Happy Halloween

These pumpkins were right outside one of my neighbor's windows.

Note: Don't plan to trick-or-treat at my place; I won't answer the door and I have no candy.

Photo assignment

Hahn family photos

I took family photos for my friends today in their backyard (and in front of a neighbor's old barn). It was a perfect Fall day and a treat to photograph their family. Tara's post gave me an ego boost!

Trunk-or-Treat

Cutest little lobster at the party!

The newlyweds

This is a picture of Robes and Kim not long after they were married (27 years ago today) and had moved to Scottsboro, Alabama. Click here to read a previous post and sweet comment by Kim.

Fall, glorious Fall

These photos were taken today on my way to work and the last one was taken along the Charles River after the luncheon where Marion broke the rules and put her salmon in a ziploc bag. This Fall has been wonderful. Crisp days (and some warm days) and beautiful color. I heart New England.

Note: these photos are, as they say, SOOC.

Just try to stop her

I attended a lunch today with some older ladies (older than me). One of the ladies named Marion asked if she could take her salmon home with her (I heard her exclaim that she thought the salad was the main course). The manager had to tell her a few times that she wasn't allowed to because of food code regulations. It was obvious Marion was not happy with that answer so when the manager left the room she dug a kleenex out of her bag and slid the salmon onto it and wrapped it up. Then she pulled out a ziploc bag, removed the contents and dropped the salmon into it. She showed them!

I know what Marion's having for dinner.

Sweet Harriet

Harriet passed away this morning surrounded by her devoted husband and family. She turned 80 in August and she and Warren celebrated their 60th anniversary earlier this year. Harriet was a gem and will be missed.

Note: This photo was taken on 9/2/10 after we attended the Temple together.

Gooey pumpkin butterscotch brownies

I made these brownies tonight. Well, I think I need to find a 11x7 baking dish if I'm going to make them again and take out a small loan (brownie mix, butterscotch chips, butterscotch topping, pumpkin, butterscotch pudding). They were gooey and good even if my pan was a few inches off in size.

Fall family photos

Ready for the Regatta

I took this photo on Friday on my way to work. This weekend is the Head of the Charles Regatta. Any event with Fried Dough is a good event.

Afternoon in New Hampshire

BIG RED

I just got home from seeing Secretariat. It was fantastic!

I spent the day in Maine...

...with these lovely ladies. They LOVED Maine (I knew they would). We ate at the Lobster Shack (in Cape Elizabeth), shopped (they put the shop in Shop 'til you Drop), saw the Bush Compound, two lighthouses, and the beautiful coast. On the way home we stopped at Mike's Pastry in the North End and I showed them some Boston/Cambridge hot spots. And they got the grand tour of my condo.

The quilt story

I started this quilt a while ago (like May of 2009) for my friend Debbie. The 20 completed squares sat on my table. When she confirmed a few months ago that she'd be visiting in the Fall I decided it would be great to be able to hand her the quilt when she was here. And the completed squares sat on my table. A few weeks ago I finally sewed the 20 squares together and sent it off to the machine quilting lady in Iowa. I got the quilt back last Friday, finished the binding on Saturday, washed it so it was all crinkly and last night when Debbie arrived, I handed her the quilt. She loves it.

Another quilt is done

I love crème brûlée

I love crème brûlée. I always get it when I go to Cafe Lalo in NYC. It's something I've never made but have wanted to and since I recently got a hand-me-down kitchen torch so I really do need to attempt it. Last night some friends invited me over for some homemade crème brûlée.

It. was. delicious.

A good friend...

...doesn't mind picking up your stool softener for you.

Today

I've called my niece Sweet P ("Sweet P for Patton") since she was about two years old. This card has been on my vanity mirror for years. I saw it this morning and it made me smile.

The back story

Click here to read a very nice story (scroll down after the pictures). And, P.S., this guy, Jonathan Canlas is an amazing photographer.

Pumpkin Squares

PUMPKIN SQUARES (I got this recipe from Gloria Daniels)

4 eggs

1 2/3 cup sugar

1 cup oil

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 t baking powder

2 t cinnamon

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

Beat eggs, sugar and oil. Add pumpkin. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture. Pour into greased jelly roll pan. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting

3 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1/3 cup butter

1 T milk

1 t vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla until creamy. Add sugar and frost.

*These make great cupcakes.

Hudson River Valley

I told you it was beautiful!

A stop on the way home: West Point

My plan was to travel home today by way of the Hudson River Valley. It's one of my favorite areas of the country. I got derailed (lost) within minutes of my leaving my friend's home so I went back to their street and backtracked the way I got there Friday night and hopped on the Garden State Parkway. When I stopped the first time I got the Atlas out of my trunk (how old fashioned of me--but mapquest drives me nuts). My plan was to stop at West Point. I visited there years ago and I've known two cadets who have gone there. The first time I visited, I stopped at the cemetery and to my surprise saw the grave of a friend's brother. He died while serving his mission and I believe their dad taught at West Point at the time and that is why he was buried there.Today I couldn't remember where his grave was so I went into the chapel and looked through the notebook and found what section it was in. I love the rocks on the top of the marker. I'm sure someone who loves and misses him put them there. West Point is a beautiful place. Unfortunately I only saw a few cadets in uniform (probably because it was Columbus Day).