Fall!

This summer flew by and was cool and rainy a lot of the time, but it was great anyway. I had a wonderful visit home that was the highlight of my summer. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. It was amazing though. I spent the first couple days helping my family put up corn from the garden and then we all drove to Colorado to go to Family Camp with most of my Mom's side of the family. On the way, we spent a couple days in Denver and got to eat some really good Mexican food that I miss soooo much living here in Vermont. We went to see the new Harry Potter movie (a long standing tradition with my brother Tim) and I really tried to like it. Ever since I read the books though, the movies are harder and harder to enjoy. We also went to the aquarium, which was really fun, and surprisingly good for something so far from any ocean. Also, they have tigers there. I thought they were amazing, but tigers? In an aquarium? Then we were off to family camp for lots of hiking and good family time (the best thing ever) and introducing my nephew to toasted marshmallows. That's right, I got him totally hooked. I'm such a good aunt. Also, I got to see an awesome thunderstorm (another thing I miss since moving away from the midwest) which then turned into a very brief snowstorm. I got tons of great time with my 1 1/2 year old nephew and I even got some hugs and kisses. He's such a sweet little guy and I love watching my sister and her husband with him.

My garden had it's ups and downs. The slugs slowed down a little eventually and I got to eat a few things out of my garden. Of all the flower seeds I planted though, I still haven't gotten a single bloom except for the morning glories climbing the front of the house. I'm hoping some of the perennial flowers will come back next year and actually bloom, but we'll see. I might have to bite the bullet and buy actual plants instead of cheap seeds.



This huge branch fell on my garden and although my landlord kindly came and got rid of it quickly, it landed right on my tomato plants, and they weren't too happy about it.




Sooo, I spent an afternoon digging up this garden in the front of the house, where the sun shines a little more, and planted a whole bunch of bulbs. 25 crocuses, 18 dutch irises, 14 daffodils and 14 tulips. I'm really excited to see them all come up in the spring. All the bricks that line this flower bed, I dug out of my main garden last spring. I don't know why there were so many bricks in there, but I'm glad I found something useful to do with them.




Also this summer, Joseph and I used the internet to teach ourselves to make sushi. It's really not that hard and it's awesome and way less expensive than going out to eat sushi.




I also internet-learned how to make a yummy vegan chocolate cake in honor of the births of our good friends Chuck and Melissa (their birthdays are a couple weeks apart). I used this recipe and it turned out so well that I made a second cake for us after we sent home most of the leftovers with Chuck and Melissa.






I got a couple of my friends to put layers in my hair and I'm very happy with my new haircut. Here is the back of it.





And here's the front.





Joseph goes to a lot of conventions and I usually have to stay home, but I try to go to SPX every year. He has to work quite a bit, but for me, it's just a nice little vacation from work and a great chance to catch up with a lot of friends I hardly ever get to see.




I spent very little time here, behind the table. It's busy and cramped back there and I'm just in the way anyway.




So I spent most of the convention time with my wonderful friends, such as Melissa here.




Kristen and Jacie and I spent an afternoon just napping in our hotel room. It was lovely.




We also went shopping with Emily and baby Gus. It was a great weekend and I'm already looking forward to seeing everyone again next SPX.


Now it's fall here and it's really beautiful. The leaves are all starting to change and this afternoon I went apple/pumpkin picking with Melissa (but forgot the camera) and it was amazing out. For some reason, fall always makes me feel like a total Susie-homemaker. Is that a term everyone uses or just my family? Anyway, I made two kinds of soup in one day, I made blueberry jam, apple blueberry pie, apple sauce, and apple butter. Next I'm making pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. Maybe my body thinks I'm going to hibernate so it's just trying to fatten me up for the winter.




A new blog post just wouldn't be complete without at least one picture of Mosley. He got into a little trouble while we were at SPX but he didn't harm himself and he didn't destroy anything that can't be replaced. He just keeps getting bigger and now that it's getting cooler, he is getting even more snuggly, if that's possible. He likes to try to drape himself around your shoulders, like he's doing in this picture.

The biggest news in my family is that I have a new nephew!! James and Courtney had a baby boy on September 21. I haven't met the little guy yet but from the pictures I've seen and from what I hear, he's pretty adorable. I'm looking forward to meeting him when we go home next January.