Happy Halloween!!!! 

Dressing up? Going to a party? Turning off the lights and pretending you're not home?

I have to say, it feels very anticlimactic this year -- I didn't make the time to put out as many decorations as usual, and tonight our son will be heading out with friends.

Change -- it happens all the time, some days the changes are so small I don't notice them, and other days, like now, it feels like a smack in the head with a whole new life stage.  

Really, though, the little changes have been adding up as our son grows -- so back to the original statement that change is happening all the time.

Anyone else grappling with what life looks like with a teenager who isn't around as much? I know it brings on all kinds of new opportunities. Trying to keep that in mind when I feel a little lost in this new stage.

My husband and I are not dressing up, at least I don't think we are.  We may be helping scare other people's children at the high school haunted house. Tonight's plan is still TBD!

Wishing you a wonderful Halloween, and weekend, whatever you do!

Leaves, leaves, leaves -- I love fall and the turning leaves!! Can't get enough of them.  I live in the mountains of Colorado, and feel like I need to soak up every bit of color and store it for the winter.

This year has been incredible -- everyone (everyone - haha, no exaggeration there!) is talking about how amazing it's been.  Usually most of the leaves have already fallen, sometimes weeks earlier.  

It seems crazy to be so gaga about this glorious fall, but when you're looking at not seeing the grass again until sometime in late April, if you're lucky, then maybe it makes more sense that people here are so excited about all the color, the mild, sunny days, the blue skies and golden leaves, and this year we've even had more orange and red hues than normal. 

A few photos I took in the park near our house -- they don't do the scenery justice. My husband took some much better ones.  I'll get those downloaded eventually!

In the mountains, we have mostly aspens, some cottonwoods and willows, and then other varieties -- chokecherries and bushes which give us some dark reds and oranges. These are some photos of the aspens.

I dig the whole fall season.  Crunching in the fallen leaves, drinking apple cider, lighting fall themed candles (spice scents), putting out fall and Halloween decorations, cooking warming meals.  Watching Wallace and Grommit's Curse of the Were-Rabbit (love that movie!). 
I really seem to nest at this time of year.

Though I've noticed that over the past few years as my son gets older and more involved, the fall decorations have been coming out later because I'm busier keeping up with his activities.  At least that's my excuse!

Would love to hear about your fall traditions or favorite things about this season -- and any great, healthy recipes you turn to at this time of year.

Wishing you a glorious season, wherever you are!

What are you waiting for?

I turned 50 a few weeks ago.

Last spring I decided this would be a year of trying new things. 

The celebration began in July when my son and I took a cooking class -- great fun!  It's the second one we've taken together, and hopefully not the last.

Garvin, making the chapatis for our Indian meal.

Love that my son wanted to do this!!!

Signed up for a watercolor class, it was cancelled, so I bought a Groupon to paint at a local art studio with a guided tutorial, and some wine. I'm thinking the wine will be a huge help! That happens next week.

In two weeks my sisters and I head home to visit our mother. While there, my mom and I are taking a cooking class as another birthday treat.

There's a drop-in ballet class to attend on Mondays. Haven't been in a ballet class since I was 10.  I don't remember it as a positive experience, but something is drawing me back. Might be November before I have a free Monday, but it just extends the celebration.

That leaves paragliding.  Wanted to try it for years.  What have I been waiting for?  No idea.

I've just researched the cost and what's involved.  Now all that's left is to schedule it -- no small feat with a teenage son who has activities every weekend. But taking a step I've been thinking about for 6 months feels like great progress!

Exciting -- these new forays.  I guess it's a Bucket List, though I don't have one written down. Maybe that's next.

What's on your list or in the back of your mind? What's a step you can take today to start the process? Join me in doing something you've always wanted.  It's a blast!

I'll post photos after the paragliding.  

Let me know what's on your list!!!

Mongolian Beef

Now that it's turning cooler, I start thinking of using my slow cooker again.  Really, it would make sense to use it in the summer when I don't want to heat up the kitchen, but somehow I have yet to do my meal planning that way.

This is one of my family's favorite slow cooker recipes -- it's just an all-around favorite, come to think of it.  

I found it on Stephanie O'Dea's web site, http://crockpot365.blogspot.com

Mongolian Beef

·                  1 1/2 pounds flank steak

·                  3 cloves garlic, minced

·                  4 sliced green onions--one is for garnish

·                 1 t dried minced onion (or 1/2 fresh onion, diced very small)

·                 1/2 cup soy sauce

·                 1/4 cup white wine

·                 1/4 cup cooking sherry

·                 1/2 T white wine vinegar (optional)

·                 1 t sesame oil

·                 1 t molasses

·                 1 t ginger

·                 1/4 t black pepper

·                 1 t red chili pepper flakes (I used ½ t when not doubling it)

·                 1/2 T peanut butter (if allergic, use black bean paste)

·                 3 T brown sugar

·                 1/4 cup cornstarch (to dredge meat--don't add to sauce mixture)

** Note -- I usually triple the amount of sauce, at least, and sometimes I add julienned carrots and water chestnuts for color and crunch.  My sister adds mushrooms.

Directions

Slice your meat in thin strips and toss in a Ziploc bag with cornstarch.

Add all of the liquid and dried spices to your slow cooker

then the peanut butter -- mix well

Add garlic and three of the sliced green onions.

If you are using fresh onion, add that now, too.

Put your meat on top, and toss gingerly to coat.

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Flank steak is thin, has very little fat, and will cook quickly. If your crock tends to cook hot, check it after 3 hours.

The meat is done when it is no longer pink and has reached desired tenderness.

Serve over steamed rice and garnish with freshly sliced green onion.

Hope you enjoy this -- we really, really like it!