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Good morning, and happy Sunday! We just wrapped up a full week of school, taste-tested some new fall treats, and traveled for multiple soccer tournaments. I’m also sharing updated house renovation photos for those who have asked! All of the highlights from the past few days, along with each of our dinners, are included in today’s roundup of Our Week in Meals.
For those of you who are new to the blog, Our Week in Meals is where I share a little bit about what we’ve been up to over the past week — as it relates to our dinners each night. This series gives you a glimpse “behind the scenes” at some highlights from our life, shows you how I balance a busy schedule with feeding my family, and offers a few new ideas for your own weekly meal plan.
This Week’s Recipes
Now, let’s back up to last weekend…
After an early walk, I spent Sunday morning getting work and cooking done at the house before heading to Spencer’s soccer game that afternoon.
Casey was so excited when he saw that the baby magnolia tree in our yard recently sprouted its first blossoms!
We had grilled steak tips for supper,
along with rice pilaf and a summer corn salad.
Plus Aunt Bee’s (shortcut) Coca Cola chocolate cake for dessert (described by the kids as “super fluffy!”).
As far as books go, this week I read Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen — an entertaining caper about two Asian American women who grow a counterfeit handbag scheme into a global enterprise. I typically enjoy the recommendations from Reese’s Book Club, and this was no exception!
The boys went back to school on Monday, while I went to my annual physical at the doctor’s office.
It might be over 90 degrees right now, but pumpkin is back at Dunkin’!
Keith took both of the younger boys to soccer practice that night, so we had “breakfast for dinner” once everyone was back home. I kept it as simple as possible with my 5-ingredient baked pancakes (with pancake mix), as well as maple sausage, yogurt, and fresh fruit.
After dropping the kids off at school on Tuesday, I met my friend Ashley for a walk, and then stopped by Yoder’s for buttermilk, lunch meat, cheese, and local produce on the way home.
I baked a batch of the kids’ favorite salted chocolate chip cookies, jumped on a Zoom meeting, and prepped dinner in advance so that Keith could bake it while Casey and I were at his soccer practice that evening.
On the easy weeknight menu: ravioli lasagna with ricotta and spinach, plus garlic bread, Caesar salad, and fresh cantaloupe on the side.
Teddy turned 5 on Wednesday!
Many of you have asked for an update on our home construction project, so I snapped a handful of photos that day as well. As you may know, about a year ago we started an on-going addition and remodel on our 100+ year-old farmhouse.
A new side porch off of the addition.
We love the character of our old home, but it was seriously lacking in bathrooms and storage. We also needed home office space for Keith, wanted a larger family room for us to gather in comfortably, and hoped that each boy could have his own bedroom.
This is the new addition off the back of the house. The big glass doors open into the new living room, while the single door on the right opens into the pantry (off the kitchen).
Our solution was an addition off the back of the house, which added a large walk-in pantry adjacent to the kitchen, a larger family room, a storage room (with shelving, extra fridge, etc.), a photography studio for my work, a half bathroom, and a mudroom/laundry room. Upstairs, we added three more bedrooms (one of which Keith currently uses as his home office), a bathroom for the boys, and we are currently remodeling the master bathroom and walk-in closets.
The new mudroom and laundry room.
It’s definitely not done (will it ever be?!), but we’re getting closer. We still need to have holes filled, trim finished, paint touched up, art hung on the walls, house plants added to the new spaces, the electrical wiring updated in the rest of the house, the older rooms repainted, and the upstairs master suite finished. The list goes on! Nevertheless, here are the most recent pics!
The new living room.
We worked closely with an architect and builder who specialize in renovating old Virginia homes, with the goal of creating a new space that would blend seamlessly with the existing structure. This included mimicking the trim from the old part of the house in the new rooms; adding side porches on the new addition that match the existing front porch; installing antique heart pine floors in the addition; adding a mantle that was salvaged from a home of the same era in a neighboring county; adding tile behind the stove that mirrors the tile in our old living room at the front of the house; and using reclaimed wood from the part of the house that was demolished to create countertops for the pantry and a coffee table for the new living room (that my dad built).
We also furnished the new space with a combination of antiques sourced from local shops (such as the end tables, chests of drawers, orchard baskets, weather vanes, etc.), as well as new items (such as the rugs, couches, and chairs). Happy to answer any specific questions if you have them!
My photo studio.
Antique pie safes make great storage in our home offices and in my studio.
Quite possibly my favorite space of all, the walk-in pantry!
And a peek at the new part of the upstairs, including the back landing, Keith’s office, and the boys’ bedrooms and bathroom.
Spencer had soccer practice that evening, so Wednesday’s supper was an early one before he needed to leave. We had bbq chicken wraps with bacon, avocado, ranch dressing, shredded lettuce, tortilla strips, and cheddar cheese, plus potato chips and cut-up veggies with Ranch dip on the side. The wraps are a nice weeknight option, because you can start with store-bought rotisserie chicken, and adjust the ingredients in each wrap to suit individual taste preferences.
After a walk on Thursday morning, I spent most of the day photographing a couple of new recipes and participating in a webinar.
It was cloudy and cool that morning, hinting at the fall weather to come…
I took Casey to soccer, which called for a prep-ahead supper that would be ready for us when we returned home hungry and tired: Crock Pot chicken noodle soup…
…and flaky buttermilk biscuits.
I snuck in a walk at Mollie’s farm on Friday morning while it was cloudy and drizzling — and beat the 100 degree heat that arrived shortly after.
Teddy was really interested in playing with the horses…
The rest of my morning was spent running errands in Culpeper. Teddy was also really interested in my iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte (yum!).
Keith was busy with friends that evening, and Gibbs went to my parents’ house to play golf and spend the weekend with them, so I was on my own with Casey and Spencer for dinner that night. Since Spence had soccer in Charlottesville, I let the boys pick our dinner spot in town. Not surprisingly, they voted for Chik-Fil-A!
And then it was the weekend! Spencer had two games in Richmond on Saturday, while Casey’s team played up in Northern Virginia. Now you can see why Gibbs and the dog chose to spend the weekend with their grandparents!
We were all back home in time for supper, so we had sheet pan andouille sausage with veggies, along with a side of white rice. That (and laundry) were about all I had the energy to deal with!
We’re back at it on the soccer fields again today, so off I go for an early start! Thank you for joining me here, as always. I hope that you’ve found some new inspiration for your own table in the days ahead. Have a great Sunday!
You have a beautiful home. I love the pie safe and walk in pantry. Your chocolate chip cookies and chicken noodle soup will be on our menu. Happy Birthday Teddy! Have a good week!
Thank you, Jill! I hope that you enjoy the recipes!
Your home is so cozy and inviting. How old is the original house? Love the floors. How do they stand up to kids and dogs? We are replacing our floors next year and have a Lab. Enjoy your recipes! Thank you
Thanks, Paulette! The house was built in 1915, so it’s over 100 years old. So far, the floors have held up really well — but they’re still new. 🙂 We also don’t have a big dog, so I’m not sure if the bigger paws would make a difference or not.
Beautiful home! I love the pantry and floors!!
Where can I get the “newspaper” wrappers for wraps? I’m sure that you have posted this info before . . . but I can’t find it!
Have a wonderful Sunday – and week!
Thank you, Cathy! Here is the link to the newspaper wraps: YBB 100Pcs Deli Wax Paper Sheets… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P2X1K2S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Blair, I look forward every Sunday to open my emails and see your recipes for the week. I love your creativity and cooking skills. Plus, your photos of your foods, are absolutely perfect! Tonight is your Old Bay Roasted Salmon Bake, as I am originally from the DC area and we love Old Bay! Happy Sunday! Judy
Thank you, Judy!! I hope that you love the salmon. A little taste of home!
Thanks for sharing your project update! Have been wondering how it’s going. Looks wonderful and I especially love the floors and how you incorporated some of the demo materials as well as items and materials from around the state. What a big project! Bet the kids are excited to have their own rooms and no doubt you and Keith are happy to have your own spaces and bathroom. Can’t believe Teddy is 5, but then also can’t believe your kids are the ages they are. Time flies!
Yes to all of that, Norma! Everyone appreciates a little more space! 🙂
Time definitely flies by — 13, 12, and 9 years old!
Blair,
Thanks for sharing the pics of your home, truly lovely! I love the lights you chose for the pantry.
Those butterscotch cookies you presented at the beginning look really delicious and tempting. I think I am going to have to give those a try.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much, Kris. Have a great week, too!
Love the photos of your renovations! So nice if you to share with us.
Have you heard of Plow and Hearth? They have really nice items for mud-rooms, and general farm-country type home accents & furniture.
They don’t have a lot of actual stores to visit, but their online catalog is terrific. If you get on their email list, they have a lot of coupons they’ll send you.
Hi, Renee! Yes, Plow and Hearth was actually founded by my friend Maggie’s parents here in Madison, VA. The outlet store and the main store are both about 2 miles from our house. They do have great things. It’s so fun to hear others know about it!
Hi Blair – thank you for sharing photos of your remodel! Your home is lovely and I’m sure you will really enjoy having more room. Happy birthday to Teddy! He has such beautiful eyes!
Have a great week! My 5 1/2 year old granddaughter starts kindergarten this coming week and my 3 year old granddaughter starts preschool. Time marches on, doesn’t it? Enjoy every moment!
Thank you, Tylene! I bet it blows your mind that the girls are old enough for school already! It’s so exciting and fun to watch them grow, but it definitely goes by fast. Have a great week!
Very jealous of your pantry!
My friend in Canada built that in her new home.
I wish…. Sigh!
I do have a Hoosier cabinet. I wouldn’t give that up for a wall pantry though!
Love the adventures of your family… busy boys!
And your Shenandoah valley!
Barbara Ringley
East Tn.
Thank you, Barbara!
I love hearing about your family life. I hope you will continue to be surrounded by the peace and love of God.
Thank you, Ruthann!
Your Sunday email always makes my day and my coming week…love seeing Virginia, your family and your fantastic recipes…at 78 and having lived in Virginia for over 30 years it’s always so great see the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains…now living in Canada (home again) I do miss the mountains…your new additions are absolutely exquisite!!! Belated birthday wishes to Teddy! – he is adorable…may the Lord continue to bless you and your family…
Thank you, Wendy! I’m always happy to share a bit of the Blue Ridge with anyone who’s willing! Have a wonderful week ahead. 🙂
Beautiful – thank you very much for sharing with us.
Warm greetings from South Africa
Anne
Thank you, Anne! I appreciate your kind note. Love that you’re reading from South Africa, too. Amazing!
You have a beautiful home Blair. Looking forward to making some of the your cookies ecipes. Love your blog. Love reading it every week. Thank you for sharing pictures of your home. Enjoy the week.
Hi Blair!
I can’t believe Teddy is 5 already! I often look after my to friends Yorkie Simon if she is out town. He has been part of my life for three years now and he is such a pleasure to have around! Even my cat has accepted him! He is 15 years old and looks exactly like Teddy. He LOVES going for “walkies”!
The addition looks fabulous, Blair. Congratulations on your great planning and patience with the process, even as it continues!
Thanks, Tim. Patience is definitely KEY (and it’s not always easy)! 🙂
great week
Thanks, Larry!
Happy Birthday to Teddy. He is so adorable. I am a Yorkie Lover. They are so cute and love being with their families. You really got back into the ball practices again smoothly. Your remodel is beautiful just love it. God Bless You and Family. Melody
You’re right — the Yorkies sure are loyal! He thinks he’s one of my boys! 🙂
Thanks, Melody. Hope you have a great week!
Just beautiful!! Love your home and recipes!
Thank you, Jane!
Great recipes, as usual. Also, I love all your pictures of the renovations going on. It looks lovely. Will you be turning your old living room into something else? Keep doing pictures as your renovation goes along.
I look forward to your Sunday morning emails every week.
You should do a cookbook with all your previous recipes, I’d be first in line to purchase it.
Thank you
Thank you, Lorraine! That’s a great question about our old living room. We’re not sure yet! It’s still set up as a separate living room with a TV, couch, chairs, etc., so that’s how it will stay for the time being. We don’t have another specific use that we need it for at the moment. Guess we’ll just see how it evolves — maybe it will become a game/hang-out room for teenage boys! 🙂
You have a beautiful home Blair. Looking forward to making some of the your cookies ecipes. Love your blog. Love reading it every week. Thank you for sharing pictures of your home. Enjoy the week.
Thank you, Kathi!
Thanks for helping to get your e mails again. I look forward to them. Loved the pictures of your remodel. We are contemplating adding on to our home. want to add a pantry, laundry room and a Florida room. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.
I’m so glad that you’re receiving the emails again! I don’t have any specific suggestions, other than to work with a good architect who can make your dreams a reality! 🙂
Hi Blair!
I can’t believe Teddy is 5 already! I often look after my to friends Yorkie Simon if she is out town. He has been part of my life for three years now and he is such a pleasure to have around! Even my cat has accepted him! He is 15 years old and looks exactly like Teddy. He LOVES going for “walkies”!
It’s crazy how time flies! That’s so sweet. We’re so glad you get to enjoy Simon.
LOVE your photographs of all that lush, green in your area – we are so very HOT and dry here in Texas – 21 days in a row over 100, no rain, and huge water bills trying to keep everything from burning up outside. Ponds for animals are dry, grass is gone. Your remodel looks wonderful and designed for an active family. We also have a 150 year old farmhouse, and the maintenance is ongoing! And yes, big labs will damage those original heart pine floors but think of it as adding character! I enjoy your recipes, but I think I enjoy the outdoor photographs even more at all times of the year!
Thank you so much for your kind note, Virginia. I can’t imagine that kind of dry, endless heat. We have a lot of hot weather in the southeast, but it’s so humid (with plenty of thunderstorms), so it rarely gets as arid as you describe. Hang in there — fall is on the way!