Happy Halloween, y'all!

And don't forget to *fall back* your clocks tonight (and change the batteries in your smoke alarms). End of public service announcement.

Halloween (also spelled Hallowe’en) is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday of All Saints. It is largely a secular celebration, but some have expressed strong feelings about perceived religious overtones.
The colors black and orange have become associated with the celebrations, perhaps because of the darkness of night and the color of fire or of pumpkins, and maybe because of the vivid contrast this presents for merchandising. Another association is with the jack-o’-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

Government logic!

However you celebrate All Hallows Eve, make it a safe and sweet occasion!

More fall in paradise...

Young Harris College. The colors were popping out nicely last weekend on this beautiful campus...the photos don't really do the colors justice though.
What a majestic setting for a church...where friend Joy manages the office...and blesses the congregation with her organ playing. It's nice having talented friends!I never get tired of all this beauty.

Although I don't particularly like the brown of winter that will be hitting us soon. But wait! That is what Florida is for...so we'll escape down there after Christmas and forget the brown of winter and enjoy our flip flops and flowered shirts! Life is good!!!

Thursday in the mist...

This sight a bit further up our road is not so appealing this morning through the heavy mist, but it will burn off to reveal the bright yellows by noon. Maybe.
Dick has to work on his bulldozer today because he needs to move it from one project to another. He needs it to help winch up a stuck mower. Really stuck...in a steep place. A long way down. But first, he needs to find a really long cable. And get some gravel. Did I mention that his dump truck has a flat?

Poor baby. He's not a happy camper. It may be a long day.

I will stay home in comfort and do paperwork. That's fair, right? We both have jobs to do, and no, I don't want to trade places, honey. Thanks anyway!

I'll make sure there is a cold beer waiting for you, and a pot of soup. It's the least I can do for my hard working man!

View from our driveway...

Well, I was out in the road, looking UP the road last Sunday afternoon. I doubt I will see as many leaves still attached to these trees when I go in to town shortly. The rain and wind are knocking the leaves down daily.

Even so, this is still just a bit of paradise. Despite coughs and a snotty nose...Scooter's, not mine! He spent the morning with me. And napped. Naps are great!

Enjoy your Wednesday, y'all! Mine does not, however, include a nap.

See the colors!

I took this photo while out driving Sunday afternoon on our only pretty day in awhile. Yesterday was overcast; today it is raining. Obviously our leaves haven't peaked yet here in the GA Alps. That will probably happen this weekend is my guess.
Bee and Sarge, I hope you enjoy the view! Happy fall, y'all!!!

Vegetable Chili

We had this the other night to rave reviews. I actually added browned ground beef to mine, so it is good with or without meat:

Vegetable Chili

¾ cup olive oil
2 zucchini, cut into ½ inch dice
2 onions, cut into ½ inch dice
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 large red bell peppers, cored and cut into 1/2 inch dice
1 can (35 oz.) Italian plum tomatoes, with their juice
1-1/2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1-inch dice
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 15oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 15oz. can chick peas (garbanzos), drained
1 15 oz. can white northern beans, drained
½ cup chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
4 scallions, white bulb and 3 inches green, sliced on the diagonal

Heat ½ cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, and sauté until just tender, 5-7 minutes. Transfer zucchini to a large flameproof casserole or dutch oven.

Heat the remaining ¼ cup oil in the skillet over low heat. Add the onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Sauté until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the casserole, along with the oil remaining in the skillet.

Place the casserole over low heat. Add the canned tomatoes and their juice, the fresh tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, pepper, salt, and parsley. Cook, uncovered, stirring often, for 30 minutes.

Stir in the kidney beans, white northern beans, chick peas, dill and lemon juice; cook for another 15 minutes. Stir well and adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve with bowls of sour cream, grated cheese, and sliced scallions alongside.
Makes 8-10 portions

Hmm, good!

Saturday in Mayberry...

But Friday time comes first before Saturday! Dick and I enjoyed seeing Hank and Lois yesterday. They already know Joy, but they got to meet friends Dan and Joan, also Airstreamers. The circle of friendship just grows and grows. Y'all come back soon now, ya hear?!

Today will be filled with bar-be-cue parties, lunch one place, then dinner at another place. Throw us in that briar patch. We are up for the challenge...we love friends, fall and BBQ! Life is good!!!