Hi there, friends, and happy October! So, fall is happening all over the place around here!! Did you check out the cover image of this post? It’s our beautiful blue front door and our dried hydrangea and burlap wreath. And our lovely little door-knocker holding it all up. We had to have a sailing ship, because we’re Salings. Lots of nautical theming around here.
I could tell you so many stories about this front door. It’s the longest we’ve had the same front door since Scott and I have been married {we’ve been in this house since 2016, y’all!}, but it’s been a few different colors. And it’s this color blue because our house painters thought I did such a terrible job on the color update the first time I did it that they would paint it for free as long as we chose the color. It was red before, but I just love this blue. Grateful for them for this color and for fixing my terrible painting job!
So…sweet Jesus, it’s October already. What are we up to? Where did the months go? I probably had the most activity I’ve had over the past six months this past weekend, heading out to Harper’s Ferry for kayaking and a winery visit with friends to celebrate one of our lovely friend’s birthday and last month with us before she moves to Chicago for her next assignment. That adventure is getting a post of its own. Epic.
And in other news…we have finally figured out what we’re going to do in the future. That’s an upcoming post on its own as well, but we are going to be moving next summer to the sunny state of Florida! We are putting the final touches on everything and getting ready to wrap it up with a bow, but this assignment here in D.C. will be my final assignment with the Army. It is time for new adventures, and we’re so ready to see what Florida has to offer us.
Just as a side note, I’m working on plans to intern with my future new employer prior to my retirement, so we aren’t jumping from employment to nothing. I’ll talk more about how that works in – yes, you guessed it – a future post on our upcoming move.
But in the meantime, here’s what else we’re up to…
Currently…
1. Have you all gone picking apples? It’s such the quintessential September thing to do, and there are so many places open for business that employ good social distancing guidelines. Here are some of our favorite ways to use apples.
- Chicken Apple Brie Panini Sandwich
- Simply Delicious Apple Pie
- Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pancakes with Pecans
- Mulled Apple Cider
- Apple Tartlets with Maple + Gorgonzola
- Baked Cider Donuts
Number one on my list of new apple recipes to try this fall? I really want this Prosciutto Apple and Sage Butter Chicken from Half-Baked Harvest.
2. Adding this recipe to my must-try list – how cute are these pumpkin sourdough bread loaves? I love the pumpkin shapes and creative scoring! And who doesn’t love decorations you can eat?
Although you can say the same for the sugar pumpkins I’ve stored creatively around the house. They’re cute and they’re decorative, but if we’re ever feeling the need for pie or soup, all I have to do is grab a couple “decorations” and roast them for about 45 minutes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and we’re set for ingredients!
3. Remember last month when I was talking about trying to sneak in some of that vivid “Current Mood” deep green color in my kitchen? So, totally did it. And we love the color and so do so many of our friends and family who have seen it. I’m looking for ways to bring more of that color in as subtle accents – a vase here, maybe some green and white bar towels, maybe a colander or bowl, maybe even in the backsplash as a grout!
4. Someone asked me how much time it takes me to put together these Currently posts. A lot, but the secret is that I don’t wait until the end of the month. The only thing I do at the end of the month is compile the photo collages and write the introduction. I actually make the framework for this post in the first or second week of the month and compile articles as I go and things inspire me.
I do drop or change topics as things go so that I can share the things most relevant to me at the time, because this is a little bit of a time capsule for me, too – but this isn’t all put together in one whole cram session at the end of the month!
5. So, as we think about what’s next for us, I keep thinking about houses and what would be my dream house. And I came across this post from Cup of Jo on dream movie houses, and absolutely love what everyone was commenting. Mine? The Victorian from Practical Magic.
That view of the water, and that garden! And the kitchen leading into the greenhouse? Sign me up. I found out that someone actually designed a kitchen based on the Practical Magic kitchen! It looks amazing – although I have to say my version would have more windows.
6. I had a nice quiet little celebration with my family this month for my 41st birthday. Scott grilled us up some steaks, seared scallops for an appetizer, and made smashed potatoes and sweet corn to go with. Much better than any restaurant – and I’m sure little man was happy to participate, too! And no one had to drive after he and I enjoyed some of my favorite Cabernet Franc.
7. We took a trip with a good friend of ours and her family out to her family’s farm about an hour south of here. We visited on a gorgeous day and picnicked on the back deck and sipped wine while the kids ran around and chased each other in the grass. Little dude and his friend got to ride in his friend’s grandpa’s tractor and that was probably the highlight of his month. Ever since then, he has been pointing at my phone and shouting, “Tractor! Tractor!” because he wants to go back and look at the pictures. I have to print them out for him.
8. What’s for dinner tonight? The weather’s starting to cool down, so I’m turning my attention to lots of comforting soups and chilis lately, and there really isn’t anything in my arsenal that’s more comforting than this delicious, savory, creamy, cheesy loaded baked potato soup!
For those of you who are enjoying the lightened up recipes around here, don’t worry – I’m looking at making a lightened up and lighter-on-the-dairy version of this so that we can continue to enjoy it around here. But for those who are looking for the creamy real deal, go and enjoy!!
9. Someone told me to create a quick and easy mental health check-in checklist and that I’d thank them for it after the first day. They were right. And it’s really just something you make and use to check-in with yourself to make sure you’re doing okay and you’re getting what you need. Here’s what mine looks like:
- Are you hydrated? Go make sure your water bottle is clean and filled.
- Do you feel like a shower? Go take 20 minutes and stand under the hot water.
- Have you been outside? The next break you have, go outside for a walk.
- Have you been active? Go for a run or bike ride, or if you just have a little time, a walk.
- Have you eaten in the past three hours? If not, go get something with protein, not a snack.
- Have you said something nice to someone? Go leave someone a positive comment on social media or send a nice email thanking someone for something.
- Have you moved to the music today? Put on a tune and dance, or just let yourself sway.
- Are you dressed? Put on some real clean clothes. Dress up, for no reason whatsoever.
- Have you hugged anyone? Hug someone, even if it’s just the cat.
I don’t see things getting back to normal or settling out to normal-ish anytime soon, so as we go about building our routines, it’s nice to have some reminders to build in the nice stuff as well as the chores and work. Those reminders are important to have if you don’t have your usual cues.
So what are you all up to, currently?
