Sunset last night

We don't get these really often, so luckily I was able to stop and get a few shots. Gorgeous! This is over a lake near our house. Every once in a while you're in the right place at the right time...with a camera. :-)

Fall pictures

Had fun trying to get some good pictures of the boys. These were the winners for me. :-)

Steak and Shake @ home

The boys got the idea tonight to recreate a Steak and Shake meal at our house...even down to the skinny fries (not as skinny as theirs, but close) and Bits 'N' Pieces Reese's Peanut Butter Cup shake! Mmmmmmmm!!! It was fun and yummy!

14 Things To Do To Get More Energy

From the blog, The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

1. Get enough sleep. If you never wake up before the alarm blasts, you need to go to bed earlier. People become accustomed to the feeling of being sleep deprived, but they don’t really adapt to it. Make getting enough sleep a top priority.

2. Go for a brisk walk. One study found that even a 10-minute walk was enough to supply a feeling of energy and decreased tension.

3. Listen to your favorite upbeat song. Hearing stimulating music gives an instant lift. Along the same lines…

4. Sing out loud. It’s hard to feel grouchy when you’re singing — and the goofier the song, the better.

5. Take a short nap, if you’re the napping type. Many people find them very energizing. My father has been known to take three naps in one day.

6. Act energetic. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up. Acting energetic will make you feel more energetic.

7. Along the same lines, spend time with energetic people. People catch the moods of other people, and energy (or lack of energy) is highly contagious.

8. Talk to friends. I’ve noticed that if I’m feeling low, and I run into a friend on the street, I walk away feeling much more energetic. Reach out if you need a boost.

9. Cross a nagging chore off your to-do list to get a big rush of energy. Unfinished tasks drag us down, so force yourself to tackle one thing that’s nagging you to get a huge rush of energy.

10. Make your bed. It doesn’t take much time or thought, and it provides a feeling of serenity and control when you come home at night.

11. Make something right. Apologize, confess, repair, replace, or return something you borrowed.

12. Go outside into the sunlight. Light deprivation is one reason why people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood.

13. Clean up. I’m not sure why tidying makes such a huge difference, but when I feel like I can’t face the day, I just tidy up my desk, and I perk right up.

14. Drink some coffee! Coffee gets a bad rap, but the fact is, it really does boost alertness, energy, and ability to focus. (Plus, it’s a great source of antioxidants and it contains a high level of soluble dietary fiber.)

Days at home with Logan

Putting the animals to sleep.

"Playing" football on the 'puter.

No-school-day fall craft @ home

Had fun making this little gal this morning with the boys.

The train!

We set up the new train the other night for a little while. The boys had great fun! Looks like many hours of enjoyment from this!

Even built a tunnel for it. That's a boy for ya.

The last Monarch...

...has flown away. Summer is truly over. I'm just hoping it wasn't too windy for her and that she finds all her friends en route to Mexico! Aufwiedersehen!

Yummy recipe to share...the kids loved it and it's cheap to prepare!

Corn Tortilla and Mixed Bean Lasagna

1 t. extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium yellow onions, chopped (2 c.)

2 medium bell peppers, cored and chopped

2 T. minced garlic

1-15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1-15 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1-14 oz. can diced tomatoes, retain some juice

1-4 oz. can mild or hot chopped green chilies

1 T. chili powder

2 t. ground cumin (I used 1 t.)

1 t. salt

12 white corn tortillas

2 c. grated reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese (I used Cheddar Jack)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, bell peppers and garlic. Saute until the vegetables are soft, 5 - 7 minutes. Stir in both beans, the tomatoes, chilies, chili powder, cumin and salt. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a 9 x 13 in. baking dish (or other 3-quart shallow baking dish) spread 1/2 c. (or more) of bean mixture. Arrange 6 of the tortillas over the bean mixture, overlapping them slightly and having them come about 1 inch up the sides of the dish.

Spread half of the remaining bean mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 c. of the cheese, then arrange the remaining 6 tortillas on top. Cover with the remaining bean mixture.

Coat one side of a piece of foil with cooking spray, then tightly cover the dish. Bake until the lasagna is bubbling and heated through, about 30 minutes. Uncover and top with the remaining cheese. Bake for 5 minutes more, or until the cheese is melted.

NOTE: To add meat to this yummy dish, I cooked several chicken breasts beforehand (seasoned with salt, garlic and thyme), chopped them up and sprinkled them over the 2 bean mixture layers. Enjoy!

Very cool garage sale!

Found an awesome train set for my boys...all 3 of them! HO scale with Santa Fe locomotives. Great fun for this winter.

And found some fun stuff for me at an estate sale. I love old stuff! I've always wanted a fan like this ...and you can never have too many pitchers.

Useful kitchen info

Here's for all you out there who are like me and put a pan of apples on the stove to boil and forget to add water. :-) ha! Thank goodness for Google Search.

http://whatscookingorem.com/2009/08/charred-pan/