Share 4 Somethings in September

Today is the last Saturday of the month and time for the Share 4 Somethings link up with Jennifer.

Once again we'll be sharing some things we've loved and/or disliked, accomplished, some things we've improved upon and/or that need improvement, and noticed.

Loved &/or Disliked: Our weather has been just wonderful this month so we've gotten out for a few long hikes. I just love afternoons spent outside with beautiful views. 

Castle Craig





Bull hill preserve


Bigelow Hollow



Pulaski park

I also loved seeing 21 Pilots in concert! I never thought I'd be a "concert" person but that was really fun.




Accomplished: Evan and I started homeschooling and I've been making comprehension questions and things to go along with his zoology book. 


Improved Upon/needs improvement: We made a few new recipes this month but I have to keep working on them to improve them a bit... the first was a chicken, broccoli, and pasta dish that was lacking in flavor. 

This one pan teriyaki chicken/ veggie stir fry dish was also a bit watery and flavorless. I think next time I want to marinade the chicken and veggie in the teriyaki all day before roasting in the oven. 

Ian said my homemade thousand Island dressing was really good but a bit watery. I did blend it in the blender to make it nice and smooth and I'm wondering if I should just skip that step next time. 


Noticed: Wowza! Has postage gone way up! I went to mail a small care package to Alec and even the postal worker at the desk joked that it might be cheaper to drive the package to Providence myself. It was just about $10 to mail this box to him... and I'm not even sure I spent $10 on the stuff I put in it.


Linking up with:





Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2024 at 6:47 AM

    Yes! Postage is crazy. We tried to send Mason a new debit card and it was going to be $70 to England. That is why free shipping and returns are the only kind of orders I make! Great month! Check out Slender Kitchen pasta recipes. I talk about this site all the time but they are seriously so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 6:59 AM

      Yes, I am always looking for free shipping and returns too.

      Delete
  2. Memphis BridgesSeptember 28, 2024 at 8:27 AM

    Fall weather is the best! I also love a good concert. I go to very few these days though. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amy JohnsonSeptember 28, 2024 at 9:31 AM

    You live in the most beautiful area to take hikes. Postage is terrible today, especially for packages. It makes me sad, because it's just not worth the cost of mailing home made cards/care or holiday packages anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CathySeptember 28, 2024 at 10:53 AM

    Postage is crazy! I try to get what I'm getting for my girls and grandson on Amazon so I get free shipping and I have it sent straight to them. I'm loving our weather recently too. Of course, we're having rain for the next few days, but we've had a drought and we really need the rain. The sun will be back in a few days and I just hope it will stay cool. I made a chicken and noodles crockpot dish that was good but needed a bit of a zing. I finally figured out after eating the dish as leftovers 3 times or so. (Badia Complete did it.) Sometimes we just have to tweak those recipes we see. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 7:02 AM

      We really need some rain too but I'm not sure we'll be getting much of anything. My husband jokes that I never make any recipe the same way twice since I am always tweaking them.

      Delete
  5. Kym September 28, 2024 at 11:28 AM

    The weather has been fabulous here as well - love all your photos and those wonderful views! I love going to concerts, and Twenty One Pilots is one of my all-time favorite bands to see. We are seeing them on Friday and I'm so excited! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 6:57 AM

      Oh you are in for a real treat! This was such a great set list of songs!

      Delete
  6. Kim CarberrySeptember 28, 2024 at 12:04 PM

    Oh wow! What amazing views, I can see why you have enjoyed getting outside.
    Good luck to Evan with his studies and you with the home schooling.
    That's a shame the chicken and pasta dish was lacking in flavour, it looks so good. At least you know where you went wrong and how to improve the dishes.
    The price of postage always seems to be going up here too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.comSeptember 28, 2024 at 1:37 PM

    Isn't postage just obscene these days? I like sending treats to my out-of-town daughter and grands but it is just ridiculous. I could often buy them at least one more thing a piece if I just didn't have to pay postage. I try to order online and have things delivered to them but it is fun to pick things out personally and send packages. Just terrible.

    As always, love all of your pretty hiking photos. Had never thought about it before, but you have to study right along side your homeschooled sons in order to teach them the material. Zoology!! Wow.

    I made sourdough for the second time and it was a little disappointing - not too unlike a cinder block. But will try again. I blame the foot!! It was so hard for me to get into the kitchen and do all the things, that I didn't do a very good job. I am sure you will get your recipes fine-tuned and they will be delicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 8:49 AM

      I definitely have learned SO much through homeschooling because I am often either learning or relearning whatever it is I'm teaching. Luckily I love learning so I don't mind... though I did feel like when Ian studied automotive his junior or senior year that he was more teaching me than I was him!

      Delete
  8. Kari September 28, 2024 at 1:52 PM

    Did you share your thousand island dressing anywhere on your blog? I'd love more homemade dressing recipes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 8:52 AM

      I have not yet... I have lots of posts nearly ready to go but finding the time to get them published is proving harder than I thought! I did use this recipe as a guide: https://www.kitchentreaty.com/homemade-thousand-island-dressing/ but since my homemade relish has onion in it I omitted them and I didn't bother with the extra vinegar since I scooped some of the liquid up with my relish and since I don't have tabasco sauce on hand I sprinkled in some paprika.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2024 at 3:35 PM

    Ohh! Homemade dressing sounds delicious! I'd love to make ranch someday. I've heard that about postage. Ugh, it is sad when it costs more than what is in the box!! Wow, you have some great places by you to hike. I love to run, so I enjoy trying new places to get different views.

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2024 at 8:52 AM

      Thank you! I have not tried making ranch yet but we have made lots of other dressings ourselves.

      Delete
  10. GinaSeptember 29, 2024 at 8:28 AM

    Beautiful photos! And what a sweet pumpkin themed treat box! (:

    ReplyDelete
  11. Veronica LeeSeptember 29, 2024 at 10:46 PM

    Sounds like September was a blast!
    Those hikes and concert adventures are such a great way to spend the month.
    Homeschooling is a big step—way to go with the comprehension questions!

    Happy Monday, Joanne!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carol @Comfort Spring StationSeptember 30, 2024 at 7:46 AM

    Beautiful days to spend outside in nature. I love your photos of the views. #MMBC

    ReplyDelete
  13. LeanneSeptember 30, 2024 at 8:07 AM

    Hi Jo - I always enjoy your 4 somethings - and the weather and scenery at the beginning were lovely. We're having those beautiful cool Spring days atm and the sky reminded me of what I'm seeing on my morning walks. Great that we can both be enjoying gorgeous weather on opposite sides of the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 30, 2024 at 4:38 PM

      Aw, thank you! It is great that we can both enjoy the beautiful weather.

      Delete
  14. Coffee ClusterSeptember 30, 2024 at 8:11 AM

    We have had a beautiful September. Warm, sunny days and cooler nights. The trees are showcasing their gorgeous colours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 30, 2024 at 4:38 PM

      That sounds wonderful! Our trees are putting on quite a show too.

      Delete
  15. Dara @ Not In JerseySeptember 30, 2024 at 8:20 AM

    Postage really is expensive! Glad you've had some nice weather!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lindsay's Sweet WorldOctober 1, 2024 at 12:31 PM

    Y'all certainly did have some beautiful views for those hikes! So many blue skies and so much sunshine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 1, 2024 at 6:34 PM

      Yep, we have had so much sunshine that we're actually in a major drought right now. Hiking has been kind of sad since all the brooks, streams, and waterfalls are all dried up.

      Delete
  17. Jennifer WiseOctober 4, 2024 at 12:13 PM

    What beautiful views! And, yes, postage is so expensive now. He's right that it might be cheaper to just drive it over. ;) Thanks for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #48 linkup! We hope you'll share more at #49, too. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete

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