Cherry Pie Bars

   If I ask my husband what he wants for dessert he will inevitably say "Something red." That translates to something cherry. He likes strawberry and raspberry, but cherry is his favorite. Jon also likes the flavor of amaretto so I figured with the almond extract in these Cherry Pie Bars they would be a hit with him. Tonight when I should have run my bath and settled in for the night and headed for a chair with the book I am enjoying right now; I got the urge to bake. Nothing new, I know.
   I remember when I had no desire to get involved in Pinterest. The women at work were constantly talking about it, and honestly it was starting to annoy me. One of my co~workers and friends asked if I was on this Pinterest. I told her I wasn't and she said she was surprised. I asked her why and she proceeded to tell me that she saw my Scottie Cake on there. I was a little confused since I had no idea what all the "pinning" was about. She said to come to her desk once I had my coffee and she would show me. As the reader here I am certain you know what happened. Pinning came from everywhere including blogs. That Scottie cake on my blog had been pinned, A LOT. It was almost two years after that before I even got on Pinterest myself. I was looking to make something and thought that might be a good resource. Was it ever!!! I then realized I could have boards that would keep things organized, all in one place and I could access them so easily. When I realized there was an APP for Pinterest and I could look at my recipes, craft ideas and everything I had "pinned" while out and away from my computer, I decided to try it. Please just know, I am SO NOT an APP person. I keep my iPhone clean and with only what will rest on one screen. I should confess right here that I access my Pinterest page, A LOT. I use it for shopping and used it while at my daughters house because I had deliberately saved recipes to try for her family. Okay, here we go. I love Pinterest. I should tell my friend that. She knows I use it now because she follows one of my boards :-).  Anyway, this is one of the recipes I pinned to my Sweet Treats board with the idea of making it for Jon. That happened tonight.
   I cut this recipe in half and prepared and baked it in an 11 X 7 inch glass baking dish. Since this original recipe was designed to be baked in a Jelly~Roll pan, and they are typically between 10 X 15 and 13 X 18 inches, my pie bars were a little thicker than the photo of the batch shown on Pinterest. They are very good and I am excited about Jon having one when he gets home tonight. I will be baking these again during the Christmas season. Since they will be served to more than Jon and I, I will use my Jelly~Roll pan.

Here is the original recipe I found on Pinterest.

Cherry Pie Bars

Ingredients

1 c. butter, softened

2 c. sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

3 c. flour

1 tsp salt

2 cans (21 ounce) cherry pie filling

Glaze

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 Tbsp milk

Instructions

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Mix in extracts. Add flour and salt. Mix until well combined.

Spread 3 cups of the batter in a greased jelly roll pan. Spread pie filling on top of dough. Drop remaining dough by tablespoonfuls on top of cherry pie topping.

Baked at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over bars. If serving the next day wait and do this before serving or the bars will be a bit soggy!

   Here is the blog this recipe was pinned from.  Here is the page on Julie's blog for  these Cherry Pie Bars. I plan to follow this blog, Julie's Eats & Treats. She has plenty of wonderful recipes, for instance her recipe today is Overnight Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast Casserole. HELLO!! Thank you Julie, for such a lovely blog.

Pumpkin Pancakes and a bit more.

   Years ago I discovered a little store called, Aldi. I will confess that I have never liked the soap or any cleaning products from that store, but there are a number of wonderful grocery products there that I find to be as good as the well known brand name products ~ and some I like much better than those higher priced items. There are blogs that offer good tips on using that store. This particular blog gives a monthly menu and then some. This is a good article to look at on yet another blog. You do not have to look far to find plenty of ideas for the Aldi products. Ariel at the blog called Food Lush, posted this little article about their Beer Bread Mix. On the same blog Erica posted this, and Julie posted this.  A few years after I discovered Aldi while visiting my daughter in Germany, I had the opportunity to shop in one in their country homeland, Germany. Aldi is a German based store. Let me just say it was full of so many more products than the stores I shopped in stateside. Today, our Aldi stores are more like the one I shopped in Germany. Gourmet cookies and cakes, imported wines and so many other lovely products line the shelves. No, this is not an Aldi commercial, just a great find I have enjoyed for years I thought I would share, and a segue into my post today. Pumpkin!

Could not resist posting the logo, I mean just look at that rich pumpkin colour!

   Earlier today Jon went to Aldi to buy white rice, maple syrup, shredded cheese, green peppers and onions. He also managed to buy Krinkle Cut Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips, Butternut Squash soup and these........ 

Pumpin Bagels and Spiced Pumpkin Fall Harvest Salsa

Such a good man!!! I had the Aldi's Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread in the refrigerator, and on that half bagel I snagged and toasted ~ YUM! I had never had the salsa so I tried it with the Sweet Potato Chips ~ oh yeah!! 

   And now to the recipe and reason for this post, my favorite Pumpkin Pancakes. I found this recipe some time ago on allrecipes.com where you can see this recipe here. These pancakes are moist yet light and full of pumpkin flavor without being overpowered by the spices. This is an autumn worthy Pumpkin Pancake recipe. I make enough to have leftovers to freeze. They are delicious when toasted, just pop them in the toaster frozen and they are great.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.   In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

2.   Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat (I just use butter flavored no~stick Crisco spray). Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Makes about 12 pancakes.

These are your ingredients.

It was only when I went to put the Ginger in that I realized I had grabbed the Nutmeg instead of the Ginger. Since I had already put the other ingredients away I am going to just insert the Ginger here.

Scrap the Nutmeg above, this is what you want.

Giving the batter a rest for a few minutes makes lighter pancakes!

Now we are getting somewhere.

This might be a good time to remind you that the pictures enlarge when you click on them.

These are SO good. I just love autumn :-)

   The canned pumpkin is from Aldi's and so is the pure Maple Syrup and the Pumpkin Syrup. I like recipes that use only a portion of the can of pumpkin because I use that remaining in my oatmeal in the morning. Yes indeedy!! 1/2 cup oats, 1/4+ cup pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, 1/4 cup Craisin's, 1cup water; stir, cook, stir again and drizzle real maple syrup. That is not my "go to" breakfast in the autumn, it is my breakfast in autumn. Oh, the oats are from Aldi's. Ald'is Millville Oatmeal is nuttier than that big name brand and any of the private labels in groceries I have had.

   I hope you are enjoying this autumn. I would love to hear your favorite pumpkin recipe! Please fell free to drop me a line via the postage stamp on my Home Page, or in the comments below.

New Beginnings

UPDATE:  Please feel free to read this post. I have however decided I really don't want to leave Honeycomb Cottage parked and gathering dust in cyber space. I will not be using the blog referred to at the end of this post I wrote back in January 2013. I pen this on September 19, 2013, and plan to stay right here where I was for over six years. This feels like home. The other blog I created and worked part of this year never felt like home. I have transferred the posts I did there over here. It is so good to be back, and thank you for stopping by, and I hope you visit often!   




I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but aside from a few changes I made to this blog a few years ago I really don’t make changes here. I am like that in general; I hold out until I have something  the way I want it before I make any changes. I just don’t do fickle well and there are things that I do that require research and focus which make it all the easier to just get things where I want them and then leave them alone. Well, that is about to ...um well, change, here at least.

   I started this blog as a result of searching for creative cards ideas. It was then I discovered Kim and her wonderfully fresh and candid blog. I related to her and now am thrilled to say we are friends. I enjoyed teaching Sunday School and Bible Studies so I thought a blog might be a good way to share things I was learning in my walk with, God. So April 2007 I finally stepped out and began blogging. I read and enjoyed other blogs and met many lovely people, two I now have as dear friends. I began to share card making, family events, my dog, book reviews, cake decorating, baking, recipes, nutritional tid~bits... and the list goes on, oh and occasionally some of my walk with God and/or just Bible. Through the years I have enjoyed this blog and certainly enjoyed those I follow. However, I always felt I was not using Honeycomb the way I should have; sharing Jesus and my walk with God.

   In the last few weeks I pondered that very thing that wore on me. I decided to start using Honeycomb Cottage at the beginning of the year as a way to share those things and only share the odd card, quiche, cake and all the rest as the exception and not the common post. So I began doing just that on January 1.

   I have done Facebook as a way to see pictures of my grand children and stay in touch with a few friends I do not live close to. I am not an avid poster there, but do like to see what friends are doing. Facebook is becoming a privacy nightmare laced with tons of ridiculous “apps”. I have considered shutting it down and have decided to whittle it WAY back with the definite eye on shutting down soon. So I decide to take a dormant Google+ account my husband talked me into some time ago and make it more active. I can keep in touch there with friends without the hype and vulnerability Facebook brings with it. I stumbled into “Photos” and found tons of photos already in that Google+ account. I had no idea how that happened and really did not care; they did not need to be there so I deleted them. Now I go to this blog and notice what you no doubt noticed as soon as you landed on this page. NO PICCIES!!!!  I do a little research only to discover all those piccies we post, at least on Blogger, go to some Picasaweb thingy I never signed up for. When I deleted them in Google+ they all went away out of that Picasa thing and automatically deleted them for this blog. Yep! The piccies I posted for five and a half years, gone. And so I am, basically. I have all of those photos in my iPhoto, but I am not reconstructing them here. So, since I really had been leaning toward just starting a new blog and doing the odd cake, card and such post here ~ that is precisely what I have done.

   I will continue to follow those blogs I enjoy so much through Honeycomb Cottage. And I might post an odd card, recipe or family event here, but my focus will be the new blog, just as my focus would have been about Jesus and my walk with God here had I maintained this as my only blog.

Please visit me at Living life loving, God.

Be blessed, 

Teresa

Exalting Christ, Award!

Kim, this award sums up the whole of how I want to be remembered when my days this side of Glory are done. A verse that is so dear to my heart and one that I want used in reference to my life here on earth is, John 17:4.


I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. NKJV

So, to be given this award means so much to me. Thank you! Big {{{HUG}}}.

Adding beauty onto gratefulness, you have given me a wonderful place to go and visit. The women that created this Exalting Christ Blog Award at Women to Women: Sharing Jesus, have made a true place of beauty on the web and in blogosphere. I have added them to my sidebar as I will be visiting them regularly.

Here are the Rules of this award:

1. Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along
2. Name five people (more or less is fine!) to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.
3. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.
4. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs. The badge can be obtained on the WTW site.

Drum roll... with no further ado I list my choices.


1. Angie at Sonflower. This blog began as journal of devotions. In my opinion, Angie writes with warmth, compassion, openness and most of all the love of Jesus. She exalts Him in everything she writes.

2. Barbara at Ramblings From an English Garden.
Revelation 12:11 tells us that in defeating our enemy Jesus gave us His blood, and we exalt Jesus through our testimony*. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. NLT
*testimony: Proof, evidence, witness, proclamation of personal experience. The tabernacle, which evidences God's presence, is a testimony to the covenant between Him and His people. Strong's #3142

I realize that Barbara has been given this award previously. The task at hand here is to name five blogs I believe exalt Jesus Christ. I simply can not compile such a list without mentioning Barbara's blog. Please visit her blog and while you will enjoy her beautiful photo's and blog entries, I strongly recommend you go to her Subject Archive list, scroll down to "My Story" and begin reading her amazing testimony. There are 23 entries. Don't cheat yourself, take the time and go to the oldest entry #1 Introduction, and read up until you have finished. This took me several visits to her blog, but she exalts Jesus so beautifully in these candid posts about her life~ a life given to the leading of the Holy Spirit and of making Jesus Lord... not just Savior only. I am so encouraged when I read these that I have gone back and reviewed them from time to time. Barbara's blog in its entirety does also exalt, Jesus Christ.

3. Denise at Free to be Me, has a wonderful way of taking God's Word and sharing it with the blog world in such a personal and practical way. She writes economically and always has an encouraging word.

4. Melanie at The Fruits of the Spirit, though very deep an intellectual, has a passion that comes across very personal and edifying. Her love for and exaltation of Jesus Christ is not only woven through her enjoyable blog, it is who she is and represents her blog in its entirety. One my favorite entries is just here. Incidentally, the fruit of the Spirit is the subject matter the Lord laid on my heart to write a Bible study on that I mentioned earlier. So... I like her blog name, too. :-)

5. Pam at Without Fear. Pam, about herself says in her "Profile", "Daily I'm discovering the truth that "only perfect love casts out fear." Amen Pam! Faith and fear are diametrically opposed, light and dark. Light dispels darkness and her blog exalts Jesus Christ in such a way that encourages us to not fear, but to have faith in Him... whereby which we can receive His love and not live in fear. Oh, I have never posted the evilness of fear that I have had victory over. I should as it is an enormous part of my testimony ~ the crux of it actually. Keep posting Pam, we all need to hear of God's love for us through the completed work of the cross in Christ Jesus! Just a side note here, Pam enjoys reading, making cards, healthy eating and loves her family. Kindred spirits we are, I should imagine. Sisters in Christ definitely.

Blogs are listed in alphabetical order of the author's name as I would not want to try to list them subjectively. How could you?

A Cupcake of Coffee.

Recently, I began posting with a network of women that post every Saturday, under the heading of Then Sings My Soul Saturday. I love being a part of this. I really enjoy reading what the other women have to say, and I love having a place to reflect and report a song that ministered to me that week. This weekend a few things got in the way and I did not post mine. I felt badly enough about it that I almost did that entry today instead of this. But, I am going to save it for next, Saturday. I mention that here because some of the what I will say here will in part be repeated to a degree next, Saturday.

This past week, a dear blogging friend of mine sent me some of the Mrs. Meyer's dryer sheets, and Lavender Window Cleaner she had mentioned on her blog. By the way, until August 24th, all orders over $50 will have no shipping charges if you are interested in trying any of her products. I am very happy with them, and plan to use some of these products regularly. It has been a long time since I really enjoyed cleaning my home.

I began blogging because of this blogging lady. Kim, has an enjoyable web site and personal blog. She also has a blog for her cards. She is an amazing stamper. Her cards have been published in national stamping magazines. I really enjoy just looking at them. Well, in that package of Mrs. Meyer's products, she sent me two of her handmade cards. One card was sent to me, for me. The other card was left blank to use as I wanted. The card sent to me had the sentiment "Friends" on it. This was the first card she made using a new toy she bought. The other card was the first card she stamped after a short time off from stamping. She asked me to choose a stamp set and that would get her started. I love the set "Sweet Herbs" and she had made a beautiful card with it some time before.

When I received those two cards, I knew immediately I would frame them. She is a dear lady and friend and those cards mean something to me. I have changed over the years. I no longer decorate my house to "look" good, I fill it with those things that I have sentimental attachment to, things I love, things that make a house, my home. One of my spare bedrooms is what my family refers to as, The Pink Room. And it is. There are pink candles, a pink quilt, a Victorian chair with tapestry cover that has pink roses that belonged to my dear neighbor Joyce, the footstool that was my mother's that I recovered in pink floral tapestry. You get the idea. There are several other things in that room that are so special to me. One of those things is a my parents first bedroom suit. It is now 51 years old. Another precious thing in that room is a the Morse sewing machine that has been around since before my time, was my mother's, and I learned to sew on it. The machine is in it's original cabinet and the accessories box is still on the door. On top of that cabinet is pink potpourri that rests in a lead crystal bowl. That was one of the two pieces of crystal I gave my mother when she retired from 33 years of working for the federal government. And now... that bowl is joined by two precious framed cards.

Kim's blog is called, Coffee in the Morning, and it used to be, Coffee and a Muffin. While framing those cards, I got to thinking about "Coffee"... go figure. That was when I came up with the idea to experiment a little with coffee and cake. The result was some Coffee and Cream cupcakes. A Cupcake of Coffee, really. :~) I will not attempt false humility here, they taste GREAT! I am very happy with them and so are those that have taste tested them for me. Since these Cupcakes of Coffee were inspired by Kim, when we are able to get together in Texas, hopefully sometime soon, I will make a batch for her and her family, and whisk (no pun intended) them down to her.

Pull up chair and have a Cupcake of Coffee with me!

Blogger Award Nomination

I am really touched. Mary, has nominated me for this Blog Award. I am also pretty excited as this is my first award. Thank you, Mary. I will be passing this award on to seven others, and Mary would have been on that list had she not been the one to nominate me.

I like these awards that blogger's give and receive, because they bless the giver and bless and encourage the receiver. When I was younger, can't remember exactly... 6th~7th grader maybe, I discovered this Bible verse.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 3:27

As I would revisit that verse through the years, I gleaned more from it and realized that what I originally learned from it was just the beginning. This verse has to do with treating others fairly and helping those in need as well. This verse is tucked in a passage of scripture that is full of just good wisdom to live by. What is relevant here though, is what God laid on my heart the first time I read it. For me the verse very simply meant not to keep anything good that I had to give, from someone that could use it. In my family, immediate and extended, being verbally encouraging, giving affirmation, or anything else that hinted of positive emotion was just not done. It wasn't that I did not have those feelings of wanting to express a kind word or display gratitude, it just was not the way it was done. Laughter was seldom, forget hugs, and appearances were important. This verse did not "change" me, it simply gave me the courage to be who I was in this area. I saw things in such a positive manner (I was often called The Dreamer, and things like "Will she ever get her head out of the clouds?" were spoken about me), and I always had it in me to want to show gratitude and tell people when I liked things they said or did. So... since I had given God's Word power in my life by that time, I began to put feet on my feelings, and step out in faith over this one little verse. I found it incredibly freeing and fun to encourage people and tell them when I saw something I thought was good, or nice, or just interesting that they did. I began sending cards and notes to people that were in the church bulletin. You know, hope you are feeling better~ congratulations on your baptism~graduation~engagement~marriage~baby, sorry for your loss~just thinking of you, just simple cards with notes. Encouragement. As a young adult some years later, someone at church suggested I start a ministry revolving around being an encouragement. We do need to encourage on another. David was so distressed and isolated from goodness, and had no one around to encourage him that he had to encourage himself in the, Lord. We can do that, God is a personal and One on one God, He seeks out a personal relationship with us, but how sad that we would never have the encouragement from others. People can be such an encouragement to each other, with just a little act of kindness. That is what these Awards are. Little acts of kindness, and I love seeing others get them, I am blessed and encouraged to now have received one... and I am excited to pass it on.

Having said all of that, I want to be sure to say right here, if I can find a Great Servant award anywhere, I am going to get it to Pam, immediately. She has been such a help to me since I moved to, Oklahoma. Thank you, Pam!

Once an award is received, the rules are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Before I list them, I will say that I realize some of you have received this Award. I just wanted to give it to you as well.

My nominees, in alphabetic order because they are equally lovely, are:

• Beehive Cottage~Mary Jane: Retro and Pink!!!
• Coffee and Chocolate~Deborah: For her devotion to her Savior, Jesus.
• For the Love of Cottage~LeAnn: Creativity, beauty and cottage style. Her love for God, and the Grace He has given her.
• Friendship Tea~Linda: Family, friends, tea and Britain.
• In the Garden with Miss Jean~Jean: Family, Pink, the antics and life of her adorable Maggie, Scottish Terriers, and I have to nominate a friend that loves Calendar Girls and Fried Green Tomatoes.
• Ramblings From an English Garden~Barbara: For sharing her beautiful country, England with the world, and more because of her faith in, her love and passion for, and worship of God, her Father, Jesus, her Savior and the Holy Spirit, her teacher and guide.
• Shropshire Girl~Sandra: The simplicity and beauty of living a good life.

I could have passed this on to so many more, but there is my list. I hope you will visit each one. I think you will like the time you spend on each little corner of the web world that these ladies call their own.

Be abundantly blessed!

World's oldest blogger dies at 108 years old.

I won't say much here other than to say how amazing... this 108 year old woman had blogging friends from all over the world, and being moved to a nursing home did not stop her from blogging. Her last post was just shortly before she passed away. Her name was, Olive Riley. You can take a look here, and here, to read about her and her blog. Her blog shared her observations of life in the twentieth century.

Wonder if those of us that love blogging will still be at it at, 108.

Blessings,

So simple, so true.

Yesterday, I said I would give you an overview on what has been happening here since we arrived. I don't know how many times today I have headed in this direction and something else took precedence. I apologize. I am certain tomorrow I will get an "all caught up" post up.

In the meantime, I stumbled on a quote, in a blog I have visited in the past. I used to visit One Woman's Cottage Life, when we were beginning our redoing of the Chesterton, house. I found her blog very informational and fun. This quote can be appreciated by all, but for those downsizing, spring/fall cleaning, remodeling, or relocating... it is precious and I just had to touch base with all of you today, so I thought I would offer this quote to you. It struck me as so true.

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. ~William Morris

And of course, beauty means different things to everyone.

Have a beautiful day,

Meet, Miss Jean.

I am adding another blog to my sidebar this morning. I was so excited when I discovered her through Honest to Ya~Ya. I'd like you to meet Miss Jean, at In The Garden with Miss Jean. Miss Jean, has an adorable Scottish Terrier puppy named, Maggie. I was hooked immediately. But, the list goes on. She lists as favorite movies Calendar Girls and Fried Green Tomatoes. I thought that was interesting, as I don't come across that any more often than I do someone blogging about their Scottie. She also listed a few more of my favorites like Bourne Series, French Kiss, Hope Floats and While You Were Sleeping. She likes gardening, bees and the color pink. Shes' in! I am looking forward to following her garden, grandchildren, Maggie and her beautiful quilting. Pop over and see her, it's a lovely blog.

Be blessed!

Across the Pond

This morning I made a great little discovery. Well, actually my husband made it sometime last night after I had gone to bed and emailed me the link. Nevertheless, it is a great find. :-) Thanks, Jon! I will say right up front, I typically scan through an entire blog before I set it as a link in my "Blogs I Read" sidebar. I did not do that with this one. I highly doubt there is anything questionable or objectionable, or particularly controversial on this blog. The reason I have set it in my side bar is the basic purpose and content the writer pens. Stephanie Fosnight, has "...left her job as a Pioneer Press reporter in September to spend a year volunteering in Nottingham, England." For those of you that know me, you know she is living a life I ponder often. So, I will be following her blog over these next months. You may visit or follow her journey at, Across the Pond.

Follow your dreams!

Handbag Hoot!

Yesterday, Sarah over at BritGal, began an "Handbag of the Day" feature on her blog. She faced one of those little chores we often avoid and wish we hadn't, she tidied her handbag wardrobe and cleaned each one out. Realizing she had 41 bags and being 41 years young, she felt there was some significance there. So, for the next 41 days she will be featuring one bag a day, giving each a proper name and the story behind each treasured possession. I have seen some really wonderful and fun things on blogs, but this is so creative and I know will be so much fun that I have called this post, Handbag Hoot! I won't miss one of these I can assure you. You can click here to go to the very beginning of this journey. Sarah has already posted her first bag, Fleur, so you might want to get over there and get started.

Have a hoot!

Blogs I Read, additions.

I have added a few new names to the "Blogs I read" side bar. You may want to take a minute and check them out. Bookfan-Mary, is a wonderful book review blog. BritGal in the USA, Sarah, is a blog written by a delightful woman that hails from Manchester, England, and is learning the ways of yankies, as she has relocated in the heart of, Oklahoma. And then of course, there is Cozy Chicks. This blog is penned by seven murder mystery authors, Diana Killian, Karen MacInerney, Michele Scott, Maggie Sefton, JB Stanley, Heather Webber, and my latest wonderful cozy find, Kate Collins. They share things from their daily lives, their latest books and much more. You will also find a link to their web site. It was in exploring this web site that I found, The Wine Lover's Mystery Series. Michele Scott, writes this series as well as one about horses. Oh my, flowers, wine and horses. Eureka!! When I wrap up the Flower Shop books, I am thinking it is on to vino.

Be well!

Pumpkin Scones and Tuna Bake

   A while back I was looking for a pumpkin scone recipe and came across a blog that focuses on coffee, tea and chocolate. The link is in my side bar, and is called, Coffee, Tea and Chocolate. The link for a pumpkin scone recipe was on the opening page, easy enough. This is the page for that recipe. I have not completely familiarized myself with the sight as I normally would before putting a link for in on mine, but there are great recipes and ideas for having teas, so I did. This is the recipe as it appears on that page.

Pumpkin Scones 
2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pumpkin (if canned, be sure there are no spices or sugar added)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix together flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Cut butter into small pieces and cut into flour. Mixture should look like coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl mix together the pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together (don't overmix). Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead gently 3-4 times, and then shape/pat dough into a circle about 1 1/2 inches thick. Slice in half, and then cut each half into 3 equal pie-shaped wedges. Brush with egg glaze (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp milk), and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar. Bake on a cookie sheet for @ 375° for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 6 scones.

Optional: Add white chocolate chips and/or chopped pecans.

Pumpkin Spice Butter
1/4 cup (half a stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice

Combine all and mix till creamy.

   I added white chocolate chips and chopped pecans to the scones. Perfect! I know the recipe says to cut into sixths, but that was a far bigger scone than we needed. I cut mine in eigth's and they were ... Perfect! I did not however, make the Pumpkin Spice Butter. Jon is not crazy about putting things on scones, if fact butter is about as far as he goes with toast, English muffins, or bagels even. Although, he has been seen on very rare occasion, spreading a little strawberry cream cheese on a bagel. If he wasn't going to eat it, guess who would. I would. So as delicious as I am sure it is, I passed. That butter would be a good excuse to make these scones again and have someone over. Hummm... or just take a couple of batches to Joy Circle at church. Those women would help me eat that yummy spread.

Scone photos missing due to Picasa incident mentioned in my Missing Photos section above.

   This dough is really easy to work with. Make sure your buttermilk and butter are as c old as possible. Putting them in the freezer for ten minutes with your bowl and utensil is a good idea. Use a cold bowl. I used a cold pastry blender to mix the dry ingredients and butter. Handle the dough as little as possible.

   You can roll and cut these however you like. You could probably make them drop scones if you wanted. I like a disc for scones. You can see there are eight instead of six.

   The recipe does not say, but I use parchment paper for most baking. One of these days I am going to get a Silpat.

   That scone recipe got printed out and is a part of my permanent recipe file. I am going to try dried cranberries in them next time. And now it is time to put supper together.




Here is what's for supper.

I already had the oven on, I just turned it up 25 degrees, and for supper we had Barbara's Tuna, Broccoli and Pasta Bake. It was as she said, tasty and simple. We have enough leftover that we can have it for lunch tomorrow after church. That works out well since I am really hoping to groom, Baxter. I highly recommend going to Barbara's blog. I have her permanently on my side bar as a link, but I want to mention it here. She has many wonderful things for you to look at and read. If you are enjoy reading about how the Lord can work in someone's life, read the section of her blog called, My Story. Being a blog, it goes in descending order chronologically. Start with the first one and work your way to the present. You will be glad you took the time to read these.

Tuna, Broccoli and Pasta Bake

Preheat oven to 400° I sprayed my 12 X 9 casserole with Olive Oil Pam non-stick spray. Just wanted to mention, my daughter Tara, gave me the Le Creuset casserole crockware a few years ago for Christmas. I love this piece of bakeware!! She got me another one that was green, oval and a little smaller. Amazing bakeware!

8 ounces Rotini pasta, I really like Barilla pasta.
3- 5 ounce cans tuna, I use solid white albacore tuna.
8 ounces broccoli florets, I used half of a 16 oz bag of frozen -it’s winter
2 ounces butter
1/4 cup flour
2-1/2 cups milk
8 ounces cheese, I used shredded mild and sharp cheddar.

• Cook pasta in boiling water for 5 minutes then add bite size broccoli and allow to return to boil. Cook 4-5 minutes until pasta is just tender. Drain well.
• While in colander, dump cans of tuna over pasta and broccoli. Once drained, flake tuna and place inside casserole.
• Arrange pasta and broccoli over tuna.
• *Make cheese sauce and pour over all.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 25 minutes.

*Make cheese sauce by placing butter, milk, flour and half of the cheese (4 ounces) in sauce pan. Gently bring to a rolling boil. Whisk for a couple of minutes until thickening begins.

I added nothing to this. No salt, pepper, hot sauce, nodda. It was really good. Since the oven was already hot, I stuck a French baguette in while the casserole cooled. Bread warm and crusty, casserole cooled down and set a bit.... supper. Thanks, Barbara. :-)

Update:
A little update on the book in the Hannah Swensen murder series, Carrot Cake Murder that is to be released February 26th.

I was going to check on the county library since I was 4 on a list of 4 of requests for the book when it comes in, at my local town library. At the county library, there are ten requests. Ugh. And now, I am 4 on a list of 5 at my town library. Guess I will just stay put. They will probably get more than one copy, so it should not be too bad. Besides, it is not like I don't have enough reading to do with homework.

I haven't gotten any recommendations for a good murder mystery author or series so, I think I will give M.C. Beaton's, Agatha Raisin series a go.

Good to be back!

Back to blogging....

I thought I might share with you the events of the last several months, but attempt after attempt has been foiled. So, in the interest in just getting back on here, I am going to post a few pictures and short vignettes, to give a condensed and limited overview of the last few months. At that point I can get back on here and do some blogging! I am excited about that. This blog is going to finally be used for what I had originally intended it to be for, to share those things that are going on in my life, that are on my heart, and important to me, with friends. Speaking of which, I have the privilege of starting this comeback entry with some really wonderful news. For those of you that followed my blog, you will remember my friend, Kim. For those of you that are new here, I am excited to introduce you to her.
This is, Kim. Earlier last year, Kim took a short sabbatical from blogging. But, she is back!! You can visit her anytime you like. Her blogging is rich in warmth, loaded with practical living advice and tips, and now she is on an exciting journey, a quest taking her to an exploration of her, Christian faith. So, as she would say, grab a muffin and a cup of coffee and spend some time with her. You will be glad you did, and I think you will visit regularly. Welcome back, Kim!!!


Some changes.

One thing I suppose I'd like to show you, is something that is just a little new for me. You may recognize this photo from an earlier "profile". I am posting it here to just say that my hair has looked this way for years.


Not too long after the football season started this year, my husband bought me this wonderful sweatshirt. So, this photo is a twofer. I get to show off my favorite NFL team, and of course the real purpose here is to show you a new hair style that I had cut at the onset of autumn. It was fun, and I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed it so much that I did this.....

I am completely enjoying this new do, and don't plan to change much about it for quite some time!

I started this little section off mentioning the earlier "profile" photo. I guess I could give a little explanation about the current "profile" photo. When I started to put together a "comeback" blog entry, I got on my computer one Saturday, morning and as soon as the coffee was ready, I got right on it. My husband thought it might be cute to take a picture of me so that I could use a realistic "blogger" photo. I was yet in my nightgown, merely slipping on an old grey sweatshirt, and yes, I had done the ritualistic teeth brushing, face washing and barely skimming a brush through my hair, but that was it. That photo is as real as it gets, and I thought him nuts to suggest it be a "profile" photo. But, when I dropped the insecurity that vanity begets, I realized he was right. It is a perfect profile photo for a blogger. It is real, and so will this blog be. I hope you enjoy visiting here.

This blog will be so very real. Why? Well, why bother if it is not. Also, the new hairstyle is not the only change in my life. After quite a wait, I am back in school. This time I will be completing my course work and receive my degree. I am noticing that I am so consumed, happily and gratefully consumed, with my course work that my devotions and time with God, have been too brief. Occasionally, I skip a day entirely. Using this blog as a way to share those nuggets of life producing wonder that I find while spending time with God, will do two things. First, it will keep me on track to spend that time daily with the, Lord. Second, it will keep me blogging. Will I be exclusively posting my faith journey. No, of course not. But, in doing some of that I will stay on track. I love twofers!

Also, the style of my home is rather a cottage layout. I have begun to update it, room by room and transform it into a cottage home. I will be posting photos of my progress. Next to sharing ones heart and faith, it doesn't get much more real than being invited into someone's home. Consider yourself invited. I only wish we could visit, and have tea and biscuits together.

A little catch up on my daughters.

Last October, my oldest daughter Angela, was on the Today Show. If you are interested in a link to watch that interview, I will send it to you. I am sure you understand why I would not post that publically, and this is not a private blog. Zumba, is rapidly growing in popularity, and extremely effective in meeting it's goal of helping anyone who wants to achieve better health, do so. The philosophy behind Zumba, is that people don't like to exercise, but they love to have fun and dance. We enjoy a good party. The way the movements are designed, anyone at any level of health can join in and begin. The result of people enjoying what they are doing is that they will continue doing it. Having that activity be proven for results in health and appearance is, people keep doing it and become healthier. My daughter struggled with eating and hated exercise. Sound familiar? She attended one Zumba class. When she got there she was heavier than she had ever been, and had no energy. Six months later... well you will see the results below. She did not do anything in the way of dieting. Zumba, gave her such energy and a feeling of accomplishment within herself, that modifying her food intake came naturally. Zumba used my daughter as their poster child last year. The Today Show, did the segment on her journey with, Zumba. Oh, so you know, this daughter is an R.N., and has been for several years. She endorses Zumba to the degree that she is now a certified instructor. Personally, I think she is considering opening a Zumba, studio. Without further adieu:
Before.... and after.





































This is my daughter with the Zumba, owner, Beto.



The Dayton Daily News, featured her in their newspaper. Angela, is actually very quiet and has never liked the lime light. I'm not sure she has absolutely loved all of the spotlight that has been on her, but she knows Zumba, works, and she has a passion about feeling good and helping others to do the same. She feels great! She looks amazing~ and I am so happy for her. Oh yeah... I'm very proud of her.







Next:

Last summer, and since my last post, my daughter Melissa, and her two daughter's, drove out from Oklahoma, to visit. We had a really nice time. She always has so much she wants to go and do and see. And, I am pleased to say, she actually wants me to go with her. The next time she visits, I have my own little list of go and do and sees, to do with her. :-) Okay, maybe we will alternate, her thing... my thing, her thing... then my thing. Fair is fair, and she is the one that drives all that way, so her thing can be first. :-)

This is my daughter, with her two daughters.


When making and, or eating Strawberry Shortcake, some like Sponge Cake, some Angel Food cake, some Pound cake. BUT... it is called..... Strawberry Shortcake. And, this is one of the few times that I am a traditionalist. The traditional Strawberry Shortcake had strawberries, whipped cream and, Shortcake. Since it is early summer when this delicacy is best made, I do vary from the traditional whipped cream, and buy really good Breyer’s Natural Vanilla ice cream. I rarely, maybe twice a year, actually buy ice cream, but this is one of those times. But, did I mention the Shortcake is non-negotiable?

Sponge Cake - They are similar to angel cakes in that they use many eggs and no shortening or leavening. Sponge cakes use the whole eggs, while angel cakes use only the whites. THINK TWINKIE.

Angel Food Cake – Angel Food Cake is also known as foam-style cake. They are made with a large quantity of egg whites and no shortening or leavening. Angel Food or "angel cake" is thought to be a takeoff of the cornstarch cake and the sponge cake. I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of this cake. Truth be told, well............... yuk.

Pound Cake - This cake gets its name from the amounts of the ingredients used in the original recipe. One pound of each; butter, sugar, eggs and flour. Through the course of time, baking powder has been added to some recipes, as have flavorings such as lemon and almond,etc. This one is not a yuk, it is a huge.... YUM!!! Alas, it is not, Shortcake, and I don’t use it as if it were.

There is something called, Cottage Pudding. I have run across recipes for it in the last couple of years. It is suppose to be more of a cake than pudding, and is apparently used as the base cake for, Stawberry Shortcake dessert. I do plan to try one of these recipes, but......... you got it, I love my Shortcake with that strawberry flavor, texture and syrup... so.........

Shortcake - Short doughs bake up rich and crumbly. Think a sweet biscuit. Properly made, they are this way for three reasons. First, they have a high ratio of fat to flour. As always, I use only real butter, and for shortcakes I use unsalted. I also use whole milk. Second reason, they are made with low-protein flour that contains no, and produces little gluten. I only use cake flour. And third, Shortcake is to be tender and flaky much like pie crust, so handle it like pie crust... a little as possible. Bread gets its soft pillowy texture from kneading; That is not what you want here. Then, bake high and fast! 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes max.

Since they were here when strawberries were good, my daughter wanted homemade Strawberry Shortcake. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to teach her older daughter the ways of Shortcake. I talked to her about the different styles of cakes that you just read about as she made the the shortcakes. I had her use the Jiffy mix. It makes great shortcakes that are impossible to foil, and I knew the first time making them she would enjoy that. Besides, her mom keeps it on hand for pancakes. She could make these again for her daddy, when she got home.

Seven and one half years old, and putting the families dessert together. Strawberries are already sliced and in the refrigerator.




Proud of her tasty finished product. She really did it all by herself. I was busy telling her the Shortcake tales. Next summer we will pull out the cake flour, etc.

I forgot to mention that my daughter brought their Westie, Sassy. Baxter had his 2nd birthday while they were here, so he and Sassy got some really special birthday treats. Yep, we celebrate Baxter's birthday every year, this year was just extra special since his cousin was here. Actually, Westie's and Scotties really are Scottish cousins. :-)



Here are a few more photos of these two cousins. Silly? Maybe, but I love 'em and its my blog.






And now it's time to go home. I love this picture of Melissa, and, Baxter. They have been close since.... well do ya believe in love at first sight??


Aww...

Last, but certainly not least...

As you can imagine, I have an abundance of photos of my daughters, and their families. I limit posting them as this is a blog and not a photographic journal. Blog... a place to put my thoughts and what is important to me. I went to Texas to see my daughter Tara, in November. Once again, my son-in-law.... I really don't like that term. My son-by-love, Marty, has been deployed to, Iraq. He left early November and will be there, bar an R & R, for 15 months. The pictures I will post of this daughter are going to surround that. I see no reason to give explanations or comments. If ever the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words.", is true, it is here. I think these photos speak for themselves.

These are photos taken the day Marty's, unit was deploying.







I know children are to such an amazing degree resilient. I also know that Tara, is a wonderful mother, and these children are being handled, nurtured and reasurred, very well. I am sure however that you would understand why I am sobbing, and why my heart is so desparately broken. Marty is a good father and these children need him. They will survive this as well as any will because of how Marty, and Tara. have handled all of this. But, I just want that family in tact and back to normal Those children need him, so does, Tara.

I took the following photos while in Texas, in, November. Telephone calls are precious right now. I wanted to capture that, and was delighted that Tara, did not seem to mind.








This is one of the last pictures I took while visiting in, Texas. The night before, my grandson asked if we could have apples cut up for a snack, and have a little caramel and chocolate to dip them in. OH YEAH!!! No problem. The next day after school, that is exactly what they had. All three of these kids liked this after school snack.



Friday's in the park.

Summer time in this little town I live in is really wonderful. May, through October, we have an European Market, the dunes of Lake Michigan are closeby, and every Friday night there is a live concert and movie in the park. The concerts begin at 7 pm and each week they offer different performers with different styles of music. As dusk gives way to dark, the movie begins. They are children's movies. The last one I was aware of was, Curious George. I loved that monkey as a kid...... okay, still do. One evening the concert was given by,
Northwest Indiana Pipes and Drums . They are a very good group of bagpipers and drummers. They participate in competitions, and place well. I took pictures of them when they performed at our little park. One of the members that manages their web site spotted me. She asked if I would send her some of the photos. I did, and they actually used them on their web site. I was flattered. I had the pleasure of spending some time with the Pipe Major, Bill Smillie. He is the most delightful man. He comes to a nearby city and gives private bagpipes lessons. I was so taken in with his passion and Scottish accent, I considered taking lessons. Ridiculous... I know.




Oh yah, tis me lad Baxter, ye be seein' in the photo.


End of summer brings Melissa's birthday. In our family, golden birthdays are really special. Melissas', particularly so. For one thing, she is the biggest fan of nostalgia. For another, her golden birthday was especially unique. She was born at 8:29 pm, on 8/29. Every year I call her at 8:29 pm regardless of where she is. Due to a family situation, on year I missed that. She was adult about it, but it she did miss it. Like I said, the nostalgic one. Anyway, she wanted more made of this one than we usually make of the 3oth birthday. So Jon, Baxter and I went to celebrate with her.

Happy Golden Birthday, Sunshine!



After being there several days, we headed home. We stopped to see friends in Shawnee, Kansas. Mary has the best coffee. She buys it online, I think. I need to email her and get that information so I can order some of that coffee. Baxter, especially enjoyed that visit. Mary and her husband have two Scotties. The last time Baxter, saw them there were three. Their Duncan, passed away last year. That was gut wrenching. Angus, and Montgomery, are wonderful playmates though. Montgomery, is the wheaten colored Scottie.

Baxter, Montgomery and Angus.


Baxter, Montgomery and Angus.


Baxter, bringing up the rear.



Angus, Montgomery and Baxter.



Rosemary and Thyme

In the midst of all of the events since my last post, I have discovered... yes another British murder mystery series. This one is the cleanest as far as language and content goes that I have found thus far. Not that the others had anything lewd, graphic or particularly violent in them. I mean after all, Brits do polite and genteel murder... for the most part. They tend to focus on drama of plot and not on dread of horror. Of course one must overlook just a small handful such as, Jack the Ripper and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. :-/ Those of you that indulge as I do in British who dunit's, know what I mean. Those of you that don't might want to take a look into it. :-) And, here is a great place to begin, especially if you also enjoy gardening. I, with great enthusiasm present to you, Rosemary and Thyme. I really, really... really, enjoy this series. I have had to travel to a branch of our county library that is not as close to my home as some of the others, and is not in a direction I tend to travel in to see the entire series. It has been worth it! And, I would do it again but, since I now own the complete collection, I guess that will not be necessary. ;-)

Great finds.

While in an embroidery shop here in town this past summer, I found some wonderful patterns. All but one was at least 20 years old. The newest one was one I was actually considering buying, I just did not want to drop $11.95 for a Tote Bag, Backpack, Purse and Cosmetic Bag pattern, no matter how cute or functional they were. The good news is, they were all $1.00 each, including the new one. I have not done anything with this pattern other than buy some fabric for the coat view. Since I found it a little challenging to find anything with Scottish Terrier's on it, I just have to post the pictures of this pattern.



The next two patterns I did not take pictures of the pattern envelopes. Instead, I took pictures of the finish products. The sizes on these patterns was off, but altering was a snap. They were so much fun to make. Melissa, sent me pictures of the little Oklahoma, cowgirls wearing the costumes from the two patterns.



The costumes were such a hit at the older one's school Fall Fair, that she has asked that I make her costume next year. Oh the things a Nana gets to do! :-)




Finally...

And for now last (there is a small separate post below this one), and least, I will post just a few cards that I have done since my last post in, July. There is something I am going to say at the end of these photos about card making, and I guess I said it best to a dear friend of mine on her blog not too long ago.















The dear friend I mentioned earlier is an absolute artist when it comes to rubber stamping and card making. As far as I am concerned, artistically she is the best. However, she was struggling with a desire to lay it down, at least for the time being. She needed to give herself permission to do so, and I did not want to be a pressure point in her life. So, I put the following italicized portion below on her blog. I believe it expresses where I am at with card making as well. I do enjoy it, but for now, I have put it down and will not pick it back up until if and when it feels right. And, although purchasing ready made cards was a little difficult at first, I am so enjoying the freedom it offers me. I am a card sender. I have been since I was a girl. To make each and every one is just too much right now.

I really enjoy stamping and as you know, much of my inspiration came from you. Your cards are beautiful and I have enjoyed them. I've searched SCS for cards done by you, not because I thought you "should" be stamping, but to see how you were doing. I missed you. Your cards often, nearly always reflected where you were at whether it be your state of being, or state of doing. Over the last few months I have made cards that I enjoyed making, but they seemed to demand time I truly wanted to devote elsewhere. Will I stop making cards... not forever. Have I put my tools, ink and pencils away for a season? Yep! I realized that although the card making was good therapy for me, it had become a self indulgent activity that interfered with life. Truth be known, it was my way to ignore life. I want a full life and anything that threatens to deny me that... is history. So, I have for now put the card making down. I will do it as it seems and feels appropriate, no more... no less. If you feel like it is time to put it down, you Go Girl!

I want to thank those of you that have gently, and some that have a little more firmly asked me to get back to blogging. It is good to be back!

Be blessed!
Teresa