Yesterday was a lovely Saturday morning in America... after breakfast coffee and toast (with fresh bread, pumpkin butter and raspberry jam - all homemade!), Jim headed upstairs to the study for a few hours of reading and researching, and I headed out on a walk. It was a beautiful, cool morning, with intermittent clouds and sunshine and trees beginning to show autumn colors, and as I walked I passed many typical weekend scenes - all that made me smile - like people out walking their dogs and others driving to the hardware store. We live very close to a high school and to one of the city's "sports parks" so as I walked I could hear the announcer for the football game calling out statistics on the loudspeaker. Then as I rounded the sports park on its trail/loop, I stopped briefly to watch a girls' little league softball game and hear the parents cheering and clapping, and later I passed the tennis courts where a Dad was playing against his son and giving tips and encouragement. What a lovely morning.But enough of that! No photos of the studies or the walk or even of how our new condo is shaping BUT we do have some photos of recent eats here at 795 E Sherwood Hills Dr. (which is fun to say because it rhymes). Here's one from a supper during our first week. As you can see we were still unpacking at this point. And there are two of my lovely plants from Auntie Jo! They survived the road trip from NY.
Jim's 31st birthday cake! (rooibos chocolate cake) We celebrated the birthday meal two weeks late this year, once we had moved in.
Below is pizza with spinach, onions, artichokes, red peppers and peppadews. Weeknight pizza worked well because I made the dough in the KitchenAid in the AM and popped the dough into the fridge until I got home from work. (behind and above Jim you can see the wallpaper border in the kitchen - can't wait until Katie's visit and time to strip it off and re-paint!)
As it's September and winter squashes are becoming abundantly available, butternut has featured in many of our meals. Here are two: spicy butternut & parmesan risotto ... 
And curried butternut soup (with cheese toast) - one of our favorite South African recipes, thanks to Ina Paarman. This time we topped it with some roasted tomatoes and plain yogurt, which adds a nice tang - YUM.
This past weekend I (Jul) drove up to the Indiana Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan to meet up with some Gieser cousins/sisters/sisters in-law for a one night camping trip in honor of Katie's upcoming wedding - just over 2 months to go! Six others drove in together from the Chicago area. And though it was a four hour drive for me, it was a really good time!! The weather was perfect for early autumn - warm and sunny but with colors on the trees and a coolness at night. Cool enough to make a fire and sit around it for hours chatting into the night and chowing on homemade goodies. Well, "chatting and chowing" pretty much describes the entire time. 
The campsites are located on a strip on the other side of massive dunes fronting the lake, so Saturday afternoon we took a short "hike" up and over the dunes - schlepping up and then running down, down the dunes!! - and it was blissful to just sit in the sand for a couple of hours, enjoying the lake (and the distant view of the Chicago skyline) and each other. (Okay so it wasn't the Atlantic Ocean or a Capetonian beach but it felt Really Good to be on the sand and near water.)
Susie slaving over the fire to make our delicious dinner, the most delicious pork tenderloin and roasted vegetables! Just behind her is the big tent that Wendy brought and which we all slept in! 
Katie looking cute
And here we are (top left to bottom left): Wendy, Susie, Ruth, Katie, me, Melanie and Susie.*thanks to Mel for the photos... some good ones.
Sorry for no new photos folks... it's been so busy with Jim's studies and me starting a new part-time job, plus unpacking and unpacking - that we actually haven't taken any photos! A rarity, I know. Still trying to figure out where all the books and framed photos and pottery fit into the new place. But what fun to unpack knowing that we won't be doing it again for a while.One thing I wish I'd photographed are my three trips to go raspberry picking in the last 10 days!! A new friend found out about this organic farm about 35 miles from town, and since it's the farm's first year they are letting people pick for free! I've been stocking up as the season draws to a close. So far the new home is working out great. Only a few minutes to the bus-stop (for Jim), 1 mile to Kroger, and a half mile from 2 walking trails and from the YMCA. Nothing has exploded or burned up or broken or quit working. No - I take that back. I busted a lightbulb and a battery in one of the fire alarms exploded. Lots of neighbors have dogs but we haven't heard much barking. And I have made my first batch of bread! (the oven is so huge!!)
After quite a few roller coaster weeks (and many days of saying "well, hopefully we'll hear something today...") we were finally approved for a loan and closed on our condo/townhome at 795 East Sherwood Hills Drive!! We had the good fortune to be working with sellers who were patient along with us and persevered to the closing day, and to have a mortgage broker to "fight" for us and help arrange all the details for the sale (it was a for sale by owner).
So now it is a huge relief to be able to move into our own place - I (Jul) find myself saying and thinking, "okay we Live Here Now" - and start setting up our home and routines in this new place. We do have a second bedroom so come visit!! Katie G and Dad & Mom H are coming in October...as are Mike and Heather from Cape Town... 
The day we closed Mom and Dad G drove down to help us unpack boxes and do some much-needed projects. It was definitely a non-stop work weekend!! We shopped at Lowe's, painted the bedroom and put up more shelving in the kitchen and laundry area. What an amazing help and inspiration they were! Who's next? We still need to paint the guestroom/study and bathroom, and replace some light fixtures and mirrors...
*This video is from two months ago, soon after we Giesers and the Weltys had arrived in Durham.
So, Kate, now that you all have been back in Waco for a couple of weeks - do you think Grandma's prediction came true? Even Jack seemed to be in agreement at the time... but how could he be anything but sweet and fun still?!
Jim's 31st birthday cake! (rooibos chocolate cake) We celebrated the birthday meal two weeks late this year, once we had moved in.
Below is pizza with spinach, onions, artichokes, red peppers and peppadews. Weeknight pizza worked well because I made the dough in the KitchenAid in the AM and popped the dough into the fridge until I got home from work. (behind and above Jim you can see the wallpaper border in the kitchen - can't wait until Katie's visit and time to strip it off and re-paint!)
As it's September and winter squashes are becoming abundantly available, butternut has featured in many of our meals. Here are two: spicy butternut & parmesan risotto ... 
