It is a gorgeous Fall day!  I go to my pantry and pull out a can of pumpkin.  It is time to
make my annual pumpkin bread, and I look forward to the aroma of that process,
filling my home.

I pull out my weathered and marked up recipe book, from my kitchen shelf.  I
don't know this lady on a personal basis, but to some I know, she is "Aunt Lorraine". 
What I do know, is that she is one very gifted cook, baker and artist!  Every single
recipe that I have tried from her book, over the years, has been a winner!  The pages
where I find those recipes, are all earmarked.  Thank you Aunt Lorraine, for sharing
your skills with so many.  Thank you to all of those out there, who so kindly take
the time to share your recipes with the world.  Whether it is through lovely,
colorful books, or through pages in a magazine, or on the internet.  What a gift it
is for all of us!

Here it is!  The yearly, delicious recipe from "Aunt Lorraine".  Simple, moist, delicious,
and trustworthy.  It also freezes well, if it ever lasts that long.

Dry ingredients in one bowl.

Wet ingredients in the other bowl.  Then you combine the two, stir until well mixed, but
not overmixed.

Place batter in whatever type pans you wish.  I was given this pretty decorative pan from
Williams and Sonoma, as a gift.  I sprayed it with coconut oil Pam, filled each cavity
3/4 full, and baked.

When cool, I flipped them out on the pan.  What fun to see their individual shapes.
I used my powdered sugar shaker and dusted each little cake with it.

A few months ago, I found a cylinder of four of these tiny, porcelain cupcake pedestals
at The Homegood's Store.  Four for 9.99.  Each little cakes fits perfectly on the plate.
I will use a clear cellophane bag to set each one in, and tie it at the top.  Perfect idea
for a gift.

A few weeks later, I found these four from the same company.  Once again, the four
were 9.99.  The company is Grace Tea Ware.  Every once in a while
I find them at Homegood's Store, or at Marshall's.

I think the design is clever and unique.

I also found this package of tiny ornaments, that I could tie on to the ribbon at
the top of each cellophane bag, using them as small Christmas gifts. 

A pedestal plate, a pumpkin muffin set on the plate, then placed in a cellophane
bag, and tied with a ribbon and ornament.  That is it for today.

Oh, and if you ever find a copy of "Aunt Lorraine's" cookbook, "In My Kitchen",
you might want to purchase it.  It is chocked full of goodies and her amazing
art work.

The leaves are continuing to bring color and beauty here.  I hope they are where you
live too.

Happy Saturday!

 

 

He made it quite clear, that he wanted to put on the boots.

 

 

This puts a whole new perspective on the concept of

 

"walk a mile in my shoes".

 

A worthwhile principal to keep in mind, as we interact with others today, and

 

hopefully, a smile for you as you begin your Thursday.

 

 

 

 

Simple joys in the midst of everyday life.  Me...sitting on the wooden stool watching
the "pie queen" at work, while we carried on a conversation.

She peeled and precisely sliced the apples, then added the ingredients to
make the sauce, and poured it into her already made pie shell.

Already a masterpiece, and it is only in the beginning stages.  Conversation continues,
while she effortlessly continues working.

Next...the already put together crumb mixture, which she carefully pours from a plastic
bag, and pats the crumbs evenly over the entire pie, never missing a beat in our
conversation.  I must admit, this is quite impressive to me, because I am one who must
concentrate when putting together any recipe:).

All ready for the oven.  Well, almost...

She took a clean, white, strip of fabric, walked to the sink and wet it, and then
carefully laid it over the edges of the outside pie shell.  I had never seen anyone do
that and found it so interesting.  She said that her mother always did it with her pies,
and that it works better than aluminum foil.

Apparently, I was not the only one that was intrigued by this process.  I was starting
to see that each step in this pie making, was important.

One more step, after it was removed from the oven, she poured over a glaze, and
then let it sit and absorb.  I could not wait until it was time for me to cut a slice and eat it. 
Must admit, when we did finally get to eat it, we would all have agreed, it was truly
one of THE best apple pies that we have ever tasted!

I want to mention, that she told us the recipe was from her daughter-in-law's collection. 
We are grateful to her for her sharing the recipe, and so appreciative to our hostess for
making it!

Also we felt overwhelming gratitude for the magnificent beauty, that was on every
single mountain road we traveled on, this past weekend.  Fall grandeur on display,
warm, delicious apple pie from the oven, and meaningful conversations with friends,
was certainly a fun way to pass a Saturday in November.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Don't forget about your privilege and duty of
voting today.

Good Morning Dear Blogging Friends!

I've been gone so long.  I was not sure I would come back, but I did miss this mode of
communication.  I missed your visits, your comments, and visiting all of your blogs.

I have moved, and downsized.  I learned that moving is a big job, but it is also a rewarding
job.  Now, there are many less boxes of "stuff" in our home.  Now, we don't have a large,
open attic, where I found it all too easy to store all those things that I was not sure what to
do with. 

I had help in moving.

I've been enjoying all of the beauty of this season, in my part of the country.

I've had the great privilege of attending five "Grandparent Day" happenings, of my local
grandchildren.

I've had fun making final decorating touches to our home.  I am thankful for the berry
bushes that I discovered outside our front door.

I've wiped away tears, and consoled when necessary.

I've watched made up plays and observed imaginations being lived out:)

I've fussed over carefully chosen Halloween costumes.

So you see, I have been quite busy, living a simple, yet somewhat complex everyday.

I am thankful for so many days of lovely weather!  I am grateful for so many things in
daily life.  The older I get, the more they all mean to me. 

Thank you for stopping by!  Wishing you touches of joy today, whatever today looks like
for you.

There are those mornings, even though the sunrise presents beauty in it's best form,
 that one just does not feel like facing the challenges, of another new day.

 Maybe it's quite simply, a bad hair day.......

Or, maybe, there is too much hair to deal with, and it all feels too soft and totally
unmanageable.

Perhaps you feel like the aging process has done you in.  Too many wrinkles and not
near enough moisturizer to help solve your problem:).

 Or, it may just be easier not facing everyone, or anyone.

Perhaps, you do not possess the energy needed to face the day.  You
might feel overcome with a feeling of sluggishness, and cannot get moving....no matter
how hard you try!!!

But, you know what?  People need you!  You are very important!  Your individuality is
what makes you so special!  Never mind that you might not have had the chance to clean your nose before you began your day.  That does not matter.  What does matter, is that you
embrace the unique person that you are, and that you offer that sweet heartwarming smile to
those you come in contact with.  I know that to be true, because on Friday evening, when we walked through the "exotic animal display" behind this sign...

We would have found it quite boring, if every one of the birds and animals there, would have looked
the same.  Celebrate your uniqueness!  It is a special gift from our Creator to you, and to those you meet in life.  We all need each other

Thanks for stopping by!  I wish I could meet everyone of you!

There are many times lately, where the to-do lists, the packing, the decisions, and the too few
hours in the day, cause me to be too focused on one hand, and yet too distracted on the
other hand, to notice the blessings that are all around me. 

Simple blessings.  I want to be aware of them.  I want to appreciate them and to be so thankful
for them.  Most of all, I want to look for them, in the everydayness of life.

~Like the abundance of fresh fruits gracing every roadside stand and produce section
of our county stores.

~Like this pretty chandelier that my husband purchased for me on my 40th birthday, and he
just had transferred for me, from the house where I live now, to the house where I am moving
to.  It's lights add ambience in any room where it is placed, and it always reminds me of how
it helped me to leave the thirties and enter the forties, those many years ago:).

~Like the multitudes of vibrant colored flowers that I see everywhere.  Perfectly created, designed,
and growing, adding huge doses of beauty everywhere I look.

 

~Like having my Mother-in-law visits and the kind, upbeat lady that she is to

all of us.  Here we stopped at one of our favorite country roadside gardens, and

picked up these flowers to brighten up her small apartment.  Five dollar bouquets

make me so happy, and made her happy too.

 

~Like the fact that my granddaughters still enjoy coming and working in my kitchen with me. 
Whether it is making tiny chocolate chip cookies, or...

 

 

~Or painting used jars with glow in the dark paint. and then adding battery operated
votive candles inside.

~Like the healthy looking crops of corn that are growing in every field in our countryside.  I

don't remember seeing the corn crop this abundant for years.  Truthfully, I drive right

past it all so often, without even recognizing the gift it is to everyone.

~Or, like the gathering of a dear group of ladies from our small church, when we raised our
coffee cups in celebration of the last chemo treatment for the beloved friend, in our midst. 

~Like the gorgeous summer evenings that we have had lately!  When the sun begins to set, the
green of every hue, produces scene after scene of indescribable beauty.  I captured this picture
last night, from the back seat of my husband's motorcycle. 

Riding cycle with him on roads like this, offers a time of therapy for me.  A time of clearing my
mind, and readjusting my focus.  I cannot get over the amazing beauty that I see no matter
where I look.

You see, I really don't want to be so consumed with "life", and all that entails, that I miss the simple blessings that are everywhere around me.  At times, one must look more for blessings
than at other times, but, one thing for sure, they are always there, in one form or another.

I discovered this song recently and it was encouraging to me.  I thought maybe you
might like it too.

Thank you for stopping by!  What simple blessing are you thankful for today?

The unique blue tin cans, filled with yellow flowers, graced the picnic tables in the big,
white pavilion. We gathered last evening for the "once a year" summer reunion, from
my dad's side of the family. 

It continues to be a joy to be a part of such a big, special family!  Actually, this is only part of that extended family.  Because of summer schedules, many could not attend.

Family photo taken by my dear sister-in-law.  That was no small undertaking, I might add.

And, for an extra special treat, we had one family share their exceptional vocal talents with us.
They sang, we took it all in, enjoying every minute.  Then, the last two songs, we got to sing along, and that was so meaningful.


"Think of your family today and every day thereafter.  Don't let the busy world of today keep
you from showing how much you love and appreciate your family".     ~The Fresh Quotes

The weather this past weekend provided abundant rains on Saturday and hot, sunny, humid weather
on Sunday.  The end of July at it's finest! 

I do hope you had some of your own memorable moments, as well.

Thank you for stopping by!