Autumn On Lake Arrowhead

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork!"

 Psalm 19:1

THANKFULNESS DAY 1

We may not like where we are in life or even what are circumstances may be but wherever we are, we CAN find the beauty in it if we just take the time to stop and look!

 THANKFULNESS DAY 1: I am THANKFUL for God's beautiful landscape and for the gorgeous colors He created! 

 

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

YUMMY Pumpkin Muffins

UPDATE: I just made the batter for these muffins and WOW........it really is DELICIOUS BATTER! :> )

They are in the oven now............can you smell the aroma? HEAVENLY!

Thank you, Renee!

* * * * * * *

I found this recipe for pumpkin muffins over at Renee's and I CAN'T WAIT to try it!

DELICIOUS BATTER

3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Mix dry ingredients and add:

1 c. oil
4 eggs
2/3 c. water
2 c. pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Prepare muffin tins by greasing with vegetable oil or butter and sprinkling lightly with flour. Shake out excess.

Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

CREAMY ORANGE ICING

2 tbsp. orange juice
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 1/3 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. shortening
1 tbsp. grated orange rind

Mix confectioners sugar and egg thoroughly. Bring orange juice and granulated sugar to boil; boil 1 minute. Add to sugar and egg mixture; blend well. Add shortening and orange rind. Beat until creamy.

Pumpkin Prayer

During the month of October, you will see lots of scary ghosts, witches, gobblins, and scary stories will be 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

Happy Fall Ya'll

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven!"
Ecclesiastes 3:1

AUTUMN

In all its burnished glory
Leaves falling to the ground
At first floating silently
Drifting without a sound

Rich colors, copper and yellows
On the ground unfurl
Lay there deep and crisp
Winds make them dance and swirl

Quietly summer slips away
Replaced by days rich and golden
This is the gift of nature
For which we are beholden

Arms outstretched
Stripped of all their glory
The trees wait silently
To begin again their story

A Basket, Some Trivia, And A Quiz

The dog days of summer are just about over and the cooler temperatures of fall are approaching. For those of us who are welcoming it with open arms, (yes, that includes me) we are already pulling out the hoodies and the toe socks. Then there are those of you who are summer lovers, who are trying to fit in all the "last minute" warm weather activities. Regardless of whether you like warm or cool temperatures, rain or snow, there is always one thing you can do. . . . . Have a picnic!

My family LOVES to go on picnics to the park, the mountains, the backyard, or even our own living room, regardless of the weather. Picnics are a great way to bring family and friends together, no matter WHERE you are! We love making our own sandwiches, salads, and desserts to bring, but sometimes, it's a spur-of-the-moment thing and we may just run through KFC or stop and get pizza and take that with us. I think my favorite though is just cheese and crackers. Simple, but YUMMY! I don't think it really matters what you bring to eat or even what you bring it in, for that matter. . . . . . . . . . . just as long as it's something GOOOOOD! lol

So grab that picnic basket, bag, tote, or box, and get out there and ENJOY yourself!

PICNIC TRIVIA

• The word picnic traces to the 1692 edition of a French book, where it was used to describe a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. For a long time a picnic meant a meal that everyone contributed something to, similar to a potluck. Sometime during the Middle Ages, picnics became the enjoyable outdoor meals that we know of today. In the early 19th century in London, the Picnic Society was formed by a group of fashionable people for purposes of entertainment.
  
  
• Did you know that in 2000 in France a 600-mile-long picnic took place from coast to coast? It was held to celebrate the first Bastille Day of the new Millennium.
  
  
• After an ant has visited your picnic, it lays down a scent as it returns to the nest for the other ants to follow!
  
  
• The record for the largest hamburger is held by Rutland, North Dakota. In 1982, the town made the World's Largest Hamburger, 3,591 pounds, which was consumed by some 8,000 people!
  

I thought I would post a picnic trivia quiz I found. I was surprised at some of the answers:

PICNIC TRIVIA QUIZ
1. In the song, "Teddy Bear's Picnic," at what time do the bears have to leave to go home to bed?
a. 5 o'clock
b. 6 o'clock
c. 7 o'clock
d. The bears stay up all night.

2. Where does the word, "picnic" come from?
a. The French, "pique-nique," meaning something "of little importance."
b. The French, "pique-nique," meaning something small "of great importance."
c. It's a word first coined by Henry Ford in 1929.
d. The derivation is unknown

3. What happens in the movie, "Picnic at Hanging Rock?"
a. Three girls and one of their teachers on a school outing mysteriously disappear.
b. A couple taking a break from planning their upcoming wedding realizes they have nothing in common.
c. An elderly gentleman proposes to his girlfriend after 45 years together.
d. A group of behaviorally challenged young adults finds peace, love and laughter.

4. Who invented the hot dog?
a. The city of Vienna traces the lineage of the hot dog to the wienerwurst or Viennese sausage.
b. The city of Frankfurt traces the lineage of the hot dog to the frankfurter wurst, which it claims was invented in the 1480s.
c. Around 1870 on Coney Island, a German immigrant named Charles Feltman began selling sausages in rolls.
d. Anton Ludwig Feuchtwanger, a Bavarian sausage seller who is said to have started serving sausages in rolls at the World's Fair.
e. All of the above are valid claims.

5. What do they call a barbecue in South Africa?
a. barbie
b. barbecue
c. braai
d. baarb

6. On average, how often are Americans barbecuing in a month?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 5
d. 7

7. Which activity had the most reported injuries in 2006?
a. Brushing teeth or gargling
b. Reading
c. BBQ'ing
d. Stapling paper

8. Where is the oldest barbecue site in the world?
a. Israel
b. China
c. Namibia
d. South Africa

9. What is the percentage of men in the US that prepare and cook the food to be barbecued?
a. 33%
b. 48%
c. 66%
d. 78%

10. Which of the following is NOT one of the most popular foods at a US barbecue?
a. Ribs
b. Hamburger
c. Hot dog
d. Steak

11. What percent of grill owners own a charcoal grill?
a. 16%
b. 28%
c. 37%
d. 48%

12. When an ant finds the food at your picnic, how does it tell the other ants about it?
a. Back at the nest, it wiggles its body to communicate the location to the other ants
b. It lays down a scent as it returns to the nest for the other ants to follow
c. It returns to the nest and leads the other ants back to the food
d. Back at the nest, it communicates the location of the food by clicking its mandibles

13. Ants can carry up to ___ times their own body weight?
a. 5
b. 10
c. 20
d. 30

14. How many hot dogs and buns did Joe Chestnut eat in 12 minutes to claim the world record?
a. 26 ½
b. 32 ½
c. 46 ½
d. 59 ½

15. What is the record for the largest hamburger?
a. 563 pounds
b. 1,472 pounds
c. 3,591 pounds
d. 4, 356 pounds

ANSWERS:

1-b, 2-a, 3-a, 4-e, 5-c, 6-c, 7-d, 8-d, 9-c, 10-a, 11-d, 12-b, 13-c, 14-d, 15-c

Autumn Recipes

I was looking around the internet for some Autumn recipes and I came across a few that I am ABSOLUTELY GOING to try. I thought you might like to as well!

Topsy-Turvy Apple Pie

Ingredients
Glaze and Crust
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1/2 cup pecan halves
1 box (15 oz) refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (4 medium)

Topping
Whipped cream, if desired

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425°F. In 9-inch glass pie plate, mix brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Spread evenly in bottom of pie plate. Arrange pecans over mixture. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie, placing bottom crust over mixture in pan.
2. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. Arrange half of apple slices in crust-lined pie plate. Sprinkle with half of sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining apple slices and sugar mixture. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.
3. Place pie on sheet of foil on middle oven rack in oven; bake 8 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 35 to 45 minutes longer or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Immediately run knife around edge of pie to loosen. Place serving plate upside down over pie; turn serving plate and pie plate over. Remove pie plate. Serve warm or cool with whipped cream.


Sugar-and-Spice Shortbread Sticks - I absolutely LOVE shortbread! :> )
(these look like those Pop-Tart sticks)
INGREDIENTS
Cookies
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 to 2 tablespoons apple juice

DIRECTIONS
1. In large bowl, combine brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg; beat until light and fluffy. Add flour and 3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice; mix well. Divide dough in half; shape each half into flattened disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 hour for easier handling.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. On lightly floured surface, roll half of dough at a time to 12x6-inch rectangle. Keep remaining half of dough refrigerated. Cut dough rectangle lengthwise in half; cut each half into 1-inch-wide sticks. Place sticks 1/2 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake at 350°F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool 10 minutes or until completely cooled.
4. Meanwhile, in small bowl, blend all glaze ingredients until smooth, adding enough apple juice for desired glaze consistency. Spread glaze on tops of cookies. Let stand until glaze is set before storing.


Onion Soup w/Thyme and Gruyere Crustini

INGREDIENTS
1 pound yellow onions, halved and thinly cut lengthwise
3 to 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups beef stock
1 cup water
1 1/2-inch-thick slice of ciabatta bread cut in half
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups grated Swiss Gruyère cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. In a heavy 5-quart pot melt the butter over low heat. Add the onions, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until the onions are deep amber and exceedingly soft, stirring occasionally, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Add the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the wine, increase the heat, and let the wine bubble away for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the beef stock and water, and let the soup simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Preheat the oven to broil. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven. Place the ciabatta on the middle rack of the oven and toast until crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
5. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs from the soup and discard. Pour the soup into two ovenproof bowls, float the toasted ciabatta on top, and cover it with a thick layer of the Gruyère. 6. Put the soup bowls under the broiler on the middle rack and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and golden.

I don't know about you, but I certainly can't wait to try these DELICIOUS looking recipes!

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!

Pumpkin Carving 2009

Yesterday, Goose and Kiddo went to the pumpkin patch and got their pumpkins and last night they carved them. I wish I had found this prayer BEFORE we carved them.

During this Halloween time of scary ghosts, witches, gobblins, and scary stories, 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

By: Liz Curtis Higgs

Pumpkin Crunch

My sister Barbara, made me this recipe about 2 years ago and I was HOOKED!! If you like pumpkin, this is an AWESOMELY (is that a word? lol) DELICIOUS dessert. Well, you could eat it any time you want really. I have eaten for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee........WOW! Now THAT'S the breakfast of CHAMPIONS!!

For this recipe, you will need:

1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
4 eggs
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 lb. melted butter
1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix first 8 ingredients together and pour into greased 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle 1 box yellow cake mix over pumpkin mixture, then 1 cup chopped walnuts over cake mix. Then drizzle 2 blocks (1/2 pound) melted butter (cooled) evenly over nuts and cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Serve as is with pumpkin on bottom and cake on top.

ENJOY!