attends weekly at school- I'm not bragging right now, I will save that for another blog) took a field trip to the Memphis Agricenter. They had a wonderful program on trees. We took a hay-ride to their outdoor classroom, explored in the woods, learned about identifying characteristics of trees, and participated in interactive learning experiences.

Carly had a fabulous time. She would have stayed there the rest of the day. There were some who were not so excited about the adventure - an exploratory hike into the woods down a deer trail was probably a little too much nature for some.

Carly came home with non-stop chatter with her dad about her day filled with talk of nature. I mean who would not love a treasure hunt in the woods - sticks, rocks, acorns, bark (which she asked if I could put in my purse). I'm just glad there was no wildlife to bring home with us - a little bark in the bottom of my purse is a whole different story than a toad frog :)

beautiful place..beautiful day

snap of Carly and I

october reads

• The Prince of Beverly Hills by Stuart Woods

Typically, I like books that take place "today". This book took place in the 1940's. About a cop turned security at a movie study turned movie producer but mostly about a couple of characters and their intertwined lives. A glimpse into the glamourous movie world pre-WWII.

• The 6th Target by James Patterson

Either I have changed or Patterson's writing has changed. It just seems really shallow these days. No character development, poor plot development, minimal twists and turns. I think I am going to stay away for a while.

• The Little Guide to Your Well Read Life by Steve Leveen

Steve Leveen is the founder of Levenger (company known for "tools for serious readers") Non-fiction with pointers on how to add books to your life. Many of them I already do such as making a "to read" list, putting together a library for you home including books you want to read, that it is okay to give up on a book if it is not for you, and to try audio books.

• New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Follow up to Eclipse (which I loved). I really enjoyed this one but not quite as good as the first one. It is hard to explain so that it even sounds good. It is about a family of vampires and the non-vampire girl who falls in love with one of the vampires. Great character development, imagination, humor, anticipation, and a wonder of what is going to happen next.

• Gone with the Wind - by Margaret Mitchell

It has been on my "to read" shelf for a while and my "to read" list for even longer. I started it while we were at the beach and when I broke it out Kenny said "Gone with the Wind....why not just go ahead and read War and Peace". It did feel a little daunting at 1037 small typed pages. It did take me a couple hundred of pages to get into it, but then I enjoyed every minute. For someone who does not typically read books set in the past, I read one set in the 1940's and this one in the 1840's.

trick-or-treat

{hannah montana}

...

{grins all night}

...

{the whole gang}

...

{trick-or-treat}

It was a fabulous night!

Happy Halloween

pumpkin carving

{traditionally a Carly & Daddy project}

...

{concentration}

...

{finished product}

Costume - check

Halloween decorations - check

Trick-or-Treat treats - check

pumpkin patch - check

pumpkin carving - check

I love Halloween!

editor-in-house

Tonight, my dear husband who missed his calling as an editor for Random House, let me know that "I read the blog and there are some spelling mistakes" which I replied "now that's a surprise" because he knows that he married the worst speller east of the Mississippi. (I'm really hoping that there might be a worst speller out west somewhere.) Thanks sweetie, you know your ability to spell is on the list of why I married you - along with "bug killer". Love you, Me

everything is wet

I can only imagine this is what it feels like at times in the Pacific Northwest. It has been gray, cold, and wet for a week. There is only so much anyone can stand of this.

And, my child NEEDS to go outside and play! Everyone is tired of the rain. It is bad enough that we skipped right over Fall

(okay we had a couple of great days, i.e. the trip to the zoo) and went right to winter, but enough with the rain!

Carly has been asking for a week if we could go pick out pumpkins.

"Sure Sweetie, one afternoon when it is not raining"

A week is a LONG time when you want to do something especially when there are reminders everyday. Yes, we could have gone to THE superstore and bought pumpkins, but I really like going to a pumpkin stand or patch and picking out pumpkins of different shapes and sizes.

Well and of course taking pictures.

.....

Fine - I give up.

.....

What do you do when you need to do an outside activity and it will not stop raining.

I guess just embrace it and move on?

.....

.....