Christmas Decorating

I rationalized that this Christmas is the first since we left Alaska that I feel pretty much back to normal. No chaotic feeling, just relaxed with an easy known playlist. I know where I like all the decorations to go, minus a few tweeks, and comfortable with a new routine, even though it isn't much different than any other year. I just don't feel rushed or not sure what comes next. It's a good feeling, one that allows me to feel a post is in order!

 A few photos of Christmas decorating...

I don't have another place in this house for the advent stockings, so in a new twist in place from last year (our first Christmas in this house) they come down on Christmas eve and replaced with our stockings for Santa to fill!

Kevin the elf returned on Thanksgiving and is still hiding around the house each day for Amelia to find.

The Cocoa Station is a must.

Another is the kitchen tree that is still going strong.

Outside the bedrooms we have our fabric ornament tree...not all the fabric ornaments, but most. No easy place to adorn Amelia's Nutcrackers either, so opted for under this tree and around the house instead.

Our basement (or art/office/game room) has two trees, one is our lego tree that I added to our large bedroom in the rental house we had for 2 years here in Illinois (too small for it now) ...

and our Woodland Animal tree where the decorating kind of morphed out of Amelia's Woodland Birthday Party way back when as I had to make the house feel like a forest and decorated many small trees in that fashion.

Originally, our second tree came about when we decided to cut down a small Charlie Brown tree from the woods in the backyard in Alaska when Amelia was 2 or so, that grew (with the number of ornaments) to be our dining room tree that was tall and slender but could hold many ornaments! I think we might need one of those again :)

Our main tree was a real one for a couple years until we realized traveling at Christmas did not allow for this nonsense. The little one we cut down bridged that feeling of loss in not having a real tree for a few years. Now totally at peace with fakes. Someday...maybe a small real one again...will see, but not here...no place to put it!

That angel will always be on top, along with the ornaments we all adore. 

A look back in the blog, I realize I didn't post Christmas 2023 til March! A promise that this one will be posted promptly. At this posting T-minus 4 days til Christmas!

Halloween 2024

Since the squirrels destroyed our pumpkins this year, I decided to take matters into my own hands and carve a few out of plastic. Of course, we had to carve a real one on Halloween...

Amelia headed out with friends for a bit of trick or treating...all were m&m's!

A bit of our Halloween decor...old and new.

Made these candles by putting them in hot water and slowly twisting them into ghost shapes...let cool and then sharpie the eyes and mouth on. 

These hands are Amelias at about 4 years old.

The head will always be our centerpiece!

Amelia and I have been painting pumpkins each year since moving to Illinois. Now we will have a carved one yearly too....that might be too many pumpkins!

The Happiest Halloween!  Now ... CHRISTMAS!

 

Feeling Fall - Apple Pie and Pumpkin Hand Pies

Weather here has just turned to be consistently 70's instead of 80's ... thank goodness. We are still acclimating I think...might take years! It was time to make our classic apple pie!

Amelia and I decided we would try and bake once a week. If you follow our YouTube channel, you will see a segment, Amelia Cooks! We have to get back at it!

Sunday Apple Pie 

½ cup white sugar

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

  3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 (14.1 ounce) package double-crust pie pastry, thawed (see note)

• 6 medium tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced

  *NOTE you can search for Pate Brise in the blog for the crust recipe I use.

  
  

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a baking sheet on an oven rack.

  2. Stir sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a small bowl until well combined. Cut butter into small pieces; divide into two equal piles.

  3. Roll out pastry to an 11- or 12-inch circle; press into a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out top crust and set aside.

  4. Place sliced apples into a large bowl. Pour sugar mixture over top and add 1/2 of the butter pieces. Toss apples until thoroughly coated. Pour into the pastry-lined pie pan.

  5. Dot apples with remaining butter. Place second pastry on top. Seal edges and cut steam vents in top crust.

  6. Set pie on the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour.

     
     
     
     The following weekend we baked Pumpkin Hand Pies. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     I think these would have been better with Apple filling or maybe just cinnamon spice instead of Pumpkin pie spice.  Regardless, they looked fantastic!
     
     
     Recipe: 
     https://www.thecountrycook.net/pumpkin-hand-pies/

End of Summer 2024 Adventures

These two don't see each other for a year, but when they get together... it is like no time has passed. 

This was Sadie's first time flying alone (direct flight from Alaska), so we wanted to make it extra special and not tell her where we would be going for the week. Her first adventure was a Schaumburg Boomers baseball game, complete with hotdogs and stadium food.

During her last visit we hit the Shedd Aquarium, this time we headed to one of our favorites, the Field Museum. 

We arrived at opening and there weren't many people so they could do things like this...uninterrupted.

Sue the T Rex was not to be missed. 

While we lived in Alaska for 20 years, I found that each time we carted our visitors around the state we found something new and added it to our next guests itinerary. We did exactly that by going behind the Field to find the Chicago Lakefront Trail.  We just happened to be so lucky that they were practicing for the Chicago Air Show and plugged our ears as the jets flew by. Just gorgeous views and now a must for new visitors. 

Cut thru to where we strolled by the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park so we could get to our next surprise on time.

Chicago Riverboat Tour! I will be adding this to summer itineraries. Great views of the city and much to learn of the historic buildings and places in Chicago. The girls loved it.

Since we had two horse lovers among us, we ventured to our new favorite restaurant, the Saddle Room. Unfortunately, the service on this day was terrible, but the food was delicious and we will shake that visit off as it was above average when we went prior.

Keeping with horses, a surprise to a nearby top notch horse event was on the agenda.

Along with bowling on a rainy day, bookstore visits and a trip to Saddlers Row, a bit of clothes shopping was necessary. The inevitable end was near and Sadie headed home just in time for....

Summer sure flies by.

Time for Fall and all the goodness it brings! 

Summer Keeps Rolling Part 2

 

My sister came for a short visit and we wasted no time in getting to Chicago early for a breakfast at Eggy's.  Delicious and will remember this spot for future visitors. 

This was her first visit so The Bean was a necessity. It was closed the last time we were here for polishing and we found a new photo opportunity inside!

Amelia and I missed the opportunity to go to The Art Institute of Chicago a couple years ago during a family visit. Covid was on the upsurge and you had to present your valid vaccinations to get into any public venue. Amelia had not gotten her 2nd, so we let them venture to the museum without us. We were excited to go this time and were not disappointed!

I think this was Amelia's favorite Chicago museum so far.

Had to hit the gift shop for a tote bag.

All in all we walked 10 miles and ended at Navy Pier. 

That's the way to get your steps in!

Amelia's friend Sadie was heading in from Alaska...more on that next post.