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1. ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?
In the family I grew up in, singing was something my parents enjoyed and that has been passed down to me and most of my siblings. Singing at church and singing when we had company over was a regular thing. Singing in choirs, singing in quartets, trios, duets, singing in Russian and in English, singing for recordings, and for me, singing in a Christian ‘rock’ band. Greg and I met because of that group.
The Russian Sacred Singers of Los Angeles are a group of California young people of Russian background. They sing in English and Russian under the inspiring leadership of director Leonard Wozniuk. The unique bi-lingual choir responded to our challenge to record their selections for radio use. Today, their joyful singing is heard world-wide over several short-wave radio stations and over local broadcasts in North and South America.
I’m on the bottom right, my sister, my cousins, and best friend complete the row. Second row on the left are two more cousins. The director is my brother-in-law. The Russian Choir and the Rock band were active in the 70’s!

Greg and I are on the right end of this photo. The photo was from somewhere in England, possibly Liverpool.
2. Something you’re nuts about these days?
Time spent with family.
How about something that’s driving you nuts?
Stink bugs are in abundance this year! This is a male stink bug. The females are rounder in the body.

Stink bugs, especially brown marmorated stink bugs or BMSB, are notorious for invading homes when the weather starts to cool. And while they aren’t interested in stealing your food or sucking your blood, their offensive odor is just as annoying to homeowners.
3. What does abundance mean to you?
These words from Jesus from the Amplified Bible:
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
Jesus is my abundance and I thank God for his plan of salvation through Jesus and for the Holy Spirit who helps me have faith and belief in the triune God.
4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto…what’s your caramel treat of choice?

5. What’s a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall?

Growing up in southern California did not afford me many memories of fall, at all. We moved to Washington state in 1988 and that is when I became more familiar with fall color and having to rake leaves! Our children were young enough that they are now the ones with childhood memories of leaves!

6. Insert. your own random thought here.
Our Grands are growing up with four seasons and lots of leaves! These photos were from a few years back while helping their Granny blow the leaves into a pile for the city to pick up.



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I’ll (leaf) leave you here. 🙂
Early on Tuesday Laura started a text with our family members asking us to show our Sounders Colors. We texted her back our shots of support and she made the collage. When it comes to sports we are a Sounders Soccer Family. And right now David (Sounders) beat Goliath (LAFC) 3-1 on their home field. Our boys are going to the MLS Cup Final on November 10th against either Atlanta or Toronto. Those two teams play each other tomorrow night. It was fun sending texts back and forth during the game. It will be a while before I can fall asleep now…
…So I’ll add some fun things that more people can relate to in this post.
Speaking of colors Jamie and the kids were able to enjoy some color and leaves before the weather turned on us.
How cute are they covered in leaves!? Maple Trees are the best for an abundance of leaves. This was how the day was going before we had that freak snowfall on Monday the 28th of October. All the snow is gone and temps are still cold but we are on a slight warming trend.
Fresh apples off the tree before the bear eats them all. Yep, our kids have had a bear visiting their property. Hopefully he’ll go find a place to hibernate soon.
Do you have any wild animals that visit your property?
On this first day of October I was out on the road running errands getting ready for our company and events this weekend. Fall is showing itself nicely here in the Pacific Northwest!

On the road to our big box home improvement store and office supply store this great burst of fall met my eyes.

After I bought my ink cartridges for my printer I headed to Whole Paycheck, that’s what my dear dil Laura calls Whole Foods, to get some organic corn tortillas for my sister in law, Leticia. She’s on a restricted diet. We are making chicken fajitas for the cabinet installers on Friday evening. Letty is our family’s expert on all things in the Mexican culinary world. The least I could do was to buy the right ingredients for her. She will also be making her special Spanish rice and beans.

When I got home I experimented with a new pumpkin recipe for dessert that I’ll share in October on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog. If you click over today you can see my Mocha Toffee Parfait.

Since I’m up late today waiting for our guests to arrive at this old house I had time to complete this post. Our son Josh is picking up his uncle and aunt at the airport and delivering them here late tonight. Tomorrow we hit the ground running. I’ll check in with all of you in the quiet moments…if there are any!
…to September.

Spiders really have been busy. We are always amazed at what they accomplish overnight when we walk from the house to the garage brushing the new webs off our faces!

It seemed like the leaves changed their colors overnight, too. This is our Dogwood.



This is our Chinese Flame Tree.


These are the 3rd and 4th Jalapenos we’ve gotten off our little bush. It’s a new plant for us this summer.

Our lavender bushes still have a few blooms. I love working around them and enjoying their great scent.


Early September brings Dear’s birthday, too, which is a good reason to set a table for a celebration.

Decided on some nice bold colors for our dinner table. We had a great time at the table getting caught up with each other.

Dear and our SIL Andrew are very busy working on Josh and Laura’s remodel. Living without a kitchen is always an interesting challenge. Katie is busy interviewing for a job. I’m the support vehicle during these busy times for everyone else. Running errands, making dinner, and running that ever full dishwasher. I’m thinking about getting busy adding more daily exercise to my routine. Hopefully this week the thinking part will become reality in action!
Today Katie and I are going shopping to refresh her work wardrobe.
Have you been busy with changes in September?
Our Flame Tree seems to have changed overnight. We had an early summer this year and I think we are getting an early Fall, too.

Today the Queen of England reached the milestone of being the longest reigning Monarch in U.K. history. She doesn’t want any fanfare.
We stood outside Buckingham Palace in September of 2013 on our trip with Josh and Laura. Long live the Queen! We were hoping that she’d make it to this milestone day.
Today is also Dear’s birthday and he would probably like a little fanfare so those of us on this side of the Cascade Mountain Range are getting together for a dinner celebration tonight. Our second MGCC cookbook Celebrations is opened to the pages that have my Sirloin Stroganoff with Buttered Noodles so I can follow the recipe…

Instead of green beans tonight we are going to have zucchini since we have one from Dan and Jamie’s garden to still make use of. That way something from their side of the mountains will be with us at the table.
Dear is the longest reigning King at this old house!

Happy Birthday Dear! Long may you reign with your love and kindness!
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” from Anne of Green Gables
October…one of my favorite months of the year. It’s when colors begin to change.

It’s when the regular season of MLS soccer comes to an end and when playoffs loom ahead!

In October we love to visit our middle son in Eastern Washington. The photo above is taken on his property.

When there is still a little color in some Autumn plants and the leaves are falling.

Oh my…the leaves keep falling.


At this old house I wouldn’t have to mow again except for the fact that I use the mower as a vacuum for the leaves.
I do love October even though it brings more yard work at this old house. The tree that drops all these leaves isn’t even our tree.
I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday that was started by Mrs. Nesbitt and continues on with the help of a great team.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Of course you notice that all the leaves I picked up in my mower last week have been replaced nicely by my neighbor’s huge maple. Today I hope to vacuum mow the latest fall leaves up again. Seeing the leaves that still remain on the trees we’ll have to mow at least 2 or 3 more times before we retire the mower for the winter months.
Instead of cooking today I’ll be mowing.
If it’s Tuesday, it must be La Corona.
On Tuesdays at this old house we go out for Mexican food.
Do you have traditions at your house each week? They don’t have to revolve around food, either.