His & Hers

Today was the day. We haven't made homemade pizza in a long time and even longer since we have made grilled pizza. While my husband was working extra hours on Saturday I picked up all the must have ingredients for our homemade pizza. There are two main things I like about making our own pizza - controlling the amount of toppings on the pizza and that we can each customize our own pizza. Our toppings when we order pizza are pretty much locked in depending on where we order from. Our top three pizza places:  1) sausage, pepperoni, green olives  2) sausage, jalapeno and 3) pepperoni, pineapple.

However, when we make it we go crazy with toppings. My husband's homemade pizza must haves.

I am a little less loyal to particular toppings. Today, I was feeling a veggie pizza. There is no chance I am getting spinach, mushrooms or fresh mozzarella on a pizza we would share, much less all three.

 We start with a simple yeast dough. We like this recipe.

To be sure the dough cooks through we pre-cook it on one side. I love watching the crust bubble up on the hot grill.

Grilled side up it is time to load the toppings. I highly recommend being sure that everything is in place so you can move quickly. My husband it trying to decide which crust is bigger ;)

 Loading them up!

 Back on the grill. We precooked the peppers a bit first because it doesn't take long at all for the crust to finish and the cheese to melt...not quite enough time to cook all the veggies if you load the toppings like we tend to do.

 Ready for our pizza feast.

 And a close up of my pizza. They say you eat with your eyes first...definitely!

The pizza was perfect. I can't get enough of the crust - crispy, soft and chewy all at the same time. Sometimes, I worry that I will miss a particular topping or not like the combo. But honestly, that rarely happens. I debated throwing on some pepperoni, but I am SO glad I didn't.

After a post pizza snooze, I managed to get my hiney out for a 45 minute walk. There was some serious debating about taking the shorter route and doubling the loop. I didn't trust myself to not cut it short, so I went the long (with no available shortcuts).

I saw these faces in the window as I left the yard. I think the one on the left was especially disappointed to be left behind.

 Perfect time of day for long shadow legs.

Here comes the color. There are some of the most gorgeous fall trees in our neighborhood.

Of course, there are plenty of fall and Halloween decorations. I particularly liked the slightly see-through ghosts. I might have to do a little Googling to find some of my own :)

I am wondering about this little swing(?)  I wonder how long I could sit in it before being chased off.

 I wonder if he is stuck.

 Someone is enjoying their pavement marking job :)

 A bit of summer is still hanging on. It is actually supposed to be 90 degrees tomorrow...ugh.

When I made the turn for home, I noticed a guy standing in the street.  It looked like he was taking a picture. I will be honest, at first I didn't recognize him...creeper?  I was trying to figure out if he was taking a picture and if so, of what. And then I realized it was my husband. (Confession - I made him pose for me so I could get a picture. I certainly didn't take this while I still thought he was some sort of creeper.)

It was so nice to have my guy come out to meet me and walk me home the last couple of blocks. I am definitely glad I took the walk. I was definitely motivated by this blog. I told my husband I wanted to walk because I wanted to write about something other than the pizza :)

All in all, it was a good Sunday. Millie wasn't the only one relaxing and watching football. Go Lions (or whoever is playing the Rams)!!

On a completely unrelated note...I bought my first Christmas ornament of the 2016 season last weekend. It is hand painted. I like the texture.

I hope you all had a good weekend. What is on your agenda this week?

Fall is Coming

It seems like it has taken its sweet time getting here but fall is definitely arriving in my corner of the world. What are the clues?

1. We make silly monster treats.

Super simple monsters are made from broken pretzel sticks tossed in colored white chocolate candy coating. A package of candy eyeballs complete the transformation from glob to monster. 

2. We go for R.I.D.E.s. 

(This day was a drive to the state park where we got married.) 

We have to spell ride because Millie goes nuts when she hears the word. The only word that makes her even more excited is "farm".

The drive along the Mississippi is one of our favorites. If you look closely, you can see some fall color starting to appear on the bluffs.

This may be one of the craziest pictures I have ever taken. The same dog who freaks out if you lightly blow on her face sure didn't mind hanging her nose out the window and feeling the wind in her lips.

 The trails at the state park are absolutely gorgeous.

 I need to ask my niece (the nature girl) what is going on with this tree.

 A man (my man) and his dog.

We also had our first date at this park almost two years before we got married. My husband has convinced himself that on that first date I threatened to push him over the cliff. I don't remember that (or at minimum I am denying it), but here he is offering me another chance.

 From the top of the bluffs. We hiked about 1.5 miles to get to this point.

3. We stop at roadside markets.  

4. We go to festivals. 

This one is Old Settlers day - pre-1840s.

A petting zoo isn't exactly what I think of when I think settlers, but it was probably my favorite part of the festival. I wanted to take this reindeer home with me.

Photobombing camel?  Technically, I was taking a pictures of the camel when my MIL walked up. I didn't even notice this wacky face until later in the day when I was reviewing the pictures I had taken. It still makes me laugh.

5. We camp. 

We try to do at least one campout each year with our nieces and nephew. This year was a whole new adventure. It was our little sidekick's first campout. She loved it. 

My husband is the fire master. 

Traditional campout breakfast - French Toads. I am not sure how we started calling them that - just a silly name from when my nieces and nephew were younger. It is just French toast made from slices of Panera bagels. So good.

6. My MIL decorates the farm. 

I couldn't resist this early morning shadow on the pumpkin from a metal decoration she had on her porch, even though the witches are a bit creepy. 

7. We simply hangout around the farm. 

I love the farm but the heat and humidity of summer make it very difficult for me to enjoy just hanging out. The cool weather is such a welcome relief.

I am sure there are many more clues, but these seven represent the last week or so in our world. What do you love best about fall?

Bring On the Cool

I am enjoying the return of cool air to our region. I love walking outside, but not in the heat and humidity that ruins walking adventures for me every summer. It was the perfect day for a lunch time walk. Unfortunately, I forgot my walking shoes. Since I was wearing my Chucks I figured I would give it a try anyway. A couple blocks down the sidewalk and my feet were already hurting. I think this weight gain has made them extra sensitive. I toughed it out until I got to the little cemetery/park close to my office. I figured it would be better to walk in the grass.

I wonder who enjoyed this watermelon.

I like how this bench faces away from the mowed area and overlooks a woody/brushy area. I have seen deer here before...I wonder what other critters can be spotted.

I think these are tree roots but I would never expected them to form rings like that. I might have to do a little root research.

Sign that fall is coming (insert contented sigh).

This knot on the tree had me thinking about ultrasound pictures.

My shoes were wet when I finished, but the walk was worth every step in the soggy grass :)

I felt a little silly going around and around the small park, but I am glad I did. There is always something interesting to see anywhere I walk :)

I am not a fan of skeletons, but the dog skeletons creeped me out even more than the human. Maybe I have seen too many pictures of starving pups.

I was fascinated by this storm drain cover.

We had a busy weekend and I didn't do very well on the eating/exercising front, but today is a new day and I can do better :)  Happy Monday (on Tuesday).