Over the River...

Over many rivers and through many woods, they finally arrived at Grandmother's house!
Caleb can read now! Nana just loved this story.

Lily and Jared spending some time with Papa.

Where's Gracie?

Reading is very serious business.

Here are all the cuddle friends posing for a picture. Look to the far right.

That's "Butchie" Jenny's doll from childhood.

Jam Thumbprint Tutorial

How to (or not to) make Jam Thumbprint cookies:

#1 make sure you have all the ingredients needed or else you will have to search foodnetwork.com for an acceptable alternative.

#2 don't mix up your cookie batter while eating your Kraft macaroni and cheese. While you might think the extra gluten will help~~trust me, it won't.

#3 don't pop into the living room to check on Jeopardy while mixing ingredients. Oh my, where was I?

# 4 How can you go wrong with copious amounts of butter, vanilla extract, eggs and flour?

Happy Holidays!!

Giving Thanks

I'm giggling with excitement! Everything is ready for tomorrow. My table is set. My side dishes are waiting in the fridge. When we wake up the coffee will be ready. Oh give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!

Now, for the real life... My cheesecake is cracked, my side dishes are not a la Food Network. My doggie barks at every fruit fly that passes her way.

Sometimes you just have to be put in the mood to give thanks!

I'm excited, and Thankful anyway :-)

Sourdough Starter

I have a very good friend who is also my mentor in all things regarding home keeping, budgeting, gardening etc. Recently we have started down the road of sourdough bread making. We have already been making 5 minute Artisan Bread and have made many "converts" along the way. Not to be content in a good thing, my mentor and I are trying out a sourdough method that would produce a great bread with the same "5 minute" method of mixing. I cannot even consider myself in her league at this stage of the game. She (Susan) has the ingredients down to a science. All I know is ~~ I am producing a loaf of bread with minimal effort and maximum return in flavor for the cost of a couple cups of flour. "We" continue to tweak the recipe to come up with the exact amounts, temperature and moisture needed to produce a great loaf. Meanwhile ~~ our families are enjoying great loaves of bread!

The Frost is on the Pumpkin

The first year we moved to Lake County someone mentioned as she breezed through the Kitchen that "The frost was on the pumpkin"

That was the first time I had ever heard the saying but ever since, it has marked the wonderful season of Fall.

Oh, She was immune to the daily toil, schedule and jobs that needed to be done to make sure that the pumpkin would bring blessings. After all these years, the simple proclamation of the frost on the pumpkin brings peace. Dear loved ones have passed away and as is the promise of God..."All things have become new."

Boiling Point

Tyler and Jordan have an assignment regarding "boiling point." We put a gallon of water on the stove to boil our noodles. They had to document each phase of the process. (See above)
More documenting. Pictures, writing, details, more documenting...
Did you know there is an evaporation stage? That small bubbles become larger
bubbles? This is all very scientific!


Dinner is ready!! Chicken, noodles (scientific experiment) corn and much discussion.
Thank you Mrs. Thorley!

Birthday Surprise

Lizzie and her family surprised me with an E-Card for my birthday with a picture of my present. When I was a little girl my Nana had a glass cabinet with china figurines in it that she purchased every time she went to Canada. This has always been one of my favorites.

Nana passed away several years ago 6 months before her 100th birthday. It won't be the same as looking into the cabinet through the eyes of a shy 7 year old ~~ no it will be so much sweeter because Lizzie has always remembered the stories of my childhood and has memories of her own, looking into the cabinet with wonderment and choosing her favorite.

Thank you Lizzie, Trey and Blake!