I like cool...

In the middle of the night, there was a fabulous thunder/lightening storm--it woke both John and I up. It was still thundering this morning when I got up to make lunches. I harvested some pumpkins and have one baking right now. It is the kind of day that makes a person feel all homey and snuggly. I guess I'm ready for Eastern Idaho's fantastic fall.

I also bought a box of pears today. So here are 2 recipes: one for pumpkins and one for pears.

This one came originally from a good friend, Angela Sullivan. I have modified it a little over the years.

Pumpkin Chip Muffins
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 cups pumpkin (16 oz)
1 cup oil
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil. Combine flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt--mix well and add to pumpkin mixture. Mix together and fold in chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees, 16-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 min.

This recipe I found a long time ago, and I pull it out this time of year. It is a little unusual, 'cause not too many people think about using pears in pie. I love this recipe!

Fresh Pear Crumble Pie
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tblsp lemon juice
2 Tblsp flour or Minute Tapioca
5 cups peeled, sliced pears
9"pastry for a single crust pie (unbaked)
topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
In a large bowl sprinkle pears with lemon juice. Combine sugar and flour, mix, and add to pears. Toss to coat fruit. Fill pie crust. Combine dry topping ingredients, mix well. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over pear filling. Cover pie edge with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 25 min. Remove foil, bake for 25-30 min. more or until the pie is bubble and crust is golden. Cool and enjoy!

I think I am going to bake some muffins for my visiting teaching sisters and make a short stop by each of their homes--it is the last day of the month...

Happy Birthday Yesterday !

Yesterday was my sister Natalie's birthday. No, I didn't forget. For most of the day, anyway. I remembered all day while I knew she was in school (she is a high school art teacher). I even called my daughter who was visiting Boise to see if she was going to be there long enough to deliver something to her--but she was leaving to come back here to Rigby in 15 minutes, so that didn't work out. However, by the time Natalie would have been home from school--yes, then I forgot. Until I went to bed. Yah, I blew it. But since she is just 2 years younger than I , I think she will understand about the forgetting thing. Well, at least in a couple of years she will.

My sister Natalie is an amazing person. Just ask her students, her daughters, anyone. She has accomplished so much, and is the kind of friend to those around her who is always there. I love her so much, and think of her all the time.

No, I don't call her as often as I should or as often as I want to. But I know if I need her that she is there to listen.I hope her birthday was as good as a birthday can be when it is one of the first days of school. It always works out that way for her. She doesn't have the luxury of having the day for herself.

And I promise to call really soon, Nat!
Happy Belated Birthday!

First day back to school...

Today is the first day of school in Jefferson County--I little early in the year for my liking, but it is "just the way we do it here" I've been told. Taylor is in the 5th grade (next year she will be at the middle school--I'll have no more elementary school kids--yikes!) and Madi started her first year of high school. They were both up and at 'em early today, and needed hair curling, etc.

Bethany is in Boise to see her friends before they head back to college. And Seth is still in bed (doesn't work until later). I'm going to try to pick up the pieces today--for some reason I have felt really out of it the last few days. I can't seem to get anything done. I even made a list yesterday, but it only made me realize as I looked at it at last night that I need to develop more self discipline. Hopefully I'll feel better about it when this day is done.

Our "girls only" backpacking trip...

We (Kaylene R. and I) decided to meet half way and take our girls on a little backpacking trip.(yes, it was very little--we picked Baker Lake in the Smoky Mtns. above Sun Valley instead of the Sawtooths. It was a 2 mile hike in--

it was Taylor's and Mary's first time,
and we wanted it to be a good experience.The day hikers that kept coming in thought we were kind of strange, but, oh well!)We had nice weather,
and the lake to ourselves from 5pm to 9am each day (we stayed 2 nights).
The girls slept in our orange tent,
and Kaylene and I shared their 2-man tent.There was swimming,

card playing, book reading, hiking,
hammock swinging, chatting, and lots of giggling.
It would have driven the guys crazy!
It was a great girl's trip!

We ended up in Ketchum yesterday at
Wise Guy's Pizza Pie
and had dessert at the Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Shop.
Can you think of a sweeter ending?

Our Big Horn Crags trip...

John and I took off Monday afternoon to the Big Horn Crags. After a long bumpy ride, we arrived at the Crags Campground, and spent the night in the back of the truck. The next morning, we got up and started into the Frank Church Wilderness of No Return.

We took the trail up Fish Fin Ridge, and hiked into Wilson and Harbor Lakes. We found a somewhat flat spot on the far side of Harbor, and set up camp (our favorite spots were gone--it was a little busy up there this last week!)
There was a terrific rain/lightening storm that night--it was a little freaky--the thunder bouncing around the mountains.When we woke up, we had to wait for our tent to dry. While we were waiting, we visited with our neighbors on the other side of the lake--a older couple from Australia (small world!).
We packed up and headed down the Water Falls trail and then the Puddin' Mtn. trail to the southern lakes. We camped at Reflection Lake Wednesday night. (We also visited Twin Coves Lake, but no good campsites) We had an excellent campsite at Reflection Lake--really flat, with a huge fallen log to set all our stuff on. John set up the hammock, and it was great for reading while he fished the lake. Thursday morning, we headed off-trail up to Echo Lake (just imagine laying here in a meadow next to a high mountain lake--a cool breeze rustling the pages of your book)...and then over to Sky High Lake. We camped there and had the whole thing to ourselves (and the 2 million mosquitoes!). John set up the hammock for me again, and we spent the evening in our headnets.Friday morning we headed out. We off-trailed down out of Sky High into a beautiful meadow. This is called Bear Grass. (cool stuff) We found the Puddin' Mtn. Trail, and started our climb, and descent, and climb, and descent, etc. It was about 11 miles back to the trailhead.We had a super time!
(despite the fact that I forgot all my lunches--so John shared. And that on Wednesday I developed my first ever heel blisters from hiking--I hiked the entire last day with bandannas instead of socks on my feet inside my boots; just to see if it would help)

Madi, Taylor, and I are meeting Kaylene, Esther, and Mary R. in the Sawtooths in 2 days to do a "girl's only" backpacking trip. So I'll be reporting back soon!