Summer 2013? Check.

Been busy.....but such is life, right?  Last week we went back to Smalltown to visit our dear, sweet landlords that we had while we lived there.  It was just a short visit, but one we've been wanting to do for quite some time.  Yes, we have the kind of relationship with our former landlords that they open their home to us and let us stay with them.  I've said it once before, but I'll say it again--it was no coincidence that they were brought into our lives.

Can you believe it's been two years since we were swimming at their house?  I certainly can't.  But the photographic evidence I have tells me it's true.

As she did before, our sweet landlord friend sent me home with a box of tomatoes and cucumbers fresh from her garden.  So the day after we got home, I canned tomatoes and some AMAZING sweet relish.  I know there are a lot of relish haters out there.  Hubs included.  He never puts it on hot dogs.  But this stuff?  He'll eat it by the spoonful--as will I.  Words cannot express just how yummy and scrummy it is. 

Anyhow, I was able to can 10 pints tomatoes and two pints of relish.  Oh, and I also baked a peach crisp with a box of peaches I brought home with us.  We had some of the crisp for dessert and then in a rare moment of brilliance, I made a pot of oatmeal the next morning and mixed in the rest of the peach crisp with the oatmeal.  Verdict?  SO doing that again.  It was so, so, so, so good.

We also have been enjoying the nice weather and we have our dinner outside on occasion.  I snapped this little photo.  Peanut being silly and Little Brother being, well, a little brother.

We don't eat outside too often because our back patio gets the hot, afternoon sun.  Meaning, that would require me to break a sweat, which we all know I don't take too well with.  And second, we have a makeshift blockade so Little Brother can't hurl himself out the sliding screen door when the glass slider is open.  It's simply a PAIN to haul everything food related out back.  I know these "open" floor plans are all the rage (I honestly do like our floor plan), but let. me. tell. you.  They are a female dog to baby proof. 

Just saying.

Especially when you don't want to drop upwards of $100 on a play yard. So getting creative it is until I can trust him around screen doors.  Which is why I am starting to get a little excited for fall.

I said a little excited.  Not jumping up and down excited, just excited enough so we don't have to have our backdoor blocked all the time excited.

You know.  Well, that and then we get to do fall things.

And fall things?  Well, those are definitely fun times.