Dinner Party

Tonight we invited some friends over for dinner. Unfortunately, Ben & Melody couldn't make it, but Adam & Anna and Nathan & Natasha came. It was a fun evening.

Jake came home from school with flowers for me.
Sunday is our THREE month anniversary!

Finishing things up for dinner.

Apple cake for dessert.

**the lovebirds**

Natasha & Nathan

Me & Anna (we didn't get a good picture of Adam-oops!)

Projects

Recently, our church redid some of the pastoral offices.

I was asked to make window treatments for 3 of the offices.

Here are my latest projects!

Assembling the cornice boards.

Covering a cornice board.Sewing the box pleated (board mounted) treatment.Cornice boards DONE & ready for installation.Box pleated treatment DONE & ready for installation.

I'll have to post pictures of them up in the offices. Unfortunately, it was too sunny to get any good pictures of the windows today.

mums the word

I was at Lowe's yesterday (picking up some supplies for the cornice boards that I'm making) and they had mums for only $4. I couldn't resist! It's been fall-ish weather here & what's fall without a mum? I wrapped newspaper around the ugly plastic base & put it beside our fireplace.

Coffee Date

Saturday morning we had a 2 hour delay to WCA Soccer League due to rain. The second Saturday in a row with rain! Jake & I took advantage of it and went to Cuppy's Coffee for a breakfast date. It was so nice to enjoy coffee & a muffin together. We talked while working on a crossword puzzle from the paper--it's still only half-way done. The best part was that our coffee & muffins were FREE! Yay for coupons. We received this coupon in a new move-in packet. We also used another coupon for 3 FREE movie rentals from Hollywood Video. What's better to do on a rainy Saturday than to relax with the one you love & watch movies? :)

A Relaxing Saturday

Last night, at the Carnival, they announced that soccer league was cancelled for Saturday morning-due to rain. YAY! It was a late night with clean-up so we were glad for a morning off. Jake & I are enjoying a relaxing Saturday. We slept in, I made breakfast in bed, & now we're watching football. . .WAITING. . .for the Notre Dame vs. NC Tarheels game. Jake tried to get us tickets to the game, but it didn't work out. Maybe next year.

I'm loving this rainy Saturday--relaxing with my husband!
Here is the new oatmeal recipe I tried this morning:

Oh-So-Good Oatmeal
Taste of Home, Healthy Cooking
October/November 2008

• 3 cups water
• 2 medium tart apples, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• Dash of salt
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring water to boil. Add the apples, oats & salt; cook & stir for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon & vanilla. Cover & let stand for 2 minutes. Sprinkle each serving with almonds.

WCA Fall Carnival Continued. . .

Friday night was the WCA Fall Carnival.

Jake was in the dunk tank from 6-7pm.
He was dunked more times than he could count!
ONE of those was from me. :)

Ben was the next victim, after Jake.

WCA Fall Carnival

The WCA Fall Carnival is this Friday!

We started setting up yesterday after school & should finish set-up tonight. Jake is one of the senior class advisors. The seniors are doing a fun house in the girls locker room & ball room.

Here are a few pictures from Wednesday set-up.

The Smell of Fall

Fall in North Carolina isn't quite the same as fall in Minnesota.

We have been waking up to temperatures in the high 50's to low 60's most mornings this week, but no leaves are turning and the temperature climbs throughout the day. It does feel great to turn the AC off & sleep with the windows open.

Love that crisp & cool air! You know it's fall when . . .

Pumpkin Bars are coming out of the oven.
Pumpkin bars are a Tuttle family favorite. I'm hoping that it'll become a Flaming family favorite too!

Pumpkin Bars

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups pumpkin
• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Blend sugar, egg, pumpkin & oil.

Mix flour, baking powder, soda, salt & spices.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Once cooled, frost with the following frosting recipe:

• 3 oz cream cheese
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 stick margarine
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cream