Pumpkin Prayer

~I have posted this before, but feel strongly I should post it again..  I think I will make this a yearly post!~

During the month of October, we see lots of scary ghosts, witches, gobblins, and hear scary stories being  told. Why not tell your little ones about our Heavenly Father instead!!

"Pumpkin Prayer"

{cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.

{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.

Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.

{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.

{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the
good food you provide.

{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.

{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen

Prayer by: Liz Curtis Higgs
Photo courtesy of coldteablues13

Scripture & A Snapshot

I am linking up today with Katie Lloyd Photography for "Scripture & A Snapshot."  If  you would like to participate . . . . .

1.  Select a photo

2.  Add a scripture to it

3.  Put the Scripture & A Snapshot button in your post

4.  Visit Katie Lloyd Photography by clicking HERE and add your link to your POST!

Homemade Starbuck's Caramel Apple Spice

My daughter, Goose, just LOVES Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice, but the only thing is, it's only available for a limited time during the fall and winter season.  Now if you have ever been to Bucks, you know that they are not cheap.  We went there the other day and for a small drink, it cost me about $4.50.  SHEESH!  There has GOT to be a way to make these at home.

Well, I was surfing the blogosphere a few weeks ago, when I came across a blog post on "A Law Student's Journey" that stopped me in my tracks.  WHAT IS THIS?  COULD IT BE?  WOO HOO, IT IS!!  I had finally found a recipe for what else.........STARBUCKS CARAMEL APPLE SPICE!  (insert the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus!)  Could you tell I was a happy camper?  :> ) The first thing I did was post the link on Goose's facebook page.  Before I knew it, she had gone out and bought the ingredients!  That's my girl!!!

This morning I went over to help her get the food ready for a party she was supposed to be having today, but due to the snow, it was rescheduled till next Saturday.  We had everything we needed to make a crock-pot of this delicious drink, and I'm sure had we made that much, we would have sat and drank the whole thing!  lol  We made enough for the two of us and enjoyed it along with our breakfast.

To make this DELICIOUS Caramel Apple Spice drink, you will need the following:

**12 oz Apple Cider
**3 pumps Cinnamon Dolce ~ you can buy a HUGE bottle of it at Starbucks for about $6.95 or so
(1 pump = about 2 tbsp, but you can add more or less)
**Whipped cream
**Caramel sauce ~ the kind you buy at the grocery store works great, and it's cheaper too!

Pour your apple cider into a microwave safe mug (if using your microwave) and add your Cinnamon Dolce.  Heat your mug for about 2-3 minutes, depending on your microwave, or you can heat it on the stove top.  After your drink is heated, top with whipped cream and caramel sauce.  Make it look real pretty.  Remember, presentation is EVERYTHING!  lol

Well, there you have it.....a homemade Starbucks drink at a fraction of the cost, and you can enjoy it in the comfort of your very own home, cuddled up on the couch, in your jammies, by a rip-roaring fire!  :> )

ENJOY!

Chicken Chickens

"Hmmmm. . . . what in the world is THAT?"

And that's as far as they got before they turned around and high-tailed it back inside.......and I haven't seen them since! 

CHICKEN!!!!

YES!

WOOO HOOO. . . . .SNOW'S A COMIN! 

We are in a winter storm warning here until 6:00 pm tomorrow evening, with possible accumulations of 4-8 inches, 5-10 in the higher elevations.  Now that's what I'm talkin' about! 

I am so glad that we have a huge wood pile out in the back.  Skippy was outside this afternoon, chopping, sorting, hauling, stacking, and covering.  We went out to Food Lion afterwards and got a few of the snow essentials....milk, cocoa powder, and peanut butter cups!  LOL!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!

LOVE!!!!

Most of you already know how much I LOVE MY WOOD STOVE!  I am such a happy camper when the cold weather comes around.  Not only because I love to see the change of the seasons; like the changing of the leaves, the brisk air, the amazing smells of autumn, or the beautiful snow in the winter as the awesome colors of the sunset dance across the top of the snow, but that I get to REALLY USE my stove!

There is nothing like curling up on the couch with my Bible, a blanket, a hot cup of tea right next to a crackling fire.  Yes, I can hear the wood crackle and sizzle, but I also get to see it as well, thanks to My Skippy Man picking out one with a glass front.   It is a wonderful time that lets me get in some "Laura Ingalls Wilder" time as well.  I love the frontier/pioneer era, and always felt I should have been born back then.  Using my stove gives me a little bit of a time-warp that I gratefully embrace with open arms.

As you can see, I made hamburgers the other night.  I try and use the stove during the cold months to cook on as much as I can.

This morning when I woke up, it was 64* degrees.  But not too long after that, it got dark, started to rain, and then got cold and windy.  I started the stove earlier, but had an awful time getting it to really catch and get hot. Shortly afterwards, Skippy called and said, "If you make a fire, don't use the wood in front of the stove.....it's WET!"  AH HAH!  Now I understand why I was having so much trouble!  lol

After I got it going good and hot, I put the coffee/tea pot on the top.  This really helps in putting the moisture back in the air that the stove takes out.

This is actually good too for when I do the dishes.  It takes hardly any time at all for the water to heat up.  It saves on the electric bill, not having to heat the water.   For this Frugal Females, that's a WIN-WIN situation!! 

PLUS, there is also an added bonus:  I have hot water for coffee/tea/hot chocolate at the ready......ALL DAY LONG!

I am using my special DISNEY PRINCESS mug my sister, Noony gave me a few years ago.  It is one of my favorites.  So today, I get to not only be "warm & fuzzy" but I have the pleasure of remembering  wonderful times with my beautiful sister!

God Is Good

"You are good and do good; teach me your statutes!"
Psalms 119:68

When the sun is shining and you have money in the bank and you're healthy and everyone thinks you're wonderful, it's not hard to believe that God is good. But when you lose your job or a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness or your church goes through a nasty split or your husband says he doesn't want to be married to you anymore, the Enemy will move in and cause you to question God's goodness.

The Truth is, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what we feel, regardless of what we think, GOD IS GOOD, and everything He does is good!

WOO HOO!

I am so EXCITED, can you tell?  I made my very first sale in my Etsy shop......one of cosmetic bags!   
WOO HOO!  I am hoping to put more things up soon.

Do any of you have an Etsy shop?  If you do, please leave a comment with your link so we can see your talents!

For Your Information

I just read this very important article and HAD to share it with you....

Did you know that to satisfy your sweet tooth without triggering blood-sugar surges-and the fatigue that follows-try snacking on PEANUT M&M's. Yes, you read it here first, folks!

Research shows that the proteins and healthy fats in peanuts are so effective at stabilizing blood sugar, that a small bag of the candies delivers the same energy boost as a bowl of beans! AWESOME!

WOW.....we learn something new everyday!!  

It's A Perfect Day For A . . . .

 

It is  63* degrees and sunny....what a GLORIOUS DAY!

Scripture & A Snapshot

I am linking up today with Katie Lloyd Photography for "Scripture & A Snapshot."  If  you would like to participate . . . . .

1.  Select a photo

2.  Add a scripture to it

3.  Put the Scripture & A Snapshot button in your post

4.  Visit Katie Lloyd Photography by clicking HERE and add your link to your POST!

Scripture & A Snapshot

I am linking up today with Katie Lloyd Photography for "Scripture & A Snapshot."  If  you would like to participate . . . . .

1.  Select a photo

2.  Add a scripture to it

3.  Put the Scripture & A Snapshot button in your post

4.  Visit Katie Lloyd Photography by clicking HERE and add your link to your POST!

AMAZING Pepperoni Garlic Rolls/Bread

“In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot, and mom!”

This is a recipe I have been using for years to make the most delicious pepperoni bread you have ever tasted (at least in our house, that is). It is a very simple recipe that I make in my bread machine on the dough cycle and then let it rise in the bread pan and then bake. Mmmmmm.......the aroma! Your house will smell WONDERFUL!

For one (1) loaf, you will need the following, and this is the order that I put my ingredients in, which is according to the bread machine manufacturers directions, so please check your manual before starting. For this recipe you will need:

• a tad less than 2 tsps yeast
• 2 cups of bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp non-fat dry milk
• 1 tbsp butter or margarine
• 3/4 cups warm water
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni (depending on personal preference, but we use a LOT)
• 2 tbsps chopped garlic (again, depending on personal preference and you can substitute garlic powder for fresh or jarred if you desire)

After adding ALL my ingredients, I select the dough cycle and let it go, which takes about an hour and a half for it to complete. I then take out the dough, shape it either into a loaf or section it and shape it into rolls. The possibilities are endless! 

After the loaf/rolls are shaped, I put them into greased pans and let them rise to desired height. For me, that usually takes about 45 minutes as our house is warm from the wood stove and things tend to rise a little bit quicker.

Bake at 350 degrees. For the loaf - 20 - 22 minutes and for the rolls - 15 - 18 minutes. This particular night I had made both for dinner. As you can see, they came out GREAT! But I will tell you this, they don't last long!

A Prayer Request

Skippy and I have an unspoken request that we have been praying very hard for awhile now.  Would you please join us and pray that the Lord's will be done in our lives? 

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!  Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Finally Meeting A Bloggy Friend In Real Life

As I posted last week, I was fortunate to be able to FINALLY meet a bloggy friend of mine I have known for some time. Her and her family are such wonderful people with kind spirits and gentle souls. We had so much fun together.  If you get a chance, please hop on over to Nancy's blog, "Sorrows To Joy".....you won't be disappointed!

Nancy's daughter Kelsy took a picture of us that we just LOVED so I thought I would share it with you!

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!