Time to read....

At this time of year, I enjoy bringing these books out of hiding (that means from the back of the shelf) and featuring them in a basket where they will be easy to find.

Books by Bill Martin, Jr.

Bill Martin, Jr. was in our town a number of years ago, and I was fortunate to have him autograph these books.

I like the illustrations, too!

I enjoyed reading this book to my class in October.  Following are some of the pages.

Mother is sending the children after a bucket of milk "at the end of the town."

They celebrate and sing on the way to buy the milk.

This is what they see on the way back home.

What is that sound?!?

It is an appropriate "scary" book to read during Halloween month!:-)

Only 27 more days until Halloween!  Do you have your costume ready?:-)  Are you working on those treats?

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Another recipe....

I have another recipe for you this week!  I spent a chunk of time in the kitchen last week.  That seems to be where I go to handle some types of stress - cooking!  So, this is a cake I made to take to the Country Couple.

Just out of the pan!

Adding the frosting.

I have had this recipe for several months.  It came from a Domino advertising insert from a magazine that comes to the house.  I know it has been several months because the picture shows the cake being garnished with that colored Easter egg candy.:-)

ALL-IN-ONE CAKE AND FROSTING
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (2 lb.) pkg. confectioners sugar
2/3 cup milk
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup water, room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour a Bundt pan.
Frosting:  In a bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla; mix well.  Add sugar alternately with milk; mix well.  Remove 2 1/2 cups of mix, place into a plastic sealable bag; set aside. (I just stored it in a measuring cup and found this amount to be quite generous!)
Cake:  With mixer at slow speed, add eggs to remaining frosting; beat until blended. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to frosting mix alternately with water; mix well.
- Pour into pan and bake 65-75 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 30 minutes.  While cake is still warm, use a knife to loosen the cake edges from the pan.  Cool completely before removing from pan.  Top with frosting.

I set the timer for one hour and checked the cake.  I did give it five more minutes at that point.

As I mentioned above, I found the amount recommended for frosting to be quite generous.  There was no way I was going to need that much on the cake, so I kept it, using it for the base for another cake just like this one.  While the second cake was not a disaster, it didn't have the volume of the first one.  We are enjoying it with pudding on top or also topped with fresh fruit.

Tuesday was another lovely October day here.  The temperature is a bit higher than average, though there is a cooling trend on the way - so they say!:-)

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

That dessert....

As promised, here is the dessert that I served to the adult day care participants/staff at our church.

Out of the oven.

Frosted, cut, and ready for delivery.

These are Pumpkin Bars from a recipe I have had for possibly 35 years.  The Mothers of Twins Club would have Tasting Parties during the year, and this was one of the things that another mother of twins made to share.

PUMPKIN BARS
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 can (16-oz.) pumpkin
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups baking mix (I used Bisquick)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch pan.  Beat sugar, oil, pumpkin, and eggs in large mixer bowl on medium speed.  Stir in baking mix, cinnamon, and raisins.  Pour into pan.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Cool completely; frost; refrigerate.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
3-oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
- Beat cream cheese, butter, milk, and vanilla until creamy; stir in powdered sugar. 

What was the rest of the menu?  Yesterday's lunch was ham biscuits, hash brown casserole, and dried fruit compote.  It seemed to be well-received. :-)

I am grateful to those of you who have offered condolences at this time.  It has helped more than you know, and I thank you for your concern.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Bits and pieces....

Welcome to October!  This is the month so many of  you have been anticipating all year, and here it is!

I have some "bits and pieces" that actually needed to be cleared away before September ended, but "better late than never."

A beautiful house as we were driving into Tellico Plains on that "mystery trip."

These flowers were in planters along the sidewalk.

An old home as we were leaving town.

Looking down Main Street.  The property on the right is for sale, but the chairs and tables have been left in place.

A sign welcoming us to town.

Beautiful field with hay!

Have you heard of Benton's country ham or bacon?

Crossing the river.

The Husband and I believe we live in a beautiful part of the country!  As you are able to see by the pictures, we were blessed with a gorgeous day for our trip.

Oh, we didn't buy a single thing in Benton's!:-)

Today is the day I take lunch to the adult day care at our church.  On "Recipe Wednesday," there will be a dessert!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

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.