Quick recipe

While I am working on the big huge long post about our trip to California, I wanted to publish this easy recipe that I use quite often.

Almond Milk

Ingredients
1 cup of whole almonds
3 cups of water

Directions
Put the almonds and water into a blender (I use a Vitamix) and blend on high until you have a smooth mixture. Strain through a fine sieve one or two times, pressing down the mixture with the back of a spoon to get all the liquid. You can strain the almond milk into a pitcher or glass measuring cup, cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge. The milk usually separates, so just stir it around before measuring it out. That's it! I love to use almond milk in smoothies as a dairy replacement, but you can use it however you like best. One thing though: don't use it as a milk replacement in hot chocolate. It's disgusting. Trust me on that.

If you make this, comment below and let me know what you thought!

Procrastinators UNITE.......

Remodel progress!

Our remodeling project is making great progress!  The Lord has provided us with beautiful weather and little rain, so the workmen have been able to come almost every day and make a lot of headway.  It's fun to see the rapid progression of the work and picture how it's all going to come together!

A look back to the Fine Arts Summer Academy

The Fine Arts Summer Academy has posted a new promo video with highlights from the July gala!  See if you can find Delaney and I throughout the video:).

2015 Fine Arts Summer Academy

What's been going on with the Beyer family (and so on)

I have way too many Internet accounts, I realized as I logged into Blogger using an old Yahoo email address.  If it weren't for my trusty "passwords & usernames" Word Document, I'd be totally lost.  Being an avid list-maker has its advantages.  There is a small notebook on my desk dedicated to lists of all sorts.

This post is going to be a photo-update, and I'll try to stay to the point as much as possible.  So much has happened that it's been an ordeal to sort it all out in pictures...here we go!

A few weeks back, Libbey was invited to a birthday party for her friend from church.  They met at the park and had a grand time playing in the splash pad, eating cake and playing on the playground.  I took my camera with me because I hadn't used it since I finished my 313 Project, and there were plenty of cute subjects to shoot!

This is our friend Gloria.  We like her very much.

And this is her sister Lillian.  We like her a lot too.

There was a pinata, and one girl whacked it clean off. As soon as it hit the ground, there was a mass dog pile as every child dove headfirst into the pile of candy, screaming at the top of their lungs.  I had never seen anything like it in all my life.  It was hilarious.

Our bookshelves are working out beautifully.  It's so nice to have all the family's books in one place!

Oh, I made these orange cupcakes with orange cream frosting a while back.  They were delicious...you really missed out.

Dad and Delaney went out to California on business in August.  They spent a few days visiting Dad's clients and spending time with our friends in Oakhurst and Coarsegold.  They had a BLAST!

Dad was super happy that he got to be in CA for Mr. Shaw's birthday.  Very special indeed.

In early September, Delaney and I competed in the Smoky Mtn. Fidders' Convention in Loudon.  We participated in the Misc. category and placed 2nd, and also in the Jr. Fiddle (55 and under!) where I placed 3rd.  We celebrated with ice cream of course...it was a great day!

Remodeling on our house has officially begun!  Here is a "before" pic...........not much, that's for sure.  But Dad has BIG plans!

2nd day of demolition.  The ugly deck is gone!

Next, they ripped out the old concrete pad and the bricks on that side of the house.  It was pretty loud and annoying.

Pouring new footings. Messy work, fun to watch from the upstairs window.

As Delaney demonstrates here.  We just love hanging out of our screen-less windows.

Only I am stupid enough to take a screenshot of my own Snapchat.  But oh well, this was pretty funny.

The sights in Market Square in downtown Knoxville.

One Saturday we took a day trip down to the Chattanooga Aquarium.  Now that is a fun place!

We even got to see a cool 3D IMAX movie.  We looked even cooler than usual.

One day, Dad decided to buy a TV from Costco.  Needless to say, we've enjoyed the upgrade from the laptop!

Last weekend, we took a boat ride all the way up Watts Bar Lake to the dam.  Then we locked up to Loudon Lake, which was a really neat experience.  This was our view from inside the lock...like a huge concrete bathtub.  The water was let in to rise us up to Loudon Lake's level, where the gates opened and we could cruise around up there.

We've almost reached the top here.

We have arrived!

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day.

At the end of they day, we locked back down to Watts Bar to get home.

We are now at the bottom and the other gates are opening to let us out.

Still a gorgeous day.

Sunset over a local cemetery.

That's all I have for now!  Leave a comment if you so desire...I love hearing from y'all!