A Slight Breeze

We have a slight breeze here in Floyd today. Well, okay maybe more than a slight breeze but not a hard wind. Just perfect for drying clothes on the line. When the wind is blowing like this, the clothes are so soft when they get dry. We had a busy weekend but lots of fun. The girls and I went to Sam’s Club Saturday and picked up a few things. Before that we went to one of our local malls and walked around, just looking. This is something we never do, so that made it special. They have already started putting up their Christmas stuff. It was so much fun. Yesterday was church day. The pastors sermon was very good. He compared being a soldier in the Armed Forces with being a soldier in God’s army. He did a really good job. Last nights menu was soup, pinto beans, cornbread, tator tot casserole, cooked apples and carrot cake. Very good.

Today we are doing Grace’s birthday party. We are going over to our friends the Horns to celebrate. Vicki is making the cake and I am taking some homemade chicken noodle soup. We are all looking forward to a great day. I know I have said it before, but we are very blessed by the Lord to have the Horns in our life. We so appreciate their friendship.

Well, I gotta go party. Take care and God bless.

November 8, 2010 2

Cinnamon Rolls

I think I’ve been a little crazy this week as far as cinnamon rolls are concerned. This is my third batch. One I shared with my friend Vicki, the other with my friend Faye, and today was my turn to make dessert for the ladies study. Guess what I made. Thats right more cinnamon rolls. I had never made them to share with the ladies so I thought today was a good time. They were very good and everyone seemed to enjoy them.

No school today. National Holiday. My Grace’s birthday. As part of her treat, I let them out of school. I think they have enjoyed their day off. We are having our version of “Crazy Bread” for supper as this is one of her favorites. We are almost finished with our Ruth study. It has been very good. While I was browsing on Net Flix I discovered they have a movie called “The Book of Ruth”. It looked to be very good. I ordered it and we are thinking of watching it next week after we finish the last lesson. This would be something new for us. I don’t think we have ever watched a movie together.

Today has been a nice day here in Floyd. Partly cloudy. The sun is shining now though. Temperature is about 45 degrees. Pretty nice. Well, I better get busy on that crazy bread. Enjoy your evening and God bless.

November 5, 2010 2

Pie

Just a little update. I thought maybe my cooking time was a little vague so I decided to get it exact. I timed it and it took 1 hr. in my oven. Just wanted to let you all know.

November 3, 2010 1

More Christfest Fun

For the first time this year, the kids got to play some of the games outside before it got dark. This was a lot of fun and much cooler than in the basement. I, for one, was extremely hot downstairs but then I should have known not to wear a long sleeve shirt. We girls got our hair cut yesterday. I decided to make a batch of cinnamon buns to take to the lady who cuts our hair. We all sat down and enjoy them while they were still warm before we started our haircuts. It was a nice visit.

Today it has been pretty chilly here in Floyd. We have kept a fire going all day. While the girls worked on school, I have been busy making pumpkin puree to put in the freezer. I used part of the puree to make a pumpkin pie for supper. It is in the oven now. The recipe I used is:

2 cups pumpkin puree, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, 1 egg beaten, 1/3 cup plain flour, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Stir all ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees until done. Pie is done when toothpick stuck in middle comes out clean. Start checking for doneness at about 45 min. Years ago, we were at a farmers market and this older lady was selling pumpkins, cushaw and other fall squash. I ask her about a pie recipe for them and she just told me all the ingredient and their measurements, right from memory. I was of course very impressed. I hurriedly wrote them down (before I forgot them) and have used this recipe ever since. It is a favorite fall dessert around here.

Take care and God bless.

November 3, 2010 1

Christfest

Anyone for pie in your face? I know you can’t see it very well but yes that is our pastor in the background with whipped creme all over his face. His game was to ask the children bible questions and if they answered correctly they get the throw a whipped creme pie in his face. It was, of course, a big “hit”. The kids stood in line for the opportunity to play his game. He is a really good sport. To be honest, it probably was his idea.

Will the real bumblebee please stand up? I think PawPaw needs a bigger costume, don’t you?

Sam had a lot of fun getting passed from person to person. It doesn’t take long for your arms to get tired holding this boy. He is constantly in motion. Well, more pictures next time. We all had fun.

Yesterday, we made cinnamon rolls and shared them with our best friends, the Horns. It was a nice visit, just not long enough. Today the girls and I are going for haircuts after school. I am going to stop to vote on the way. Hope all of you have a great day and God bless.

November 2, 2010 1

Chocolate Milk

As you all know, we live on a farm. Part of the cows raised here are milk cows. To get milk, we simply go down to the barn where the cows are milk. The milk is stored in a large metal container until the milk truck comes to pick it up. The container keeps the milk very cold and delicious. So Saturday, Daniel and I go down to the barn to get milk. We wanted to ride the “bumpy truck” but it would not start. So we had to ride MawMaw’s car-not near as much fun but okay. We get down to the barn, go to the “spaceship” (metal container that holds the milk) and I get out our milk. I purposefully leave some in the pitcher I use to fill up my jars. I take a drink, ask Daniel if he wants a drink. He looks in the pitcher and says no. Then he leans over to look at the spout where the milk comes out, looks at me and says “you got any chockit milk in there?

I thought you all might enjoy a laugh today. Also another fall picture.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

November 1, 2010 3

Another Fall Picture

I know, another fall picture but soon all the colors will be gone and it will only be snow pictures again. David, Jess, and the boys are on their way up this morning. Our church does a halloween alternative, which we call Christfest. It is always lots of fun. We will be doing it tonight. Kids and adults both usually dress up. I hope to take lots of pictures to show everyone. We will be eating at church for the evening meal. Lunch here will be burgers on the grill with homemade buns, home fries with ranch dressing for lunch. Depending on time, I might make a pumpkin pie-not sure. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your day. I know I will, lots of MawMaw time. God bless.

October 30, 2010 2

Mr. Squirrel

This little guy was playing hide and seek yesterday while we were at the park. Hubby kept trying to get his picture and he would run away. It was kinda fun trying to catch him in a good pose. Finally, he just gave up and took the shot. I think it turned out good. This question is for Jess-Do you think this could be the one? (It’s a long standing family joke)

The sun is beginning to shine today so maybe we are done with the rainy, dreary days for a while. I really want to hang my clothes outside today. I have them in the machine in hopes of getting them out before the sun decides to hide behind the clouds. Today we will be doing school, as usual, cleaning the house for bible study tomorrow, and hopefully finishes another sack of apples. So I guess I’d better get busy. Enjoy your day and God bless.

October 28, 2010 3

Roll Recipe

I use my Zojirushi bread machine to make the dough for my rolls. I put 1 cup lukewarm water into the machine, 1/4 cup butter-cut into chunks, 1egg beaten, 3 1/4 cups bread flour, 4 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp powdered milk, 1tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp yeast. Set the machine to dough cycle and walk away. It takes the machine l hr 50 min. to run through this cycle. Then I take the dough out, punch it down and form the rolls. I get about 15 rolls from 1 batch. Then I spray them with olive oil and let them rise for about 1 hr. Bake 12 min. at 425 degrees. When I take them out of the oven, I brush them with melted butter(being generous with the butter). Half of these never make it to the table. They get eaten as soon as the butter is spread on them. One thing I do a little different from this recipe is I put 1 1/4 cup fresh ground wheat flour and 2 cups bread flour instead of using all bread flour. I also have lowered my heat to 400 degrees because the pans I use are darker pans. I have just discovered they do so much better using 3 round cake pans-8 rolls per pan than they do on a cookie sheet. Hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as we do. God bless.

October 27, 2010 1

Apple Muffins

Here is a picture of the apple muffins I made this morning. They were very good. I definitely will be making them again. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Cheryl. Here is the recipe:

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat), 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 cup apple juice, 1/3 cup oil, 1 egg and 1 cup diced apples. Combine all ingredients and put into muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. Next time I make it I will add nuts but I didn’t this time. Anyway they were really good.

Today has been rain, rain, and then some more rain. Extremely dreary. Hubby is having trouble with the van but has been unable to work on it because of the rain. We did manage to sneak in a picnic lunch over at the park. They have a shed there and we were fortunate enough to get to use the shed, otherwise we would have had to come home. We had hamburgers on the grill, pasta salad and yogurt. We got some more good pictures to share.

I hope you all enjoy your day and God bless.

October 27, 2010 1