R & R at BBR

September is always a good time to get away.

We usually head to the mountains since the weather is still really nice. This year was no different however most days the blue skies gave way to smoke from the forest fires. There was really no way to avoid it since there were fires burning pretty much all over the state.

That did not interfere with our activities though.

We occasionally had the driving range to ourselves which was fun.

Most days we rode our bikes to the lodge to swim or to sit by the lake or the fire pit depending on weather however, 

we never could quite see the Three Sisters due to the smoke.

Indoor games, but of course!

Lots of snacks.

Tennis at dusk.

Fancy coffee on one of the shopping days in Sisters.

Brrrr...cold mornings!

Beautiful sunsets.

More games and snacks.

Can hardly wait until next year!

Good ~ bye September...

Have a great Weekend!

Birthday Cake

Yesterdays Sunday Supper was actually a little family birthday party celebrating 

Miss E's 23rd birthday. 

For dessert she chose a chocolate espresso layer cake with caramel buttercream frosting, a dark chocolate ganache drip and we placed a pretty pink flower on top. A caramel drizzle was added to the top of each piece of cake before serving.

It was a winner!

Happy Monday!

Press on....

...persevere, practice, pursue, persist, prevail!

from my list of one thousand gifts:

:: patience :: perseverance :: crisp days :: 

:: fall BIRTHDAYS ::

Wishing you day full of blessings!

No~Bake Weekend

Last week I noticed that my oven was not baking properly which completely threw off my menu plan for the holiday weekend as well as this week, or as long it takes to get it repaired. However, once I resigned myself to the fact that there would temporarily be no baking as usual I came up with plan B.... No~Bake recipes. 

For Saturday I needed a finger food item for a pool party so I covered a platter with Ritz® crackers and topped them with whipped cream cheese and strawberries. Easy Peasy.

A Banana Icebox Cake turned out to be a good choice for our family BBQ on Sunday afternoon. It was cool and refreshing on such a hot day. 

As for Labor Day....simple but delicious mascarpone and mixed berry parfaits. 

This No~Bake weekend actually worked out well since our weather has been so hot.

Cooler days are around the corner and the oven will be repaired just in time for fall baking and I can hardly wait.

Happy Labor Day!

Polly Wolly Doodle....

all the day!

Have a super Saturday!