By Sun and Candlelight

A Look around the Learning Room

Good Sunday evening, my friends!

I hope you've all had a nice weekend. I'm a bit exhaustified myself ... a wicked busy week led up to a very busy weekend, then a late night last night and early Mass this morning was followed by teaching our first CCD class and then Bill took the older two over to my folks' to watch the Pats play (and WIN!) ... and while those guys were out, Earlybird and I did some crafts and I cleaned up the (poorly neglected) learning room.

Phew!

{I need another weekend!}

It was such a fresh, sunny day ... and I took pictures ... so naturally I came here to share them. :)

***

Well, thanks for stopping by today, and taking a peek at what we've been up to. I hope you have a very nice night ...

I'll see you here again very soon!

❤

Fall Fowers (of one kind and another)

An embroidered floral applique, so lovely in rich autumn shades.

It inspired me to make myself a pretty pair of bags!

 

A simple ecru tote and an olive green messenger bag. Both are (well) made of a light cotton canvas, and I got them both - as well as the floral patches - at JoAnn's Fabrics.

(What don't I get there these days, lol?)

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And before I go, here area some true fall flowers ...

Cheerfully gracing our front walkway!

You know, it's wise to appreciate all the glorious colors at this time of year, because before long they'll be dimmed by winter wind and darker days ...

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Have a great weekend, my friends! Take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and I will see you here again very soon ...

*❤*

Good Morning Links ...

Happy Friday, my friends!

Just popping in very quickly to share a few links I came across this morning:

How to Raise Financially Savvy Kids (Forbes)

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How-To: Hankie Holder (Martha Stewart Kids)

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Exclusive First Look - Interior Pages from Sherlock: The Casebook (Sherlockology)

(Yes, I've pre-ordered a copy!)

***

I was up very early today (just could not sleep past four, I'm afraid) so I had a little extra time to putter online. I'm very excited about that Sherlock book! And speaking of Sherlock, Bill and I are planning to re-watch the series starting this weekend, while the boys are looking forward to Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, freshly arrived from Netflix. Crackerjack has re-read that series at least a dozen times ... he absolutely loves it!

Ok, so I'm off for now ... but I will see you here again very soon ...

Have a bright and blessed day!

❤

A Few Late Day Links

Two about budgeting ...

How I Saved My Family $600 a Month on Groceries (Today)

4 Things I Do to Keep Our Grocery Budget at $200/mo. for a Family of Four (Parents)

Two about our beloved DA ...

Downton Abbey Season 3 Trailer (iTv1)

Downton Abbey Star Dan Stevens Off to Broadway - But Will He Return? (Huffington Post)

And one shameless (sheepish) plug ...

Thursday, September 6th 2012 (Daily Bits of Domestic Bliss - my housekeeping blog)

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Have a great night, my friends!

❤

Thoughtful Thursday: On Fall Cleaning

"Spring Cleaning" might get all the attention, but Fall is also a great time to clean house ahead of the holidays, and while the weather's still good. (Autumn sunshine + crisp air + open windows = happy days ❤ )

What tasks do you try to get done every Fall?

The following is an excerpt from a post I did several years ago about "Autumn Housekeeping." I printed the list out for myself the other day, so I thought I'd share it with you all here ... :)

* Launder down comforter, autumn duvet and shams.

* Launder flannel bedding and fleece blankets.

* Review housekeeping routines; adjust as necessary.

* Check on snow gear: boots, jackets, pants, hats, gloves, etc. If anybody needs new things, purchase or order them now.

* Same goes for winter pajamas and slippers.

* Tweak the menu plan to reflect the season - heartier meals, fall fruits and veggies.

* Schedule a work-in-the-yard Saturday to rake, clean up garden debris, store outdoor furniture, etc.

* Plant spring bulbs (snowdrops, crocus, daffodils) before the ground freezes.

* Plan a fall foliage jaunt for one Sunday afternoon.

* Prepare homemade cocoa mix, mulling spice bundles and replenish tea drawer as necessary.

* Visit the farmstand for autumn keepers: apples, onions, potatoes, squash.

* Put up jars of pearsauce and applesauce.

* Schedule cars for regular maintenance. Stock up on winter road supplies.

* Make a list of winter storm supplies to stock at home: snow-melt, flashlight and batteries, battery-operated radio, candles, etc.

* Plan a night to visit the country fair.

* Stop by Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte. :)

* Visit the Hallmark store for autumn greeting cards (birthdays, anniversaries, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.).

* Make plans for our anniversary in October: dinner out with Bill, family dinner (and cake!) with the kids.

* Inventory craft supplies and note what needs replenishing. (Keep in mind holiday projects with the kids and long dark winter days ahead.)

* Stock up on cold and flu season necessaries: vitamins/supplements, herbal teas, honey drops, medicines.

* Clean and inspect birdfeeders. Place seed order with wild bird store.

* Arrange fall mums, asters and pumpkins around front steps.

* Begin a holiday planner - assemble Thanksgiving and Christmas lists, etc.

* Start snapping potential Christmas card pictures.

* Refresh the nature table with autumn treasures.

* Launder cozy throw blankets; store in large basket handy to gathering areas.

* Set out fall book baskets.

* Set out autumn decor including table linens, candles, garlands and mini white lights.

* Decide on Halloween costumes early, allow for any orders/delivery time.

* Set up a gratitude tree ahead of Thanksgiving.

* Make and freeze pie crusts and sugar cookie dough for the holidays.

* Buy Christmas stamps at the end of October.

Now, I'm sure of two things: A. there are lots more items I could add to this list, and (or should I say, but), B. I'll never get around to doing all of them! As I like to say, though, it's a good thing to get it all down on paper. ;)

So, what tasks are on your fall housekeeping list? I'd love to hear your ideas, too!

Have a great Thursday, my friends ... see you here again very soon!

❤

{Wordless Wednesday}

A Boy, His Cap and His Cat

{Just discovered some cool photo editing tools at Typepad ... they've probably been there forever and I'm just noticing them now, lol. The above photo got the "old style" treatment.}

Anyhoo ... I hope you're all having a good day. I am SO enjoying all the picalilli responses! You are all so good to pitch in and help me out with my "research." It does seem like picalilli is a familiar dish to some - and I think, mostly here in New England - but it does seem mostly unkown. Thanks so much for all the help. :)

Enjoy the rest of your day, my friends ... see you here again very soon!

❤

Picalilli: Familiar or No?

Hello again, my friends!

So in my morning post I described how my mother and I cooked up a batch of Labor Day Picalilli this weekend. I have since spoken with several people about the recipe and it seems that while relatives and local friends know just what I'm talking about, folks from other parts of the country (and world) have never heard of this particular dish ...

Well, this made me curious, of course!

So dear readers, would you do me a favor? Would you tell me if you have ever heard of picalilli before, and if so, how? I'm trying to figure out if picalilli is purely a New England phenomenon - kind of like Indian Pudding and Fluffernutter. :)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Enjoy the rest of your day ...

❤

Fruits of Our Labor ...

Eight quarts of picalilli!

I don't can much aside from picalilli, but I really wish I did. There's something so satisfying about seeing all those pretty jars lining your pantry. But picalilli is about more than just using up summer produce for me - it's about fond family memories and food that looks, smells and tastes like this time of year.

Are there any favorite pickles or preserves you make every year?

*❤*

Now, I believe picalilli has numerous interpretations (it may vary by region, I'm not sure), but this is how my mum and I make it. We follow my grandmother's recipe which she followed for years - though I'm not sure where she got it originally. That's a picture of Gram below and a very old recipe card that belonged to her sister, my Great Aunt Frannie).

(I use this tiny glass rooster stand for holding my daily chore cards - I like to keep Gram's picture here too because - well, for one thing, I miss her - and for another, doing my daily chores makes me think of her; she was a wonderful example of a loving, earnest and truly happy housekeeper. When I take care of my daily tasks I think of my gram and let her spirit encourage me. ❤)

Ok, but back to the picalilli!

So I started with 15 pounds of green tomatoes which I purchased from a local farm. I don't grow my own tomatoes - not for lack of trying, mind you - but my grandmother would use tomatoes from my grandfather's garden. In later years, after my grandfather passed, we would start stalking local farms in August to determine who could provide us with the green (unripe) tomatoes we'd need. (Sometimes you have to ask - not all farms put the green tomatoes out front.)

In addition to the tomatoes, I chopped up three red peppers and three lbs. of organic onions ...

I had to divide the vegetables between two large pots because I didn't have a kettle large enough for the whole mix! (It's on my list for next year!)

So I did this Sunday night, and then sprinkled a cup of salt over the vegetables (half over each pot) and then let them sit overnight.

On Labor Day morning, the salted vegetables had sweated quite a bit, so first we (my mum and I) drained off the accumulated liquid. Then we added one bunch of celery, chopped fine, as well as one quart of cider vinegar and a bag of pickling spice.

(We use McCormick's Pickling Spice - the whole 1.5 oz. jar divided, and wrapped in cheesecloth bags.)

Then we added seven "teacups" of sugar ... 

This was the measurement my grandmother used, her Irish china teacup ... 

We gently mixed the ingredients and then set the pots to high, just to bring the temperature up, then back to medium to cook for 45 minutes.

As the picalili bubbles away on the stove, I just love inhaling that spicy-sweet smell ...

Once the picalilli is finished cooking, we removed it from the heat and then filled our prepared jars:

(Prepared as in, washed and sanitized through the dishwasher, then dried well.)

We processed the sealed jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Note: my grandmother never used to do this, but Mum and I decided to take this extra step.

Final product: eight jars of Labor Day Picalilli!

Picalilli is a tangy-sweet relish, a lovely condiment to all kinds of meals. Last night Bill had some on his burger and dipped his steak fries in it as well. Tonight I'll serve it with meatloaf, baked potatoes and farmstand corn - as part of a special "back to school" supper. It's truly a seasonal and sentimental favorite!

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Well my friends, I hope your week's going well. Are your kids back to school? Are you working out a new routine? It's hard to believe summer - for all intents and purposes - is over, but honestly? I'm more than ready for fall. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by ... I will see you here again very soon!

❤

Money $ Monday: First Jobs

Since it's Labor Day, I thought I'd keep things simple, so for this week I'd like to talk about our earliest work experiences ...

What was your first job?

*$*

I did babysitting from the time I was 12 or so - just for a few neighbors, my parents' friends and relatives - but that kept me well employed for a while. :) When I was in high school I worked for a local department store (in their domestics department, of course!) and through my college summers I worked for a small kitchen supply store and then a household linens store. (Sensing a theme here, lol?)

But my first full-time job out of college was for a Boston-area newspaper. I started as a "service directory" reporter, which had me writing up interviews with advertisers ... not the most interesting position of course, but I loved being part of the newspaper environment. Finally I was invited to join the "Features Desk" where I got to write about all kinds of "soft" news, and mostly food articles. Those were some fun times - I got to meet a lot of interesting people and attend some very cool events. :)

I thought I might continue freelancing once I had children, but balancing new motherhood and deadlines was not an easy juggle! And so I've been out of (paying) work since Bookworm was born ...

I'd love to hear about your first job(s)! If you have a moment, please leave a comment below ... and I will see you here again very soon!

(p.s. Just finished making picalilli with Mum ... will post pictures and recipe tomorrow!)

A Little Labor Day Love ❤

Since Labor Day acknowledges all those workers who make our country great ... I want to take a moment to say thanks to my American worker for how hard he works for his family. :)

I just passed through the dining room where Bill has set up a makeshift "home office." Labor Day notwithstanding, he's been working all weekend on this big messy project, trying to get it done before work resumes this week. (Note the kids' playroom TV standing in as a monitor ... and those are my glasses on his face, lol.) I'm always grateful for Bill, but it really hit me today how blessed we are by his employment - that he has a good job in the first place, and that he works so hard at it ...

So thanks, honey, for all your hard labor - at the office, at home, and in all you do for us. We love you very much!

❤

Crackerjack's Party - Finally!

Crackerjack turned 13 last month, but we had to postpone his "friends" party due to a very ill-timed stomach bug, so after a little reshuffling, we finally settled on a new date that everyone could do ... and that date was Saturday!

And I'm happy to report it was a wonderful day - first of all, the weather could not have been better - but most importantly, everyone was healthy and Crackerjack had a fantastic time! As usual, I have some pictures to share with you from our day ...

The theme of the party was "Legos" (or more specifically, Lego minifigs). We went with bright colors and lots of yellow smiley faces ...

We were especially glad for the good weather as we like to hold summer parties mostly outside, if possible ...

On the deck we set up seating and appetizers ...

And around the yard we set up play-stations:

The canopy covered the Wii zone ...

We moved the foosball table outside, too, situating it just beside the "jumper."

And CJ asked for a Lego "free-build" station ... but somehow the kids never really got around to building very much! They were too busy eating and playing, I guess.

Now, the cats were not pleased to be stuck in a bedroom for the day ... but with all the kids running in and out, I was nervous about doors being left open. (Archie and Ollie are strictly indoor cats.) So they hung out in this window and observed the goings-on ...though Oliver certainly made his displeasure known, as you can see here.

We ordered pizzas for lunch and I made up a big salad ... but unfortunately I just did not have the time or energy to make another minifig cake! I broke it to CJ, who took the news well, and instead, I picked up a store-bought sheet cake which we decorated with minifigs. I also made up a homemade cake (seen here in the background) for people who (like my EB) are sensitive to food dyes and other artificial ingredients.

Happily, the "party punch" was a BiG hit!

Party punch was something special my mum made for my birthday parties when I was a girl. It's very simple to make, but the effect is so cool! I start with a juice drink base (in this case, lemon-berry punch) and then I add scoops of rainbow sherbert. Over it all I add a carbonated beverage - usually, Sprite or ginger-ale, but CJ requested peach soda ... and it was delicious!

I think the kids got a real kick out of it. :)

Here's the birthday boy at the cake station ...

... and outside with some of his friends, playing Wii.

Another special day for our Crackerjack ...

He's such a great kid! I'm so glad we can do this for him and that we have such wonderful friends with which to share these special days.

:)

Well, I hope you all are enjoying your weekend, and to my friends here in the states, Happy Labor Day! May we all find the rest and relaxation we need - some treasured time off with our loved ones - and when we return to our work this week, may it be with a refreshed spirit and recharged mind. ❤

Thanks so much for stopping by ... see you here again very soon!

Picalilli in progress ...

Fifteen pounds of green tomatoes, three pounds of onions, and a few red peppers. All chopped, tossed, salted, and ready for the morning ...

I'll post more tomorrow!

:)

Happy September!

A glorious morning here in New England, sunny and cool, with a promise of fall in the air. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ... see you here again very soon!

❤