10.22.2009

the carters love this time of year

Dudley and I absolutely love October-December. We love the weather, it's the beginning of hunting season for TDud, pumpkins, soup, chili, our anniversary, our new pup, Thanksgiving, Christmas, fires, blankets, colors. [I could go on and on or see list on previous post]

We have already enjoyed some colder weather, some good soup, pumpkin cookies, but we can't wait to have that first fireplace in our house with our christmas tree and all the little decorations we collected last year and through this year.

I love Christmas cards. I love sending them out, and I love receiving them. The Guinns always sent out a Christmas card, and I loved getting home in the afternoon and getting the mail to see what we had gotten.

Last year TDud and I sent our first Christmas card as a family. Thanks to Stacey's mad skill, we had the best Christmas card ever. This is what it looked like:



I have already gotten my design together [with some help from sissy]. I do design work here at work, so I have taught myself how to use indesign, photoshop, and illustrator. I at least know enough to get by and create what I need to create. With this, I have been able to help Leslie with some stationary/invite items, and have also been able to do some things for myself, such as our 2009 Christmas card. This cute little guy will get to be included this year. He is the sweetest.



I can't wait to send out the holiday cheer from the Carters!

10.19.2009

Gibson Carter

Dudley and I have adopted the cutest and sweetest pup in the world! This is Gibson Carter. We are having the best time bonding with this little man, and he just wants to follow us around and be wherever we are. He is very skinny and shivers outside due to the lack of insulation. We are trying to fatten him up for the cold winter ahead.


Yes, he is already spoiled on the couch.


We had a great time with him this weekend, and he loved running and playing in the backyard. Before the beginning of this video he was just trotting behind Dudley, and then he began to chase the lawnmower. That little rascal!



I don't have Dudley's good camera to post the good photos he took of Gibson, but I will share soon. He is just the sweetest little thing.


Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. How can you resist that face?

10.09.2009

I'm almost Martha Stewart

At my kitchen shower last fall that my sweet friends threw for me in Oxford, they did this game where we all had to answer questions about kitchen things. Margie had asked Dudley to answer it, too. The last questions was something along the lines of... On a scale of 1-10 how close will Martha's cooking be to Martha Stewart's... [something like that]

Well tdud's answer was like a 5 or 6.

This week I made Chicken Piccata, and he gave it another 10! I will have to say that it was rather delicious, and he has already requested it again for next week. It wasn't hard at all so don't be intimidated by the multiple plate dipping sequence.



[photo by me]

Recipe from Ina Garten.

10.06.2009

the address file

Well, we [Leslie and I] caved in and just couldn't resist this splurge.

These lovelydesign address files have been teasing us for awhile now, but now one sits happily on my desk at home.

Well they arrived at my house yesterday, and it was lovely from the minute I opened the box. She had creatively packaged these little things and even included some cute free gift tags! I will take some better photos with no shake it soon. [sorry, it's the most convenient to being able to post immediately]

There she is in all her glory. Now I'll need to perfect my writing so it stays lovely.

10.05.2009

this little pup

We made the mistake of going to look at the pet adoption area at the Farmer's Market on Saturday. [See Leslie's post of the fun happenings we had there]

I found this little guy, and I can't resist that precious little face. Oh, how I want to adopt him.

10.01.2009

it's fall, y'all

Ok, I know... lame title, but I just had to.

It is October 1. A beautiful fall day in Memphis. I have been waiting for this season since, say, last Thanksgiving. I love fall. It's my favorite season. Pumpkins, scarves, cider, pies, leaves, soup, chili, boots, socks, blankets, hoodies, sweaters, layers, gloves, and the list goes on. Something else that is added to my list now that I'm a Carter is deer hunting.

This weekend is the opening weekend of bow [hunting] season, and Dudley is just jittering he's so excited. Tonight he [we] will be getting his attire and supplies ready for his first hunt of 2009. He cannot wait to be in his stand on Saturday morning.

[This post is not going to be about hunting.. don't worry]

One thing on the list above, soup. I love soups. I could eat some every day. Last week, I made that awesome tortilla soup, but this week I went for something more autumnal and made this great potato soup Jesse brought into my life. Let me tell you. It's awesome. Double Potato Soup is the name and we love it.

Double Potato Soup
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 cans chicken broth (or one big box)
1 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (leslie's opinion was tainted because J accidentally put in a whole tsp)
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups half & half

In a soup pot, heat olive oil over med-high heat. Add onions and cook till translucent. Add sweet potatoes, potatoes, and garlic and cook another two minutes. Add the chicken broth, thyme, cayenne pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered until the the potatoes are tender, about 10-15 min.

Use a potato masher and squish the lumps in the soup as best you can. This soup is better not processed in a blender as it is heartier this way; however if you prefer it smoother, go ahead and blend away.

Heat soup to simmer, and salt and pepper to taste, add half and half and warm till hot, but don't boil or it will break.

Enjoy soup with some yummy Panera wheat bread and small salad. [only for me, not for tdud. no salad for that boy]