~ Suzy's bloomers ~

100 Days of holiday cookies

2009-11-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

10 minute pumpkin....

2009-11-09T12:29:00.001-05:00

I found this pumpkin craft somewhere on the internet and I thought it was a clever idea for only ten minutes of my time.

I bought 20 inches of pumpkin material (45 inches wide) and cut it on the fold

giving me two pieces. (One for you and one for a friend).

Grab a roll of toilet paper and sit it in the center of one piece of fabric.

Tuck the fabric into the center hole of the roll (no need to glue anything)

cut a piece of brown paper bag about 12 " long and fold accordion style.

Add some raffia, if you've got any, fold in half and push it into the center.

I added a piece of green plaid fabric for leaves.

And there you are!...a instant fall decoration!

Dollar store finds....

2009-11-06T23:20:00.002-05:00

a pumpkin and an old - style honeycomb decoration...

" HARVEST" pumpkins and crows and cornstalks....

two heavy - duty tea towels in fall colors....

~ FALL ~

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.

It's apples and cider.

It's an airborne spider.

It's pumpkins in bins.

It's burrs on dog's chins.

It's wind blowing leaves.

It's chilly red knees.

It's nuts on the ground.

It's a crisp dry sound.

It's green leaves turning

And the smell of them burning.

It's clouds in the sky.

It's fall. That's why...

I love fall."

- Author Unknown

~ Adoring autumn ~

2009-11-03T10:13:00.001-05:00

Here's just a few of the many photos that I've taken recently....

(just click for a larger view)

"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter."- Nova Bair

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly

changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."- Henry Beston, Northern Farm

"When the bold branches Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -Welcome wool sweaters."

- B. Cybrill

Enjoy !

So much color...

2009-10-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

So little time !

**EASY PUMPKIN CAKE**

Take any white cake mix & mix as directed.

Add 1 c. of canned pumpkin

Add 2 Tbsp. of pumpkin pie spice

Mix & cook as directed on the box.

**FROSTING**

Make a cream cheese frosting,

add 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract to the frosting.

Mix & spread.

PUMPKIN COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 box of Spiced Cake Mix

1 15 oz can of Libby's Pumpkin

1 cup (or more:) of chocolate chips

Directions:

With a mixer, beat together the cake mix and pumpkin.

Add the chocolate chips and bake at 350 degrees for 12 min.

Enjoy the Fall...Y'all!

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

2009-10-21T10:18:00.006-05:00

Strange sign...

When was the last time you tried to molest a bear???

For more W.W...click here.

~ True Love ~

2009-10-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

My friend, Joycee, over at "Granny Mountain " posted this touching story. I hope you feel that enduring love...

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?” He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.”
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, that is the kind of love I want in my life.

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been,

will be, and will not be.

Tell someone you love them today.

5 foods that help you sleep:

2009-10-14T23:10:00.001-05:00

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com

Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:

Cherries
Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep.

Bananas
Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.

Toast
Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep. Bring on sleepiness by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep.

Oatmeal
Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal will trigger insulin production, raising blood sugar naturally and making you feel sleepy. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid.

Warm milk
Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.

Have a good night…( yawn )

~ Words for Life's Journey ~

2009-10-12T08:41:00.003-05:00

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you’ll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something backs sometimes.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an
open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug,
or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

This ain't no poodle...

2009-10-11T10:26:00.003-05:00

A 3-year-old Landseer Newfoundland in CASSELTON, N.D.,that measures 3 feet tall at the shoulders and 7 feet long from nose to destructive wagging tail, might be the world's tallest living dog. The owner says her 3-year-old Landseer Newfoundland keeps all four paws on the floor when he drinks from the kitchen faucet in her family's eastern North Dakota farm house.
His name is " Boomer" ( I can see why)
He stares into car windows eye to eye with drivers. A 20-pound bag of dry dog food lasts the 180-pound canine a couple of weeks. Owner Carlyn Weber says her furry black and white dog "comes into the house and his tail is so high everything gets knocked around."
Weber plans to send Boomer's measurements to Guinness World Records. The previous record holder was a nearly 4-foot-tall Great Dane that died this summer.

I'm just sayin'...

2009-10-10T12:44:00.002-05:00

Where is Kayne when you need him???

Please tell me what he's done to prove himself worthy in this short time... to be put in the same class as Mother Theresa ??

I'm just sayin'...

2009-10-08T22:48:00.003-05:00

A couple years ago, Jack bought me a good digital camera, and he always says that it's the best investment he ever made. He knows that there is nothing I like better than to spend a day taking pictures. He'll take a vacation day to go with me so that I can get a snapshot of this:

He will travel miles chasing sunsets for me, never complaining, to get this:

and even backtrack so that I can get that picture I missed...

Next week he's taking me to the mountains just so I can take photos of a couple of these:

uhhmmm...well maybe...about a MILLION of those,

He knows how much I like taking pictures so he does it to make me happy.

I love that about him...and a whole lot more.

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

2009-10-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

Interesting wall graffiti in Maryland...

join us over at W.W. for more pics!

~ THINGS ABOUT FALL THAT MAKE ME SMILE ! ~

2009-10-02T01:34:00.001-05:00

Indian corn and raffia

homemade soup

plump orange pumpkins

wood-burning fireplaces

bonfires and hayrides

piles of raked leaves

homemade crusty bread

tattered scarecrows

baskets of apples

bountiful harvest

geese heading north

crisp fall days

warm spiced cider

squirrels gathering acorns

canning jars of vegetables

warm bulky sweaters

and …

Vivid autumn colors !!

Gee, I got an award !!

2009-09-26T23:41:00.007-05:00

My thanks goes out to my new blogger friend, Beverly, over at "The 3 Clutters"

for giving me the "Over the Top Award ".

What a nice surprise !

Please stop over and check out this W.V.gal's blog...I think you'll like it!

Now it is my job to pass this onto 6 other blogs...so here goes:

Smiling Country Ranch - A country girl with great recipes!

Apron of the Month Club - She's very creative!

Granny Mountain - The bright spot of the Ozark Mountains !

Needled Mom - She's always buzy makin' something beautiful!

I love you all day long - A busy Mom that will tell you how to live simply and save money!

As part of receiving the award there is a fun survey.

After taking it, pass it onto the recipients you choose.

Here are the rules for the Over the Top Award:

1. You Can Only Use One Word in your survey answers!

2. Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!

3. Alert them that you have given them this award!!!

4. Have fun!

Here is my survey::

1. Where is your cell phone? - Car

2. Your hair? - Short

3. Your mother? - Believer

4. Your father? - Past

5. Your favorite food? - Italian

6. Your dream last night? - none!

7. Your favorite drink? - Tea

8. Your dream/goal? - retired

9. What room are you in? - Office

10. Your hobby? - Photography

11. Your fear? - Heights

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? - Healthy

13. Where were you last night? - Home

14. Something that you aren’t? - Prejudice

15. Muffins? - Yummy

16. Wish list item? - SLR

17. Where did you grow up? - Pennsylvania

18. Last thing you did? - Drive

19. What are you wearing? - PJs

20. Your TV? - Off

21. Your pets? - cockatiels

22. Friends? - Faithful

23. Your life? - Busy

24. Your mood? - Good

25. Missing someone? - Son

26. Vehicle? - Ford

27. Something you’re not wearing? - shoes

28. Your favorite store? - BigLots

29. Your favorite color? - Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? - Today

31. Last time you cried? - Yesterday

32. Your best friend? - Many

33. One place that I go to over and over? - Work

34. One person who emails me regularly? - Rosie

35. Favorite place to eat? - Restaurant

So go ahead and get to know each other better !!

~ WORDS FOR LIFE'S JOURNEY ~

2009-09-26T11:49:00.001-05:00

Going to church doesn't make you a christian

anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter is not a nice person.

Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

Eat well; stay fit; die anyway.

No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.

And never under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night !

What happened to Summer?

2009-09-22T00:05:00.000-05:00

With this crazy weather, It seems as though it just got started and as quick as a flash ...it's over!

I kept waiting for the flowerbeds to fill up and it didn't happen. Come to think about it, we only had to cut the grass about 4 or 5 times.
I was driving home from work two evenings in July and the car was so chilly that I had to put the heater on. What's with that???

I demand a re-count...there's an awful lot of 90* days missin' somewhere.

~ SEE IT SUNDAY ~

2009-09-20T10:40:00.000-05:00

This week's theme is :

GREY

Downtown, Pittsburgh,Pa.

This week's challange was an easy one! Stop over at See it Sunday and join in.

~ Attitude ~

2009-09-14T23:09:00.005-05:00

“ The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education,

than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes,

than what other people think, say or do.

It is more important than appearance giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company…a church…a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday

regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past…we cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with You. We are in charge of our attitudes. “

By Charles Swindoll

~ Over the teacup...

2009-09-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

One day a mother was explaining to her young son that you should never tell a lie. She told him that God saw everything and heard everything.

She explained, "Even though your father and I may not know if you are telling a lie God will know."

The young son replied, "But will He tell?"

****************

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement --not even her parent's nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother- of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress! Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress and I'm wearing it, she replied.
Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.”
A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it.
Her mother just smiled and replied, 'Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.'

NOW I ASK YOU - IS THERE A WOMAN OUT THERE, ANYWHERE, WHO WOULDN'T ENJOY THIS STORY?

Hope all of you have a GREAT day....

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

2009-09-02T09:11:00.000-05:00

Ocean City, Maryland
For more W.W....CLICK HERE !

~ See It Sunday ~

2009-08-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

This week's theme is : FACTORY

Domino Sugar in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Visit "See it Sunday "here.

~ Wordless wednesday ~

2009-08-26T10:22:00.000-05:00

Talk about an unsafe combination....!!!

Wordless Wednesday is hosted here every wednesday, of course !

~ Cherry squares ~

2009-08-23T15:42:00.004-05:00

I have absolutely no luck with electric mixers.

Seems like I no sooner buy one, and it goes up in smoke !

Recently I found an old-fashioned egg beater that's heavy duty stainless steel for $1.00.

Yes, that's one dollar.

I used it today to make Cherry squares.

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs , beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
21 ounces cherry pie filling (lemon, pineapple etc. can be used)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 15 x 10 x 1-inch jellyroll pan or a deep cookie sheet.

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Gradually add flour, beating well. Stir in flavorings. Pour the batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.Lightly cut through the batter with a small knife to mark off 18 to 24 squares (your choice).

Spoon about 1 tablespoon pie filling in center of each square.

Bake for 45 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. (the batter will puff up around filling while baking).

Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with powered sugar.

I like to use this shaker from pampered chef. Cut into squares, and remove from pan.

Yields 18 to 24 servings.

My co-workers are always asking when I'm going to bake again. When they see me coming with a container, they start to circle...then they dive in...and within 10 minutes...

nothing is left but the crumbs.

~ Almost Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T05:04:00.001-05:00

( Click on photo to enlarge )

For more W.W. entries....click here !