A new week....

Today begins a new week, and it also closes out a month! 

The view from our back door.

We have a very foggy morning here, as you are able to tell from the picture.

Thank you for your supportive comments on my last post.  The past week was certainly a difficult one due to the passing our Country Girl's father-in-law.  City Girl and the Munchomom family have been here, as well as many other out-of-town relatives and friends.  All have now returned to their own homes, and we are beginning to assume our normal daily routines.

On this day, I am busily working on that lunch for the adult day care participants and staff at our church.  After all, tomorrow is the first Tuesday already!  All about the menu, and even a recipe, in tomorrow's post!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

A little time....

I will be taking some time away from the blogging world for the next few days.  I wish you a wonderful week-end! 

Thank you!

In the spirit....

We are five days away from the next month, the month when the focus may be on these.

Our Senior center is "ahead of the game!"

Now, would this "scarecrow" scare YOU?

I'm glad those spiders are staying on that wreath!

Boo!

A nice arrangement.

Now - this is the most beautiful pumpkin - and spider - that I have ever seen!

More "lovelies" to wish us farewell on our way out.

Presiding over the card room.  Isn't she cute?

I just might be able to duplicate this one.

Another "scary" crow.

Yes, the Senior Center is certainly "pulling out the stops" to get us in the proper spirit for the season!  Have you begun your October decorating?

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Whoopsie....

....I almost forgot to take a picture of these!  Remembered just in time, as I had loaded them to take out of the house!

Pumpkin Whoopies!

The other day, I received a mailing which was to convince me to subscribe to another publication.  I am not in the market for anymore periodicals here, though I was happy to find an enclosed "gift" - a recipe card for these Pumpkin Whoopies!  So - I set about giving myself time to make them!

This is a free recipe from the editors of .....entertain....decorate....Celebrate!

PUMPKIN WHOOPIES
COOKIES - Makes about 1 1/2 dozen (Note to self - look for smaller scoop.)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin pie puree (pumpkin)
3/4 cup whole buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt.  In a separate medium bowl, beat butter and sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Gradually add eggs, beating well to combine.  Add pumpkin, beating to combine.  in a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and vanilla.
- Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. (Batter will be thick.)  Using a 1 1/2-inch spring-loaded ice-cream scoop, place batter mounds 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until a wooden pick insesrted near the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven, and let cool on pan for 5 minutes, remove to a wire rack to cool completely.  
BUTTERCREAM FILLING - Makes 3 cups
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- In a medium bowl, beat butter, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 minutes.  Spread approximately 1 Tablespoon Buttercream Filling onto the flat side of one cookie; top with another cookie, flat side down.  Repeat with remaining cookies and Buttercream Filling.  If desired, they may be garnished with a sprinkling of confectioners' sugar.

I had only a dozen of these, so I think my scoop may be a tad too large. 

This has been a very different kind of week as we are saddened by the unexpected passing of Country Man's father on Sunday.  Arrangements have been made, and out-of-town family is arriving.  Needless to say, it is a difficult time, as will be true about the time ahead.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

A day trip....

Last Friday, The Husband announced we were taking a "mystery trip!"  As we proceeded on our way, the destination became more apparent, and I was happy to be able to see this.

Tellico Grains Bakery!

From time to time, the baker from this bakery is featured on a segment on one of our local television stations, and I had been curious to see where this was located. 

While we were waiting on our sandwich order, I looked around.

A beautiful cabinet!

Herbs for sale.

Roasted Portobello Mushroom sandwich!

Sliced chicken on pumpernickel!

Isn't that a wonderful cabinet in the second picture? 

The mushroom sandwich was my choice, and it was delicious!  The Husband enjoyed his sliced chicken as well!

Of course, we came home with some goodies.

Cranberry Pecan Bread!

For the bread basket!

The bread was actually "yesterday's" bread and had a discounted price.  It has been really good!

Isn't that bat on the bread basket towel the cutest?  This will be fun to use, and is easing us into the season of ghosts and pumpkins.:-)

I hope you are having a good week.  We have had some cooler temperatures, more like fall, and that is really nice!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

On this day....

.....in 1908, my mother was born.

An early photo.

When she was a little older

And - a little older.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

An Autumn Sunday....

Continuing with quotes from Max Lucado's book "Hope, Pure and Simple" are these words for today.

                    "A little rain can straighten a flower stem.

                                A little love can change a life."

The Mission Focus from the UMW Prayer Calendar for 2013 is the Good Neighbor Settlement House, Brownsville, Texas. 

I send wishes for a blessed Sunday to you today!

That moon....

....did not disappoint!  We actually had a sky with no cloud cover, and I was able to capture these shots.

With closeup camera setting, just as the moon was rising in the eastern sky.

Just a moment later than the top picture, on regular camera setting.

Several minutes later as the moon was rising into the sky.

We have enjoyed the bright light from the moon for several nights.  That is, until last night.  Cloud cover was in the way, and sure enough.  We have a rainy Saturday!  It has been awhile since we have had rain, so the fall garden will appreciate this moisture.

The week-end is here.  Hopefully you have some good plans.  The Husband plans to watch some golf on TV, and the Vols play the Gators in Florida, also on TV later.  Go Vols!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Another book....

Friday has arrived!  Has it seemed like a long week to you?  Do you have some good week-end plans?

For a few Sundays, I have featured quotes from a book written by Max Lucado.  My first introduction to him was with this book.

Illustrated by Sergio Martinez.

The book tells about a woodworker named Eli who carved small wooden people called Wemmicks.  They were each different, just as we are all different. 

The Wemmicks spent their days giving out stars and dots.

Eli is hard at work.

Punchinello understands now that we cannot all be alike.

I think this is a wonderful book to read to children to reinforce their value as an individual, helping them to see how special they are even though they are not like anyone else!  Great for self-esteem, in my opinion. 

This has been a favorite book for a gift to families welcoming that first child!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

September harvest....

I hope everyone is enjoying a good week.  It seems to have passed quickly around here.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, we had a late beginning with our garden due to our very rainy year around here.  Although it was mid-June before anything was planted, we have had a bit of success.  It was exciting earlier this week when The Husband brought in these:

Okra and "volunteer" grape tomatoes!

The first greens from the "fall" planting done in August!

Have you ever seen okra that lovely color?  We are stockpiling it until there is enough for a meal.

On Wednesday, The Husband brought in these:

Potatoes!

 

 

I must confess that this is all of the crop for these potatoes.  Potatoes need to be planted much earlier than we were able to plant this season, and there were no proper seed potatoes available at that late date.  These are from some of the potatoes from last year's crop that had sprouted, and that is all we used for planting this time.  They are not too large and will taste really good baked whole with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic.

Also, The Husband brought these in.

Sweet potatoes!

Actually, this is not the only basket of sweet potatoes!  We have another one!  Sweet potatoes have customarily done well for us here.  We like them prepared rather simply - just baked, without any of those other "tasty" ingredients found in casserole recipes. 

Are you looking forward to the week-end?  It will be here before we know it.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Wednesday....

Extending sympathy to Kate (Chronicles of a Country Girl) in the loss of her husband.

....and then there was Monday

So - how was your Monday?  Is your week off to a good beginning?

We enjoyed an outing with a group from our church on Monday.  Not being scientifically inclined, it is difficult for me to adequately explain everything we heard about this.

Only one building of several in the Center.

The Proton Therapy Center will open to begin treating cancer patients in January of 2014.  Beginning with prostate cancer patients, future growth will include treatment of lung cancer, breast cancer, and others.  There are a few other such centers across the US.

After our tour here, of course it was time to eat!:-) 

Do you have a Cheddar's near you?

This was the second time for me to eat at this one, and I definitely recommend the Fish Tacos!:-)  While we ate inside, there was this area also available.

Do you see the waterfall in the background?

Other developments on Monday had to do with this:

Do you remember the final picture of Monday's posting?  Well, this carton is packed now with the unsold materials from the week-end UMW event, and it is ready to return!   I'll take care of that later today.

That's all for now.  I hope you have a good Tuesday!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

About that week-end....

Happy Monday to everyone!  Did you have a good week-end?  How was the weather where you are?  Are you having temperatures that give you an indication that fall is on the way?

It was a busy week-end for me.  Once again I journeyed to Lake Junluska for  a United Methodist Women event.  It was time for our Conference Annual Meeting/Training, and that means I was on duty as Secretary of Program Resources.

But - before I registered there, I took a short trip to Waynesville.  I really enjoy this little town, and even saw this gentleman.

Yes, it's true!

He didn't have much to say to me, though, so I have probably not been as good as I could have been.  I will have to be sure to "clean up my act" in the next couple of months.:-)

I did take a quick stop here.

Do you have one of these near you?

This was the very first Mast General Store I had ever seen!  Since that first time, a number of years ago, Mast has even built a store in my hometown.

I have featured a sunrise picture on the blog from another trip to Lake Junaluska.  This time, however, this is what greeting us in the mornings.

Just a bit of fog.

Are you able to tell that there is a lake underneath all that fog?

In addition to performing the duties of the office I hold, it was also an inspirational week-end.

Now, I am home with this to unpack.

Unsold books have to be returned.

 

 

So - this will keep me busy for just a bit in the next day or two.:-)

That's it for this time.  Off to get this day underway.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Mid-September Sunday....

On this Sunday that is mid-way through the month of September, I send along wishes for peace and joy to each of you.

The Mission Focus listed in the UMW Prayer Calendar for today is the Amarillo Wesley Community Center in Amarillo, Texas.

May you have a blessed Sunday.

The garden in September...

The past days here have given us summer like temperatures.  Thankfully the week-end has a cooler forecast.  The garden, though, has been flourishing with the warmth.

The final green beans of the season.

The okra is in bloom.

The sweet potatoes are EVERYWHERE!

Greens for the fall.

Sad-looking corn.:-(

"Surprise" basil has appeared!

I hope you have some special week-end plans!  Take care!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Encouraging art....

Have you noticed how children seem to love bright colors?  This book is a good one for exposure to lots of color.

Ruth Heller's book "Color."

Nice overlays of color are throughout the book.

There are two artists whose paintings are good to share with children.

Monet is one of them.

Are you familiar with his painting "Water Lilies?"

Van Gogh is another.

Is that "Starry Night" on the cover?

Another use of color by Van Gogh.

Art appreciation for children - a great area for growth!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.