We knocked out a wall last fall and added this dining room onto our house. I wanted a table that could seat at least ten people and we can actually seat twelve comfortably here.

Local Amish craftsmen made the table and corner hutch out of maple.

I purchased the baker's rack in the other corner from overstock.com. An antique sideboard is on one wall and two sets of windows on the opposite wall offer a view of the woods in our backyard.

Dear Blog Readers: Are you bothered by all this bedbug buzz? In a recent phone conversation, Lindsey mentioned to me that she was creeped out about this newest public panic. To help her put it all in perspective I talked a little bit about global warming, and unemployment, terrorism, Alzheimer's disease and brain cancer, and I think I made her feel a lot better. But then the October 4th issue of Time magazine arrived in the mail and it featured an article entitled "This Really Sucks," which I read late at night, in bed.

Did you know that there were 82 cases of bedbug infestations in New York City multifamily residences in 2004, and in 2009 there were 4,088??!!!! Did you know an adult bedbug can go 550 days without food???? Did you know that when Bob returns home from his many business trips he flops his folding travel bag right down on the bed????

Apparently bedbugs can cause real psychological damage because they're creepy. "They're invading your sanctuary, your bed, and suddenly you can't sleep because they're coming out of your walls, out of your box springs, to feed on you in the night."

I turned out the lights and lay there in the dark, feeling itchy, thinking about being psychologically damaged (and bitten) by a herd of stampeding stinkbug cousins. Then I jumped up, turned on the lights and did a quick mattress and box spring check, and I am pleased to report that the Hickory Hill Hood (at least, 1109) is bedbug free.

I subbed in second grade today, and it was a long day, and I'm tired, so goodnight blog readers, sleep tight and don't let..........

I baked this cake on Friday for Dave and Jean Baker's 60th wedding anniversary. It was an attempt to recreate their wedding cake, only not really, because this is three layers of carrot cake. The cream cheese frosting is not that easy to work with - hard to get perfectly smooth. This is their original wedding cake topper and that's Jean's wedding gown hanging in the background. Still lovely after sixty years. Congratulations to them!

Still Reading: The Postmistress

What a beautiful weekend this has been! I snapped these pictures this afternoon. I've tried planting sunflowers in my front yard flowerbed for the last few years, but critters always dig up the seeds. The birdfeeders are posted at the edge of the garden and I guess the critters just can't get to every seed back there. I call this: "Sunflower with Bumbly-bee".......

And this is "Sunflower with Butterfly."

And this would be "Little Roxanne comes to visit Grandma and get some chicken snacks and cheese chunks"

Lindsey came up on Saturday for a special Book Babe meeting. We decided last fall to end our year by inviting our daughters/sisters/moms to join us in reading and discussing the book Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. We had one heck of a time scheduling our meeting, postponing it a couple of times and finally settling on Labor Day Weekend. Brent and a friend went to the Notre Dame/Purdue game. The friend dropped him off in Fort Wayne last night and we enjoyed a late dinner at Casa Grille. Today, the kids and Bob played golf (less than half price with our Groupon coupons) at Noble Hawk. Then the kids went on to Chicago to meet friends and then attend a Cubs' game tomorrow.

Last weekend we drove down to Noblesville for our annual Symphony on the Prairie. This year - The Beatles. Mom, Aunt Kae, Jeff, Conni, Lori, Baleigh, Brent, Lindsey, Bob and I picnicked and and sang along with all the great Beatles tunes. WE HAD A REALLY FUN TIME! We decided that next year we're taking a table along too.

Jeff and Conni drove Mom and Kae back to Effingham that night, but Lori and Baleigh and Bob and I spent the night at Lindsey's and did some shopping on Sunday afternoon. We left the boys at home. Bonnie kept an eye on Grandpa to make sure he didn't get out of line.

Reading: The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Recipe of the Week:

I was cleaning out my recipe box and came across this one. I think it was on a package of frozen chicken breasts and I had never tried it. I fixed it on Friday night and it was very good. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough yummy sauce. I cut the breasts in half for quicker cooking time. When I make it again, I think I'll just use three breasts and cut them each in half. I also might double the sauce recipe because it was really good and you'll want plenty.

Chicken Breast Stroganoff

Boneless breasts (6 pieces)

1 & 1/2 Tablespoon butter

1 & 1/2 cup fresh sliced mushrooms

2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

2 teaspoons dried chives

1/4 teaspoon dill weed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup chicken brother

1 Tablespoon flour

1/2 cup sour cream

In a large skillet, melt butter and brown breast fillet on both sides: remove chicken and reserve. Add mushrooms, parsley, chives, dill, salt, and pepper; cook until mushrooms are softened. Stir in chicken broth and return chicken to skillet. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until breast fillets are tender. Remove breast fillets from skillet and place in a heated serving platter. In a small bowl combine flour and sour cream. Stir sour cream mixture into skillet; cook until heated through. Serve sauce over breast fillets.