Marathon Cooking

Today was marathon cooking day.  Drove to Minneapolis this morning so I could help Becca prepare food for her roommate's (Artena) wedding.  The wedding will be on October 27, so this was the big day to prepare the food.

 

We had a couple helpers today, Arlene, bride's mom on the left and Renee, bride's friend.

 

So the plan was to make 72 servings of beef stew and another 72 servings of Chicken Wild Rice soup.  We actually got everything assembled within 5 hours.  The beef stew was still slowly cooking in the Nesco cookers (had 2 cookers) when I left to drive home.  The soup was almost  done, except for the wild rice which was still cooking separately.  After I left to go home, Becca had the chore of packing up the stew and soup to be froze until the wedding day.

 

The ladies at the end of our cooking day.  Left to right, Becca, Arlene and Artena.

 

Drove home late in the afternoon.  To my surprise, the Son and his girl friend Trisha came to visit us.  Of course big boy Aiden had to find a nice warm lap to relax in....he's sooooo spoiled.  Busy day today....I'm pooped! 

Our Peak is Approaching

Couldn't ask for nicer weather.  I believe we are reaching our peak fall colors around Tainter Lake.

 

Continued my tin can punching project this afternoon.  When I finish this project later this week, I will have worked on 21 cans.  So, at the last minute today, I decided to leave work and spent the entire afternoon outdoors.  Despite the biting gnats, it was a wonderful and quiet afternoon.  I was even able to get a late run in before it got dark.    

 

Bike man was out and about running his chores this afternoon, but when he returned home, he built a nice fire.  Unfortunately, it's getting dark by 7 pm, so our time outside is limited now.  Always hate to see those shorter days approaching.  Guess it means winter is just around the corner......

Where Does the Time Go?

Busy again, really?  At my age (53) why am I so busy?  Full-time work, family commitments, housework, Co-op Board work, meetings, late night exercising, cooking, blogging, reading.......and the list goes on.  It's about this time of year when I look forward to winter.  Winter is my respite from the busy crazy times.  Sorry for my absence blog posts.  I'll keep trying.

Family Time

A weekend with the family, priceless.   Lots of laugher, great food and many stories. 

( from left, my twin sister Lynn, Mom, sister Debbie & niece Sara)

 

Bike man, the Son and I headed down to Southwest Wisconsin for a quick family reunion and to celebrate October.  Since my sister Debbie and her family were visiting from Jacksonville, Florida, it was a must that we visit the local apple orchard. 

 

Of course we had to sample the apples, fresh apple cider donuts, apple cider, and Weggy Wine from the local winery. 

 

It wasn't the best weather this weekend, but the rain held off and we were just left with cloudy, and humid conditions.  I think the most fun was watching the Oktoberfest parade last night with all the festive lights from the parade participants.  Had some good laughs with my sisters and reminiscing our marching band days in the color guard.  Sorry, no pictures to share of the night parade! 

 

So what was the highlight of the weekend?  Watching my niece's husband jump out of the car so he could run into the cornfield.....yup, a field of good old Wisconsin cow corn.  You see, this was his first trip to Wisconsin.  Geez, if he gets excited about our field corn, wait until he experiences our frozen lake!  I can't wait to get him out walking around on frozen Tainter Lake.  Now we just have to get them all to come back during the winter months.

Had a lot of fun this weekend with Lynn & Debbie's family, but it was just too short a trip.