~ how could anything be more fun?"
~ Katherine Graham
That quote came to mind this week for me as I started working outside the home for a few hours two days a week, and also when I had a "nesting" day (as my husband calls them) on Friday.
Our daughter began classes in grad school this week, working towards her Master's. Those classes are in the evenings, and she began teaching at a Christian school (our former homeschool co-op we belonged to during our homeschooling years) two days a week. She's teaching 9th grade American History and 10th grade World Literature. Since they still had a few openings after she applied, I offered to teach, too. I have the 9th grade American Literature class.
I taught there a few years ago and really enjoyed working with the high school students, and it's just as much fun now. The kids are great, and I also enjoy hearing about our daughter's experiences in the classes she's teaching. Of course, we've both been spending much of our free time the last few weeks writing lesson plans, homework assignments, and welcome letters. But, now most of the initial work is done, and we're finding other things to add to the previous plans, papers to grade, etc.
With our different schedules each day of the week, I quickly found that meal planning was difficult. So, Friday I spent the day cooking and baking. When my husband walked into the house after work that evening the first thing he mentioned were the various aromas. I told him I had made a huge batch of chili, a huge batch of beef stew (actually, my grandmother's Hungarian Goulash since I use lots of paprika), an apple pie (Mrs. Smith's... I cheated on that one and didn't do "from scratch"), and a cinnamon swirl loaf (also cheating... I used Pillsbury's mix). That's when he said "ah, fall is coming and you're nesting", lol. I told him no, that I was actually stressing about our schedule, but I think perhaps he was right. I have been really focused on autumn these last few weeks!
We had our choice of foods for dinner that night, and then I froze the rest of the chili and goulash in serving-size portions. We emptied, defrosted and cleaned our large freezer in the garage before our vacation, so it was fun to begin stocking it once again. There are three of each meal stored in there now, and I'll be adding to the supply over the next few weeks ~ even if I just make a little extra of each night's dinner and freeze the leftovers.
Yesterday I was still in a cooking mood, so I took four large peaches, peeled them, diced them, cooked them until soft in about 1/2 cup apple juice and 1/2 cup water. When they were soft and much of the liquid was gone, I pureed them in the blender. I ended up with two cups of peach puree. To this I added 1 cup sugar and about 1-1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon, stirred it together, and put it in an 8-inch square baking dish. It went in the oven at 200 degrees for about 4 hours. Every hour I'd stir it to make sure it wasn't sticking. When it was nicely thickened, I removed it from the oven, poured it into a clean jar, and popped it into the refrigerator. We love peach butter and will be using some of it in crepes this week!
Usually when I've made peach (or apple) butter I make a large batch. Then I finish it off in a hot water bath so it's safe and can be stored for quite some time. Since I only made the one jar and we'll be using it in the next few weeks, I skipped the bath. Of course, one of my favorite things about canning the butters is listening to the popping sound of the lids as the hot mixture cools. Oh well, maybe I'll do this again in another few weeks making some apple butter. We've been out of that for some time, so it would be fun to stock up once again.
With our new schedules I've been trying to get paper work and letters written during our breaks at the co-op. That's giving me more time at home to work on some crafts and Christmas gifts. I just finished the second design of Prairie Schooler's "12 Days of Christmas" (I apologize for the poor picture... I'll do better next time). This is for a SAL we're doing on a stitching list and we'll make wreaths with the stitched ornaments.
Last night I just couldn't wait to begin another autumn design, so I began stitching Prairie Schooler's "Thanksgiving Comes Again". It seems to be as much fun as "Pumpkin Patch" was. And that reminds me that I still haven't made that one into a banner. Hopefully ~ this week!
What's new in all of your homes? Is anyone else having that "autumn nesting" feeling??
Our daughter began classes in grad school this week, working towards her Master's. Those classes are in the evenings, and she began teaching at a Christian school (our former homeschool co-op we belonged to during our homeschooling years) two days a week. She's teaching 9th grade American History and 10th grade World Literature. Since they still had a few openings after she applied, I offered to teach, too. I have the 9th grade American Literature class.I taught there a few years ago and really enjoyed working with the high school students, and it's just as much fun now. The kids are great, and I also enjoy hearing about our daughter's experiences in the classes she's teaching. Of course, we've both been spending much of our free time the last few weeks writing lesson plans, homework assignments, and welcome letters. But, now most of the initial work is done, and we're finding other things to add to the previous plans, papers to grade, etc.
With our different schedules each day of the week, I quickly found that meal planning was difficult. So, Friday I spent the day cooking and baking. When my husband walked into the house after work that evening the first thing he mentioned were the various aromas. I told him I had made a huge batch of chili, a huge batch of beef stew (actually, my grandmother's Hungarian Goulash since I use lots of paprika), an apple pie (Mrs. Smith's... I cheated on that one and didn't do "from scratch"), and a cinnamon swirl loaf (also cheating... I used Pillsbury's mix). That's when he said "ah, fall is coming and you're nesting", lol. I told him no, that I was actually stressing about our schedule, but I think perhaps he was right. I have been really focused on autumn these last few weeks!We had our choice of foods for dinner that night, and then I froze the rest of the chili and goulash in serving-size portions. We emptied, defrosted and cleaned our large freezer in the garage before our vacation, so it was fun to begin stocking it once again. There are three of each meal stored in there now, and I'll be adding to the supply over the next few weeks ~ even if I just make a little extra of each night's dinner and freeze the leftovers.
Yesterday I was still in a cooking mood, so I took four large peaches, peeled them, diced them, cooked them until soft in about 1/2 cup apple juice and 1/2 cup water. When they were soft and much of the liquid was gone, I pureed them in the blender. I ended up with two cups of peach puree. To this I added 1 cup sugar and about 1-1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon, stirred it together, and put it in an 8-inch square baking dish. It went in the oven at 200 degrees for about 4 hours. Every hour I'd stir it to make sure it wasn't sticking. When it was nicely thickened, I removed it from the oven, poured it into a clean jar, and popped it into the refrigerator. We love peach butter and will be using some of it in crepes this week!Usually when I've made peach (or apple) butter I make a large batch. Then I finish it off in a hot water bath so it's safe and can be stored for quite some time. Since I only made the one jar and we'll be using it in the next few weeks, I skipped the bath. Of course, one of my favorite things about canning the butters is listening to the popping sound of the lids as the hot mixture cools. Oh well, maybe I'll do this again in another few weeks making some apple butter. We've been out of that for some time, so it would be fun to stock up once again.
With our new schedules I've been trying to get paper work and letters written during our breaks at the co-op. That's giving me more time at home to work on some crafts and Christmas gifts. I just finished the second design of Prairie Schooler's "12 Days of Christmas" (I apologize for the poor picture... I'll do better next time). This is for a SAL we're doing on a stitching list and we'll make wreaths with the stitched ornaments.Last night I just couldn't wait to begin another autumn design, so I began stitching Prairie Schooler's "Thanksgiving Comes Again". It seems to be as much fun as "Pumpkin Patch" was. And that reminds me that I still haven't made that one into a banner. Hopefully ~ this week!
What's new in all of your homes? Is anyone else having that "autumn nesting" feeling??
4 comments:
Wow, have you been BUSY!!! I bet you're house smelled yummy :) I can't wait for cooler weather so that I can do some baking! I've been stitching little fall and halloween patterns this past week--my little way of trying to hurry fall along :)
Joanne, I am so glad to see you teaching again. I know how much you love it! Did you get your lesson planner all in order? I also remember your love of doing that, and buying new school supplies each autumn. Back to school for you!
Autumn nesting is definately going around at the moment! I loved reading about your cooking and making the peach butter. That sounds so delicious and did not seem so difficult to make either. I have never done any canning. That was one thing that my sister did so much but I never did.
It is good to hear that even though you are teaching, it is giving you the waiting time to get some things done so you have more time for your stitching. The 12 Days ornaments look really good. Do you know how you will finish them? And do you already have a wreath picked out for them?
I can hardly wait for fall!! We have had such a warm summer. Baking, sewing, crocheting, all these thing are so much more pleasureable in cooler weather!! Christmas is NOT going to sneak up on us this year!! My husband cannot believe I'm making plans and working of gifts allready. I am blessed by your blog! Thank you, Deb
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