Room reno, fall colors outside and a soup.

Finally finished a week and a half ago our downstairs room.  Need to start looking for some furniture because this desk is not needed anymore.  I am thinking something with shelves and pullouts to put printer on.  

I would like maybe a little pull-out sofa that makes into a bed. Nothing large at all but comfy enough to sleep on and sit to read etc.

Before the painting and carpet placement. 

A few more coats of paint at this point

After

 The paint job is wonderful.  The ceiling is same color as walls. 

Son and granddaughter did a knockout job painting and putting down carpet tiles. Went down in no time.  I was so surprised.  I do need to replace the shades I know that, but that's coming.  I am thinking maybe motorized shade with a curtain to frame window. 

I love the carpet tiles.  

This recliner is staying.  We purchased it from Sears before they went out of business, so you know it's been around a while.  It's a smaller one and I like it much better than the big bulky ones.  Perfect condition still.  Fabric is so durable and chair so comfortable.  I miss shopping at Sears. 

Where baseboard heater used to be. 

Husband patched deep crevice at the door jamb with cement.  This is a thick wall going into office. Cinderblock wall makes it that way.  This is our downstairs walk out or English basement it could be called.  Very sturdy built. 

Carpet went there very nicely

There is cable running where baseboard used to be and onto the next wall.  We will have a channel put over it later to conceal it.  For now, it's good.   The reason being for cable wire, we added more outlets and more amperage

   The baseboard wasn't painted. The baseboard on the wall where the heater was taken out is new. Husband took a trip to Home Depot and purchased a piece to match the other and then a trip to Ace, I believe it was, they matched the stain identical to what is already on other walls.  So neat to be able to do that. 

Son suggested a new ceiling fixture.  I may get one.  

Next some outside fall color.  My dahlia still in bloom

I need to take my phone stamp off of photo.  I must have hit something to cause it to be there. Irritating.

At my driveway

Lamp post. Crepe Myrtles are so pretty when they change color.

The dogwood next to it is colorful also. 

Next to slash where water runs off during hard rains and such is pretty color. 

Main road near our home in below pic. 

Looking out my front door

Soup

I cut up a butternut squash which was a large one.  I always first poke holes in it and put it in boiling water or in oven to soften skin a little.  Very hard to take the skin off and I am always leery of cutting myself.   So much easier this way. 

 Into the pot with a couple apples, but first I sauteed onions in butter then added the apples and squash.  1used a carton of chicken broth, usually used is vegetable broth but didn't have any.  Splashed in a tiny bit of apple cider for extra flavor.   I usually use thyme in this soup but forgot. 

 After cooking, placed in blender and pureed.  I like mine thick, but you could thin it if you like with more broth. A dash of cinnamon on top with a scatter of a few pepitas.  this reminds me I need to put those on my grocery list.  I like a handful here and there as a snack.  This was so good. 

After cooking is when I add heavy cream to mine and stir in.  I froze the leftovers for a lunch during the next coming week.   I don't stir cream in the whole batch if I am going to freeze.  It may freeze just as well, I don't know. 

My cream going in for the stir and pepitas with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

Til next time, betsy

Happy Halloween

Will be off to get more candy.  We don't have a lot of trick or treaters but like to be generous with the few neighborhood children we have. 

 The cat silhouettes in bushes with the spotlight on them casting shadows

That's it for October

Pumpkins, Outside decoration and room update.

 Traveled to our near by veggie farm to get a pumpkin with granddaughter. Such a pretty ride with leaves changing and crisp clean air blowing round us.  Lots of sunshine.  

You can see we were the only ones on the ride with Opa taking the picture.

Beautiful trees lining the road on our way to farm.

Had this wreath for years given to me by Jennifer a friend since 7th grade.

Gorgeous flowers I received from children for my birthday.  I love my flowers! 

A purple rose too

It's a real rose and so pretty.  

I love Gerbera daisies

We enjoyed a fruited cake with strawberries.  Chantilly cake besides coconut, my favorite cake. 

G.V. had a birthday on the 18th.  Turned 13.  Years zooming by.

My sister, Genevieves great aunt shares the same birthday. Here she is with our mother who is 104. 

O.K. back to some more outdoors.  I spend more outside lately as the weather has been so wonderful.

dollar store skeleton holding a foam pumpkin I drew eyes and mouth on with sharpie

The room so far.  Son painted along with our granddaughter Genevieve our office downstairs.  It's a walkout basement area and this part of the house in in the ground somewhat by four feet on this end.  So happy to see there is no seepage or dampness.  Well insulated from the rainwater and snow.  Dry and I am happy.  

The cement floor in great shape and smooth.  We had the baseboard heater taken out as we have central heating system and air now.  No need to have these in here.   

EMT cable run on two walls for extra outlets and more amperage.  

We will cover with whatever it's called later. Not that concerned with the look at this point. 

Before 

Thinking about not putting traverse rod back up.  More of a electric type of blackout shade of some sort and maybe a curtain rod with some type of curtain. Not sure. 

After

Better pictures later.

Cable here running to connect extra outlets and will probably cover later with a channel.  Not concerned about it right now.  

Next is the floor carpet tiles to go down.

 Son took time and several coats of paint-to cover these walls, also cover up holes.  Ceiling looks so much better too.

More molding around the window later.  I think it will look better. 

Want to do as much as possible before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Before I go.  My banner and ghostly picture I took in Bavaria Germany in October 2007 while visiting my daughter and her family.   I tweaked it in ChatGPT.  I use the AI occasionally for pictures like this and it's fun.

In the picture are apple trees.  The road below led to the village where grandson Seth loved getting his homemade croissant warm from the oven early in the morning.  I certainly enjoyed days like this.   Fresh made bread from the oven, nothing better. 

 Same picture being made a little ghostly

 Til next time