an autumn walk in the woods~

on what was probably one of our last nice days

the pixie paid us a visit

since the temperatures were on the warm side

we decided to take a walk in our woods

and look for the colors of autumn

The leaves fall,

 the wind blows,

 and the farm country slowly changes

 from the summer cottons

into its winter wools.

~*~



a perfect day ~

i love a cold, rainy, windy day

(if i don't have to be out & about)

it's the perfect excuse to

throw a log on the fire...

check

pick a project out of the knitting basket ...

check

light a candle...

check

curl up in the chair with a little dog & enjoy the blustery day

check

what do you like to do on blustery days?

~*~

my daughter said these were yummy::

kale chips????

really?

i had never heard of kale chips

sheesh...

i don't think i had heard of kale at all until i had zuppa toscana soup at olive garden

which i loved and googled & found the recipe

gotta love google

zuppa toscana

the recipe calls for 1 cup of cream

i believe my heart would stop if i consumed that much cream

so i just use a few tablespoons

anyhoo....kale chips

this is a pile of kale

i washed it in cold water with a drop of dish soap

i wash just about all my fruits & veggies in a drop of dawn

because well, you know.....60 minutes had a show about the ports

where ALL your veggies in come in that make it to the grocery and how the men that worked there pee'd

on the produce because they don't have time to go to the bathroom

said bathrooms also didn't provide a place to wash your hands

...ewwwwwwwww

i thought you should know this....

then give it a good chop and a ride in the salad spinner

i 

toss it with some olive oil & sprinkle with

whatever seasoning you like

i used season salt

garlic salt would be good too!

toss it about and put it on a baking sheet with some parchment

&

bake @ 350 for about 7-10 minutes

watch it closely as it can turn to burnt kale chips pretty quick

throw in a bowl & much away!

i thought it was better as soon as it came out of the oven

the girls in my knitting group loved it several hours later

enjoy!

~*~

and last but not least...

the gang

~*~

part three:: the families

* Shannon * Tori * Abby * Hayden *

* Grayson * Adam * Shelden * Abbey * Adelyn *

* Ashlie * Iris * Douglas

part two:: douglas & ashlie

family picture day is always fun

this day was no exception

here are a few more pictures from that day



meet the barkers

(these are the young barkers..*lol*...doug & i are the old barkers)

ashlie & douglas

~*~

fall family fun...part one:: abbey & adam

it's been a few years since we gathered for family photo's

it was a beautiful fall day (albeit chilly)

and everyone was here

all 15 of us!

everyone carried in a breakfast dish

( you know anything that involves our family, involves food)

we snapped several pictures

then indulged in donuts, mulled cider, blueberry coffee cake, breakfast casserole, & oh so yummy calzones

~*~

we'll begin with the deppens

abbey & adam

~*~

On the needles...

~corkscrew mittens~

such a fun pattern!

this pattern is from michelle hunter of the blog "knit purl hunter"

if you haven't been to her blog, check it out

knit purl hunter

she has wonderful detailed video's

&

fun patterns

these are knit with cascade 220

on magic loop

from one skein of each color

you will get two pairs of mittens in opposite colors

i picked up the pattern & yarn from one of my favorite yarn shops

knitting temptations

you can find the pattern from michelle's blog

or on

ravelry

happy knitting!

~*~