Getting Cozy.
Getting out the pumpkins.
Getting out the candles.
Getting ready for colorful leaves
Getting ready for crackling fires.
Getting ready for flannels and hoodies.
Getting ready for fleece.
Getting ready for pumpkin lattes.
Getting ready for baked apple everything.
Getting ready for simmering soups.
Getting ready for thick, hearty stews.
Getting ready for Fall.
Getting cozy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This past weekend was one of my favorites of the year! Time for the annual Brugnoli Family and Friends Krautfest Party!
Those of you who have been hanging around here awhile, might remember Krautfest 2015 or even Krautfest 2014.
The festivities kicked off this past Saturday in the beautiful Autumn weather at Conneaut Lake, PA with our dear “Oh Rob” welcoming guests and instructing newcomers on the sauerkraut-making process.
It starts with cutting…. 800 lbs of cabbage cutting!
The cut cabbage goes to the shredders, where experienced cutters teach newbies on equipment passed down through generations from grandparents…
and taught to new generations – where Moms teach sons…
and sisters show brothers….
and families do together.
It then gets measured,
and salted,
and pounded…
while friends and family chat,
and laugh,
and hug.
Old friends meet up after decades.
and new relationships bloom.
There is plenty of fun for kids of all ages!
From Jumbo Jenga…
to pick up sticks…
to lawn bowling,
and searching for bones and candy and money in hay.
There was pumpkin painting…
and t-shirt painting.
There was apple picking…
and apple pressing.
The kids loved learning how to turn apples into fresh apple juice!
and so did some of the parents and grandparents!
There was lots of food.
I made Grandma’s halupki – another Krautfest tradition served up next to hot dogs and kraut and homemade pierogies and cheesy polenta and fresh smoked ham and lots of other yummies.
There was an entire dining room table filled with desserts.
and of course plenty of wine.
There was tire swinging,
and bonfire-building.
There was Marty (hubby – on the left) and Martin.
There were quiet moments from afar,
and lots of singing and music after the sun went down and drew us indoors.
Even dogs of all sizes made friends!
Can you imagine a better time?
Thank you Joyce and Oh Rob! We love you! We ALL do!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
One of these things is not like the others…
Who remembers this song from Sesame Street?
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
I took this picture of some chrysanthemums and pumpkins in my front yard, and when I looked at the picture, I was startled to see “the thing that doesn’t belong.”
Can you find it?
My oldest son, Jake, LOVED Sesame Street when he was little. He was transfixed when it came on, and he learned so much from it. Sometimes I joined him, and other times I did housework while he was pre-occupied and entertained, but so many of the songs still run through my brain triggered by the most unusual of things.
It is funny how something as simple as this can take your mind to a specific place and time and song.
Memories…
The wonderful, whimsical, wacky wonderment.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
For our gang, one of the best things about Autumn is the Annual Brugnoli Friends and Family Krautfest (maybe you remember last year’s), and this past weekend delivered beautiful weather for our festivities!
We started with a crisp, foggy morning that included a beautiful breakfast buffet at Sandy and Bill’s, where most of the gang hung out to watch the annual Conneaut Lake Fall Festival Parade (and the rest of us served as candy passer-outers and parade marchers for our Boro Council candidate, dear “Oh Rob” Brugnoli.
After the parade, we hurried home to prepare for the Kraut-making festivities. Halupkis and Pierogies and Brauts and Dogs in Kraut simmering, while we set up stations to make 800 pounds worth of cabbage into the world’s best homemade saurkraut in the warm Autumn sunshine.
Stations were set up… and then began…
the cutting…
and the slicing and shredding…
then measuring and weighing…
(…and always time for a mother-daughter pose)…
then finally stomping and pounding.
and laughing…
and composting.
Older generations taught younger generations…
and friends taught friends.
More laughs…
lots of hugs… and giving thanks.
Pumpkins were painted…
&
Swings were swung…
and laughter filled the air.
Treasures were searched for…
and discovered.
Lots of delicious food was eaten…
and YES – these cookies consist of three amazing layers: chocolate chip cookie topped with Oreo cookie topped with brownie!
Delicious, intoxicating beverages were enjoyed.
Hot peppers were sauteed and served on fresh crusty bread by friendly “witches” and warlocks.
Families were celebrated.
We even brewed beer!
and BOWLED!
It was a day full of memories… and moments…
and people… and music…
and love… to be cherished.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I thought I’d share a a bit of Thanksgiving/Fall decor around the house before things get Christmas’d up around here soon.
For the dining room table, I used the box Matt made for centerpieces for his and Jackie’s wedding this summer, and I filled it with squashes and pumpkin gourds.
To accent, I used pint-sized wide mouth mason jars (purchased for Colleen’s shower) and filled them with fresh cranberries and popping corn and then added a votive candle, a rafia bow and some tiny hemlock pine cones Tracy helped me pick on our walk Saturday morning.
You see – you don’t have to spend a lot of money to decorate, and it’s even more fun when the things you use have special memories or are acquired during special times with friends.
This “Bountiful harvest” sign sits in the antique jelly cupboard our friends Jim and Mary GAVE US 🙂 that Jim found in the trash that someone was throwing away. He started fixing it up, Marty finished it, and he “loaned” it to us until he decides they have a place for it (fingers crossed that never happens – as it is our ongoing joke!)
A few craft store finds sit around on the sofa table behind the couch.
I love this little muslin pumpkin.
My friend, Rose, gave me this wooden pumpkin candle holder at least 15 years ago, and I bring it out every Fall. Thanks Rose!
When Pap died a couple years ago, my sweet cousins, Dawn and Jen, along with Aunt Gwen and Uncle Frank sent this beautiful Fall silk arrangement, so it goes on the kitchen table for the Fall.
I found this little coffee table centerpiece while shopping with Dawn on a vacation in Myrtle beach.
I’m pretty sure I got this wreath for the front door at the same shop in Myrtle Beach.
And a couple of signs hang at the back door entrance, where most of our family and friends enter. 🙂
I am enjoying the beauty and heart of Thanksgiving this week and so looking forward to sharing it with family and friends. We’re going to have a houseful – just the way I love it!
But then again………. a little touch of Christmas couldn’t hurt – right?! 🙂
I couldn’t wait to put out this little gem I got on our Shaker Woods trip this Fall (and Colleen bought one too! I wonder if hers is out yet??)
…Gobble Gobble Gobble!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 