Autumn!

 I really love this time of year!  My neighbor has wonderful apple trees in her backyard.  For our annual Halloween block party I picked apples from the neighbors yard and sticks from my own yard to make these seasonal caramel apples.

 Baked a batch of (flat) snicker doodles and topped them with pumpkins....mmmm!

 I burn this candle on Saturdays...but it's not bring the Dawgs any luck.

 Of course I made a huge batch of my caramels...http://athomeingeorgia.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-most-prized-recipe.html, you can click the link if you would like to make my most prized recipe. 

 Massachusetts is beautiful this time of year!

 Made some yummy pumpkin granola.  This was my first time making granola.  It's easy!

My local goodwill is full of the most amazing fun things.  One day I walked in and they had tons of old Ball jars for $1.  I bought them all!  For a fun fall treat I made a pumpkin scrub.

Pumpkin Scrub

1 cup brown
1/2 cup white sugar
1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup vegetable oil

If I Only Had A Heart...

We went on a beautiful drive on State Highway 202 today into Connecticut.  Not that Connecticut is far...it's only about a 10-15 minute drive from my house to the state line.  As a matter of fact I live 10 miles north of the Connecticut boarder and 40ish miles south from the Vermont boarder, Massachusetts is not that big but it is beautiful.  Anyways we stopped in the town of Simsbury, Connecticut.  It's a nostalgic little town with a quilt store I really like and a scrap booking store with the sweetest owner.  The Wizard of OZ is one of my most favorite movies ever, so when I found this paper today I HAD to buy a few sheets.  Even though it was a gorgeous day to be outside I stayed inside in my craft room all evening making cards.  That tin man is absolutely the cutest!

Giving this blogging a try...

 I can't believe I am blogging.  It's been like a year.  We are all moved into our new beautiful home in MA.  During football season Steve hung his flag ON THE HOUSE.

 I live right near where they make Yankee Candles...yes my closet is FULL of them.

 We also live near ESPN.  Steve wants to work here!!!

 The fall here was breathtaking.  This is our street.

 These are all the neighbors on the street.  We had a Halloween party. 

 The week before Christmas we went to NYC.  While our boys were off to basketball games in the big city us girls we to see the Rockettes...WOW!

 We rode bikes around the entire 7 mile loop of Central Park.

 These are some wrapped Christmas gifts I gave out.  The pine came from the forest in our back yard.  I loved the simplicity of it all.

 We have a gas fireplace you just switch on with a light switch but with all the birch trees around here I had to bring some indoors.

 On New Year's Eve I went shopping and bumped into these cool chairs for the island...my kids actually begged me to get them.  At first I wasn't sure but they have grown on me.

 I am having a ball in my new house.  I painted the back of my front door blue...

and counted our steps to the second floor.  It's been so much fun.  Well maybe I'll get back into this blogging thing.

Taking Pictures...

 My wonderful neighbor who I will miss sooo much has gone with me to take tons of pictures of all our kids the last 3 days.  It's been so much fun playing like that.  My movers are here today so I have been sitting here playing with some of the pictures.  Now I want to go back out tonight to take more.

California Girls

Check out these sweet California Girls....Madi & Imani.   We are thankful the Air Force sent our families to California at the same time...even it's it just for a short time.

My neighbor Tina and I took our kids out last night to the orchards behind our house to capture shots of all the kids together before we move.  We got chased away by a bobcat/lynx.  Glad we got great photos because we are not going back to that orchard...scared us almost to death!  California is FULL of wildlife.

Italian Pasta!!!

 This is my Italian friend and neighbor.  She is such a good cook!  Barbara has taught quite a few good recipes.  This past week when the kids were in school she invited over to her house for a day of pasta making.  Look at her posing with her killer pasta rolling pin.  My hands, shoulders and arms hurt sooo bad after all that rolling!

 Ravioli is really fun to make.

My dinner was so good.  Sweet Barbara bought me the cutters I need to make this after I move this summer while she was in Italy.  So nice!  Well I can't wait to make this again after I move.  Oh, she also showed me how to make tortellini and spaghetti noodles.

Dedicated To The One I Love!

I have always teased Steve...and I always will.

Back To School

 Even though we are moving soon I let my kids start school here in California...they BEGGED AND BEGGED.  You can't tell your kids no they can't go to school.  They love school.  They don't like weekends either.  They want to go to school as many days as they can here.  Steve and I crack up at their love of school.  Everyone keeps asking my kids how they feel about moving.  They usually answer with a shrug.  This moving every year is all they remember right now.  They will have been to four different schools all over the globe in the last four years...Georgia, Korea, California and Massachusetts.

Yesterday I had these pictures of the Ben and Madi taken.  I love the back to school time of year.  It's almost football season, baking season, decorating season....I need to get moved so all the fun can begin.

Hand Warmers

I have never lived anywhere that is as hot as California.  We have been at 110 degrees a few days and well over 100 for days.  It's a dry heat but boy does that sun sting.  I am more tan this summer than I ever have been.  Even though it's 110 degrees I am getting ready for winter in Massachusetts...I made hand warmers.  So fun, easy and everyone enjoyed picking out their own fabric.  All it was was 5 inch squares of fabric lined with  2 squares of felt sewn together and stuffed with rice.  Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave and there is a cute way to fight off frostbite.

For My Kitchen & In My Kitchen

 I am so excited for Autumn!!!  This year should be really wonderful once we move up to New England.  I have always wanted to go visit there during the Autumn and now I will be moving there.  These spooky wash clothes were fun and relaxing to make.  I am saving them for the next few months to use in my new kitchen.

This is a peek into my new kitchen...well I am not there yet.  I just love it.  I love the white, the black granite, the framed window that opens like french doors, the back splash and get this it's topped off with a walk-in pantry.  My heart beats so fast every time I think about it.

Jr. Giants

 We have been busy with baseball all summer.  The last game is this weekend.  The San Francisco Giants have this Jr. Giants program for the kids...it's all free.  You get shirts, hats, gloves...and even tickets to their games.  When we went to a Giants games they talked about the Jr. Giants program throughout the 9 innings.  Steve has been pitcher and coach for the kids which has made it extra fun.

Our Colonial House In Massachusetts

Steve found our house!  Today our offer was accepted..  I LOVE it.  It's so colonial!  It has a huge yard, over an acre but yet in a neighborhood with sidewalks.  The kitchen is white with black granite counter tops.  I can not wait to get there and decorate!  Steve kept telling me we need to buy a house when we get to Massachusetts because the interest rates are so low now.  3.25% interest is what is making this dream come true.  Steve is awesome!  This is the 3rd time he has gone ahead of the kids and I to buy a house and every time he keeps getting better at it.  

Neopolitan

 I am in denial over moving...I have been crocheting all the time.  The other day I crocheted some new neapolitan wash clothes for my kitchen.  Sweet huh?

This little guy is sweet too.  He plays basketball ALL day!