Fall, Autumn, Indian Summer

Which ever name you use for it, I adore it. And now that God has moved us to Tennessee, we actually get to enjoy it. The colors, the smells, the baking....

Growing up in Texas we didn't really have Fall. It goes from Summer to Football Season to Cold. In Las Vegas it went from Hot to a Little Less Hot to Ok, This Is Better.

But we are just North enough now to see leaves change and feel a chill in the air and sleep with the windows open. Ahhh...

I am a little sad to see Summer go. I am protesting today by wearing a tanktop an flip-flops with my jeans, but I know I won't be able to do it for long. And I haven't drug the fall decorations from the attic just yet, either. I told myself I'd wait until October 1, so I guess I had better be ready tomorrow.

But it is all around us here. The air is cooler and there are corn mazes and pumpkin patches everywhere you turn.

We drove out to Arrington Vineyards on Sunday after church so that Rudy could buy a gift for one of his managers who was just promoted. They had the nicest Fall display out at the gate and luckily I had tossed my camera in the car.

Aron and I

My boys

Rudy and I....yes, ARON took this picture!

I want a puppy.

It has been a long time since I have been able to say that. After the passing of our last dog, Weasel, my heart couldn't bear the thought of inviting another dog into our lives. It was just too painful.

But lately, I've had the itch. We stopped by an adoption that was going on in Spring Hill and I wanted to take them all home. Then my friend Cissy and her family just got a new puppy and the itch turned into a poison ivy-like fever!

There is a lot to consider, and we don't take the idea of adopting a dog lightly. Adopting is what we will do, either from a shelter or a rescue. I used this random photo of puppies I found just for effect, but maybe a dog that is 1 or 2 years old would be better. I like muts, too. The uglier the better. But, I have to consider breed to a certain extent, since we have a child and the dog will be mostly indoors with us.

I have actually called on two postings from Craig's List (rescue/adoptions only....I am not going to BUY a dog when there are so many that are being given away), but both dogs were already gone. There are a ton more, but I am trying to be careful and take my time.

We have a big trip home to Texas planned around Thanksgiving, so I am considering waiting until after that trip to make the transition smoother for the dog. Maybe for Christmas? I wellcome your thoughts and suggestions.

Oh, boys!

Can't you just close your eyes and imagine the noise levels that went along with this photo?

On Sunday afternoon, we got home after an amazing day at church

and settled in for a lazy afternoon of watching football and relaxing. When we checked the TV schedule for that evening we noticed that the Sunday night game featured the Steelers and the Browns. Now, we have no ties to either team, but we immediately thought of our friends Tim and Cissy. They sometimes wear their Steeler's jersies to church. They are serious fans.

Rudy and I decided that we would call them up and invite them and their boys, Jackson and Sam, over to watch the game.

Aron adores their boys and they are so sweet and playful with him! Aron calls them "my guys". They even showed up with an extra jersey for him to wear!

The game was good. (the Steelers won) But watching these 3 boys wrestle and play and laugh was the best part of my weekend! God has blessed us with so many wonderful friends to share our life with and it makes my heart smile to see my little guy so happy with "his guys".

What I've Eaten

I borrowed this from Flea's blog. I thought it would be fun, since I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater and having lived overseas and all. But there were some things I had never heard of before! Let me know if you decide to try this, too. Maybe you can clue me in on a few of them!

Here are the Rules:
a. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
b. Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (I made them red so you could see them)
c. Cross out or italicize any items that you would never consider eating



1. Venison -My BIL makes the best jerky, and deer chili and sausage are good...
2. Nettle tea - what?
3. Huevos rancheros -delicioso!
4. Steak tartare-I would, but haven't yet
5. Crocodile/alligator -yep, In NOLA once. Flea is right, it is more like pork than chicken
6. Black pudding-that doesn't sound appetizing
7. Cheese fondue -Love it!
8. Carp-I didn't think they were edible!
9. Borscht - haven't had the opportunity
10. baba ghanous- this is good stuff...try it next time you are having Mediterranean
11. Calamari - Fried or grilled with lots of fresh lemon...yummmmmmm
12. pho - Oh, yeah! This is Vietnamese soup and it is amazing
13. PB&J sandwich - well, duh! Although now I prefer Natural PB and Jelly from NC or TX
14. Aloo gobi - huh?
15. hot dog from a street cart - hope to try one in NYC or Chicago one day...for the experience
16. Epoisses - not sure but the word looks too much like Opossum
17. Black truffle-not yet
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- well, my answer is yes if it has grapes, in addition to other fruit
19. Steamed pork buns- like buns or buns?
20. Pistachio ice cream - I din't care for it
21. Heirloom tomatoes - I love all tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries - we picked dew berries (black berries in TX) off the fence line as a kid.
23. Foie gras- no thanks!
24. Rice and beans - all kinds!
25. Brawn, or head cheese - that is just wrong!
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - yeah, that's a Habanero and I'm not dumb!
27. Dulce de leche - yes
28. Oysters -" love, love, love them lightly breaded and fried, especially on a po boy. But raw? Why eat snot willingly?" I am stealing Flea's answer on this one
29. Baklava - yep, but I don't love it.
30. Bagna cauda - sounds like a graduation honor...like cum laude or something
31. Wasabi peas - spicy and crunchy snack!
32. Clam chowder - too stinky for me
33. Salted lassi - I don't like the sound of this one...
34. Sauerkraut - on bratwurst! MMMMMM!
35. Root beer float - yum-O!
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - a long time ago...I'll pass on the cigar next time
37. Clotted Cream Tea - I like my Tea sans clots
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - is this like a jello-shot?
39. Gumbo - Yes, please!
40. Oxtail- want, too. I hear it is amazing
41. Curried goat - no.
42. Whole insect-No, only half. JUST KIDDING!
43. Phaal - no, but I want to try more Indian food. Tara, let's go!
44. Goat’s milk - no, but let me know when it's made into cheese!
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/€80/$120 or more - I'm too cheap, but if you're buyin'...
46. Fugu -NO! Isn't it possible to die from eating it? (pufferfish)
47. Chicken tikka masala- see number 43
48. Eel - yes, while having sushi. I will pass next time
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - I don't do donuts anymore
50. Sea urchin- see 48
51. Prickly pear - Oh, prickly pear margaritas at Trudy's in Austin! Brings a tear to my eye...
52. Umeboshi - I know I had this when we were in Japan, but I am not big on pickled things
53. Abalone - Wikipedia calls this a "sea snail", so I won't be tryin' it!
54. Paneer- Wikipedia calls this "cheese", SO I WILL be tryin's it! Soon.
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Yes, but I don't want to talk about it.
56. Spaetzle - bless you.
57. Dirty gin martini - I thought I was hot-snot one time on a date with Rudy and ordered one of these at a jazz bar. I had no business drinking that and it about kicked me off my chair!
58. Beer - yep
59. Poutine - http://www.answers.com/topic/poutine, look at that! It is a heart attack! NO!
60. Carob chips - fake chocolate. Yucky
61. S’mores - Only when outside. Microwaving is cheating. Yes, I am a s'more purist.
62. Sweetbread -In Tejas they call this Pan Dulce. No, thanks. I have my own stomach lining!
63. Kaolin - Ok, I tried to search this, but I came up with clay. no.
64. Currywurst- that sounds awful
65. Durian- Seen it on TV. I am not big on stinky food.
66. Frogs’ legs - once, I was a kid and my Mom ordered them somewhere.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears, and funnel cake -not sure what the ears are, but I like the rest!
68. Haggis - wishing I hadn't searched this one...ew!
69. Fried plantain - SO good!
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette- ugh
71. Gazpacho-yes, please
72. Caviar and blini - I'll stick with chicken eggs, thanks
73. Louche absinthe - no desire
74. Gjetost, or brunost- who?
75. Roadkill - come on!
76. Baijiu - no thanks
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - a long, long time ago.
78. Snail - OK, have you seen Elf? That part when he is picking the chewed gum from under the subway railing and chewing it. Well, do that instead! It's the same thing.
79. Lapsang souchong - Well, thank goodness for the internet. Now that I know what it is I might try it.
80. Bellini - yes!
81. Tom yum- no, but I'd try it
82. Eggs Benedict -mmmmm!
83. Pocky - Ate these as a kid in Japan. Look it up!
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant - What do tires have to do with this?
85. Kobe beef - Call me if you are cookin' up some and I'll head right over!
86. Hare - I don't think I could eat a bunny...unless I had to.
87. Goulash - sounds gooey
88. Flowers - Squash blossoms are so good!
89. Horse - mean!
90. Criollo chocolate -if I get the chance
91. Spam -never again
92. Soft shell crab - mmmmmmmmmm ...
93. Rose harissa- never heard of her
94. Catfish - there are much better fish...but I will eat it fried!
95. Mole poblano - sign me up
96. Bagel and lox - OK
97. Lobster Thermidor - I don't think that was his name
98. Polenta - yum!
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - gotta get some! love coffee!
100. Snake - actually, yes. I had it in a soup in Japan. Not bad.