A beautiful sunflower from two beautiful young ladies.  Thank you so much, E & E.  It is sitting on my kitchen windowsill!

365 Photo Challenge Day 26

365/26
These are a few of my favorite things!

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!

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!

Watermelon.....YUMMM!

Watermelon Time

Now watermelon time is here.

And when the day is warm and clear

Our uncle thumps the green balloon

And says it's ripe, and very soon

A splash of pink comes into view

We know exactly what to do

We take a bite, we eat and eat

And taste the summer,

Pink and sweet

~Leland B. Jacobs~

I don't know about you, but I just LOVE watermelon.  It is by far, my favorite summer yummy!  The sweeter and juicier the better!  I have to say though, I do prefer the seedless kind.  But I have to admit, every once in awhile, it's FUN to have a seed spitting contest!  lol

I found some "cool" watermelon facts and information and thought I would share them with you!

Did you know. . . .Watermelon contains high concentrations of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases. Watermelon is fat free, nutritionally low in calories and considered an ideal diet food, and is high in energy, making it a great energy boost and a welcome treat on hot summer days!

Watermelon, the fruit that is really a vegetable. Watermelon can be traced back to Africa and is part of the cucumber and squash family.  Early watermelons were mainly rind and seeds. Today's varieties are larger, the flesh sweeter, with fewer smaller seeds and the rind thinner. With its bold red flesh and satisfying crunch, it is perhaps the most refreshing, thirst quenching fruit of all. (I so agree with that)  Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar, so it is aptly named. Americans eat over 17 lbs of watermelon each year. The largest one on world record (Guinness Book of World Records) weighed 262 pounds.  WOW!  Can you imagine that on your kitchen table?

Watermelon is a perfect addition to a salad, salsa, or cool drink. Top chunks of sweet watermelon with fruit flavored sherbets or sorbets.

Selecting
Choose firm, symmetrical, fruit free of cracks, bruises, soft spots or mold. Ripe watermelon will have a healthy sheen, a dull rind, dried stem, and a buttery yellow underside where it touched the ground. There should be a melon like smell or fragrance. Thump if you must, sound should be dull and hollow. Lift them, weight should be heavy for size.  ***Avoid watermelons that are very hard, white or very pale green in color on the underside, indicating immaturity. An immature watermelon will be slightly acidic.

Storing
Once picked, watermelon will not ripen easily. If unripe, try putting the whole melon in paper bag un-refrigerated. This sometimes works to ripen them. Watermelons can be kept for short periods of time, up to 2 weeks, uncut at room temperature. Wash watermelon with soap and water before cutting. Once cut, package what is not eaten in closed plastic containers or bags and put back in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Facts:
Fat-free - YAY!!
Saturated fat-free
Very low sodium
Cholesterol-free
A good source of vitamin A
High in vitamin C

Homeschool Resource: For a Watermelon Theme/Unit, please click HERE!

For an AWESOME, and I do mean AWESOME site for watermelon recipes, carvings (you are going to LOVE these!), FUN facts and FAQ's, more health and nutrition information, please click HERE!  You won't be disappointed! 

Barnyard Boogie

My Surprise

I sent Skippy a text this afternoon asking if he would stop at Wal-Mart on the way home and pick up a few things for me. About 2 hours later, I got a response that said; "I can't stop, I'm carrying precious cargo!" Say what?

Well, Skippy was telling the truth, he certainly WAS carrying precious cargo! L@@K at what My Skippy Man surprised me with today.....................8 of the most precious little Amberlink pullets you have ever seen!

This first video is right after they came home

In this second video, we took 2 of them outside to run in the grass.....the didn't BUDGE! lol

Thank you so much, my beloved, for making another one of my dreams come true!
You are the BEST!

I LOVE YOU, MY SKIPPY MAN!

Country Treasures Wish List

A few weeks ago, I spent the day out with my boys. We went to a country/prim shop called "Country Treasures." I took a couple of pictures not only to show you some of the BEAUTIFUL things they have, but to also show Skippy some of the things that I would love to one day have in our home. So, here is the beginnings of MY WISH LIST!


Now I am not necessarily asking anyone to purchase these GORGEOUS items, as I know a certain someone who is very capable of MAKING these pieces himself. Which would mean so much more to me! (hint, hint, My Skippy Man, but definitely no pressure!) LOL)

Skippy is very talented when it comes to building furniture. He made a BEAUTIFUL entertainment center awhile back for our wide screen tv (when it wasn't broken...WAAAHH!), and a very pretty CD/DVD rack with decorative molding and everything. I was sooooooo impressed! :> )




But if I just had to choose just ONE of these amazing pieces, I would soooo have to choose this bad boy!

Isn't it GORGEOUS??????

Our Day Out

Saturday morning, we slept in, ate breakfast, lazied around a bit, and then we headed out to parts unknown. Well, at least unknown to Kiddo and I at that moment.

Skippy took Kiddo and I out of town for a little fun and relaxation. Funny, he's he one who works all those long hours each week, yet he is the one taking US out for some relaxation. What a sweetheart!

Mmmm.....look at all those preserves!

Would you believe this hand carved rooster cost $230.00?

I love wood stoves!

This is an old school house that is on the property of the Mauzy Shops

Look at the electrical wiring back then....AMAZING!

There was also a jail...Ye Ole' Lockup Shop

Isn't that amazing? This was once a real jai
Ice would be stored on this end of the building......

and when it melted, it would come into this room filling the troughs,
keeping everything in it cold

Then it was off to the "Burg!" This is the courthouse

Then we had "chili dawgs" for lunch at Jess'

Then it was on to the Farmer's Markets

~This is The Cheese Place~
This is where I get a lot of my baking supplies, especially my yeast

I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go here! I LOVE IT!
And the people are just so wonderful!

Well, I hope you enjoyed Our Day Out. I wish you could all come with us next time. Now THAT, would be a LOT OF FUN!

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!

An Evening Out

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."
Psalm 81:10

Yes, it's that time of year again, when Olive Garden has their "Never Ending Past Bowls" for all the world to ENJOY! MWUAHAHAHA! (sorry...I have not had my coffee yet)

When I saw the commercial about 2 weeks ago, the first thing I did was call my friend, Daisy. When she answered the phone, all she heard was the high pitched shrill screaming...."THE NEVER ENDING
PASTA BOWLS ARE BACK....THE NEVER ENDING PASTA BOWLS ARE BACK!
WAHOO COOKIE!" That very moment, we took out our calendars and made a date to put on the 'ole feed bag go out for dinner. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get there! I was dreaming of the fettuccine with creamy Parmesan florentine....YUMMM!

Well, Friday night, Goose asked me, "Mom...what are you doing tomorrow night? Tang is going hunting with his brother and I will be home alone. Do you want to do something?" (insert sad momma face here!) "Well, sweetie, Daisy and I are going out for dinner....would you like to come along?" "Where are you going?", she said. My very quiet (ha ha) reply was ....... "THE NEVER ENDING PASTA BOWLS ARE BACK....THE NEVER ENDING PASTA BOWLS ARE BACK! WAHOO COOKIE!" "You're going to Olive Garden? Oooohhhhh, Tang is going to be jealous if I do......COUNT ME IN!" (insert HAPPY MOMMA face here!)

Well, on our way to the restaurant, Daisy and I started talking about the last time we went to OG, which was for a combined birthday dinner between myself, Daisy, and a friend of ours, J. I had mentioned that it would be nice to see him again since we were only going to be a few minutes away, and the fact that it just wouldn't seem right to go to OG without him! :> )

So, 20 minutes later, we were all at Olive Garden, happy as clams, waiting for a table. It was sucha WONDERFUL evening. The weather was BEAUTIFUL, the company was WONDERFUL, and the food was DELICIOUS!

Thank you, my Skippy Man, for staying at home with Kiddo (although you were missed terribly), allowing me to have such an amazing evening and make such sweet memories with my family and friend!

I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!