New Auntie Announcement

I am an auntie again! My sister Jennifer gave birth to her son yesterday afternoon. I couldn't be more excited for her and her dear husband, my good brother-in-law. I wish them all the health and love and happiness in the world! (And I hope to see them all very soon!)

Autumn Feel

I've never seen this before, but I really like it. It reminds me of autumn, or the 1920s or something. It makes me want to watch the leaves falling on Cascade Avenue, an area of town lined with intricately-built late-Victorian era homes. Maybe I will see these oddly-dressed characters come out of the homes and begin hanging these lanterns along the street.

Mini Side-Project

Here is a little project worth mentioning. I had leftover red paint after painting the front door, so I decided to bring some color into the hallway by painting the closet doors red. Just one more door to paint before this mini project is complete.

I really enjoy how the paint makes the door shine.

My Wood Pile

I've gone and tucked this pile of wood under the front porch where it will be safe from the snowfall (I hope). Do you think it will last all winter? It's a full "cord" of mostly pine and some aspen. It's not cold enough to fire up the stove yet, but last year our first snow was in late-September. So, I'm ready for you, snow!

Apples for Winter

Indian Summer is my favorite time of year in Colorado. The heat of mid-day is relieved by a cool breeze. It's finally time to wear hoodies and sweaters in the evenings and early mornings. Vegetable gardeners are reaping their laborious rewards. Bears are gorging themselves in dumpsters and bird seed stashes. Some people are preserving a portion of the year's crops for the long winter ahead. All creatures are scurrying to prepare for snow, especially me. I am always more productive this time of year. This is when I take more photos, blog more, cook and clean more, and make grand plans.

Wanting to get involved in the slow food movement, to support our local farmers and participate in conscious and sustainable eating habits, I spent a whole day with my mother and grandmother to (re-) learn the process of canning. It had been a very long time since I last participated. I took notes and photos, so I could eventually do it myself.

The apples came from the tree in my grandmother's back yard. Once pureed, the applesauce was so sweet we did not add any sugar. The results for a day's hard work: almost a dozen jars of all-natural home-made applesauce and a lot of good conversation.

The moon lives in Idaho.

It turns out that the moon is in Idaho. And it is teaming with life! 

The following photos were taken over Labor Day weekend at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in central Idaho. Dusty and his roommate, Kwame, and I made sure to exhaust ourselves here for eight hours in the heat and sun with too little water and no food. 

Apparently I wasn't hallucinating because the photos came out beautifully.

I can't have anything nice!

I planted lily bulbs earlier this year because I was told that deer wouldn't eat lilies. They were doing really great before I left for Idaho Falls. Here they are, healthily growing in my front yard. 

Here you can see how close my lilies were to blooming! 

After I returned from Idaho Falls, I noticed that someone or something had relentlessly chopped my lilies before they could bloom. I'm not sure what I can plant that the deer around here won't eat...