Back in the Kitchen

I think its safe to say Fall has arrived, the birds are back at the window feeders, the leaves are starting to fall to the ground and the night holds a chill.

I had the urge to pull out some canned pumpkin and do something with it, by something with it I mean "bake".  So off to Pinterest I went and started looking up recipes.  One of the ongoing challenges of my amputation is that for the two months that I was in hospital and then 3 months that followed I wasn't able to stand in my kitchen and prepare meals or bake treats which also means my pantry supplies are sadly lacking.  Happily I still had pumpkin sitting waiting for my return and I opted to make dog treats for my puppies, the first time I have baked anything for them since my surgery in January.  The kids were also on my list but when I went to grab some chocolate chips, the cupboard was bare...need to restock those little morsels of goodness.

I made a few jars of plum jam with the bounty off our backyard tree, I thought about making some fruit leather too but laziness got the better of me and I decided to just be happy with the jam.

From this do to that do

We have been fighting/scrapping/pleading with our son since hockey season ended in March to get a haircut.  I tried negotiation, begging and even bribing but to no end.  Finally this August while we were on holidays we succeeded in convincing him.  He walked into the Salon in a mood...pouting/angry/very unhappy with his parents but to my amazement he walked out with a smile on his face, even let us take a picture of the new do.  Said he wished we would have done this at the beginning of summer...hmmm...boys!

Before

 After

Now we are ready for hockey season again, too bad we skipped soccer season!

Honey, fresh fruit and excited teens

Today was a busy one.

My son had his "Move into High School" day at his new school, he got to load his locker up with his supplies and see his home room as well as where his classes will be this semester.  I am happy to see how excited he is to get back to school as he is not usually one who cares much for it.  He takes after me, doesn't really like school but goes because he has too.  So its encouraging to see him smile and want to take part in this first step before classes begin.

Last night we had a visit from our local neighbourhood bear and he was thoroughly enjoying the plums off of our tree in the backyard, to keep him from demolishing the tree and keep the conservation officers away we headed out to pick the tree clean, knowing full well our friendly (when hiding behind walls and windows) fruit eating fuzzy com padre will be back tonight if we don't.  I was pretty happy to see we actually had some plums this year as the last couple have been bad years, leaves were worm eaten and plums looked pretty sad.

Guess now I've got my work cut out for me trying to see what all I can make with them.

While out front waiting for my daughter to jump in the car for soccer practice I noticed this fellow working his little heart out...makes me wish to have my own backyard beehives...oh that's a dream for another day.