nanny, paw paw, and uncle wince!

had a great visit with my family last week!

prepare yourself for photo overload. 

sorry, not sorry ;)

looking for nanny's airplane

it rained for four days. but she knows how to keep them entertained ;)

play doh and snakes = perfection for this kid. well, maybe if you add monsters...

finally the sun came out! luckily the frogs were still there...

my dearest husband watched the boys for a couple hours while my mama and i went shopping!

finding massive slugs on our morning walks...

collecting leaves...

pumpkin patch!!

birthday dinner! my mom, mv, and jack all have birthdays at the end of september so we had a belated birthday celebration!

homemade eggrolls are a must. 

huge alligator for the bear

a wee bit excited about an octopus from uncle vince!

brick blocks, homemade spear from paw paw, mini guitar from mrs. rhonda, and mini cow hide, all for my big boy!

reading with uncle "wince"

apple picking! 

farmer's market on sunday, before church!

always reading :)

my beautiful mama!

beautiful fall colors. 

my awesome dad hauled this antique armoire from texas! they got this beauty for my 30th birthday. i'm a lucky gal. and it looks pretty good :)

hugging goodbye. it's gonna be a long 6 weeks until Christmas!

cinnamon raisin quick bread

hi.

is it dreary where you are?

i don't know what the deal is here in virginia but i'm going crazy with all this fog and humidity and drizzly rain.

i mean, i love a good drizzle/stay at home/watch movies/bake something day but over a week?!

enough already.

but, it really isn't up to me, eh?

i'll let the Man sort that out.

meanwhile, i'll make my new favorite, cinnamon raisin quick bread.

no yeast, no rising, easy peasy.

not too sweet, just enough cinnamon, and optional on the amount of raisins.

good for breakfast with steamed milk and a pat of butter or a before-dinner snack, on the go.

enjoy!!

Cinnamon Raisin Quick Bread

Makes one loaf.

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 - 1/2 cup raisins, to taste

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350*.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking soda, and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and oil.

Stir into dry ingredients until just moistened.

Fold in raisins.

Combine the cinnamon and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and set aside.

Spoon half the batter into a greased loaf pan and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.  Then, spoon the rest of the batter on top and spread to cover.  Cut through the batter with a butter knife to swirl.

Bake for 50-60 minutes until done through and cool in pans.  Remove and enjoy!

lately...

lately...

i've been enjoying my afternoon view.

and boys that play so well together.

pressing collected leaves by chubby hands for an autumn chandelier, of sorts.

baking anything apple!

enjoying warm days with car washes...

...and bright mornings, by myself, on the porch.

(that iced coffee was a surprise, waiting in my fridge, as a make-up for having to leave so early in the morning.  i adore him.)

speaking of him... :)

smelling rosemary orange cornbread.

enjoying his and hers coffee on saturday mornings.

crafting little projects.

loving falling leaves.

...but still warm enough some days for bare feet.

helping, when he can't reach.

watching mama's apple doughnut dough mix

...and the saddest part about glazing doughnuts...ah, the waste.

loving when daddy is home early on weeknights.

and always so grateful, the most grateful, for these two perfect souls.