Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing

What a can make an Autumn day more perfect than a house full of kids and cookies?

Yesterday, my home was filled  with contagious giggles and rambunctious bounding
but ...
I wanted it so be just a little more special so I thought I'd  bake up some cookies.
This is my zoo crew today;
 Kayla, Jessie Ray(better known by me as Ray Baby) and Mackenzie.

Oh no, it's not easy to get them still enough to get that picture.

Kayla and Mackenzie were my two helpers.

These two are a whole mess of fun.

We gathered our ingredients

and

preheated our oven at 350 degrees.

 

• Cup flour~I used self-rising flour. The cookies will be nice an soft but if you prefer a crunchier cookie use plain flour adding a little baking powder.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 Cup *Butter Crisco. The butter will work as well but I didn't have enough butter/margarine for the cookie dough and the icing so we improvised.
• 1 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1 Cup pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 to 2 Cups of oatmeal (quick oats) less oatmeal or more depending on how much texture you prefer
• 2 squares of semi-sweet chocolate(shaved or grated)

1. Mix all your dry ingredients except for sugar in  separate bowl.
2. Cream Crisco(softened), vanilla, sugar.
3. Add pumpkin and mix.
4. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture.
5. Mix well.

6. Stir-in oatmeal and chocolate. 

     Don't over mix.

7. Drop a heaping spoonful onto your cookie     

     sheet.

8. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350;

    mine baked 20. 

While the cookies are baking start on your caramel icing.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1 Cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of milk

1. Whisk brown sugar and powdered sugar into melted butter.
2. Add vanilla and milk whisking until smooth.
3. Let icing set for 2-3 minutes
4. Drizzle over cookies.

Jack came in from school just in time to get in line with his hand out.

Cookie Monsters!!

Thank you for stopping by 

and 

letting me share my cookie monsters with you.

As always,

BE BLESSED

and

Be a Blessing!

Anthology of Poetry by Young American's, 2001 Edition Volume LI

What a great edition for me! 

This was the edition that my daughter Hannah's poem was published. Hannah at age nine wrote this poem depicting her bike ride at the old home place. I always think of it this time of year when them leaves are turning and the crisp browning crackle and crushes under my feet. I'd love to share my favorite Autumn poem with you.

An Autumn Bike Ride

Riding my bike down the dusty dirt road,

I see golden-orange and reddish brown,

all the colors mix and explode.

The old packhouse stands all alone,

used now only for storing hay.

I ride quickly, avoiding the old stray.

The old black dog with the spots on her face

runs after her puppies 

who like to challenge a race.

Hannah Mabe: age 9

If you are interested in Anthology of Poetry 

or maybe you're interested in entering your young poet,

I'm providing their link.

http://www.anthologyofpoetry.com/

Thanks for stopping by.

BE BLESSED

and

Be a Blessing!

Monday Music Moves Me

Good Monday to ya!

Not quite morning but let me see if I can get moving towards another

Monday Music Moves Me.

Mark from Chronicles of a Caveman has picked our theme this week,

music that moves us forward.

This morning I'm feeling more like I keep taking one step forward just to take two steps back.

So I'm starting this one out with the Desert Rose Band.

                           

Well that was a nice song down memory lane makes me think of those Saturdays before life was complicated and all a girl had to worry about was getting to Carolina Country for some

 two stepping.

The song that's I'd like to be playing is 
STOP
START
STOP
START
Okay.......
Can you out there in blog land tell how this has went?
It's after 5 but it is still Monday.
It is still Monday, ain't it?
I don't even care what the them is anymore.
Let's here some Eric Church...by this point of the day I do need some 
church.

              

I confess, I am drinking but I ain't smoking...

I'm sorry to let ya'll in on it but I am

Redneck Woman

                                 

Hell Yeah!

                                 

I'm leaving this party with some Aaron Tippin

                                  

He's nice...... let's do another on of his.

                                  

If ya'll are still here..Well

Bless your heart...

I mean..

BE BLESSED!

Where are you Fred? Lookin' for Fred the Scarecrow

It's that time again!

Autumn!

We're starting to look for Fred.

Oh...don't everyone have a name for their scarecrow?

We are just now getting in that scarecrow state of mind so 

I thought it would be a good a idea to look back at 

past Fred's that has spent the season with us.

Scarecrow 2012

Scarecrow 2011

Fred was a bit on the lean side.

Fred likes to hang out with his friends. 

They're jolly bunch!

Sometimes, we have so much fun around here that we can't help ourselves from rolling down the hill.

Often, it's a nice trip down memory lane.

Thanks for stopping by.

Be Blessed!

Coasters from Plastic Shopping Bags

Love 'em or hate 'em, we almost all have them.

The plastic shopping bag.

I personally do not hate them. I remember the day of the brown paper bag or if you're from the south,

the poke sack. I remember bottoms busting at the least bit of wetness. They didn't usually have those nifty handles

I'm betting your not like me. I'm sure you have one of those hanging shopping bag holder or
some other very clever organization method.
As fore me..I stuff them in that little cabinet door beside the stove....nothing much  fits in there anyway.
Sometimes, I take them back to the store for recycling. It may ease a few folks mind to know they are all recycled bags. As soon as I'm rid of them all I want to kick myself because I need one for something.

Do you reuse yours?
Just today, I used them.
First, I used one to line the trash can in the bathroom. It is beyond my understanding who would possibly buy that little roll of bags they sell at the store...unnecessary.

Second, I bagged up some pine-cones. We gather them for the winter.
Dried pine-cones can be a great fire starter.

Last, I made some braided coasters.
We are always needing one or two more;
so I thought I'd remedy some bags and our lack or coasters.

It was quick, cheap, and best of all easy.
This is what I did...

One coaster will take 3 bags.

Lay them flat and cut down the sides to open them up. 

You will won't the length out of them.

Knot all 3 bags together at one end.

Pull the knot tight to get it as small as possible.

Clip the ends closely.

Twist each bag and braid.

It doesn't have to be perfect or too tight.

If it's too tight it doesn't want to bind and any little hanging out parts

can be clipped off.

Now you are ready to coil it around and sew it.

The braid may be stiff at first but it's plastic; work it in your hand. It will for up for you.

I used button thread and a fairly big needle. I also thought to do it with dental floss but I had grey thread. 

I do recommend using a thimble.

When you are sewing try to put the needle between the braid.

To sew through the plastic itself is very tough.

Last thing I did was sew a piece of felt to the back.

You could surely hot glue your back and you could use 

cork if you had it on hand.

That's it!

I can't believe I didn't have some other color bags;

 it would have looked so much better.

Brown bags also look close to straw or cornhusks and add a very natural look. 

Thanks for stopping by 

and 

checking out my little project.

BE BLESSED!

Patrick County Agricultural Fair~Wordless Wednesday

This one was my favorite part of the fair!

Be Blessed

&

Be a Blessing!

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week~sharing a post from Memories by the Mile

http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/2013/09/national-truck-driver-appreciation-week.html

Memories by the Mile

Music City Roots~Monday Music Moves Me

Welcome Monday!

and another

Monday Music Moves Me!

This is a blog hop that has just become my favorite. Do you look forward to Monday?

I do.

The kids are in school, hubby is at work and it's me, the dog, coffee and my music friends.

This week is a freebie and that means it's always exciting; there's no telling where we will all end up. 

Join in and link up.

Monday Music Moves Me

I must get a new button; mine is flawed or old but click the link you'll get there.

Folks that know me, know by now that I'm a huge bluegrass/old country fan but I'm also eclectic. 

I like a little of everything; so I'm going to grab all my music from my Youtube subscription

Music  City Roots.  I hope you hear something that pleases your ears. So here we go....

I'm going to start this off with the storyteller, Tom T, Hall. It's a little slow but he's a sweet treasure

                        

Second on my list is "In the Jailhouse Now." 
This ones a little different by Pokey LaFarge.

                         

Number three is "Whipping Post" by Mountain Heart.

                           

OMG...right!!?

Let's take flight with this next song "Angel Flight." A touching song by Radney Foster.

                           

Here's and awesome number by Raul Malo,"Every Little Thing About You."

                          

Are you still with me? If so have a little "Mercy Now," Mike Farris. 

You can also see one of my favorite guitarist Kenny Vaughan or as known on 

The Marty Stuart Show as Brotha' Kenny.

                          

I wish you a wonderful Monday full of much love.

                           

BE BLESSED

and

Be a Blessing!

Bringing Down the Pines~2 Down

Oh yes,as messy as it looks.

Bringing Down the Pines

Our Big Boys

The large pines that loom over our home has been the subject of many prayers, thoughts, and now action. The Ole Man(husband) had a tree service to come out and estimate the cost and plan the removal, yesterday. If weather permits they will be here today to take down two or possibly three.
Yes, I did say take down, not take out.
We're not rich folk.
So to make this project not cost so much we will be handling the getting rid of part.
Any project sends the Ole Man into deep thought, contemplation, and planning....and reiterating to us(Ole Lady and kids) what part we will all play in this.
He's not wrong. This will be a heck of  a lot of work.
You can see our totem pole that stands next to the cars;
he limbed  it two years ago out of fear of the weight. He had strong intention of taking it down then but sometimes our best laid plans go wrong.

From this view of the house, you can see how ominously they lean into the house.

In my heart, I have always dreaded the day the tree would come down. When me and my prior husband bought this home he suggested taking them down but I resisted. This home is always comfortable in the summer. The yard is welcoming and shady and the house is quite cool and comfortable.
We do not live with air conditioning.
I am in hopes that it doesn't change things so drastically.
Most folks that no me, know I don't prefer change.
Sometimes, that is my own demise.

With optimistic heart, I believe this has been a lesson from God to me. Through my own Bible study and prayer and my want/need to be a better gardener, and a video my sister sent me via email last year that I have put off watching until this morning.
Back to Eden
If you watch this video you will first hear the most wonder testimony through gardening but secondly you like me, might fulfill your gardening needs(with prayer and faith) and there will be a purpose for all these trees that are coming down(as long as I can rent/get a chipper).

Do check out the video.
I think you will enjoy it.
&
Thank you for stopping by.
BE BLESSED!

Twin towers/flag

Joining the Seed of the Month Club

Last Friday, I joined The Seed of the Month Club. 

                                         

It wasn't expensive so I told myself it wasn't an overly compulsive thing to do. 

I questioned myself as to why I would join a seed club just as planting season is

basically over. You avid gardeners out there no that there is plenty of time for planting 

a late summer/fall garden. 

Am I an avid gardener?

No,

but I dream that I could be.

Take a look at what showed up Monday!

I'm impressed with the quick shipping!

Maybe, I'll keep momentum going and with a little luck

(no green thumb here)

I'll be sharing pictures of some veggies in a few weeks.

The fact remains that we have no topsoil that is worth anything.

I've tried composting and different other things to build it up so I try to not get overly 

excited because it leaves me overly depressed many times with the outcome.

The old man talks about bringing in loads of dirt, making raised beds, etc., etc.....

but that means he will have to take a much bigger role in the gardening.

(he likes to do it in spurts)

Some of the seeds that arrived are quite familiar and some I have never heard of.

That makes it exciting. 

New veggies mean new recipes!

Worst case...we could eat flowers...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

BE BLESSED

and 

Be a Blessing!

Monday Music Moves Me~Disney Style

I'm looking out on an absolutely glorious Monday. 

I'm glad to join in again on another 

Monday Music Moves Me.

I've missed you guys...

let's get this party started with this weeks theme

You favorite Disney songs and(or) music from the 70's.

I'm going to start my music off with one of my favorites 

Snow White's Whistle While You Work

                             

My next song will be from the Little Mermaid.

When my daughter Hannah was just a wee little girl it was her favorite.

         

Lion King was the cartoon of choice for my son Louis.

I think this should be "his song."
He's one of those happy-go-lucky people.

So..Hakuna Matata

        

Oh my Alisha was a bird of a different feather; a movie fan from the beginning 

and I mean big time but for her it has always been musicals. 

She wants to sing; she wants to dance; and she most certainly wanted to be 

Truly Scrumptious.

She most likely can still recite and sing the entire

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie.(and it's a very long movie)

                           

Baby boy Jack

(no he's not a baby anymore but yes he will always be to me)

loves anything that rumbles, rolls, and has a motor so of course you know

his favorite movie is undoubtedly Cars.

When he was just a baby in his bouncy seat the old man( his daddy) walked 

in the room, put a big greasy thumb on his forehead while laughing at my shocked face 

and told me quite frank that his dad said that would seal the deal. 

I hate to admit it but it worked!

            

I am sure I could do this all day 

but there's other folks to visit. 

Thanks for stopping by!

                               

I couldn't resist just one more.

Be Blessed!

Happy Monday