I hope you all had a wonderful celebration filled Thanksgiving day. Ours was mellow, relaxing and full of football games. I look forward each year to roasting my turkey. I love everything about it. I love the smell of it baking all day long. I love the anticipation, and the preparation of all the yummy dishes that go along with it. I love leftovers....... For about the ...the next day........HOWEVER after awhile its time to start making pot pies for the freezer and mixing it up a bit. That's why on Saturday when we had our first token day of weather here in San Diego I just had to make up this yummy ..............
Bean and Bacon Soup. I found it on this site www.fortheloveofcooking.blogspot.com/

I stayed pretty much to the recipe. I did drain off alot of the bacon grease before saute' ing the onions, carrots and celery. It was fast and easy using canned white beans and reminded Daddy of lentil soup. I also added a bit of sugar. Yummmmmmmm !!! Served it with saltines and salad. Can't get much easier. Let me know if you try it.

And of course I made Daddy his party mix. What would our holidays be around here without that? Blessings..

I found this recipe online before Thanksgiving. It is definitely a keeper. You can find it on www.sugarcrafter.net Its called Pumpkin Pie Latte, and is now one of my favorites. She has the recipe and great pictures. Let me know if you try it. I used it in black tea as well ,with just a splash of fat free milk. mmmmmmmmmmm. that's my usual.

Of course I changed mine up a bit. I used 3 Tbs. of pumpkin pie spice , 1 Tbs. cinnamon. I poured mine straight into a canning jar. The spices go to the bottom. Yummy.......... Oh and of course, since I already had it, I used whipped cream on top for this particular cup!!! OH YEAH !!!!!!!! Well, here it is, finally got pictures taken........ My very first baby quilt. I'm proud. I machine patched the top and machine quilted it.

The back is light pink with white polka dots. The boarder is white with pink polka dots.

I did hand stitch the binding. This is for a new baby girl who should be here any day now..... My prayer is that it wraps her in love and blessings for as long as she loves it. God bless you, baby Paige.

This picture is the most color accurate. I waited a long time,to have time, to quilt. It was definitely worth waiting for . I really enjoyed making this.

Another Beautiful Day !!

This is how I spend many of my afternoons these days. We are blessed to be boarding Allison's horse at a very beautiful, friendly,peaceful ranch.

These pictures were taken with my phone camera and came out pretty good..... I'm impressed.

I usually take my reading, or whatever needle project I'm working on at the moment. I settle in, water bottle at hand, to enjoy the fresh air and solitude. I am, more often than not distracted by the sounds and behaviors of the many horses that live there. I am also fascinated by the relationship that is growing between Allison and Cricket. Lunging in one of the round pens. I have never thought of myself as a "horse" person. I think they are amazing animals but I just don't have "that" passion. Allison does. Through her I am able to see a part of life I wouldn't have normally been introduced to.
It's hard work to train such a large animal. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance.

Watching someone you love succeed and enjoy at something they love.......... What a beautiful young lady.... What a beautiful horse..........What a beautiful day!!!!!!!

Look what we found !!!!

We didn't find these two little sweeties in any ol' pumpkin patch!!

These are the hats I made and showed you back in October. (The 26th if you want to see a close up, or you can click on the picture as well.) It makes my heart swell to see them wearing them. If your a knitter or crocheter you know that when you make something for someone you put alot of love into each and every stitch. God bless these babies, and their parents.

A thought

Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked

"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire Cat.

" I don't know" Alice answered.

"Then" said the cat " It doesn't matter." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Its good to have a plan.

Caramel Apples

I haven't met very many people who don't like a great carameled apple. I started making these a long time ago, before I became a responsible parent (hee,hee), for Halloween treats for the kids on our block who came trick or treating.... I used to use the little caramels wrapped in clear cellophane and it was fun.... then I had my own kids and I spent so much time making costumes and going to carnivals, that the good ol' apple dipping was set aside. This year I decided was the year I was going to re-activate the tradition......... No pre-made caramel candies for me though........ I made this suckers from scratch...............

SCRATCH... You say.... Yep, I even shelled and chopped the peanuts. Oh Yeah!!!! Rolled some in plain sugar for the people on my list that didn't want peanuts. Aren't they LOVELY !!!!

Bummer is that I cooked the caramel WAY to long and we couldn't even bite into the little beauties. I ended up throwing them all in the trash. Oh we tried to enjoy them... gave it our best shots.......

Thankfully no one ended up like this !!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not giving up though. I'll even give yout he recipe when I get it figured out. hee hee

Best Oatmeal Bread EVER !!!

This is my favorite oatmeal bread recipe. It never fails to please. Its moist, hearty, just sweet enough and good with anything. Toasted, with butter or PB &J sandwiches. But even good with turkey.Try it, let me know what you think.

Honey Oatmeal Bread

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup butter or margarine

5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

2 teaspoons salt

2 pkgs active dry yeast ( I use 2 Tbs )

2 eggs

1 egg white

1Tbs water

oatmeal

Place water, honey and butter in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until very warm. (120* to 130* F)

Place Flour, oats, salt, and yeast in mixer bowl. Use dough hook and blend well. Continue on slow speed, and gradually add water mixture to flour and mix for about a minute. Add eggs and mix well, until all flour is incorporated. ( I used 6 1/4 cups flour this time, It really depends on the humidity in the air but I don't ever use more than 6 1/2 or the crumb gets to dry)

Continue mixing until the dough clings to the hook or cleans the side of the bowl.
(This really never happens as the dough is very moist, I just mix for about 4 or 5 minutes to get the gluten working well )

Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top, cover and let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about an hour, or til doubled in bulk ( I put it on the top of the stove while pre heating the oven. Works great for me)

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf. Place in regular size bread pan (I use Anchor Hocking or Pyrex glass) Cover again and let rise for about 20 minutes.

Beat egg white and water together and brush each loaf liberally. Sprinkle with oatmeal.

Bake at 375* for 40 minutes. ( I check at 30 and 35, Don't let it get to dark. This batch cooked for 35 minutes and you can tell doneness by thumping on side or bottom of loaf . It will sound hollow. ) Remove from pans immediately and try to let it cool on wire racks.

Letting it cool is really the hard part. Its so good with butter, warm from the oven. My family devoured an entire loaf with dinner last night.

Any questions you know where I am!!!!!!!

Daddy brought me flowers yesterday. They made me VERY happy !!!! I love him soooo much!!!!

Blessings, Sue

Happy Birthday Tooky !!!!

Twenty five years ago today, the second most amazing thing in my life happened. I was blessed to give birth to one of the most amazing people I could ever hope to know. My oldest daughter Carlye. She has been an amazement and joy to me since the first time I felt her move . I fell in love with her immediately, and our relationship grows to this day. She is not only the daughter all mothers would love to have, but the kind of friend that is faithful and honest and true to the end. She has never failed to bring delight and wonder to my life and I thank God for her every single day. God Bless you Carlye and Happy Happy Birthday. You are my joy!!!!

My pride and my true love.

and I am grateful to you for bringing me Matt, too !!!!!

Be Blessed!!!!!!!!!!! Momma Sue

Twas' the night before Halloween....

Happy Harvest Time everyone.

First let me get this off my chest... I don't like Halloween in general. I don't like to put so much emphasis on a holiday that has become (in my opinion) so vulgar. If it doesn't glorify God, why bother.... My family does enjoy certain aspects of the season, and carving pumpkins, candy apples (next post) and handing out candy are some of them. I love roasting the seeds and used to cook down the pumpkins for holiday baking. Now however, I'm a Libby girl all the way.

I thought you might like to share in some of our carving fun. Humble Beginnings.....

Digging in........

Mmmmmmmmm !!! Soon to be roasty , toasty goodness. Either that or plain old pumpkin guts...

How do you fix a Jack o Lantern ?

With a pumpkin Patch..................

What did one jack o lantern say to the other jack o lantern?

Cut it out...........

BUSTED!!!!! They just wanted in on the fun...... Some one dropped something, no ?

Why did the elephant paint her toenails orange?

She wanted to hide in the pumpkin patch........

Whats the ratio of a pumpkins circumference to it's diameter?
Pumpkin Pi........

Does this look familiar Took? Daddy has been doing this same scary face forever!!!! haha





And here they are... the grand finale.....

Allison did the one in the middle.... She says its a Thomas pumpkin, crossed eyes and all.. I say... Leave my kitty love alone!!!!!!!!!

Many blessings, Sue