A Family Fall Saturday

Today was one of those warmer fall days that you just had to take advantage of and we did!

As most of you know during the week, I'm up at 4:30 each day in order to get to the gym by 5 and a workout in by 6. Well, Saturday is my day to sleep in and I'm happy to say that I was not disturbed and got out of bed after 8. I know, some of you are saying that is still early but for me it is 3 1/2 more hours of shut eye. 

Most Saturday mornings Dave heads to the gym by 7 and brings home bagels and coffee.  Today he was right on schedule for my rising.

After a short quiet time in the morning, I headed to the basement to start laundry and Dave to the store to by a second rake. 

I knew that the day was an "at home" day so I chose to make a Crock Pot recipe from my weekly chosen recipes. I got that started to be ready around 5:30 as we would be heading to our church tonight for movie night.

When Dave returned from the store, he and the kids got busy raking the leaves. It is funny, we have no trees on our property and our neighbor's huge oak tree was removed about 2 years ago but we still get a good amount of leaves on our lawn and caught in our shrubbery. It was fun seeing the family pitching in on a home chore. While I was taking pictures, there happened to be an elderly lady walking with her care giver (you can see them in the first picture). I said "good morning" to which they responded "good morning". I took the next two pictures and walked a short distance behind them heading to our side door when I heard the elderly lady say, "It is so nice seeing a family working together." It warmed my heart that the actions of our family made an impression on her. It is those small acts that show God's love through us. 

The kid's were good at pitching in and I didn't hear any complaints. Then again, I was mainly in the house doing inside chores of laundry, dinner prep, coupon clipping and a handful of other tasks. I think they most enjoyed the shoveling of the leaves ...... little do they know this is preparation for this winter's snow shoveling. 

It is always nice after a day of  housework (and to be honest a little napping on the couch in the sunshine), to know that a hot meal is being prepared in the Crock Pot and dinner decisions do not need to be made.

Tonight I decided to make Crock Pot Cheesy Italian Tortellini that I found through Pinterest at the website Keeley Mcguire. This is such a simple meal with the sauce cooking for 6 hours and the tortellini and cheese going in for 15 extra minutes at the end of the cooking process.

Let me tell you this was absolutely yummy!! Everyone gave it a big thumbs up and I will be making it for our company that is coming at Thanksgiving time.
As always, thanks for stopping by!

Spring Cleaning - Outdoors

Here in Northeastern New Jersey we've had a true spring. 

The temperatures have stayed mostly cool with just a handful of days with warmer temps. This past Saturday was the first weekend day when the weather was warm and we were home to be able to "work" the yard. 

This spring the weed cover in the flower beds around our home took on the appearance of a blanket. Thankfully we decided to make the yard work a family work project. All hands were on deck and required to put forth a good effort.

In the front of our home, we have 3 bushes - 2 small pines and another small shrub.  The smaller shrub never really developed correctly so we decided this spring to remove it.

Dave decided to have Emily lend her strength in the removal of the small shrub. She did a great job!! Dave did help with the positioning of the shovel but the effort was all Emily. Go girl!!

Matthew and Emily helped in taking the sad shrub to the yard debris bag. 

About 5 1/2 years ago, we had our underground oil tank removed. Due to its location in the front yard, we had to have our Japanese maple tree removed. Sadly, our oil tank issues didn't end there. The tank had a small leak (the size of the top of a pencil eraser) in it so, we had to have the soil remediated. Then we had to have a well put in so samples could be taken over a period of time to show that the soil was "okay". After those two processes were completed, a report was sent to the state, which sadly did not make it prior to the state changing its soil level requirements. Once again, the soil had to be remediated. Why do I tell you this story? So you are aware that for those 5 1/2 years we have not touched this side of the house in regard to sprucing up in fear of a new dig having to occur. Finally, we did get our seal of approval and this spring we took action. Dave created a new bed around the pine and under a portion of the windows on that side of the house.

When it comes to manicuring the beds, we love the look of black mulch. It makes the light color of our home "pop". On Saturday, we mulched the front and on Sunday Dave mulch the beds on the side of our home.  Now, it is time for color. We are planning to add a birdfeeder post to the one side of the picture window and a birdbath in the area next to where we removed the shrub. Also on the docket, some potted flowers and I plan to paint the front door this spring. It is currently green, the new color is called Spanish Tile, an amazing deep red. 

Things came together nicely and I am happy to report that our temperatures are staying on the warmer side of 60. 

Yard Work the Hard Way

The kids love being outside and the warm weekend has gotten them into the "gardening" spirit.

After practicing for T-Ball tomorrow and a game of flag football, Matt got busy helping Dave with weeding while Emily finished her homework.

When she finished her work, Emily headed out to help and get in a little scootering and bicycling.

At one point, Dave and I were working on something in the house and after a period of time I decided to check on the kids.

This is what I found them doing.....trimming the needles on the pine tree with their "school" scissors. So funny!!!! Matt was putting them in a bucket...I have no idea why.

Emily decided to move her small painted birdhouse from the front of our house into the pine tree - see the red inside the tree? She figured that a small bird will love it as their new home.

By the way, both kids are wearing their new Crocs......Matt's are red and Emily chose these mustard yellow ones, she loves bright colors!!