sweet pumpkin deliciousness.

Even though I am not quite a culinary artist, I thoroughly enjoy reading food blogs {when I have the precious time to do so}.  I barely have the time to dabble with the not-so-commonly-used cooking utensils that I would love to play with, but when I do, I truly enjoy the feeling of true domesticity {did I make that up?} … even if I do have to research how to use that not-so-commonly-used contraption. 

As usual, I feel like fall summons my cooking/baking/creating desires and the cooler weather often allows a little more time inside where my domestic creativity can thrive {by “thrive”, I mean, take a small step into the world of “does this look good/taste good/do I really know what I’m doing?”}  I am not a super creative do-it-yourselfer – not yet at least – but I hope to someday have the time to really let creativity fly.  My cute husband has more natural creativity in his ultimate world of do-it-yourself.  I mean, when you can see something in a store and actually build it yourself with your own added touch of personality, that is a whole new level of cutting/pasting/sewing do-it-yourself.

Anyways, while I like to play with all things cute and artsy, I also like eating sweet treats {especially this time of year!}.  While the consistency of the fall fruit of fame often deters people from enjoying the masterpiece that is the pumpkin, I have found a treat that does away with the mushiness.  It is pure pumpkin deliciousness.  And so, I will share:

Sweet Pumpkin Dip

1 - 15oz can of pure pumpkin

2 - 8oz packages of cream cheese (you can use reduced fat if desired)

2 cups of powdered sugar (I know it’s a lot and it’s not healthy, but please forego your healthy diet for this one fabulous treat)

Cinnamon and Ginger to taste

Blend pumpkin and softened cream cheese until smooth.  Slowly add powdered sugar, then spices.

please forgive the sloppy picture.  it was taken with my phone while at work … I just couldn’t resist!

Seeeeee, easy, easy, easy.  Yum, yum, yum.  I like it with apples but it is fabulous with cookies, wafers, crackers, etc.

There, I have officially entered into the world of food blogging, but I promise, it won’t go much further than this.

counting the reasons.

Yet another reason why a trip to Rome is necessary {or rather, extremely desired and dreamt of}:

Colosseum's dungeons opening to visitors

Underground chambers once held gladiators, caged animals

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39673734/ns/travel-destination_travel/

Yes, it’s true … they are opening the dungeons up for tourism.  Erik will be so excited to know that someday, who knows when, but someday, hopefully-sooner-than-later-but-still-not-soon, he will be able to walk where to gladiators walked, where they sweat, where they fought. 

{I love his interest in history … I find it deeply romantic, intellectual, and mysterious.  Much like Rome.}

As I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain years ago, one day I will return with Erik.

unavoidable.

I clean. I scrub. I dust. I sweep. I vacuum. I wipe. I spray. I clean.

Nearly every form of “cleaning” that there is … I do. At some point. Every week.

This is something I was raised with {thanks mom} and something my husband says he appreciates about me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a neurotic kind of cleaner/scrubber. I can let it slide a little longer, as long as the thing needing to be cleaned isn’t in my direct line of regular passage {which otherwise screams at me to clean it}. I wouldn’t even consider myself a neat-freak. I just find a clean house to be … refreshing and relaxing.

Living on a ranch requires many {excuse me, extra emphasis is needed: MANY} extra hours of cleaning. More space means more dirt means more dust means more pledge-dusting-spray.

All this to say, some things are just unavoidable, I guess:

Like a dead mouse in the middle of the living room, or …

The frog that got squished in the door jam.

Oh, ranch-life.

changing.

In light of the new season and the fresh beginning of fall {almost fresh … the weather channel claims we still have another few days of 80 degrees ahead of us, but until then, I will thoroughly enjoy the foggy mornings}, I am changing my blog design.  I have noticed that many popular bloggers avoid the flashy patterns and designs, and lean towards clean lines and basic {solid} backgrounds {no offense to those who like it that way!}.  I am not trying to get published, nor do I desire to get famous from my blog … thus, I like the cool colors and graphic designs.  And let’s face it, my whit cannot stand alone in this world of talented writers … I need some fun colors to back it up.  So, until November 26th, enjoy the leaves. 

Danke.

time.to.get.something.done.

I am feeling unproductive right now and I hate that feeling.  I cannot do what I need to do until I get a response from the person/people I need get a response from … thus, I am momentarily and currently stuck in a stagnate state of {borderline} boredom.  While I am VERY excited about some possibilities that may be just around the corner {all in terms of my job}, as the contacts I have been reaching out to are slowly but surely expressing interest, I still feel stuck.  Tick tock, Tick tock … I wait.  Check the e-mail.  Get some other things done that don’t need to be done for another week or so.  Wait.  Get the mail.  Check the e-mail again.  Wait.  Tick tock. {maybe, possibly, a little bit of an exaggeration. maybe}

The opportunities and contacts I am waiting for are from Reno, Nevada and Greenville, South Carolina.  I am attempting to plan fundraisers in each city and am on the brink of some great contacts/movers who want to get the ball rolling!  So, come on!  Let’s get it rolling already! 

As for true productivity, that word perfectly describes this last Saturday: up early, kiss husband good-bye {he had to work}, make a burrito, feed the dogs, clean out their kennels, rake the weeds from the orchard, water the plants/trees, weed the flower beds and rose bushes, weed the garden, pick some zucchini and tomatoes, check on the pumpkins, hose off the porch, prune the roses, pick some flowers, deep clean the kitchen, and probably some other things that I can’t remember right now.  I’m exhausted just typing that out … it may not seem like a lot, but my hands are stained black to prove the depth of my labor.

something pretty came out of my sweaty, dirty, and tiring day

P.S.  I promise to always include an “I-come-from-a-family-of-over-exaggerators-hence-I-know-I’m-over-exaggerating-right-now” Disclaimer in times when it is obvious {or even not so obvious} that I am over-exaggerating.  After all, it’s good that I realize my innate tendency, right????

Thank.you.very.much.my.friends.

Happy Monday.