What's For Dinner?

It's my favorite time of year!! I absolutely adore Autumn! I love the crisp, cool morning air and the way the trees sway in the breeze. Autumn in Texas isn't quite the same as Autumn in Michigan. I do miss all the explosion of color on the trees, but I must say I am loving the warm afternoons. It has been in the low 80's lately, but gets cooler at night and then we have those cool mornings. I'm sitting at my computer now, drinking a cup of coffee and putting off getting ready to go to school. I love teaching, but I also love quiet mornings.

One of my very favorite things about Autumn is soup! I love, love, love soup!!! It just comforts like nothing else can (not that I need comforting mind you). It is that warm, yummy food that I could eat bowls and bowls of....however, the waist of my pants won't allow me eat all I want. ha! Last night I made a delicious pot of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. It makes my mouth water just typing those words!! I got the recipe from the MOST amazing soup making woman I've ever met. Debbie is in our church small group that meets on Sunday nights. We met at her house last winter and instead of our usual pot luck style meal, Debbie made each meal for us. She is my hero! She is a fantastic cook! She also makes the most amazing soups. So many of us would ask her for the recipe that she started making giving us these super cute little recipe cards that she even laminated. :) I made her soup recipe last night and although it's yummy, it just isn't quite as good as hers. I'll keep trying... Maybe I just need a bigger kitchen....do you think that would do it?? I am trying to convince Barry that's what I need. I told him last night that in our next house, I need a BIG kitchen and it must have a gas cook top. He, being the sweet guy that he is replied, "whatever you want." Isn't he a gem?!!

Ok...I procrastinated way too long! I better get going so I can spend another day with all my little friends.
So tell me, what's your favorite thing to make or eat this time of year?

Sleeping In Is Hard To Do!

I have the day off today! I've been looking forward to this all week...well, really since school started. You see, I'm normally up at 5:30 every weekday morning. Saturday morning Barry is up early to go officiate football so I don't usally go back to sleep and on Sunday we get up for church. So this was the one day I thought I might get to sleep in. No such luck!

My phone went off at 6:00....it was my sister... She was sitting in line at Sonic waiting to order a Cherry Limeade. What's the big deal about that you ask? Well, today was the grand opening of the very first Sonic in town. It is actually only the 2nd Sonic in Michigan. She grabbed my nephew from his sweet slumber this morning, strapped him in his carseat and raced to Sonic to be the first person in line. (She's a freak!) And first in line she was...she had been waiting in the drive-thru line quite a while when the police showed up to get some order to the place. Apparently there were cars lined up way down the road, holding up the morning commuters. She was interviewed by the local news media....I'm anxiously awaiting that clip on their website. I hope she didn't embarres our family. She can do that...believe me! While she was waiting we chatted and I reminded her to get our mom something. Mom watches Cooper a few days a week and she was on her way to Julie's while Julie was waiting at Sonic. Her Cherry Limeades finally arrived and she was thrilled that she even received a mint....it's the small things people. She started her drive home as we ended our conversation.

Of course, I was unable to go back to sleep so I got up (Barry had no problem going back to sleep) and moved to the couch. I checked some of my favorite websites and got started on some housework.

So much for sleeping in, but at least I got to share in a rare joy for my sister!

Are You Watching?

I'm talking about today's episode of Oprah. It's all about how we can save money with times as tight as they are for so many people. I don't normally get home in time to watch Oprah...or if I am home, I am not watching TV. Today I had some stuff to do on the computer so I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV while working. I can't tell you how many great ideas I'm getting. We don't live beyond our means, we don't have any credit card debt, we don't even use credit cards, but there are soooo many other good ideas.
I know I posted about The Grocery Game before. Yeah...that didn't go so well for me. I know many of you do The Grocery Game, but I just didn't follow through with it. Today I "met" someone else...The Coupon Mom. I gotta tell ya, I love her!!! She just save 71% on a weeks worth of groceries for a family of four. 71%??? That is amazing. She said in the 15 years since she started using coupons and really planning to save on groceries and essentials, she has save $72,000! That is just amazing to me! I need to check out her website and start saving!!