Reading......

When my girls were small we had an entire library of children's books. Books are our passion. Being able to read is a gift I want each and every child who comes into my life to have. I live to sit and read to a child. To watch their faces as they fall in love with the written word. I have long had an attachment to Little Golden books. Remember this one??? This is always a good one for the tired, harried mommy who feels like she is being pecked to death by her chicks!!! hahahahahhah and My favorite favorite for sure.
These books are sturdy little books with beautiful, colorful illustrations and stories that are easy to improvise for even the youngest listener. And... they are priced right.

We had LOTS of them at hand and anytime was story time. It was always nice to be able to say "yes" when the girls would pick one out at the store and say " pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze"

As the girls grew and they're taste in literature matured we packed away The Little Golden books along with the rest of the storybooks. They are still lovingly tucked, safely away in the shed awaiting my grandchildren. Who are,by the way, on their way.....Well one at least......

Imagine my dismay, when while looking to buy a few of them for Paige, I was told that not only does Wal-Mart not have any in stock... they don't even sell them anymore.... WHAT....YOU'VE GOT TO BE FLIPPING KIDDING!!!! This is enough for me to stop shopping there altogether. Ok untwist knickers...... Maybe Target will have them..... NO.... AGHHHHH Whats this world coming to I ask you. The only books I could find at either place were cheesy little books that made no sense and cost way toooooo much..... Soooooo sad!!!!!and they were tucked way back at the back of the store...... tsk tsk.....(shaking head slowly back and forth)


Remember this helping daddy one... hahahahha cracked me up and you guys used to think it was so funny that the daddy in here smoked a pipe...when yours didn,t. hahahahahha He also cut hedges and some other stuff your daddy didnt do but we'll not go there!!! hahahah crack myself up.

Well not that anything like that has ever stopped me before. It looks like Paige and I are off on an excursion to the Thrift stores.

Jussssssssst as soon as we get over this creeping crud that has overtaken not only both of us but... all of us......

Un sniffuly Blessings to you, Sue
Oh yes these pictures of the little golden books where borrowed from random spots on the internet. I looked for copyright stuff, found none and so I used them.

Somethings Happening....

Somethings happening... I have felt this way before.. I have had a hard time placing it in an order that makes it easier for me to understand this time..Maybe it's because of my "life's situation".... Of course that's it.. It always is.

Change.... things are all different now. For the past few years I have been going through life altering events... some big, some small, Most of them huge!!! I squirm, and wiggle and try to rest in this fact. " I know the plans I have for you" my Lord says. And they are plans to prosper me.

I am a homebody... I love being home. I love all the "things" that I can do at home. Baking, cooking, creating, Making a comfortable and safe place for my family to rest when they come in from the storm of the world.

I have been in this "home" for almost my entire adult life. I have raised all my children here, pets have come and gone ( and been buried on the "hill") I even worked here, caring for children for 14 years as a day care. We have had home group here and praised God in our living room, we have fought here and made up here. We have LOVED hard here. We have worked out the kinks of life in these very walls..

I have seen the changes of the seasons (be that what they may) out these windows and know when to pick the oranges. My hill has shown me many years of yellow blossoms and many a child's hand has picked for me the same.
I know when the Santa Ana winds will come and that its usually sunny on Christmas day. I know that Autumn has arrived when the feral parrot flocks arrive, squawking, from Mexico. I could go on and on and probably will in my journal..... but you get "the picture"

Seth is retiring... In less than a year.... We are leaving here... We are starting anew.... I'm a homebody remember.... change freaks me out...... I kick and scream when things are not settled around me... I know I have so much more of my life to look forward too. but to tell you the truth..... I AM SCARED... There I said it. I have so many unanswered questions.... What will my new home be like? Will I have a lemon tree? Will the weens be happy? Will Thomas run away or get eaten by some strange creature that lives in Georgia that I don't even know to protect him from? Will I love my new church? How will I get my chickens there? Do we sell first then buy? or buy first then sell? AGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I HATE TICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then..... I settle..... and think calmly that MY FAMILY is the most important thing in my life, Besides my faith. God has blessed me with three wonderful, healthy in mind and spirit daughters, a husband that surpasses anything I could have ever asked for, a son in law that loves and cares for my daughter like I do. and now through their love has come a new life and and another person to our family... YEP, I'M GONNA BE A GRANDMA!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!
Ahhhhh I feel better now.. I am looking forward to going. I love it there. Not only is is beautiful but its so full of history. I love the southern charm that it has the potential for. I'm excited to see what this season of my life will bring. and at the same time.... Life is interesting like that... isn't it. And all the while god knows the plans He has for me... so its all good. And there's a grand baby to squeeze... yayyayayyyaya

Thanks for listening.... blessings to you.... Sue :) gotta go bake something!!!

Is there a theme lately????

Allison wasn't "feeling well" today and so I thought it would be nice to just hang out and be together and enjoy out time together!!! Which, we seem to do anytime we are together!!! The weather is rather chilly here. For our area.... its cold....So what is better than some yummy, fresh baked cookies.

I have become quite enamoured with Paula Deen lately and was going to try one of her choco chip cookie recipes but Allison beat me to the punch and came up with this Double Chocolate Chip Cookies off the computer. I have about a million Chocolate Chip recipe cookie recipes but I keep trying to find THE perfect one...... Lets call it a hobby or quest!!!!!

She kept it a surprise, well ok she....finally had to tell me when I badgered the crud out of her... She's a real chocolate girl... along with her sisters... so she made these AMAZING.... double chocolate cookies!!!!!

We lit a log... poured some milk and the rest is history!!!!!

When you have chocolate you gotta have milk...yes???

I really can't think of anything better than fresh baked cookies and ice cold milk.... except maybe fresh baked cookies and ice cold milk made for you!!!!!!! I love my girls!!!!

Stay warm, Blessings, Sue

I'm still here....

I'm still here... My poor computer stopped working. Seth spent many hours figuring out how to fix it. It would have cost $120.00 for the shop "just to open it". Thanks to him I have a new fangled fan that my lap top sits on and its running like new!!! I have really missed writing here. While I was "away" I made some good progress on my baby blanket....

There was a lot of this going on.....
I've been able to reduce my pain medication by 1/2 and the mental difference is amazing. My thoughts are more clear. I love it!!!

And we got our first egg of the season!!!! I'm thinking it was one of my Rhode Island Reds. I was sitting in the living room, knitting away and I heard her proudly proclaiming her feat!! Yeahhhhh If you have never had the opportunity to eat and cook and bake with fresh homegrown eggs, You should seek out finding some in your community. They are absolutely the best!!!

More later.. Just wanted to check in and let ya'll know I'm still kicking!! hahahahahhaah

Blessings, Sue

Doughnuts...Do or Die

My Grama Merical, my moms, mom... lived in Iowa while I was growing up. Every year she and my Grampa came to visit for a week or two. My Grama loved to bake and I loved to bake with my Grama. I was blessed to be the one at her elbow, soaking in as much of her and her "kitchen wisdom" as possible. One of our specialties was raised, glazed doughnuts. This is her hand written recipe given to me when I got married.. The one on the left is the copy I made for myself while she dictated it to me..I was in Junior High. The funny thing about my gramas recipes is that she never put the amount of flour she used, just flour. This one I was able to ask her "about how much Grama?"

This is Paige.. My adopted love baby!!!!! She was my main taste tester today!!! She loved them.

My Grama and I made many, many batches of these....

We even made them camping.. and had to use a dental floss container to cut the wholes. We would start early in the morning and knead and rise and knead and rise. I remember seeing them rise on a giant rock that was right by our camp site one year.

And what would a doughnut be without the wholes.... Now mind you the sprinkles are all mine. I used to put sprinkles on everything for my girls..... Do you guys remember your yummy french toast???

I have been writing my recipes down in a journal for my girls. Only the recipes I use all the time. The ones they remember and mean alot to our family. I am writing these out in my own hand. Some will have the original glued in beside the new. Like this one from my grama and then me in jr high.

While looking for the applesauce cake recipe the other day, I came upon a whole bunch of really good things that I haven't made for years. Recipes given to me by some loved one or another. I decided that I would bake each recipe before writing it in the new journal to make sure it was still one of "the special" ones....
This may be a really fun journey or it may fizzle out, if my eye is caught by some other bright and shiny project... I'm kinda that way... but I'm happily inviting you along for the ride... if your game.
Feel free to send me a favorite recipe... I'd love to try it!!!

Baked blessings, Sue

Saturday stuff...

I have been taking an on-line course to learn more about wine. I have always enjoyed a glass of wine, while making dinner and while visiting with friends. And while being blessed enough to live near "the wineries" in the Paso Robles area I never have known enough to know "what I was doing" while going tasting. I still have enjoyed it and by guess and by gosh, have ended up finding wine that I really like. I met a really nice lady at one of the wineries that taught me quite alot and whet my appetite for more....... And so I share......

Punt: When describing the anatomy of a wine bottle a punt refers to the indentation in the bottom of the base of the bottle itself. Although it adds strength, the size of the punt does not necessarily do anything to the wine. A deep punt can not only be impressive but add to the ease of the pouring, by placing your thumb inside it, and resting the body of the bottle on the other four fingers. Generally you stand a wine upright for awhile before pouring it, so the sediments can settle into the bottom of the bottle,which is a smaller area when a punt is present. You can clearly see the punt in the above picture.

I have learned a lot. I have found quite a few wines that I really like. I can enjoy the fullness of the flavors of a wine now and know what foods go with what to bring out the best flavors. But honestly... I know just about enough to be really dangerous. Heck before now I just thought the indention at the bottle of the wine bottle was just to cheat me out of a glass or two... hahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahah

Do you have a favorite wine???? Will you share with me what it is???? I would love to try it!!!

Blessings Sue

Applesauce Cake!!!

Yesterday when I woke up, I saw apples in a bowl on the table. While coming back through the kitchen, cup of steaming hot coffee in hand a memory was triggered. A wonderful memory of an Applesauce Cake that my mom used to make for us when we were growing up.

Its a recipe she got from a school friend she grew up with named June. It's a moist, cinnamony cake, filled with nuts, raisins and chopped apples. I searched through my recipe box until I found it.

Applesauce Cake

1 1/2 cups applesauce

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons soda

2 eggs

1 apple- chopped

1 cup nuts

1 cup raisins

Place raisins in a small bowl and cover with HOT water and a teaspoon of vanilla. Let them soak while Mixing all dry ingredients in another small bowl.

Mix together in blender bowl your butter, brown sugar and eggs.

Add dry ingredients and stir.

Drain water off raisins and add them , the nuts and the apple chunks to the mix. Stir well.

Pour into a greased 13x9x2 inch , greased pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 to 45 minutes. The sides will shrink away from the pan and a toothpick will come out clean. ( I start checking mine at about 30 minutes and then every 5 minutes til done. It gets pretty dark. Cool completely and then top with Cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8oz cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

powdered sugar, enough o get the consistency of frosting that you like, about a 1 lb box.

This also happens to be the very cake that I asked my mom to bake for my wedding...30 years ago... Our then neighbor across the street Jeanne, decorated it with apricot roses. It was beautiful and delicious. Thank you again Mom and Jeanie. I hope you know, knew how much it meant to me.

This morning when Seth took a big ol" bite his comment was " I don't remember our cake being this good!!! I have to agree.. it turned out great!!

Blessings, Sue