Friday, October 11, 2013

Carving Out a New Future

A lot of Autumn-y things are going on around the farm.  Hayden went to a pumpkin patch in Hood River with his kindergarten class and brought home a lovely pumpkin.  Kristi took Caleb to one here in town so they'd both have one of their own.  They got a carving set which included stencils, so they had help from their mom, dad and grandpa.  I'm staying inside so wasn't able to help except to admire the results and snap a photo.  


The pumpkin on the left has a smaller pumpkin carved in with BOO in his mouth.. :-) and the one on the right is a skeleton!  Kristi got these neat pumpkin lights that turn from one color to another.. very cool.


Grandpa and Hayden working on a pumpkin.


Mommy working on carving.  The chickens loved the pumpkin innards!


Our son Travis carving..  remember what I said in my title about carving out a new future?  WELL.. we have good news that I can finally share.  Travis has worked for 15 years at our local newspaper, The Oregonian, and the internet and craigslist have made a huge impact on the old fashioned paper news.  When he began in the pressroom, there were 150 men running the presses.  Travis worked his way up to press supervisor, foreman and running the entire press-room several nights a week.  They have been having lay-off after lay-off and are now down to a skeleton crew of 18 or so.  It was like working in a sinking ship, they cut his hours, his pay, his medical benefits and retirement.  

GOOD NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT!  He has been hired to work in the engineering department of Nabisco!  They make Oreos and other goodies there.  There will be free parking and it's closer.  He starts in 10 days or so.  WooHOO!!  :-)  (Edited to add:  Also they make Premium Saltines, Ritz Crackers, Chicken In A Biskit, Chips Ahoy and Wheat Thins!)


Here is Caleb at the pumpkin patch.


We've got the scary thing going here. :-)


I was hoping to get some fall color in our woods, this is a vine maple and they are known for their brilliant oranges and reds.  But This is all I got.. wimpy yellow.  :-)



My Japanese maple usually has a fleeting day of color before all the leaves drop at once.  But not yet.  


I can't believe how big the koi are getting.  They're leaving the pond goldfish in the dust.


I've been very pleased with the little miniature rose we got for the 4th of July - we planted it in an old clay pot and it just grew like crazy!  It's still blooming.  


Pretty little red and white stripe-y roses.  


This is all that is left of my 4th of July rose, the climber.


The begonias are still blooming too.. but soon it will be time to bring them in for the winter.


I'm actually worse with my cold now.. but I'll get better eventually.  Hopefully. :-)  I think I need some chicken soup and tea with honey.   Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?  We don't have any plans much, just resting and crocheting.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

21 comments:

  1. Hooray for your son! I hope his new job works out well for him!!! Nothing on the front for us this weekend. Football tonight and maybe some hanging out on the farm, before we go back to school on Monday.

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  2. AMAZING and very wonderful news about your son's new job!! SO exciting:)
    Yep on weekend plans--a party, watching two of my grandkiddos, watching my dad for a few hours and more 'fun' work on our latest project.
    Chicken soup sounds really good---I think I'll go warm up some right now and then get started on my endless 'things to do' list.
    Blessings, Aimee

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  3. I'm so happy to read this news. Best of luck to Travis! Everything is looking very scary on the farm, you're all set for Halloween now. I love the photos of the pumpkin-carving; the boys are so cute and they look like they're having a good time!

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  4. Wonderful pumpkins.....the carving is amazing! Such great news about your son's job, well done to him in a difficult time. Your farm looks lovely and autumnal.....and a bit spooooky! Wishing you a happy cosy weekend, and hope your cold is soon gone.
    Helen x

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  5. Great news about your son, really terrific. Love all your pictures, the boys look so happy and Grandpa Dayle does too. Now you need to sit down and drink some tea, is Dayle making you soup?
    Hugs and get better,
    Meredith

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    Replies
    1. Dayle did make me some chicken vegetable noodle soup and it was delish!

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  6. That is such good news for your son. Jobs are so hard to come by these days, really good ones are really rare! Looks like the boys had fun with the pumpkins...mmm...pumpkin pie!

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  7. Woohoo!!! for Travis and the new job :) I am joining the celebration! I enjoyed seeing the pumpkin carving and what's going on at the farm...that rose and the fish...beautiful! I am cheering you on to good health from my neck of the woods and joining you in making some progress with crocheting :)
    Love with hugs,
    Gracie xx

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  8. Yippee! I'm so happy to hear the news about Travis' new job. I'm sure that will ease a lot of stress around there. It's always so worrisome when you see your job disappearing. I'm sorry you still have a cold. Rest, chicken soup and crochet sounds like what you should be doing for the weekend. I still have a drippy nose and I can't figure out why. It's not turning into a cold and I don't usually have allergies. Oh well.
    The boy's pumpkins turned out very well. I'm sure they're pretty happy with the results. Are the fish enjoying the sunshine they're getting in the pond since the big tree came down?
    Get well quickly my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  9. That is wonderful news for your son and his family. I buy Nabisco all the time and my husband's favorite crackers were Ritz. The holidays are coming, plenty of work because of people buying these food products for their holiday celebrations. I see the grandsons are staying plenty busy with decorating their pumpkins. They turned out spook-tac-u-lar! I hope you recover soon from your cold and such. rest and crochet, that is what the doctor ordered, lol. If it gets worse ya better go see your doc.....could turn into something needing an antibiotic.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  10. I don't know what to think about the Oregonian except ditching it - they've ditched all my favorite writers and subscribing instead to the Statesman Journal.
    Glad your son picked up a job quickly.

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  11. So glad to hear the new job news for your son! We have a Nabisco plant here in Northern NJ too and the aromas when they're baking are pretty tempting! Love the pumpkins - great carvings <3
    Smiles, DianeM :)

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  12. So glad to hear the new job news for your son! We have a Nabisco plant here in Northern NJ too and the aromas when they're baking are pretty tempting! Love the pumpkins - great carvings <3
    Smiles, DianeM :)

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  13. Wow, Oreos ... congrats to Travis on his new position. Most people here in Oz don't do halloween so we don't do the pumpkin thing. It looks like fun though and I hope you enjoy the day (night?). Hope you're feeling better soon. Take care. xoxox

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  14. Oh Teresa, that is the best news I have heard all week. Congratulations to Travis and your family. What a relief too in this job market. Have a fantastic weekend. XOXOXO

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  15. Congratulations to your son for his new job. Miam Oreo and other goodies...
    It's a good think for all the family.
    We did our big shoping in germany this afternoon.
    It's delicious, fresh, less expensive than in France and people are very very nice.
    Have a good week-end too.
    Julie

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  16. Oh Teresa that's wonderful news re your son. Congratulations to him. Sorry you are still not well. Hope you get better soon. The pumpkins are amazing!! Hugs Anne x

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  17. Congratulations to Travis! That is wonderful news!!! Loved seeing the kids at the pumpkin patch, and with their pumpkin carving! Fun stuff!!
    Sure hope you feel better soon Teresa. No fun to be down!!!
    XO Kris

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  18. Beautiful autumn photos!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  19. Great news for Travis, uncertainty atwork is so wearing. Definitely a goo new future.
    Amazing to see the fantastic carving of the pumpkins (not sure about that scary being though).
    You still have some lovely colour in the arden. The weather has been awful here, windy, rainy and really cold. The garden looks the worse for it.
    Hope you soon shake off the cold/bronchitis.
    Carol xx

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  20. I enjoyed your photos of pumpkins and lovely flowers. We went to Rasmussen Farms on Friday after eating at Apple Valley BBQ in Parkdale. Favorite place for us to eat. The farm had a big pumpkin patch we wandered thru, me taking lots pf photos. We got 33 lbs of apples to bring home. We'd stopped at Multnomah falls too, on our way up. I'm kickimg myself for not getting a sweatshirt at the
    falls, I was holding out for one in Hood River, didn't find one but it's ok. Beautifulup there in the gorge, we had a good time. Get to feeling better! :~]

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