No photographic evidence

We had a great last weekend in September, but unfortunately, I have no photographic evidence to share. :)
We were able to take a break from harvest on Saturday evening to go to a Point of Grace concert in Watertown.  It was held in conjunction with the State Right to Life Convention.  This was my third time seeing Point of Grace in concert.  They were one of David and my my favorite Christian bands in their early years (our high school and college days), and their early songs bring back memories for both of us of driving in our cars and cranking up the music.  (Mine was a tape; David was further ahead in technology and listened to his on CD.) :)  They are still making music together and it was a great concert and night out together!


Yesterday my sister and her fiancé came out to take their engagement pictures.  Again, I cannot share any of these amazing photos until they make them public.  It was my first time photographing adults.  Wow--it was so much easier than children!


And, now, it is time to get this Monday started!


Have a great day!

Zucchini Bread

You already know that zucchini and I have a complicated relationship.
Well, maybe it's not all that complicated.  I like zucchini, just not 100 at a time.  One or two a year is fine with me.  The good thing about that is that it's always easy to find one or two (although sometimes difficult to convince those sharing that it's ALL I want). :)
Zucchini is interesting because it tastes like . . . nothing.  (Rachel was disappointed to find out that it does NOT taste like a cucumber.)  That makes it easy to hide in all sorts of things, and especially baked goods.  Even though it doesn't taste like much, it does add moisture to everything.  It's one of those ingredients I look forward to in the fall.

Here's one of my favorite zucchini recipes from my mom.

Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup oil

3 cups grated zucchini

1 cup nuts (optional)

Sift together salt, soda, cinnamon, baking powder and flour.  Beat eggs until light.  Add sugar and vanilla, oil, and mix well. Stir in grated zucchini. Add dry ingredients and blend.  Stir in nuts if desired.  Pour in 2 floured and greased bread pans or a greased and floured Bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.  Cool before slicing.

Eureka Pioneer Museum

Nathan, Teresa, Rachel and I started our Schmeckfest Saturday with Papa Butter and Grandma Shirley at the Eureka Pioneer Museum.  This beautiful one-of-a-kind wheat sculpture that celebrates Eureka's title as Wheat Capital of the World is outside the entrance. (For more on Eureka's history, visit this Germans from Russia site.)

Our first stop was a rope making station where they learned how to twist their own 3-strand rope.

The player piano caught all their attention.

Everyone took a ride on the wooden colt (which was also built by the man helping them make rope).

We stopped in the school house.  Teresa was most interested in the pens, ink wells in the desks, and handwriting books.

The country church has a very large collection of antique hymn books, most of them in German.

We don't visit the museum every year, but I always enjoy it and so do my kids.  There is also a sod house on the grounds, as well as an extensive collection of farm machinery, a fire truck and cars.  There is even a jail cell!  

They always find something new to interest them, or revisit favorite displays from before. 

It's always good to go back home . . . and be reminded of our roots. 

Homecoming 2014

It's Homecoming in Wildcat Territory today!

The annual Homecoming parade is one of the most fun things about being a part of a small school.  Next year, we will be part of the marching band scene.  Wohoo!  I looove marching band.

The parade theme this year was Dr. Seuss stories and we had quite a long parade for a small town!

The Senior Moms were Molly Shannon "Superstars"!

(And, yes, Rachel noticed that Yellow Bus.)

Yellow Bus

The YELLOW BUS is Rachel's dream car.

Remember playing M.A.S.H. (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House) on school bus rides when we listed our top three dreams for all things important in life?  

Rachel's list of three dream cars would include a YELLOW BUS.  She spots them everywhere and anywhere.  The arrival of the yellow bus in the morning and afternoon are the highlights of her day.  One day we were stuck at a railroad crossing beside a yellow bus.  

A train AND a yellow bus?  It just doesn't get any better!

Remembering that Nathan had also been motivated by a bus ride when he was a little guy, I mentioned to Rachel that big girls have to poop on the potty in order to ride the yellow bus.

The message wasn't always clear--"Where do you have to poop?"  "On the yellow bus!"

Uh, no.

But, it still looked like the timing could be about right to promise a yellow bus ride for the Grand Prize.  Within a few days of school starting, she was starting to get it.  She has actually been near 100% since Labor Day weekend and she did not forget that promised ride.  

Today it worked for her big YELLOW BUS journey.  Our awesome driver Camille agreed to pick her up at the corner and take her along for the last stop a mile away.

Of course, she needed a back pack, too!  Why ride a yellow bus if you don't look the part?

Hooray for life's little victories!