Trunk or Treat

We had a great time tonight at Cameron's school. They had their annual "Trunk of Treat". St. Thomas More sponsors this event annually for their students and families. Families decorate their trunks and pass out candy to the kids. It was a lot of fun and a great fellowship.

My big Dino. Cameron is wearing his "love me down" from his cousins. I loved this costume 8 years ago when Nate wore it.

Cameron and his teacher, Mrs. Tanner. We LOVE her. She is the epitome of what a kindergarten teacher should be. She loves these kids and they love her!

Cameron and his buddy Chayton. They were also together in Preschool.

One of the many decorated trunks we visited.

Mr. Miller all bundled up. It was a little breezy tonight.

Henry in his Dino costume. This was also a "love me down" from his big brother. Time for a little snack. Daddy and Junior Mint went back to the car while I finished "Trunk or Treating" with Cameron and Chayton.

We had to make one stop on the way home. The boys didn't make it. This is even after Cameron had sampled some of his loot.

Courtesy of Cameron

Needless to say it has been a very long week here and it is only Thursday. Junior Mint developed an ear infection in each ear, Cameron had 1/2 day today and is out tomorrow and its Halloween week and I still have one costume to alter. Cameron decided yesterday that he was going to help out and take some pictures for me and the blog. So here you go. This is Green Acres through the eyes of a 6 year old.

Poor little Henry, his eyes got the infection too. Not contagious but miserable. His big brother used to do the same thing and that was my clue it was his ears. He is feeling much better today!

I think he did pretty good, don't you?

We will be back soon!

As you know we came home Sunday night from the farm and Henry has just not been himself. It turns out that our little "Junior Mint" has a double ear infection. I have been taking care of the wee one and I am sorry for no recipe today. We went to the Doctor this morning and the Chiropractor this afternoon, he should be feeling better soon.

I will be back in full by the end of the week. Take care and I hope you are all having a fabulous week.

Sunday Morning Walk

We went to the farm this weekend in Newton, Kansas. Mr. Miller's Grandmother is soon to be 89 and still doing well out on the homestead. I love getting away to the farm and it is such a good feeling to know that my boys are the 6Th generation of Miller men to be running around out there. I will be sharing stories and photos of our adventure throughout the week with you.

These photos were from mine and "Wonder Mutt" aka Peanuts walk early Sunday Morning. Thank goodness we were outside of town and in the country because I am sure I was a sight in my PJ's, Ugg's, and Mr. Miller's John Deere Parka.

It was so amazingly peaceful and calm. I felt like I was walking hand in hand with God and he just kept patting me on the back and saying you are doing it Mama and keep up the good work. Look at his wonders that he showed me.

This is my personal favorite and view that I woke up to from my bed.

My first custom project!

I am so excited, I just finished my first custom wool set. I made this for a girlfriend of mine and her sweet daughter Bella! It is made from a 100% Lambswool Gap Sweater! So cute and I have enough of the sweater left make at least one more set!

These will sell for $15 for just the Longies or $20 with the matching hat. I love being able to reuse something to make it new again!

Final Harvest

Well, the garden is officially done. I finished pulling out the limp vegetable plants last night from the garden. I even got a small harvest to bring in and add to tonight's taco bar. I harvested 2 carrots, 1 bell pepper and 3 jalapenos. I will chop up all of these and add to the ground turkey. I will take the seeds out of the jalapenos. I will also add some diced white potatoes. This makes a great filling and will stretch that pound of meat into 2 dinners and a lunch for us.

I feel that we had a rough garden year and that the weather sure didn't help. My tomatoes were a bust due to the fact that it just didn't get warm enough. We know what happened to the cukes, squash and pumpkins, and lets not forget the squirrels love of my corn plants. I have taken many a note and have already started planning next years garden. I am hoping to actually get enough next year to can. It was fun and provided a great learning experience for all of us.

How did your gardens do this year? Any tips to share with the other readers? Please make comments so we can all work together for a more bountiful harvest in 2010!

Turkey Kielbasa Soup

I made the perfect fall soup this weekend. Turkey Kielbasa Soup, it has to be the perfect soup for fall let alone the month of October. We had enough for 2 nights dinners and a couple of lunches. I would imagine that you could freeze this as well. It does have sauerkraut and most kids are not fans so what I did for Cameron was just pull out sausage and some of the apples and potatoes and he loved it!

crockpot turkey kielbasa soup

2 rings of turkey kielbasa, cut into 1 in pieces

2 cans sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into rings (I used honeycrisp)

1 onion, thinly sliced and seperated into rings

2 1/2 lbs red potatoes, quartered

32 oz of chicken stock

shredded swiss cheese

1. Place half of the sausage in a crockpot and top with sauerkraut.
2. Cover with remaining sausage, apple and onion.
3. Top with potatoes and add stock.
4. Cover and cook low for 6 - 8 hours until potatoes are tender.
5. Serve with shredded swiss cheese on top.

I hope you enjoy, make a little salad and grab a baguette and you will have a happy tummy!

We made it to Six!

We made it to 6! I am not sure if he survived making it to 6 or if Mr. Miller and I just survived the first 6 years? We had a wonderful and busy birthday weekend here at Green Acres. Thank you for all of the warm Birthday Greetings for my sweet Cameron! Here is a brief overview of our "Dino" party we had on Sunday. It was an amazing party full of friends and family! I just love it when your house if overflowing with laughter and love!

Cameron working on his "Thank you" bags for his guests when they would leave. He helped Mama all day on Saturday setting up for the party. OH, don't worry we took time out for a little private celebration on Saturday night with Mama, Daddy and Junior Mint since Saturday at 5:58pm he officially was a big 6 year old!

We made our own fossils. Miss Colette, our neighbor, made the sign for the table. Isn't is great? She is a lovely women and we are blessed to have her for a neighbor, actually I feel that way with all of our neighbors.

Here are their finished projects. I found the recipe at www.crafts.caboose.com/fossil. So easy and they had a blast.

Aunt Erika helped supervise the fossils.

Our end results.

We playing put the fossil on the dinosaur!

We of course opened presents. Pre sugar rush! Tony, Miss Kristi, Mimi and Junior Mint supervised! Mr. Tony comes over to push the boys on the swing and makes Cameron touch the clouds!

Miss Mendi helped with crowd control at the snack table! We served a few of Cameron's favorite snacks. We had grapes, strawberries, cheese, rice crackers, veggies and Mama's Black Bean Dip!

I decided on cupcakes this year. I found a GF Devils food cupcake recipe at http://www.glutenfreemommy.com/. She has great ones. I made Ina Garten's Cream Cheese frosting. MMMM, good!

The kids decorated their own cupcakes!

Enjoying the fruits of their labor!

We then sent them outside to run off the sugar. I am so grateful to have 3 older nephews to help arrange a game of kickball. Thank you Nate, Daniel and Jacob!

Miss Carolann and Eric helped celebrate the day. Eric works with Mr. Miller and is one of Cameron's favorite guys!

Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff came to celebrate!

Thanks to all the family and friends who helped make it a success!

"Let the wild Rumpus begin!"

We are having a birthday here tomorrow! Cameron is going to be six! I just can't believe it. Six years ago today at this time I was at the Doctor for my 40 week appt and Dr. Bradley was telling me to go home, pack my bags and that he would see me at 4pm for my induction. I remember just looking at him in a daze, while Mr. Miller and Nana scurried around preparing for the big arrival. I don't know what we would have done without her for the week leading up to and the weeks after he blessed us. I remember how amazing it was to not only have Mr. Miller by my side but four of the most amazing and strong women I know there too. I had my Mom, my sister Erika, Nana and Mr. Miller's Grandmother, Gigi. Erika was an amazing Doula to both me and Mr. Miller, while the Grandmother's Three sat in the corner having there own stitch, chat and coffee. It was a long 23 hours and the room was so filled with love and the sounds of Jimmy Buffett, I will never forget any of it. Thank you to all of you for your support on that very special day in our lives and the years that have followed. We are all the better for it!

We didn't know what we were having or what we were in for, but it has been the most amazing ride.

I am going to be spending the day getting ready for our Dino Party on Sunday. We are going to play games, make dinosaur fossils and decorate our own individual cupcakes. Busy, busy, busy, Henry and I are going to be very busy today getting ready for Big Brothers special weekend!

It's here!

Today was the big day! My favorite FED EX truck made a delivery... "my Lovah" is sitting in my living room as I type this. The box is large and I have not opened it yet. I have a crazy next few days with preparations for Cameron's 6Th birthday party. I will probably be on hiatus for the next couple of days.

It must be the day for deliveries because Henry's baby legs and my order from http://www.hipmountainmama.com/ showed up too. Check out her sight. I got a new diaper and rattle for Junior Mint as well as his first car. I also ordered some oatmeal soap. Here is a picture of the soap I ordered, just $4. Can't beat that!

I just love delivery day, don't you?

Corn Chowder

Soup season is upon us and one of my favorite soups is Chowder of any kind. I am quite certain this has to do with the fact that I am a transplanted Northwesterner. I know I am land locked in Missouri but a girl can dream that some day she just might get back to the beautiful Northwest.

I came across a Corn Chowder recipe and with a little "tweaking" it made a wonderful, truly tasty and hearty soup. I think next time I might just add some chicken.

corn chowder

2lb white potatoes, cut into cubes

1 bay leaf

3 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 large onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

4 celery stalks, chopped

2 tsp cumin

3 tbsp corn starch or flour

1/2 tsp sage

1/2 pepper

2 cups milk, I use skim but it is matter of preference

16 oz frozen corn or kernels from 3 ears

1. Cook Potatoes and bay leaf in 4 Cups of water. Important that water is measured out because you will be reserving it and using it!

2. While potatoes are cooking until fork tender, chop onions, peppers and celery and set aside.

Look at the amazing color of these vegetables from www.freshconnectkc.com

3. Put butter in large pan and saute' your trinity of veggies with the cumin. Let me tell you that the smell is heavenly!

4. Once the veggies are tender remove from heat and add your flour and a little of the potato water. (See I told you that it was useful and you aren't done with it yet.) Add sage and Pepper, mix well.

5. Next add your potatoes, reserve water, milk and corn. Return to heat and stir until thickened at hot.

Doesn't this look amazing? It was wonderful. We had it with cornbread and what wonderful combination it was! Enjoy, let me know what you think.

"Hello Lovah!"

As many of you know I am a wannabe maker of my own diapers for Junior Mint and that I have been wanting a new Serger to help make my dream a reality, well my dream maker is on its way from Nana and Pops. That's right I am getting a Serger for my birthday and Christmas present. It is a little early, but I believe in celebrating all year round. Let me introduce you to my new favorite little machine here at Green Acres.

"Hello Lovah!". OK so I know it is not the Manolo's that Carrie referred to in my favorite show of all times, but to me it is equal in comparison. I am counting the days until the Fed Ex truck shows up at my door. Thank you Nana and Pops, Junior Mint will definitely have a styling Bum Bum and I am sure it is going to be a pretty great heart made holiday season!

On a side note I am celebrating my 2000Th visit to my blog today. Thank you to all of my followers, if you have not signed up to be a follower what are you waiting for?