More Pumpkin Cupcakes

So my mom gets together with some friends once a month, and this month it was her turn to host, so she asked me to do dessert...she wanted the pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes I made before. So I started by making some fondant pumpkins for decorations...here is my pumpkin patch:

Here are a few cupcakes:


I also had a few caramel, chocolate covered marshmallows I had made, and fresh strawberries:

not pictured: I also had some fresh homemade vanilla ice cream too

One of the guests said I should start a business....oohhh I would love to do that! But hard to do, since I am already working two jobs...but maybe someday....

Heathly Eating???

A man walks into a doctor's office. He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear.

"What's the matter with me?" he asks the doctor.

The doctor replies, "You're not eating properly."

Binary Day

Conversation on the way to church on Sunday:
Mom: today is 10-10-10
Kevin: it is 42
Mom: huh?
Kevin: today is 42. 10-10-10 is binary and that is 42
Mom: Oh

Last night while watching the news:
Kevin: the stock market closed on a binary number, and today's date is binary (10-11-10)
Response from others: silence

Now I followed the conversations, and this may even surprise Kevin, but I know that 42 is the answer to life, the Universe and Everything according to the Hitch Hikers guide to the Galaxy, but I am not as obsessed to actually talk about it. LOL

More Cupcakes

So this is Kevin's latest request....Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes.

They were much better than the last batch I made, so we decided these were a cupcake wars winner!

A different Colorado Tour

So our cousin Matt has been visiting us. We are so glad he is here:



Matt is into crafting his own beers and wanted to see some of our breweries....so we did a lot:
Avery
Oskar Blues
Left hand tap
Budweiser
Odell
New Belgium

We also had some good eats by Jody (of course) and
Old Chicago
Biaggis
Santiagos


But it hasn't been all food and drink. Holly wanted us to do the nature too....so Sunday after church we went out to Nature....we went down along the Platte River here in town and walked along the trail.....it was really warm (about 95) out, but we had a good time...

We have really enjoyed having Matt here, and showing him the sites. We wish more family would come to visit and enjoy the same great Colorado Hospitality....

Hope you had a great time Matt....

KLG Enterprises

My mom's friend Kathy makes jewelry. She has made some really pretty pieces and each time she comes to visit she has new things to show us. We have enjoyed sharing her pieces with others too, such as Carol and Nadine. I however, have not ever had any pieces for myself.

This time when Kathy came, she had some she made just for me. Aren't they pretty? The stones are really small Geodes and she does all the gold wire work to set the stones. (the gold chain for the necklace is mine and works perfectly with the pieces)







So I decided to wear them to church today:

Thanks Kathy!

Dinner Party

It is not often I have enough people over to actually use the dinning room...so last night I got an opportunity. My parents friends Kathy and Miguel Gonzales were here for the night, before the 4 of the left on their trip. So I decided to make a beef tenderloin roast, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, honeydew, and cantaloupe. Then I served the below mentioned cupcakes for dessert. It was all delish!

Cupcakes

Lately Jody has been trying her luck at cupcakes. Perhaps she watched one to many episodes of Cupcake Wars. Anyway, last week we had chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. It was a box recipe and pre-made frosting, so they were good, but not quite homemade.

So this week, Jody was a little more adventurous. She  decided to make Red Velvet cupcakes from scratch with homemade cream cheese frosting.

The red velvet cake is good, but I prefer other flavors. The frosting however, you could put it on sawdust and it was still be quite yummy.

Looking forward to seeing what we try next.

September Happenings

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yep that is about it....all the happening so far this month. Kevin is taking two classes this term, so weekends he does homework. I am about to start up my 2nd job again and work is as busy as ever.

We are looking forward to our cousin Matt to visit next week, so stay tuned for details...

I kicked our tenet out

No, I didn't kick my parents out.....they are allowed to stay (for now...just kidding mom)


Today Kevin was down in the basement in the unfinished area doing some computer work, and as he was leaving he found this:
A baby bull snake....not sure how he got in the house (but I suspect he doesn't need much space). Kevin placed him carefully out in the field. I am sure he will be happier there.

For my yard

We did a little driving around Pella....I found the perfect thing for my yard...

Isn't this a great fountain? I LOVE it







now if Kevin would just say yes

Pella Iowa

On our way to Chicago, for my annual curriculum institute and graduation, we stopped in Pella Iowa.

Pella is a little Dutch town, and for those of you who know Solvang, CA, the idea is similar. The day we had to spend there, was a little rainy. Kevin is a BIG pastry fan and we decided that Jaarsma Bakery, had the best in town.


They have a big Tulip festival each spring in the middle of town.....
They also have the Vermeer Mill, it was attached to a little historical village, so we toured both. Check out the website for all the details. It was partially build in Holland to exact specifications, it does indeed work and they use it to grind wheat.

Of course I had to step in the big shoes...



Inside the mill...


This is a view of the city from the top of the windmill.



The historical village was a lot of fun


Inside the pharmacy....seems a little like Harry Potter.....rotten stone, Dragon's blood...


There is also a Klokkenspel in town.....

It was a fun way to spend the day.

Good Bye Turtle

Before we left for Chicago, I wanted to let my turtle go. Here he is in the pool before I let him go.



On his way to freedom
I hope he is doing well

My new pet (at least for awhile)

So this time it is a real pet....We found a turtle on the road the other day, and Kevin actually stopped for me and let me bring it home. It is a small water turtle, so I turned the swimming pool into a turtle "cage".






I have been feeding it ham and grasshoppers...the ham is easier to "catch"

I think I will keep it for a little while, then let it go, and wash and wash and wash the pool. :) It is fun for a little while.

Nadine's last week

So Nadine's last week here in the US was as busy as all our others.

One evening we went to Wild Animal Sanctuary to see the big cats:






We also went to the aquarium....


We also spent Sunday at the Sterling Reservoir. Where she got to go out on the boat (last time she was here, we tried to go boating and the boat broke...so this was fun).


She didn't really drive, but she wanted to....

She did get to ride the tube out on the water.....




And her last meal request? My famous BBQ Baby Back Ribs....this is my secret recipe...I make my own dry rub, and my own BBQ sauce....the whole process takes 3 days (about 3 hours on the grill). YUM I say this will rival any Famous Dave's (Yes I am that confident)
For more pictures check click here.

On Saturday evening Nadine flew home. It was a really great trip, and so wonderful to get to see her again. I really hope we are able to go visit her some time soon.

We miss you Nadine

A visit from Kari

The last time Nadine was here, she also met my best friend Kari. So of course Kari wanted to come and see Nadine. Kari came on Tuesday night and we got to spend the afternoon together, have dinner and visit.