Happy 1st birthday to me!

Hey, guess what?  It's been one year since a bout with boredom resulted in the creation of this little blog!  Can you believe it?  I can't!

 Some of my favorite posts:

• The beginning
• My most favorite cookie ever
• A smoky and delicious split pea soup that I've been craving for weeks
• I-can't-believe-they're-made-from-scratch "box" brownies
• The domestic queen's show-stopping recipe for macaroni and cheese
• Doughnut month!
• One ingredient dessert
• Using your pantry/freezer to create a feast -- peanut shrimp & veggies
• Some history of the Kemp family and its beloved cherry pie
• This isn't your mother's meatloaf (not that hers isn't delicious!)
• How to plan meals for a week and shop for groceries
• BDATM goes French with a cassoulet!

And, last but certainly not least, one of my very favorite things -- the readers!  You!  I can't express how thankful I am for you and your interest, input, and general support for my little project.  Looking back at old posts, I realize how much I've grown and how much more there is to learn.  Somewhere along the way I decided to share more of my personal life with you, and I hope that's okay and not nauseating :)  I just felt that the kitchen is as much a part of my life as my family, friends, and day to day adventures, so why not share all of it.

As always, I love hearing from you -- requests, questions, recipe or craft recommendations, and even simple greetings.  Without you, this would be in vain.  So, a not nearly big enough but will have to suffice THANK YOU to you!

I'm taking the day off from work to have a fall day with Matt.  We're heading to a local farm for apples, pumpkins, lunch, and maybe a side trip to the outlets... if I can bribe him with enough apple cider to make retail therapy sound appealing :)