For you Dad.

Russell raked the leaves.
I jumped in the leaves.

It is only 11:30 in the morning. Let me tell you about today so far. I went early this morning to buy dog food and also a rake. I left my wallet, phone, checkbook and everything in the cart that I so dutifully returned to the "cart corral" BUT I didn't realize it until I got all the way home and wanted to leave for class. So, back to the store. Luckily, everything was still in my cart in the parking lot. Next, it's going to be almost 70 today so I wanted to ride my bike. Last week I bought new tubes for my tires because I rode through the desert and there were thorns all stuck in them (man, did I get hassled for that). Russell put the tubes in for me last week and this morning I walked down to the gas station to air them up - this morning. I must have still had thorns in there somewhere because the green slime started shooting out. Hey, that's what the slime is for, right? Fill up those little holes? I took a gamble and I won. I made it all the way to school for the last 10 minutes of my lab. Of course, the tire is completely flat now. I wonder if I can take the bus home...

Is there any more delightful treat combination than chocolate and peanut butter? I think not. I went to the grocery store late this week so I'm not done trying each recipe but I haven't posted any desserts in a long time so this one is for all the Lunn sisters - Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. Trust me, it's restaurant quality.

This is bad. It's going to be a very long winter. We've had two, count 'em, two days of winter-like weather and I'm already ready for it to be done. I've been unprepared - that's the problem. If I had dressed a little bit more warmly the last couple days I probably (probably) wouldn't be complaining. It rained all day long today. Cold rain.

I had to take a picture of my yard today. The leaves are starting to fall off our tree in the front. I have to go out and buy a rake tomorrow. Can you see my pumpkins on the porch? Some lady grew those on her little farm in Nampa. That's the same lady I got all the delish apples from.

Halloween is just around the corner and we still haven't planned the front yard decorations. I want to set it all up like a cemetery and then get Russell to hide in the dark and scare the kids. I think it would be so much fun! I could sit on the porch and drink hot chocolate and hand out candy. It's getting close though, and the closer it gets the less likely it seems that we'll do it.

How mean are we? Halloween is coming up...

A quote from my Relief Society lesson today that really stood out to me:

"We want our women to be well educated, for children may not recover from the ignorance of their mothers"

It is our responsibility to raise our children and we have to know and realize that our children pick up not only on the things that we purposefully aim to teach them but every other belief and value that we have. I just thought it was a really good quote and I feel encouraged. Encouraged, not just to get through school and finish my formal education, but also to broaden my horizons and go experience different things, cultures, everything - to make sure that I have the most broad perspective so that I can be a good mom and teacher to my future kids. You better go read the quote again - that's a much better point to end on.

Oh, and I updated my recipe blog, too.

I also got my hair trimmed last night. Don't you love that?

And I felt like you needed a thumbs up.

I love my dog and everything but I HATE picking up dog poop. I thought the chore would get better once we had a house with a yard. Nope. It's worse. We wait until there is so much poop back there that a run in is a matter of certainty. We could make it a little game and Russell and I will trade off. See how long you can wait to pick up the poop. If Otis steps in some and tracks it all over the house, you lose AND you have to clean it up AND pick up the backyard AND give me a foot rub (notice the confidence with which I can say "give me a foot rub" - that's on purpose - I don't lose). It's an extra gamble around this time too because he's running all over chasing the squirrels. When he's not chasing squirrels, he usually pays attention to where he's stepping, I mean, would you want to step in that in your bare feet? I didn't think so.

You know what else, I've picked up the poop the last 4 times and that's not fair. And yes, I keep track of that.

There is absolutely nothing going on around here. Yesterday was the most beautiful day ever and today - raining. It's alright with me though because it's 3:00 and I'm done with work and school for the day and I'm takin' a nap.

Russell has to stay overnight in Twin Falls because they have more jobs than they can finish in one day. Lucky for him we didn't get any Netflix because he would totally be missing out if we did.

Also, I watched Small Time Crooks again yesterday. It's even funnier now that I work at a bakery. Today when I was mixing a dough, the mixer made the worst noise ever and I said, "It's the cookie press, needs oil" and then laughed my head off. If you haven't seen it, go. Now.

Russell took us to a pumpkin patch on Friday after work. We went to 2 different places. Little ranches really. I bought some butternut squash at the first one - I'm trying a new butternut squash recipe this week. The second place we stopped had apples! A bucket was $3. Russell knew I wouldn't be able to resist. We bought a bucket of Ida Rose. They are so delicious. We went from this:

to this:

I peeled a few too many apples and I couldn't bear to waste them so I made applesauce, too. I've never made applesauce before and I did look up a recipe but I kind of winged it and it turned out dang good. I had it for breakfast this morning. I wish you were here, Bride.

I also added last week's menu to my recipe blog.

I'm working on updating my recipe blog right now...

Also. I saw a bumper sticker today that said "Come to the dark side. We have cookies." It made me laugh.