We have transitioned to autumnal decor
We have a family tradition on Labor Day.
Since it is always within the week of our Stephanie's birthday, we throw her a party.
She invariably arrives with her family late on the Sunday night before the Monday holiday. This year was no exception; they got here a little after eleven thirty.
My mother gave me this rooster many years ago
(Joel is a pastor in Western North Carolina. They have to wait until the conclusion of Sunday night services to pack up and head for Columbia.)
I had all of the beds ready and things laid out for breakfast. They always stop on the way for food, so there was no need to feed anyone that night.
We did stay up too late talking. It was nearly one o'clock before we all headed off to bed.
Dagny wanted to pose with the birthday flamingo
The next morning, I was up earlier than anyone else. I wanted to make sure I was organized and had time for quiet during the coffee hour.
This get-together is always about swimming for the kids. The last swim of the summer. Except, this day, it was rainy.
I was so upset! Although I love rainy days, I hastily prayed that the weather would clear up so that the children -- especially Dagny, who missed out all summer -- could enjoy playing in the pool.
New fall gnomes in the home
And it did. The rain moved off and the cousins swam in the morning despite still-overcast conditions. It helped that the pool water, due to a string of hot days with hours of direct sun, was still a perfect temperature.
By afternoon, it was positively sunny. The children had plenty of time to splash and cavort and dive and snorkel and float and laugh and just be kids.
As for my menu, I broke with tradition.
This year we went with baked spaghetti
Our Labor Day spread is usually a lot like our Memorial Day feast: hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and the like.
Plus a great big birthday cake.
This year I wanted to do something a little different, and I finally decided on this recipe for Baked Spaghetti. All of my grandkids love spaghetti and you won't hear an adult complaining either.
Mari's spectacular hot taco dip rounded out the menu
I first tried this recipe two years ago, when we all went to Holden Beach in Supply, North Carolina, where we stayed in a rented house for three or four days.
I'd planned for weeks ahead of time, and took huge pans of frozen casseroles that I had prepared so that all I had to do each night to feed everyone was thaw one of the pans, bake it, make a salad, and add fresh bread.
We got our salad course from Olive Garden
We had things like Shepherd's Pie and of course, Baked Spaghetti.
So I doubled the recipe so there would be plenty for everyone, with some left over for TG later in the week.
I made it in a disposable pan so there would be zero cleanup for me.
All the go-withs
Joel and Stephanie contributed a family-size salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden. Joel went to pick it all up at one o'clock that day.
Olive Garden -- at least the one near our house -- is meticulous about preparing and packing your takeout order. It's done so neatly and thoughtfully, and everything you need besides actual dishes, is supplied.
The salad and breadsticks were fresh and went so well with the baked spaghetti.
There's a black cat gnome chillin' on the ledge
For those who observe a low-carb diet, and also just because it's so good, I made Mari's Hot Taco Dip (minus the black olives) and served it with Mission Carb Balance soft tortillas and sour cream.
I also made my signature salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion, with homemade red wine vinaigrette.
I made it and I decorated it and I even ate some of it
For dessert, I again made the ice cream cake that's created by layering ice cream sandwiches with Cool Whip plus toppings -- I used caramel syrup and crushed chocolate sandwich cookies -- and frozen solid.
It's a winner. You should see their eyes light up when they see this dessert. Dagny even requested it for her next birthday.
Last year I made this same cake for Stephanie's Labor Day birthday party, but this year I decorated it differently.
We sprung for the PW dishes that matched my pan and the Happy Birthday topper
This time I made a banner diagonally across the cake, spelling STEPHANIE in pink sixlet candies.
On either side of her name I put crushed cookies, and added a Pioneer Woman Happy Birthday topper, plus some hot pink candles.
It was pretty impressive if I do say so. And completely delicious.
I can't wait each year to light up the pumpkin spice jar candle
I also switched it up this year by decorating for fall on the first day of September.
Usually, the only thing I change on the first day of September is my door decoration; I take down my patriotic display and replace it with a fall wreath.
I also have fairy lights on my porch railing, and I change those out from red-white-blue to orange.
We had candlelight all day long
And I did all of that as per usual, but this year I decided to ditch the patriotic decor in the kitchen and go all-out for fall.
(Actually, in a day or two I will change it again, to my October display which is not Halloween per se but which is definitely recognizable as being distinctly October. Then on November first, I'll bring back all of the autumn decor and add more, for Thanksgiving.)
I had the pumpkin spice and mulled cider candles going, so the air was scented with the requisite autumn fragrances.
My two-tier tray was decked out in autumnal cuteness
Everyone noticed and seemed to appreciate my efforts.
So it was that after a morning of hanging out, drinking coffee and getting ready and whatnot, I put together the baked spaghetti and the hot taco dip and laid everything out for the meal.
We ate at two o'clock. Sometimes we wait before having dessert, but this time, after clearing the table, I went ahead and made coffee and cut the cake. I'd taken it out to thaw a bit just as we sat down to eat.
Stephanie was pleased but she doesn't like all eyes on her
We enjoyed our cake, and then Stephanie opened her presents. When all of that was accomplished, everyone went outside and the kids got back into the pool.
Everyone had gone home by six forty-five, and TG and I had the evening to relax.
What did you do to observe Labor Day? I hope that whatever it was, you thoroughly enjoyed it.
There will be blessings
Forward into fall! Just a few more days to wait. Queen Elizabeth's beautiful funeral will be summer's swan song.
And that is all for now.
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Happy Tuesday
