BbAKING "VBALENS " WITH GRANDMA

BbAKING "VBALENS " WITH GRANDMA

Baking Valentine Cookies with Grandma.....

Yesterday, I planned on making my cut out Valentine Cookies....There is something about baking; the smell of shortbread; and then pink icing with sprinkles that makes you think Valentines......
I use the same recipe for every holiday "Moms Everything Dough" on my sidebar......
The fun begins by mixing butter; eggs; sugar.............all mixed together....I sometimes use a mixer at this point but then
sometimes I mix it by hand with a fork and they turn out fine..............
My granddaughter came along and we put on her apron and I gave her a little bowl with her own flour; stir; mix; pour out and ( I think she even added the pepper that was sitting on thecounter nearby!) and before you know it she had flour head to toe.........But we were having FUN!
There is something simple; traditional about mixing flour; sugar; eggs; in a large white bowl ; following my mother; her mother; and her mother before her................
Memories that will sustain through the years.........Love that pours out between a grandchild and her grandma.............Precious times I will not forget................
Standing on the back of a chair ; up to the countertops; matching aprons; Sprinkles to put over the cookies; simple FUN........and oh so good...............

I love cut out cookies................I love to purchase a "Design Shape" to use for about $1 and make so much fun out of it!!!................
Little hands...........precious hands ; pink frosting.................and Sprinkles of heart shapes in red; pink; and creams......................
Even when they "stick" all over everything............................
We made trays and trays of these and then Grandma set the trays on the front porch to cool
and let the cookie set up.................
I put some in "little baggies" to take to my ladies meeting next week for a treat to all...........
and the rest..........."Oh they are half gone from guests who came by that evening and 
Sweetest Girl and I enjoying some together.

Proverbs 31: 31 "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

EVERYDAY SCHEDULE...WELCOME THE NEW YEAR

EVERYDAY SCHEDULE...WELCOME THE NEW YEAR

EVERDAY SCHEDULE.....2014

I love a schedule. It helps me to keep on track everyday.....There are ; of course; many times
things do not go according to the schedule but its good to have one in place for something to fall back on each day so you dont go about stumbling through life ...( I have had days like that) 

I remember years ago as a young wife trying to fit my families life into so manyOthers schedules.... I read Books; charts and even listen to talks about scheduling until it almost threw me into a tailspin.........

I talked with a wise friend and told her myhusband schedule . He was in and out of the house with work as we ran our own business; my children were growing and involved in various things. I ended up working with our own business
at different times where I would be needed to do extra tasks...How could I have a schedule?

She simply said......Make a set schedule of the dailys in life to have everyday. Then do what you can.....* Ohhhh I loved that!

That has worked through the rest of my many years.....My schedule may be different than yours. You may have young children; children in school;a retired husband; someone that is in need of care giving; or may work out of the home. Whatever it is...........there are still things to be done........Even if someone cleans your home.........Things need to be done..

Each day.....I hop ( or try to hop) out of bed and say Good morning to my Lord....I then yield my day to Him.... * Mornings have been good for me to have some alone time so I grab my Bible and read a devotional given out through my church...pray and ...begin the day...

I go to the coffeemaker and start my coffee and then my husbands....We sit and chat quietly
and enjoy the morning together....*In the Spring we like to sit on our front porch at listen to the birds..........


Then...........its the thought of breakfast.....( * I try and take my shower and needs in the evening
so I can be ready to go this seems to help me through the years).......My hubby gets ready and
I fix either a hot bowl of oatmeal with the fixins; or a couple eggs whites and wheat toast (maybe some turkey bacon or a slice of ham and thin swiss cheese on a English Muffin......

Everyones ready to go........Kisses goodbye are a must!I love you's too.................
Next............
One of the first things I do is make my bed!........I love to put on fresh sheets on Mondays ( I have two sets of sheets so I can wash one on Monday and have a fresh set to put on) and when I make it I tuck it all in on the sides and smooth it all out just right. I then add some pretty pillows . Sometimes I have a nice smelling spray I may spray the linens with..This seems to make the day get going....and its nice to have a room neat and clean and ready to use.....I have a small desk and workspace in my room; so doing this step readies the room and to do work when I need to in a nice clean space.

. I then go throw laundry in...I do most of my laundry on Mondays; fold and put away...but then may throw in smaller loads throughout the week....Tuesday or Wednesdays I do pressing and ironing...
Back to the morning kitchen where dishes are loaded;tables wiped down; placemats cleaned off; counters wiped down; floor swept; mopped if needed and maybe meat to lie out to thaw on the counter (for short time) in preparation for dinner. * I have a list of dinners ready to go each week. That way Im not thinking at 4 oclock Oh what am I going to have for dinner? Ive done that before.....

My daughter bought me a "Planner" from Vera Bradley . I keep my life in this little planner. I write down things needful for the rest of that day ; and it reminds me on the calendar of everything else going or bills due for that month...appointments needed for myself or family members....birthdays...cards to send...prayer request....Bible verses...(this planner has little pockets inside that I can stick cards; stamps; pen; notecards etc.......

Everyones life runs at a different pace.....This is a sample of my day....I will share part two soon...

FOR BETTER OR WORSE...RICHER OR POORER....IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH...

  FOR BETTER OR WORSE..RICHER OR POORER...IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH..

As I walked into my "new homeroom class" that Senior year of high school there he was
this "boy" standing on his head on one of the long science desks in the back of the classroom...
"I shrugged my shoulders as not to join in his silly antics" and sat in my seat......"Others ...gathered around him laughing and applauding his spirit"................I then looked up and realized his desk would be right across from me.........

Little did I realize how much I would need that "spirit" of his throughout the next 30 years of my life..........He asked me several times for a date but I thought "no"......until one time his 
gentle kind nature touched my heart...........It has touched my heart since .........

Years of growing together........God knew..........and in the first year of our marriage we moved to upstate New York where we would both hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray to ask Jesus into our hearts..........Was there instance love and perfection in our lives then??? ..............No 
we were both young people growing in our marriage and love and now growing in Jesus and what His love was to show...........Many years of growing together...........For better ; for worse; in sickness and in health...........WE had it all...............rich or poor............our love grew............

Children God gave. Three to which I was amazed how great of a Daddy he was to each one of them. Love abounding; teaching; playfulness; joy as he loved each of of our children. Weddings; new mates; now grown.........He slide through it all..............giving and sacrificing many many times so that they could go to a Christian School ; be involved in things; learn new things; and have needs meant. ...........Now new parts to our family he and I both loved as if they were are own...

And now.........as we have grown Jesus has given us a stronger love that ever before.........

A love that is long suffering; works hard; sacrifices; accepts each other as they are; looks to the others needs before our own.............Marriage is hard work.......my parents 67 years; his parents over 50 years..........hard work; thinking not of ourselves but whom God hath joined together.........
I love you sweetheart! One of my hubbys favorite breakfasts is sausage gravy and biscuits ( although we cant eat as much of this these days we enjoy at times......here is the recipe.
*** On sidebar under recipes

MAKING FALL PUMPKIN ROLLS............

PUMPKIN ROLLS TO MAKE OR GIVE AWAY

I love to make warm delicious "Pumpkin Rolls" this time of year. I make several and cut them
in half . I then give some away and freeze some for the holidays............
It just takes a large can of Pumpkin ( Aldi's seem to be the cheapest around this year) and cream cheese for the center filling and then some
basic ingredients to make these beautiful rolls..............
I also have wax paper on hand which is very inexpensive at any dollar store.....
I use some fresh eggs...................
Baking that thin layer of "cake" smells so good throughout the house...............
I then "turn in out" onto a powered sugar dusted tea towel...........to cool...............
I then anticipate as I "tear off" the wax paper from the cake to ready for the next step
and then then add the filling..............
I simply roll the cake up in a tea towel to rest and form the pretty design................
With one large can of Pumpkin I can make several rolls. I fill them; roll them up and cut them
in half. I also slice off one thin piece of each end to make it look pretty. ..................I then dust
with confectioners sugar!

I then wrap them individually in plastic wrap..............and if FREEZING..........I place them
in a zip lock large bag for freezer. If I am giving as a gift I may wrap in plastic wrap and tie
with a pretty fall ribbon. I have even purchased small little plastic cups (GFS) at times to
place extra "filling icing" in and give that also. I may put these on a pretty little plate; or in a small basket with some pretty Fall napkins!
LIBBY'S PUMPKIN ROLLS............................

• CAKE
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• FILLING
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)

Directions

FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts. 

BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack. 

FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired. 

COOKING TIP:Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.

Remember to follow baking instructions before consuming.

TEA SHOPS...RIBBONS...PRETTY THINGS

TEA SHOPS...RIBBONS...PRETTY THINGS...

I enjoy being a girl ........simple things

I happen to enjoy pretty things; tea shops; and even things tied with a ribbon...........We have a tea shop in town and on special occasion I have enjoyed a nice lunch there............
I remember when my girls were young and how they loved playing dress up with my old jewelry; old hats; and the clunk clunk of a pair of old heels to play in.........It was fun to be
feminine...........Now my granddaughters enjoy the same.........and I like that........Sometimes
I will cut my granddaughters sandwich out in little shapes like a butterfly or a pumpkin...
(you may say is she spoiled? Oh no she is learning to be creative and make her world around
her nice)............
We recently had a visitor over for supper and he was a guest of my husbands. He commented
how he never had all this "fruuu fruu" pretty things on his table but he really liked it!
I just smiled to my husband.......Supper doesnt always have to be a fancy thing but you can
make it special with a few pretty plates; maybe placing the huge tub of margarine in a small
bowl; adding a tablecloth and in the Fall a seasonal candle glowing with your home made soup!
Having pretty things around you doesnt have to mean you spend alot of money ( I never do)
but you can be creative....I remember one Christmas holiday I went shopping in a very fine
department store. Money was tight that year so my bill in my purse wasnt going to purchase
many things there.....But.......I so enjoyed the beautiful music being played on the piano in their
lobby. I enjoyed a small cup of coffee for Free and then I gazed through their clearance racks
and found two small items I was in need of. The stores policy was to wrap it in tissue; then a
beautiful box of silver and gold and a pretty ribbon.......My cost was $3 total and I felt like I
had spent a small fortune..........
On special occasions I have gone to the teashop. It can be pricey but if you order only a few
items and some tea it can be a wonderful deal and the atmosphere is beautiful for the time
well spent...............
At home you can bring that special touch again to simple things by using small twinkle lights;
pretty thrift store plates or silverware; linens; pillows ( I found a beautiful lime green pillow
from Pottery Barn one day for $1) to go in any season.........
Enjoy being a lady and the gift of being creative with the world God has given around you......

SUMMERTIME FUN AND CLEANING OUT...........

SUMMERTIME FUN........AND CLEANING OUT

I have enjoyed the "dog days" of summer.........the Fair; the end of baseball games and watching the beginning of the little guys practicing Football games in the freshly mowed fields...
Sitting on my front porch enjoying the bright early morning sunrises with my husband with a nice cup of coffee and creamer.......Tomatoes in the garden and making 'fresh salsa"; fried green tomato sandwiches; fresh herbs in eggs; and Tomato Basil Sandwiches............
Sometimes life can seem so busy........and yet other times ..........it seems to stand still and make a change in direction............
I have already begun cleaning and ridding out some.......my daughters and I had a 2 day garage sale and did very well..........(we made enough to pay for something we both wanted)....
I love cleaning out and making things fresh and new............

My husband and I have been helping with a "new project" together......I love when we can do things together.......Making special meals; baking cookies; or having folks drop by for a cool drink of iced tea and some burgers on the grill...............
Is not always about "where you go"..........in your life but what you do when you get there......
( as the first picture says)...................Sometimes it can be on your "morning walk" a wave hello to a neighbor; holding a garage sale and having someone come by with cancer and no family to listen to her but you taking time to care; having someone stop by for a few and sending them off with some "goodies" along their way; being somewhere and making it "fun" for everyone around because they need it ( not always because you feel like it); smiling and reading a book to your little "grand" because its where you need to be; sitting with your husband eating "some food" your waistline tells you not to Why because He needs you too! 

SATURDAY FUN

SATURDAY FUN.....BISCUITS AND GRAVY.....FARMERS MARKET....HAM AND BEANS

What a beautiful sunny Saturday it is here.....My hubby and I enjoyed early morning coffee on our porch with the songbirds singing to the top of their lungs......

With a busy day ahead so ...... I stopped and thanked God for such a wonderful beginning of all His glory...........then started in making Sausage Biscuits and gravy........(even though I have made homemade biscuits before )this was not the case this morning. I quickly took about a pound of
bulk sausage and placed in a skillet. I added a little flour here and there; some ice cold milk; and salt and pepper........Umm the house already started smelling heavenly. Then popped the biscuits onto a baking sheet and waited until they were lightly brown and ready.
My husband enjoyed the outdoors so we decided to enjoy breakfast outside. I took my pretty
yellow and white placemats ( I think I paid $1 for all four); set the table ; put out my homemade strawberry jam; hot coffee and it was ready........The birds played their songs for our background music..............

I redded up the dishes and pulled out the crockpot. In went the "ham chunk " I had put in the freezer from this weeks ham dinner. A bag of white northern beans ( I had soaked); a little onion ; salt and pepper.........On goes the lid and dinner will be ready tonight............

I then put the finishing touches on a pasta salad I needed to send to a bridal shower today. My older daughters will be attending and I am watching my sweet "grand".......Pasta Salad.....tri colored pasta; pepperoni; chunks of colby jack cheese; tomatoes; and italian dresssing. Yumm!

My husband and I will go to the Saturday Farmers Market where we can purchase some delicious veggies and maybe a loaf of homemade rye bread ( last time we loved this and I made the ends into croutons for salad and it was so good).............

A busy day but a good day. 


Sausage Biscuits and Gravy
1 lb Sausage (either bulk or in roll)
Flour
Milk
Salt and Pepper

1. Brown meat and then remove from pan. SAVE RENDERED FAT
2. Take 2 TB flour and stir in med high heat with a whisk in pan until all white gone.
3. Quickly add 1 cup milk....stir in ...then add 1 more cup. Cook on med high until begins to thicken.
4. This time measure out one cup of milk and add 2T flour in cup. WHISK in cup until flour dissolves. Add this to pan mixture. Cook on medium using a scraper or spoon to pull flour from the bottom of pan. cook until begins to thicken. About 5-7 min. 
** If looks too thin cook alittle longer or add about 1 TB flour mixed in milk.
5. Add in sausage ( this will also help thicken)

6. Serve over biscuits our hearty bread. May also add a side of eggs or potatoes.