Vintage Sailor Wallpaper

Before

After!

It is hard to tell from the finished photo, but I finally found a purpose for some fantastic vintage sailor wallpaper a friend gave to me. I lined the back of this shelf and added some wine glass holders and vu-ah la, a little finished side project in time for our Sojourners Thanksgiving dinner party coming up.

Our family quality time: online. We miss you Joe and Moe!

This was this morning, we made the yummiest pumpkin pancakes and got to chat with Emma & Sophia!

Every morning before work, we sit in our breakfast nook, have a cup of coffee and read the Word. Elliott joins us every single morning. This morning he was happy to talk with Emma & Sophia for a bit too...

No. We did not suddenly have a child. (Although I cannot deny how excited I am when our time does come!)

Last weekend I was blessed by these two little babies that live next door. I was able to babysit them for a couple hours while there parents (of whom never get a moment away!) enjoyed a visiting professor teach at Covenant.

They were SOOO wonderful. Toward the end of our night, (and the end of "the Goblet of Fire") one fell asleep on my lap, and the other on my shoulder. It was so fun to make them laugh...

PS: my lovely succulent has finally grown out the top of my chemistry inspired terrarium!

Dining Room Changes...

Before...

After!... Out with the new and in with the *old*

I recently stumbled upon a lovely antique dining room table at an estate sale that I could not pass up. It needs a little reinforcement and a LOT of Murphy's, but we'll love it all the same.

This morning, Elliott woke me up at 6 am because he wanted to go outside. I couldn't go back to sleep so I made some delicious pumpkin scones for Jonathan before he woke up.

Recipe for the pumpkin scones found here. (Thank you Emily for the good find!) I used homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned and they turned out fabulous!

Happy (Halloween) Weekend!

Happy Autumn

Yesterday, I went Antiquing with an older woman from our fellowship and my friend Stacey. We hit some great places and found some lovely treasures. I fear that I am slowly but surely falling prey to the art of antiquing, I stayed up half the night thinking of all the new and unoriginal pieces of furniture we own, and how I must slowing sell everything and over time be collecting beautiful antique pieces!

Last night I went to the Symphony (by myself). Jonathan enjoys walking around the zoo wednesday mornings alone, just to think and pray. And there is this particular owl he enjoys visiting with. And I enjoy dressing up and dodging leaves on my way to Powell Hall to enjoy the symphony concert alone.

The concert was: Beethoven (1770-1827) No. 4, which was very lovely. However my favorite was the later half: Schubert (1797-1828) Mass No. 6 which was phenomenal. All in Latin, with 4 amazing soloists. One was a big Italian dude, with black sleek hair and an breathtaking voice. Next week: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho...

And I never go a week without listening to some MGMT...

a winery & a punk show

So today, September 27 of 2010 is our 2 year! And over the lovely weekend we went to a winery an hour west from where we live. We did a wine tasting and both agreed on the Tawny Port as the yummiest. We bought a bottle of Claret (the port was too pricey!) and had lunch at another winery down the street from the first one!

Later that evening, we met up with some friends for a punk show (Jonathan's first). We saw Street Dogs, Devils Brigade (Bassist from Rancid - one of my FAVorite punk bands way back when) Flatfoot 56 & The Continentals. It was an amazing show & Jonathan enjoyed it too!

Jonathan & Jonathan (Jay- where were you?)

Meg danced the night away...

An awesome bagpiper...awesome show!

Orchards & Blue Pumpkins

Jennie, Gary's wife, has finally returned from the Appalachian trail! She completed the entire trail in 3 summers and she is finally home! Gary & Jennie are our lovely neighbors that live above us. (And Gary is our handy landlord as well) but more than neighbors, and business, they are our good friends! It was probably our mutual passion for Jane Austen that sparked such a friendship. So now we pass along Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, the original P&P, and all the Austen classics from living room to living room....

Today, we went to a nearby apple orchard for some picking! It was beautiful and the apples were perfect.

Jonathan was pretty excited that we picked "Jonathan" apples :)

We also picked acorn & butternut squash, peppers and of course...

Pumpkins! (My favorite) We got some white pumpkins for homemade pumpkin pie, and some blue pumpkins just cause they're cute.

Let me know if you have any great recipes involving pumpkin! I think I'll be trying this recipe from a friends blog soon. And my neighbor has a great pumpkin chili recipe that I'm excited to try. Yay for Autumn!