Birthday surprises and more food....

Yesterday was my birthday...again.  Which is why these guys were hanging around my house...

When I was little my mom always made chocolate pumpkin-face cupcakes for me every year.  This year, even though my kids would have been happy without the tinted icing and faces, I decided to make them for old times sake.  

I ate MORE than my fair share of them...it's pathetic, really.

As I reflected on the day, I think yesterday was about the best birthday I've had in a long time.  Not because I scored awesome gifts, but because my day consisted of worship service in the morning and family all afternoon and evening.  My most favorite gift walked in my front door at 2:30pm.  Alex had played drums at his church at college, then hopped in his car to spend the day with me.  I had no idea he was coming, which made it even more special.  We sat in the living room and talked for a while...something we haven't done in a long time...too long.  He shared his heart with me over some things and we had a great time catching up.  {I'd been leaving him hints on Facebook to call his mother for about two weeks...surprising his me was much better!}  We spent the afternoon redeeming some free mini-golf tickets...something I haven't done in YEARS...and just laughed and soaked in the fall weather. 

 Together.  

It filled my love tank, for sure!

The evening was spent with the rest of the family at mom and dad's where I ate even MORE cake...red velvet, my favorite!  

It was a perfect day...

I didn't really intend for this whole post to be about food, but it is a reoccurring theme in my life, so why not!

I was blessed with a little gift of fresh grown broccoli and cauliflower this morning.  I already had some fresh store-bought broccoli, so it was a no-brainer that I should make Broccoli Cheddar soup. 

 I Googled Panera's recipe and gave it a try.  

 It took alot longer than my usual Broccoli Cheddar Soup...

but in the end it tasted exactly like my old recipe...but not exactly like Panera's.  

It called for Nutmeg, which I didn't have, so maybe that was the downfall.  It still tasted good on this chilly night-served with a side of Rosemary French bread and dipping oil...but I'll change a few things around the next time I attempt it.

 The picture makes it alot less appetizing than it really was..although, Emma did say it looked like vomit. 

 {It was a little hard to swallow after that comment}

Since I am on the subject of food, I might as well show you what Nick was up to today.  He woke himself up at 5am this morning to go archery hunting....then headed out later in the afternoon to go small game hunting and came home with THIS:

...once upon a time {like this morning} it looked like THIS:

I'm not exactly sure HOW you eat squirrel meat...nor am I about to find out...

All I've been told is that it has to soak for a while in salt water to get the rest of the HAIR off of it.  

Seriously.  It's been sitting on my kitchen counter for an hour...it's disgusting.

The tail is on the back porch...I do have limits!

That picture reminds me of a song Alex sang in preschool about 15 years ago...oh, how I wish I knew how to upload videos from my ancient video camera, it'd be such a treat to watch him "swish his bushy tail"!!!

Gray Squirrel

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,

Swish your bushy tail.

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,

Swish your bushy tail.

Wrinkle up your funny nose,

Crack a nut between your toes.

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,

Swish your bushy tail.

I don't even know how to wrap this up after the squirrel guts.  I hadn't thought it through very well before my fingers started blabbing...so let's end in the same way I started....

talking about food

In case you find yourself with a bowl of squirrel on YOUR kitchen counter, this website will walk you through making your own pot of yummy squirrel soup.

Or perhaps this is a more appealing way to cook your rodent.

...so many, many delicious choices...