More Baking

 

Thumbprints, rolled in pecans and filled with jam,

 Gingerbread cookies shaped like cupcakes (I had to try out a set of cupcake-shaped cookie cutters that I bought) then dipped in white candy coating,

Pecan Tassies, little miniature pecan pies baked in mini muffin pans.

Dedicated to the 20 Children Lost

 I don't know it wrote this but I had to share it:

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT....

This Is Super Yummy!

If you are looking for a quick bread to make for the holidays, something that people will rave about and beg you for the recipe, then this is it! Cranberry Sweet Potato Bread.

CRANBERRY SWEET POTATO BREAD

Makes 12 -16 slices
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, canned or fresh
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chopped cranberries (fresh or dried)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coat a 9-inch-by-5-inch-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, sweet potatoes and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda.

Make a well in the center. Pour yam mixture into well.

Mix just until moistened.

Stir in cranberries.

Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

My Baking Angel

 

This is my baking angel that I received as a hostess gift at my Christmas open house.. She has been keeping a watchful eye over my kitchen while inspiring me to create Christmas goodies.

Hand piped butter cookies with a cherry center,

Shortbread stockings and gingerbread cupcake cookies,

M & M candy bark (chocolate candy coating with M & Ms sprinkled over the top), Oreo bark (YUMMY!!! I used white candy coating or almond bark in place of the white chocolate chips, then drizzled melted white coating over the top of the finished bark),

and last BUT not least, Doggie Paw print Pumpkin Cookies!

  More goodies to come!

Devoted Kids

My hubby emailed me this photo that he took of me a few nights ago. There I am sound asleep, on the couch with my 'kids'. Bubba has the blue sweater on, Mandy has her leg across my legs and Princess looks like she is sliding down a hill! They really look like they are devoted to their 'mom. Ha! Yeah, right! Only when they're asleep!

 

Reassessing My Diet and Health

Dear Readers,
  I am 57 years old and in good health. I feel great, have more energy than most people I know  and don't take any medications to stay healthy. I take supplements only if I know that I don't or can't get them through proper eating (which I am only only fair in doing so, especially during the holiday season). The thing of the matter is...I want to and plan to stay that way. So when I find out that certain foods have been been recommended to avoid or to eat organic in limited quantities, and I hear or read that, time after time again through the years, I start to take heed to the matter.
  So, therefore, when I read the article by Dr. Mercola (a doctor whose advise has proven true too many times to count)  Why I Do Not Recommend Pork - Nearly 70 Percent Contaminated with Dangerous Pathogens. 
I decided to start weaning pork out of my diet. I trust Dr. Mercola's  advice. He has been on Dr. Oz's show countless times, one of Dr. Oz's most popular guests. So much that I have learned on Dr. Mercola's site, has turned up in the news as newly discovered information months after I already learned about it! 
  I have been concerned about my magnesium intake lately and how I can get more of it through the food I eat.  I just read this article  Importance of Magnesium is Far Greater than Previously Imagined. 
  I asked Santa for a treadmill for Christmas since I have a hard time doing my regular walking routine during the winter. With the days shorter, the rain and the cold, I tend to lack motivation to venture outdoors often. A treadmill will take up a good portion of the room where I plan to put it, but my health is more important. I just read this article Stimulate Your Fitness IQ By Walking Backward. I wonder if I can walk backwards on a treadmill? Now that sounds like a challenge! 
  My kitchen is calling me-time to make more Christmas Goodies! 
  Bye for now!

A Christmas Prayer

This is a Christmas prayer, written by Max Lucado, after the horrible shooting in Connecticut yesterday.

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children

© 2012 Max Lucado

The Decorating Diva

Gotta love those retro tinsel trees!

Here's my tinsel tree, decorated with cookie cutters and Santa Claus goose eggs!

 One of my kitchen windows, decorated with my mom's collection of blue glassware and snowmen.

Here's my double decker village scene, in the window above my sink.

The Candyland Express train arrives each evening, bring each day to a sweet ending.

 

Surprise Visitor

   You never know who's going to drop in for the holidays! Frosty made a surprise appearance at our Christmas Open House. He's a real laid back sort of guy, snow guy, that is.

 

The Grinch was caught red handed, trying to steal our Christmas tree.

Santa stopped by, with his gang of midget snowmen, and

an entourage of nutcrackers. I always thought Santa hung out with nuts, now, I'm sure of it!
  It was an open house that our guests will be talking about for a long time to come.

The Holiday Season Has Arrived!

The holiday season has definately arrived! It's been go-go-go!

Our church had its annual Lady's Christmas Tea on December 2nd.

Flying Canopies!

 

Good Morning, Dear Readers!

 Boy what an exciting day at our church's food pantry yesterday! We were attacked by flying canopies!

Wind from yesterday's storm swooped down, picked up our 2 canopies and tried to blow them away. The legs of the 2 canopies were taped together with duct tape to hold them together so wind wouldn't blow them away. Alot of good that did! Plus, we had the legs closest to the building weighted down for extra precaution!

 We were so confident that they were secure when the wind started building up, getting stronger by the minute. Seeing that the legs were moving alittle, I told the others that we better take the canopies down immediately. Well, immediately was not fast enough, as you can see by the above pictures! We were by the canopy legs, getting ready to take them down, when that angry wind decided, "Oh no you don't! I'm gonna have those for breakfast!"

We grabbed and held on to those legs for dear life, but that stubborn wind just yanked them right out of our hands, flipped them over and chewed them up, dropping them in a couple of small trees. The wind even knocked over 50 pound crates of potatoes.

 As we surveyed the chewed up frames, the wind, satisfied with its results, scoffed at us and left. Damage was obvious, even duct tape wouldn't be able to fix them. I had always been such a strong supporter of duct tape, believing it could mend and repair just about anything.

 Warren tried his best to straighten bent piece of the frame...

 then John gave it his best...

even everyone together, couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. 

The End.

(Not really!)

Blessing Others

Two days before Thanksgiving, our food ministry (food pantry) gave out bags of groceries and turkeys to the hungry and needy.  

These bags were packed so full that they were overflowing with cans of cranberry sauce, yams, pumpkin, stuffing, green beans, rice and much, much more.

Turkeys were given to families of 4 and more, chickens to families of 2-3 and cornish game hens to single people.

A total of 36 turkeys, about 15 chickens and 10 cornish game hens were given out. 

To me, that day was what Thanksgiving is all about...giving to others and doing it with a humble and thankful heart.
I hope all of you dear readers, had a very blessed Thanksgiving!

 

Smokin' Clouds

 I took this picture as we were driving home from Novato yesterday. It looks like smoke is coming out of the clouds.

I saw this tree in Kaiser Hospital's parking lot, in Santa Rosa, however, the butterfly flew out of my computer into the picture.

Just a flower that I liked at Kaiser, too.

Shoe Paradise

http://www.dsw.com/

 Hello Dear Readers,

I thought I died and went to shoe heaven yesterday! My best friend,Susanne, invited me along, to ride with her to Novato. Delilah, her Powder Puff Chinese Crested, had an appointment at the doggie beauty parlor. 

  After we dropped Delilah off, we went out to breakfast at The Star restaurant (Excellant breakfast!) then went to DSW-Designer Shoe Warehouse. Now I had heard about this place, row after row of shoes, 3-4 tiers high, every kind of shoe possible in any color possible. Discounts up to 70% off! I was like a kid in a candy store!

  I tried to be practical, looking for just the colors that I needed such as the red and the blue shoes above.  But my practicalness (I don't think that's a real word), went right out the window when I came across these leopard print and these snake print beauties, both having 70% off tags dangling from them. OMG! I felt it would have been a crime not to get them, it was my duty!  The snake print shoes have 6" heels, while the leopard print ones have 5".

The highlight of the day came when Suzanne spotted these zebra print shoes that matched my purse.

Perfect match, right down to the wine colored heels.

They were not on sale, but at $34.99, it was as if they were.

Then I found a pair of inexpensive running shoes that I needed...what was one more pair of shoes...after all I was saving my hubby so much money with all the discounts on the other shoes!

I feel like I'm walking on cushions with them.

Cruising in Style

Hello Dear Readers,

  I have a brand new form of transportation that's low on gas, in fact it doesn't use and gas at all!  Here is my brand new 7 speed cruiser! Check out my new helmet, too. Pretty nice, huh? You can get yourself one, over at Target.

It's a real Lulu of a bike!

Nice padded seat

Schwinn sure knows how to make a bike for a lady!

Have a blessed day! I'm going out cruising!

Get Out and Vote Today!

  Greetings and blessings to you, dear readers,

  On October 12th, Tampa Bay Newspaper carried a full page ad paid by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from Mr. Graham that reads as follows:

  "The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren, and this great nation is crucial.  As I approach my 94^th birthday, I realize this election could be my last.   I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.  I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6^th and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God."

Please get out and vote today. This may be one of the most important elections in our lives.

Love and Blessings to you!

Hello Again!

Hello, Dear Readers (I like the sound of that!),
   I am back, after doing some research on blogging, on what's right and wrong, what to do and not to do,what to talk about and not talk about, how it should look and not look like, etc., etc., etc. In other words, I have been reading other people's personal opinions on what I should be doing, which has helped me to make my final decision on how I am going to do this blog and what I will be putting on it. Trial-and-Error is how I am going to do it. If it works, great; if not, great, just move on to something different. It's all a learning experience!
   This blog will be the ramblings of an wearer-of-many-hats, in hopes of keeping in better contact with friends and family, sharing recipes, projects, gardening and household tips, photos, and whatever else comes up. It will be interesting, helpful and entertaining most of the time. I welcome comments, good and bad. 
  Love and blessings from me

Spray Paint Queen

  Most women will head for the clothing department in a store. Me? Just direct me to the spray paint department!
  As I stand drooling over all the cool colors and different types of spray paint, my body starts to tremble with excitement, my eyes glaze over and my mind goes into overdrive, thinking about what I can spray paint!
  Furniture, rocks, craft projects, hats, you name it, I have probably spray painted it sometime during my life.
Being the crafty and do-it-yourself person that I am, there is always a project (or 2 or 3) that needs to be painted.
So, therefore, I am always on the look for colors I don't have.

 

This is just part of my collection.

I am especially proud his project that I just finished

yesterday. I spray painted an old contractor's clipboard

pink, then put pink zebra striped duck tape around the sides and around the calculator on top. I spray painted the inside of the lid with chalkboard paint, for a fun touch.

 

Pretty cool, isn't it?

Now I'm off to see what other hat I can put on

for the day! 

Bye for now! 

Meet My Children

  I should add graphic designer to the above list. Maybe 'photo manipulator' would be a better title. 
  Meet my children, the Notorious Minpin Gang: Princess, Bubba and Mandy. (Oh, by the way, they are all on the wagon now).:)
  

Hello World!

  Well, here I go...please bear with me! I have never blogged before, never wanted to blog or even had a remote desire to blog! But then, I never wanted a computer either, back in 1999!
  I am a wearer of many hats! I wear many hats in my role as a housewife, which includes: cook chef (chef sounds better, caterer, cake decorator, baker, candy maker, maid, house cleaner, gardener, recycler, nurse,doctor, vet technician, nutritionist, personal shopper and valet, friend, lover, hat maker, amateur photographer, food pantry manager at our church, decorator, party planner, etc., etc., etc. Oh yes, I forgot to add blogger to that list!
  By the way, I have the hats to wear in each of my roles. The last time I counted my hats, it was well over 100 and still growing!
 

  So, this blog is to share a few of my many life experiences in my role as a wearer of many hats. It's also a way for friends and family to keep up to date of what's going on in my life. But, most of all, it's a way to get back into writing, a love that I had when I was in high school, almost 40 years ago. Oops! I'm giving away my age! Oh well, here I go...