Dr. Suess

Missy Moo dressed up as a "Fairy Princess". She'll always be a stand-out! And I'm not partial!

Stolen Pumpkins

I took Missy Moo and Buster Boo to a Produce Stand to pick out some pumpkins. They were very excited about their choices and couldn't wait to sit them on the front porch. And so they did!They live in a very small rural community. It never crossed any of our minds that they would be stolen. But they were! The next morning when mom and kids went out to see the pumpkins, they were missing. Stolen! Mom was distraught, and wanted to cry. 

Missy Moo, 4 years old, had a very wise explanation on the stolen pumpkins. In an attempt to comfort her mother, she had this to say about those pumpkin thieves, in her matter of fact voice.

"They thought it was a pumpkin patch, but it was just our house. We will buy some more pumpkins and watch for them, and when they come back to take them, we will tell them it's not a pumpkin patch, it's just our house!"

A good lesson from the oh so young and wise! Take heart!

New pumpkins

prompt #1: Write a post in just 12 lines

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Silence

This picture was taken in my back yard a couple of years ago. I can't think of a better description of silence than the first snow. The first step out into fresh fallen snow is magical. It seems the whole earth is blanketed in silence and awe. As the sun appears, the snow glitters and shimmers from it's reflection. It's so pure. No footsteps, no marks. Just a billion tiny snowflakes heaped upon each other bringing with them.., quiet, stillness, beauty, and peace.

Last year we had a very dry winter. No snow! This summer has been extremely hot and dry. But... there may be some hope on the horizon. Weather forecast calls for cold temps and snow a couple of days this week. I'm praying for a snow-filled winter season. Snow, snow, snow!

Fall is for Apples

This is the best Apple Crisp I have ever made! Simple, too!

Ingredients:

2 tsp. flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp, cinnamon

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup oatmeal

1 cube margarine, softened

1. Peel and core apples

 2. Slice apples

 3. Fill bottom of baking dish with sliced apples

4. Mix together the 2 tsp. flour, sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on apples

 5. Using a fork or pastry blender, mix flour, brown sugar, oatmeal and margarine.

Spread on top of apples

 6. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees and 30 minutes at 350 degrees (1 hour total)

7. Dish up warm and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Delicious!

Apple Crisp is a favorite at our house. There's nothing better than the smell of tart, tangy, sweet red and yellow apples baking in the oven. I love when the juice from the apples bubble up through the crisp. Then you know it's just about done baking. Fresh out of the oven, it's hot and crisp. You can hardly wait for the scoop of vanilla ice cream to smother the top. With each bite, the ice cream melts slowly into the crisp, giving it the best kind of Fall dessert you could possibly have.

Apple Crisp is  a request for birthdays... even over cake! Enjoy!

writing prompt #4: share a favorite Fall recipe

Dance

The grandchildren love to play out in the yard when they come to granny's house. Missy Moo was captured twirling, jumping, dancing.. to the beat of her own drum! Unaware she had a couple of admirers. Wonderful!

 

Super Easy Pumpkin Treats

Not all pumpkins are created equal. Here's a run down of what size and variety of pumpkin is best for what...

Small pumpkins 

Choose Sugar Pie pumpkins and other flavorful varieties for baking. They are small and sweet, with dark orange-colored flesh. They are perfect for pies, soups, muffins, and bread.

A medium-sized (4 pound) sugar pumpkin should yield around 1 1/2 cups of mashed pumpkin. The puree can be used in recipes calling for canned pumpkin.







Field pumpkins

Field pumpkins are larger and stringy inside. They make perfect jack-o-lanterns.


















Jack-be-littles

These miniature pumpkins are small and are perfect for decorating.












Pumpkins for decorating

ornamental pumpkins and gourds



jack-be-littles made into spiders


pumpkin head helmets (Pumpkin Walk)



carved jack-o-lantern





Fall is all about the pumpkin! Whether you bake them, carve them, or decorate with them, pumpkins bring color and pleasure to cool Autumn days. 

One of my favorite things to do with pumpkins is to make treats and other sweets with and for the kids and grandkids. Two of my favorite super easy pumpkin treats will surely get your family in the pumpkin mood!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:  

15 oz. canned pumpkin
box of cake mix (I like spice)
12 oz. bag of chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1.  Pour dry cake mix into large mixing bowl

 2. Add canned pumpkin

3. Mix well

 4. Add chocolate chips

5. Stir into batter with spoon

 6. Lick the beaters! (this recipe does not contain eggs)

7. Drop by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet

8. Cook for 18 - 20 minutes

    Place on cooling rack and let cool

9. Yummm!



















Thanks Missy Moo and Buster Boo for helping grandma make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies!

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. caramel ice cream topping, divided

1 Graham Cracker pie crust

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. pecan pieces, divided

1 cup cold milk

2 pkg. (3.4 oz. ea.) vanilla instant pudding

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed, divided

Directions:

1. Pour 1/4 cup caramel topping into crust; sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts.

2. Beat milk, dry pudding mixes, pumpkin and spices with whisk 2 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 cups whipped topping. Spread into crust.

3. Refrigerate 1 hour. Top with remaining whipped topping, caramel topping and nuts just before serving.

This pie has become a tradition at our house every Thanksgiving. It's easy to make and so delicious!

(Food & Family magazine)

Prompt #4: Pumpkins! Anything with pumpkins!

Healing

The LDS New Era, March 1990, pages 20-23

My husband and I attended the LDS General Conference on Sunday in Salt Lake City. In between the sessions we took in the beauty of Temple Square. The North Visitor's Center has the most beautiful marble statue of Christ. It stands about 20 feet tall and is located in a circular room dedicated to just the statue. The room has a special spirit to it that beckons the visitor to sit, ponder, and reflect on Christ, His ministry, and Atonement. I have learned throughout my life that Christ truly does have the healing touch and gives us the strength to endure all things if we put our trust in Him.