Simple Girl

Wishing all of you a safe and Happy Halloween! (Really cute black cat pumpkin kit from Target!)

  I admit that I've been out of touch with the blogging world lately as I've been packing and unpacking my entire life. This school year I've given myself permission to just say no.  I'm not room mom or PTA member.  I'm not team mom or fundraising chair. I've not even signed the girls up for extra curricular activities (until this week, that is!) So please excuse me if I'm the only one who has not seen this cute, easy idea all over Pinterest! These cute little mandarin orange containers showed up at the second grade book week party on Friday.  It was the party at which I volunteered to help, but didn't volunteer to bring anything!  Our new school has a health initiative which means NO CUPCAKES!  WAAAHH!!  I made my mandarin orange pumpkins a little more orange by using the oranges-in-jello cups.   Draw on the face of your choice with a Sharpie. Wouldn't your little goblin just love one of these in their lunch? THIS POST MAY ...

Here's one more photo from our trip to the Apple Orchard!  I love the anticipation on Ella's face and the intentness of her cousin who is following behind.  It feels as if the last days of fall are near as most of the leaves have blown off the trees and into our yard.  Winter teased us this week with snow flurries.  and, yes, it's still October!  I think I'll just curl up by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa!

One of the last great days of fall, we took the kids to The Apple Orchard. The Apple Orchard had a pumpkin patch. And a corn maze. And apple pie. And apple doughnuts. And Apple cider.  And plain old apples!  I'm not sure which part was the most fun - the doing or the eating! Apple recipes will surely follow!

One of the great things about living closer to family is being able to spend time with my niece and nephews.  This one, in particular is always willing to stop what he's doing and pose for my ever-present camera! Smile, Elias! Now show me your Angry Birds face! Are you laughing yet? It's these glimpses into everyday life that are the most fun to look back on later!

This is what living in the North is like.  One day it's 75 degrees and you take your dog on a euphoric walk through the vibrantly colored woods and you wonder why anyone could ever complain about living here, and the very next day a wind from the north blows all the leaves off the trees, drops the temperature by forty degrees, you can't talk anyone into walking the dog and you realize that you just missed your one good weekend for getting a family Christmas card picture.  It's just a little more true here.  Carpe Diem.

October brings to mind one of my favorite culinary delights - PUMPKIN!  Just last week the pumpkins started to appear at our local farmers market and for the first time ever, we bought a pumpkin, not for carving, but for pie! Inside were these glorious seeds. I have early memories of roasting pumpkin seeds after hallowing out a carving pumpkin. The idea of roasting the seeds has always seemed both healthful and frugal!  Done right, the result is a delicious, toasty, crunchy, salty snack! To roast the seeds, scoop them out of the pumpkin and separate them from the slimy membrane.  Rinse them under water and lay them out to dry overnight on a parchment lined baking sheet. The next day, drizzle them with just enough olive oil to coat (or use melted butter if you're into that!)  Toss them with your hands and spread them out in a single layer. Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake in a 300 degree oven for about an hour.  Baking times will vary de...