Typical, normal day here. We had home school, I ran to the grocery store to just get a couple of things but ended up with about six bags worth of stuff. (typical!) I made cookies (not pleased with the recipe off the bag of chips, my cookies spread too much. Kids don’t complain, however). I finally roasted that pumpkin that I had meant to roast on Saturday.
Here’s a picture of it. I feel strange gazing at my halved, roasted pumpkin. I think it will taste good but it does look sort of sad. It was such a happy pumpkin (it’s the one pictured in my header) and now look at it:
I cleaned up the seeds as best as I could (they’re slippery little things!) and roasted them, too, after tossing them with melted butter and some salt. They are good, hard to swallow down a mouthful (there’s a lot of fiber, shall we say), but tasty. Jacob brought me the leaves earlier today while walking the dog, and the candle is one that I had bought at that outlet. It’s “Frosted Pumpkin” scented, and very yummy. Oh I must say a word about my roasting dish. It’s actually one dish that divides so you can use it as a bottom and a lid, or 2 separate pans. It’s enameled cast iron and I just bought it recently—it was originally close to 100 dollars, but I got it for 30!!! It’s my first piece of enameled cast iron, and I am getting SO much use out of it. I’ve done a pork tenderloin, a couple of chickens, scalloped potatoes, and now this pumpkin. It’s easy to wash (I spray it generously with Pam before using it). I had to laugh, though, because when I brought it home both Rich AND Jacob told me “it’s not fiestaware!!!” in shocked tones.
I went on a walk not too long ago with four of the children. Jacob was busy typing so he stayed home. It was a short walk, we just walked up the “dam trail” (it’s what we call it because it leads to a watershed area up in a big field beyond the house) and then down to the stream.
This is Ethan, after taking the time to go through the tunnel under the road that the water travels through about 5 times, and then hanging upside down on the metal barrier at the entrance of the trail. He was quite busy during the whole walk, breaking dead branches off trees, and beating things (like stumps) with them without mercy.
Davy do brought along his new “shot gun” (caps) and also took the time to catch himself a little critter out of this puddle which, by the way, rarely dries up. He certainly doesn’t mind getting his feet wet, does he? And of course Caleb was quick to follow his example. 5 minutes into the walk and ALL my children had their feet wet already.
I had Ethan snap a picture of me with Grace and Caleb. As you can see, I’m still squeezing into my normal shirt and sweater, LOL. David had already disappeared to the stream and we all made our way down there, too, after this picture was taken.
There is still an abundance of mushrooms in the woods.
As I was standing under some evergreens, I noticed how pretty they looked with a scattering of red leaves in their branches.
Ethan found that a fallen down log was the perfect way to cross the stream. The water was moving fast and would have been past his knees if he had slipped in. He was a little unsure and crawled across it the first time. Notice the foam of the water and the pretty leaf on the bottom of his foot. He’s so funny.
But then on the way back, he felt more confident, so he walked.
This is our pond, on the side of the house, you can see the tippy top of the house in the upper right corner.
Caleb was soaked from head to toe by the time we got home. We went in the house and I was astonished to see that my coffee order had already arrived. We have a Keurig coffee maker and Rich has been buying K-cups at Costco that make such strong coffee it makes my teeth buzz in the morning. Being pregnant, I really didn’t like the idea of drinking something so potent so I went online yesterday and ordered my own coffee. Yesterday! And it already arrived!
I guess I got a little carried away. Rich is sure going to have fun picking on me when he sees all this:
Hey, the hot chocolate is for the kids at least!
I’m drinking the Pumpkin Spice right now. It’s decaf and compared to the stuff Rich has been serving me, it tastes sort of weak, but I know I’ll get used to it. The flavor is fine, and perfect for the season.
So, Shanda’s coffee shop is open. Any takers?
((HUGS))
~Me
Good to be Home 
The pumpkin looks delicious! I love roasted pumpkin seeds,we spice them up a bit! * 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt * 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce * 2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
Me!!! I’d be there in a heartbeat if you didn’t live so far! I’m only having one cup of coffee at breakfast, and it is strong b/c Dave makes it strong, but I try to do like 6 oz and then I get generous with the creamer. I bought the International Delights Pumpkin Spice creamer this time!!!
Ah, it’s looking so lovely in your neck of the woods this time of year! No coffee for me, I’m a tea drinker – and just ordered my winter supply over the weekend! LOL
I completely gave up coffee my first trimester, but I’ve been letting myself have a little here and there. I just missed it too much! I’ll take a tall Caramel Vanilla Cream please š
@natesmom89 – Oh, don’t worry I ordered tea as well, it just hasn’t gotten here yet. LOL
I’d definitely take you up on that (as I stated in my last comment) sometime soon, maybe before I start my new job (or after, doesn’t matter. I hope you’re having a good afternoon. Take care.
I’ll come and have some tea, then. :)I love roasted pumpkin seeds, too, but I don’t think my jaw can handle it right now. š¦
Hello!!
It has been a long time since I have been on xanga because I have been so busy with school; I have missed reading your wonderful posts and all of your lovely pictures!!! How I have ENJOYED looking through all of the ones that I have missed. Fall is my favorite season, and I am loving all of the fall pictures. They are so warm and colorful… I can almost FEEL fall through them
I’ll take a large cup of the caramel vanilla cream…and a nice rocking chair with a throw on a large front porch with some great homey magazines and a friend to talk with….
Too bad I can’t get it shipped to me
Your property is absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful view to wake up to everyday!! I just bought the Pumpkin Pie candle from Yankee Candle this past weekend and it is fantastic! Have a wonderful week!!
Yum!!! I’m having a hard time deciding between the Pumpkin or the Vanilla Cream….hmmm
I’m on my way! ~ don’t I wish! . . . such a lovely walk ~
Lovely pictures! I think my favorite is the red leaves on the evergreens. You can’t buy flavored coffees or flavored creamers in Denmark. I miss that. Sometimes I put a spoon of chocolate powder in my coffee, and that is pretty yummy!
Here’s a taker right here! LOL Too bad I’m in Indiana. Drinking a pumpkin spice latte right now. š I always do decaf. I gave up most caffeine during my pregnancies and nursing, which lasted quite a few years (nursed a long time), so now I cannot handle a caffeinated espresso drink at all! Sometimes they’ve screwed up my order and boy was I buzzed. heehee I laugh now but it really makes me feel yucky. Don’t worry, you are not the only one who goes to the store for a few things and comes home with tons of bags…I do that a lot! You just remember stuff you needed when you see it there and sometimes stuff is on sale so I get a bunch! Oh, I love your tablecloth in the first picture! I keep trying to find vintage table cloths but they are almost always too small for my table. I like your cast iron pan too. I use a lot of cast iron. I saw you already ordered tea, but I want to suggest tea from Adagio. It’s really awesome tea and you can even order little sample tins of tea for $2. Actually, if you PM me your email address, I can email you a $5 gift certificate for Adagio tea. Also, I learned a lot about tea from this BLOG. Thanks for the nice coffee break (albeit with my own coffee in front of my computer). Have a beautiful evening.
Yes! I will have the decaf pumpkin spice since it is afternoon, and David will have hot chocolate….or tea when it comes! But before lingering on the porch with our drinks and talking the time away….we would like a walk in the woods! We wish!! We loved the virtual walk with you all David said that summer is his favorite time here…but Fall is his favorite with you! Sooooo incredibly beautiful, warm, and yummy!
We are off now on a very hot fall day to clean up the house for our home Bible study…Tues. are our cleaning days. I will pull out my fall candles for tonight Blessings to you all, Jenny and David too.
Do you eat your roasted pumpkin like squash, or do you use it for pumpkin pies? I’ve always found it to be too runny for pies.Your woods are beautiful, Shanda! How blessed you are to have a safe place to walk that is right outside your front door!
A few years ago we went to the Green Mountains in Vermont and my husband tasted Green Mountain Blueberry Coffee. It is one of his favorote flavors! We order it every now and then. What a beautiful area up there. I love seeing your pictures of the leaves changing. We live in Alabama and the leaves do change but not for another month or so…and we don’t have the pretty red colors you do. What a creative God we have.
I am always up for a fresh cuppa…and your flavor sounds just yummy!It was raining too much for any photos outdoors today. Yours were all so nice. I especially liked the pine with the leaves. Wonder what JO is up to today…what lovely things she is capturing to share with us here in blogland.Enjoy your evening, Shanda.
How lovely — I, too, like the evergreen (cedar?) with the red leaves scattered amongst the needles.
Lovely pictures- you have such a good eye!I have a Keurig too- and I don’t even like coffee that much I have a freezer full of the cups, just waiting for folks to stop by. We have the pumpkin, and the gingerbread. I have tried both and they aren’t bad at all. I use my ‘Katie’ (after Katie Couric, because Couric and Keurig sound so much alike, and our appliances get names,LOL) for tea and cocoa. We take it camping, and just about anywhere. One of the best investments I have made. I know you will enjoy your new flavors!
That sounds good!! I will take some. I love flavored coffee, if I can’t get that I do the flavored creamer:)
No coffee for me but i will take a cup of tea it sure looks pretty in your area are trees are just starting to turn he in PA as for the cookie sometimes mine spread out to much but i learn that if i put half of the butter and the rest in shorting they get pretty good love all the picture’s
That Hot chocolate is calling my name lol You seriously have a beautiful “yard” if you can call it that…what a wonderful blessing to be so close to nature and enjoy the sights and sounds of fall so up close and personal…Thanks for sharing…have a great evening!!
Yes I will be right over to try every one of those coffees. I am a huge coffee drinker. The pumpkin looks neat too. I have never had roasted pumpkin! You look so adorable pregnant in the woods with the kiddos.
Shanda,I would love to come for coffee! I just have a feeling we’d be fast friends! Your pictures are enchanting! We are in the process of building a home on an 11-acre wooded parcel of land, and visiting your site gives me a glimpse of what life will be like in a year or so. I’m S-O-O-O looking forward to those daily walks with my children! We are living with my mom right now, along a busy road in a small town, and although walks are a possibility, it’s just not the same as being surrounded by God’s creation. Your property is beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us all! Kris in PA
Just correcting the link from my comment above! I shouldn’t be blogging…I know just enough to be dangerous!
Hiking around your home, taking pictures and coffee too…How I wish I could be there tomorrow!
You are so good with photography! I love your pictures! Did you take a photography class?
Looks like your cafe will be booming!! I love the pictures from your walk. I always enjoy going down the country roads with the trees on both side and the colorful leaves. Thanks for taking us along with you. Poor little pumpkin….hope he was tasty.
I’d love a cup! My coffee carafe is still MIA. I love their Hazelnut Cream. When I was working, that’s what I would drink. Enjoy!
Your pictures are lovely and your coffee looks divine. I am a coffe addict. I managed to totally cut it out this pregnancy, but was SOOOO happy to have it back after Scotty was born! So far it has not affected my nursing. *fingers crossed*
Homeschool Question: I am starting some pre-preschool stuff with my Cadi, 3 days a week for two hours. However, I am having trouble sticking to the schedule some days. It seems as if some days by the time we actually get started it is almost lunch. Some of this may have to do with my having a newborn. But I know you homeschool multiple children. Does it just get easier when they can do independent work? Is that the trick??
@mtc92405 – If she’s only three than I wouldn’t worry about it at ALL if you miss a day, days, or even a week or so! Enjoy the preschool years (they WILL fly by fast!!) and be confident that Cadi is soaking up, and learning from, every part of life; helping Mama cook and clean, playing with her toys, going outside, or simply doing nothing!
I admit the discipline of sticking to a schedule is tough for me, too, but I just tell myself that is a blessing of homeschooling~there are no rules except what works for you. Some women thrive on a schedule but I personally do better with a loose schedule, knowing that with 5 children I have to be flexible. Have fun! Enjoy! Be creative! The family unity that comes with so much time invested in each other is SO rewarding!
My older three are so much easier to teach, because they went to a private school and learned all the basics. My son David is 5 and he currently is attending school, to learn the basics. Each child is so different, so RIch and I are flexible about schooling options, too.
Y’all are drinking life out of a cup, just sipping and savoring each moment. How precious you all are. What a privilege your children have to have you and home with walks in a painted forest, and hearth and cups of cocoa together. Love you dear heart. m in sc
Oh Shanda, your invitation is oh so tempting! I would be there in a heartbeat if I could! I’m enjoying my coffee with cinnamon vanilla creamer this morning. Your pictures are gorgeous! I hope to enjoy a New England fall firsthand someday. Love, love, love seeing your baby-belly!! Roasted pumpkins seeds are one of my favorite- so yummy! Have a wonderful day!
Okay, now I’m feeling invigorated! A cocoa with a shot of gentle coffee would be my order in your coffee shop. And would we all take a walk in your woods? Laughing and talking and singing women all together at your place! Sounds like an awesome “Ladies’ Camp” to me! When can you take reservations?!?! love, Gail
Would love to sit down and have a cup-o-joe with you. . .I am an avid coffee drinker, just simply love it to pieces. When I was pregnant I was so sick I couldn’t drink it at all the first several weeks, but then by the 2nd tri. I began consuming again. . .moderately of course. Coffee is truly my favorite comfort food! Beautiful pics of you and your lovely scenery. . .thanks for sharing—
Frosted Pumpkin, huh? Haven’t smelled that one yet–sounds like a little bit of Heaven!
I would love to come over right now and have a cup, say hi to you all, go for a walk with you, see your basement and your garage, and sing some songs maybe? I love you! Lish
Good Morning Shanda!!
Beautiful, Beautiful pictures. Can me and my 8 blessings come live with you? LOL! Just kidding. You live in such a beautiful place!!
Love the autumn leaves touch on the table cloth!
I had to laugh…..”Its not Fiestaware!”
I thought about ordering that type of coffee too. Is that the one where you get a free coffee make as well?
Thank you for being you!
God Bless You!