Friday Things #397
1. My sweet boys and this amazing light 😍 (And hooray for shorts and t-shirts in November!)
2. We had a stretch of absolutely beautiful weather here for the beginning of November and on Monday we were outside the entire afternoon from when Joseph was done with school until we went inside to heat up leftovers for dinner; it was great for all of us!
3. In related news, this girl is getting brave! She got to the top of the climbing wall twice, but stopped short of pulling herself onto the platform and wanted down 😊
4. Any suggestions on where to get Container Store-esque organizing pieces? We recently added more pantry space, so I’m wanting to get things set up and organized, but everything that I would normally get from the Container Store is sold out or backordered. Gah!
5. Love these tips on 5 Things You Should Be Seasoning With Salt – have you done any/all of them?
6. My peanut butter fudge recipe is already starting to get loads of traffic! Are you thinking about holiday baking yet? If so, what’s on your list?
7. When will you start decorating for Christmas? Last year, we put our tree up before Thanksgiving, but waited until after to decorate it and put up everything else. It sure was nice to have an extra week or so to enjoy the soft glow of the lights :)
8. Speaking of the holidays, what types of gift guides are you most in need of this year? Kitchen/home, kids, men, etc.?
9. Thank you to everyone who recommended The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) – we watched it this week and really enjoyed it!
10. TGIF! Judith loved playing outside this week, too!
Oh I’m fully decorated (took advantage of the nice weather we had here in Vermont too) except for our tree which we will go cut the day after Thanksgiving! I’m working remote due to COVID so I’m so happy to be able to enjoy all these beautiful decorations a little longer this year. It does my heart good with all that’s going on this year.
I put my Christmas wreath on the door (it’s a little more “winter” than Christmas, 2 of the Target birds on the entry table next to the plant, and I hung icicle lights on the living room window. My husband said that was Christmas decorating but I know it’s not 😂 I just needed SOMETHING since I’ve been stuck at home since March. We don’t always have a tree but I say it’s not too early to put one out with the lights on it if you want to! My girlfriend put her’s up – with ornaments – on Nov 2 this year and it looks gorgeous!
Target birds: https://www.target.com/p/bird-with-hat-38-scarf-decorative-figurine-gray-wondershop-8482/-/A-79498026#lnk=sametab
On the salt – I am supposed to be low sodium, so I am forever under salting things – according to my husband. And if you are buying fresh, local fruit, I don’t think there’s any need to salt it. In general, I do my best not to add salt if at all possible because I can tell when I’ve consumed too much and then I have to go NO salt for a few days, and that’s not very fun!
You’re kids look like they are having so much fun and I love the photo of Judith leaping to catch! We got a kitten this fall and he is starting to leap after toys, it’s so fun to watch!
I’m glad you enjoyed the Queen’s Gambit. I’m not a chess player at all and thought it was a well done show!
Love, love, love the climbing wall!
Please post your findings on questions #4 & #8. I ask myself those very same questions! Thanks!
I love your holiday gift guides! Everything I get for others (and myself) are a hit! I would love to see a husbands gift guide and a new moms gift guide!
Judith looks like she’s flying! Glad your children are getting opportunities to do normal fun activities. Isabel will be on the platform and jumping off before you know it! Thanks for sharing your delightful pictures.
QVC has a full line of containers called Lock-n-Lock. There are many sizes and colors. I use them in my pantry and they work well.
Hello,
Hooray for Friday Things! My adult daughter and I enjoy your family recipes and ideas. Thank you. The two of us are making homemade caramel candy. We will dip pretzels rods in caramel for holidays. Some with drizzled with milk chocolate atop caramel. North Pole Candy Shoppe in Bear Bear, CA, special!
Love your backyard. It is so nice to be able do things in your yard when the weather. is nice. Isabelle is brave to go up the wall. Good for her. So enjoy your blogs and hearing about you and the family.
Costco has a set of OXO containers right now. I wished I had had a need. I recently bought some on Amazon for storing flour, rice, and beans. I wanted all the same size for stacking.
Sweet pictures of kids. What amazing Fall colors you get to see.
I’ve never had peanut butter fudge…but bet it is amazing. Will have to give it a try. Kind of looks like a peanut butter cup filling-and what’s not to like about that😊
Awesome action pic of Judith. I hadn’t thought about Duke being missing from photos until I read a sweet post below asking about him. So now I’m hoping he’s ok too lol. We just all adore all of you, so nice to see this in your big group of readers.
I could have sworn you had a milk frother recommendation on one of your gift guides a couple of years ago. I went to look for it and couldn’t find it. Can you direct me to it or provide a link. Thank you!
I am also thinking about putting up our Christmas tree before Thanksgiving and decorating the day after. We usually put ours up the day after Thanksgiving anyway. I have a handful of teenage grandchildren, both boys, and girls and another handful of tween-agers that I am struggling with ideas for gifts. Any suggestions are appreciated!
Surprisingly I salt more on the list than I was expecting. I always salt as I go when cooking, I salt salads, I salt some of my fruit. If you like cottage cheese with pineapple chunks on top, it’s even better with salt on top. It just makes the pineapple taste so much better! Oh, green apples too! I’ve never salted toast, but hot cereal I do.
We have had many days in a row of nothing but rain here in the Low Country and today it is sunny and bright! Yay! Thanks for all your inspiration!
Kids looking great as usual. I have not salted the items on that list and really don’t plan to 🤣🤣🤣. I haven’t started Christmas baking yet – probably will soon though. Not sure when/if we will decorate for Christmas either – depends on how we feel after Thanksgiving (elderly parents have been minimalist lately). Judith is looking good! Have a freat weekend.
Spritz cookies, both vanilla and chocolate, are a must along with peanut butter cup cookies. I’ve been stocking up on baking supplies since some have been hard to find.
Oh my so sorry 3 kids! Perfect number you are a super woman!
I have been a long time follower! My email got hacked and had to change it! I remember when you no kids and then how excited you where to have your first! Now you have 2 beautiful boys that growing up to fast! Time just goes by way to fast! I have no idea how you do it all! Your a great Mom and cook!
I could really use some Christmas ideas for teenage boys. It gets harder each year to come up with things when they say they’ll think of things & only come up with one if I’m lucky.
Yes for great fall weather in November! Makes me realize why so many people go to FL for the winter.
We put our tree up after Thanksgiving. I tend to be traditional & don’t want to see Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving.
Have a great weekend!
I can relate – I have 3 teenaged sons. When I asked them what they wanted for Christmas they just shrugged and said, “something useful”. I’m getting them camping gear and colorful socks, card games and couple movies.
I’ve been known to hand the list back to the teenager and tell him to put down x number of gifts in y number of categories (ex. Thanks for listing the one $200 item, but you need to list 3 things under $20 and 4 things under $50, and no, “cash” doesn’t count – it has to be an item). I’ve also insisted that since there are x number of people purchasing gifts, then they need to have x+ ? on their list so that people have options. Yes, my requirements are somewhat arbitrary, but it ensures that most people could purchase at least one thing for a person if they wanted. I have 4 brothers and there’s no way I could spend $200 on each of them! Fortunately, we are all older now, so for me it’s listening to what they’re into during the year and writing that down so that come Christmas shopping I have ideas – I think that’s what the Notes app on your phone is for!
It sounds like Rachel does what I do as well – pay attention to things they like during the year and buy in those categories. Or notice something they need but won’t buy themselves (like a travel mug).
I’ve also been intrigued by the “3 Gifts” practice for kids – something you want, something you need, and something to read. Seems like it might help keep expectations and costs down – between parents and kids anyway!
I’I’m so happy to see kids enjoying outside play !! This Covid has taken a toll on so many children. I fear for my younger grandsons, they have gained so much weight since the shutdown and the 11 yr has become fearful and isolated. It’s heartbreaking.
Containers…I love lock n lock. All pantry sizes. I get them through QVC. Inexpensive but durable. They are the best thing I’ve found.
I bought lazysusans for my Pantry and they work great.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036OQU2E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you haven’t started it already, you should watch The Undoing with Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Donald Sutherland on HBO. There’s 3 episodes on demand now (Sunday nights) and it’s such a great who-dun-it drama! Great for both you and your husband to watch.
Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll check it out!
Can you give us ideas on bake ahead and freeze cookies/candies for the holidays? Which ones freeze the best? Any tips on that?
Love watching your family grow up. And the wonderful recipes!
My tree is up and decorated! I take the time to be thankful at Thanksgiving for my many blessings. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my tree for as long as possible!
Yes, I am going to be putting together another email series for Christmas baking and making ahead/freezing is going to be one of those! So stay tuned!
I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your “Friday Things” posts.
Thank you so much, Janet! xo
I think after the year everyones had, putting up your christmas tree a bit early wouldn’t be frowned upon! Also, just wondering if everythings ok with Duke, haven’t seen his pretty face in a few weeks 🙂
Oh yes, he’s good!! I have some great pictures of him coming up :)
Phew! Cuz I was wondering the same thing! :)