Autumn is finally here!

"If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour"

-Victoria Erickson

Everyone has a favorite season or if not then something about all the seasons brings little bits of joy. For me autumn is my season as it seems to be for many. The crisp autumn colors painted over the mountainscape, the anticipation for the coming holidays, the cool fresh air in the mornings that seems to blow in over night are just a few things that seem to bring a new breath to life.

 Jay would say I love all the season and holidays (which is true - i just love a chance to celebrate) but this week I think he has learned that Fall is my "spirit" season. 

My parents have grown a pumpkin patch in their yard for as long as I can remember. I thought as a kid they did this in order to teach us character or some such life lesson because pumpkins take lots and lots of water, time, and care in order to turn out as they should. 

This year my mom and dad were not able to take care of the yard during the month that it was most vital. My mom was in the hospital at this time so it was up to my siblings and I to do so. There were some days I felt so helpless in taking care of my parents. I just didn't know what to do or say. It was those days I would swing by and just water the pumpkins because I knew how much my mom loved having pumpkins for the grandkids to come and pick and carve. 

Now my mom is doing amazing and astounding her doctors by her recovery. And it is now time to pick the pumpkins that some how survived August. 

There is a particular autumnish quote that has resonated with me this week

"Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful"

To put it short and sweet I got laid off from work on Tuesday. My company was acquired by a company from England. It was very unexpected by most everyone in the company as it literally happened over night. 2/3rd of the customer service/sales teem walked in on Tuesday with jobs and left without one. 

But you know what - my heart if filled with gratitude, gratitude that Jay was able to find a great job last week, that we have school paid off for both of us, that we live so close to family and friends, and that I've had a week to focus more on Jay and on school. 

"Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be"

Just another quote I absolutely love. 

Plus one more thing to be grateful for this week. We have a crazy cat that makes us laugh everyday. 

(This video only shows a little of how hyper she gets in the morning. Jay took this at about 6am which is her prime play time.)

Before you get to see Sharyti's recipe, I thought I would add a bit of my own. As Shar said, I was able to pick up a good job right before she got laid off. I don't think that it was a coincidence. I know that God is there looking out for us and helping us to live as much a self reliant life as possible. I am forever grateful for His tender mercies. 

This post has kind of a somber feel too it, so to help with that I've included that motion graphic video I finished up for one of my classes. It was my first experience with Adobe After Effects. So just know that I'm no J.J. Abrams lol.

Recipe for the week: "Smash 'em with a fork" Cookies

(What my nephew, Tagg, called Peanut Butter Cookies when he was little)

1/2  cup butter, softened
1/2  cup peanut butter
1/2  cup granulated sugar
1/2  cup brown sugar or 1/4 cup honey (I used sugar)
1/2  teaspoon baking soda
1/2  teaspoon baking powder
1  egg
1/2  teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
Granulated sugar (for rolling cookies in)

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine butter and peanut butter.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add the 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.  Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.  Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. If necessary, cover and chill about half an hour or until dough is easy to handle. I just stuck it in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

2. Place additional granulated sugar in a small bowl.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Roll balls in sugar to coat.  Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the tines of a fork, flatten balls by making crisscross marks on top. 

3. Bake in a preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Makes about 36 cookies.

Jay has an announcement. . .

We had a fairly normalish week, but not really. Lots of school with shorts bursts of panic and what not. At least for me. Sharyti was lazy this week and hardly did any homework at all. Hey now, I worked, cleaned, aannd did homework. . .  I was just smart and got it done at school. . . ;)I felt like I was up to my ears in it haha. One of the few breaks from the madness of homework was Monday when we went to see Comedy Sports at the Central Utah Gardens. We had to reserve free tickets and then there was a man sitting in the entrance that had a clipboard with names of the welcome guests. We felt so sophisticated having our names on a list to get into a party haha. Here are a few pictures of us while we waited for it to start. 

It was good fun! 

On Tuesday I got a call from one of the interviews I had on Friday. They offered me a job (yaaaaay - prayers answered) and I took it! I am no longer freeloading off Sharyti! Ya dork, you weren't a freeloader. Someone had to do the dishes, make dinner, and take care of the kitty litter box. I now work for a company called Audrey's Bear. They make blankets, sheets, car seat covers, hats, and other such things for babies. They hired me on to print the designs onto the material, and will also incorporate me into helping with some of the design, and studio photography work. I started Friday. It will be a good job :). 

Since school started I have been working on a motion graphic project. I made some great headway this week and am kinda proud of what I have come up with. The project is due next weekend and I think I will share it with y'all so you can have a taste of what I've been working on the last few weeks.

I don't really have much else, maybe Sharyti will.  Nope, that about sums up our uber exciting week = two college students in love and living the dream. 

TTFN

We thought of a witty title. . but now we can't remember it. . .

This week wasn't too crazy as far as school or other engagements went. 

Jason had a couple job interviews (yay!) that went really good. Crossing our fingers that one of these will work out. With school and finances poking us with their pointy little fingers it's times like these where the feelings of stress and anxiety can quickly come in. But you know what, we both have had a feeling of peace about the uncertainty's that are ahead of us knowing that God is in charge and all we can do is our best. I have a tendency to get stressed out way too easily but have had sweet tender reminders (often from Jay) about the beauty in God's timing and that life really is good and ok because we have each other. Sharyti isn't the only one getting those reminders.  A few other reminders can be seen below.

Timmy is liking us more and more . . we think. She comes out during the day now and follows us around the apartment begging to be petted. Her worst enemies are the dishwasher and the vacuum and heaven forbid if you don't warn her that you're walking into the room. Poor Jason has to deal with living with two hormonal girls. (Its a good thing we're cute) ;)

My sweet niece, Faith, was blessed on Sunday last and was so cute in the little dress that her older sister also wore when she was blessed. Jay and I are so lucky to be the Aunt and Uncle of such cute, talented, and funny kids (all 42 to be exact!)

This Weeks Adventures:

Nothing screams labor day more then a little shoot out among family and friends right? 

Jay got out his 12 gauge and .22 and we went out shooting with our friend, Jay's Dad, brother-in law, and our niece. They all had their own guns as well and I was in high heaven getting to shoot all of them. I know, not your typical girl some would say, but you've never had fun till you've shot a 223 and blown a rock off a mountain = pure satisfaction I tell you. 

(This is my favorite gun, and one I hope to own someday.. . far into the future as it costs more then I want to admit. How is it I like more expensive guns then Jay) Just because I am satisfied by more inexpensive guns does not mean that I don't like really expensive ones lol Aww I see. ;)

We had been meaning to go camping for a good while these past few weeks but every weekend just didn't seem to work out. That is until this weekend. Thank goodness. School has already gotten a bit overwhelming, and we both needed a break from the world. Amen to that, we were finally able to leave the cares of adult life and go up into the mountains. The first temples ever created in my mind. There is a peace and serenity that come into the soul when you're able to breathe the crisp mountain air and just soak up the view around you. Just thinking back to being there makes me think very strongly "God is good and we are very blessed".

We decided to go up Payson Canyon as neither of us had been camping up there before. . this also meant neither of us knew how to get there. After a couple turn arounds, and stopping by a church parking lot for wifi (a neat trick for those of you who don't have any data for your phones aka us) we were able to make our way up the canyon and onward to success. 

free campsite, seclusion, colors changing, husband making fire = priceless

Bless all the fat cows in the surrounding area of Payson Canyon that keep the local campers on their toes with their large bodies romping through the forest at night. o.O

So fun fact - this is up Payson Canyon. Yes, thats right, this. Its called Devil's kitchen or little Bryce Canyon. Such a cool little stop and hike. Its the little discoveries like this that cause me to fall more and more in love with Utah. 

THIS WEEK'S CREATION/EXPERIMENT: Pumpkin Bread

So I have never made pumpkin Bread before and felt super Autumny this week so I figured I would give it a go. I had everything all mixed in until I realized I didn't have any nutmeg. I figured I could still make it without. Wrong, it needs nutmeg. Definitely add the nutmeg. 

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.