A Prayer, A Craft, A Recipe and a Laugh

Good Day Everyone!
I have lots to share with you all today. First of all I was recently informed that a sweet friend of Spencer and Gannon's was diagnosed with Leukemia. The boys took it hard and have been asking a lot of questions. Mostly "why"? I wonder that myself!! After reassuring them quite a bit that God is watching over Abby and that she is getting great care at Children's Hospital, we came up with a little prayer just for Abby. It goes like this... "God bless her laugh, God bless her smile. Watch over her now, and for a long while!" So Abby, if you read this.. we are all hoping you feel better soon!!

Now, on a lighter note, I have a FUN Thanksgiving "Kids Table" craft project for you all! These cute, cute Pilgrim Photo Napkin Rings. Are they not hilarious!! They are a surprise for my boys and the wonderful Woolfolk boys who will be joining us this year. (Seven kids in all!) They are a snap to make, and really inexpensive. Both things I look for in a craft project!!

You will need:
Black card stock or construction paper
White paper
Photo of your child
Scissors
Glue Stick
Stapler

First cut a 2" X 7" strip of the black paper.
Then cut a 1/2" X 7" strip of the white paper.
Notch a "V" in the white paper and glue it to the
top portion of the black strip.

Next, cut out the head part of your child's photo.
glue the head to the top of the strip just above
the "V" notch. (the collar) Then, make a pilgrimish type hat out of the black. Cut a small
white strip for the hat and a small square piece of black to make the hat's "buckle". Glue the hat
in place on the head portion of the photo.

Allow the glue to dry a bit and then come back
and "curl" the strip to form a ring and staple
in place. Slide a napkin through the ring and ta-da!!
You are done! I added some pine and bittersweet sprigs
to make it festive. Now that is easy peasy!!!

Next up is my HOMEMADE HOLIDAY RECIPE SWAP!!
Since Thanksgiving is coming up so soon, I decided on a cranberry chutney that
is a cinch to whip up! This is great on pork or turkey and even better spread on
a block of cream cheese and served with crackers! Great for hostess gifts in a
pretty jar!!!

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

1 C. Fresh Orange Sections

1/4 C. Orange Juice

4 C. Fresh
Cranberries

2 1/4 C. Sugar

1 C. Chopped unpeeled apple

1/2 C. Golden Raisins

1/4 C. Chopped Walnuts

1 Tbsp. Vinegar

1/2 Tsp. Ground Ginger

1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

TO MAKE:

Throw everything in a large sauce pan and
bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer
5 minutes or until berried begin to "pop"
Chill until serving time.

This colorful sweet chutney stores great in the
refrigerator for up to 2 weeks! Makes 5 Cups.

Now, for the laugh!! Today I went to my youngest son Nick's
first grade "Feast" at Twin Lakes Elementary. They
had a long "Table" made out of brown paper running the
whole length of the hallway outside the classrooms. They
feasted on carrots, corn (puff corn), craisins, pumpkin pie
and cucumbers! They made costumes too! (this is the funny part)
Nick got to make a Native American Costume. Some kids were Pilgrim
boys and girls too. Well, Nick decided that he didn't want to be a
Native American, because he thought that the Pilgrim costumes were
"cooler." So... he decided to run back in the classroom and make a "new"
costume. He came back out with a Pilgrim Hat, a Native American "Smock" and
an apron. He said "look at me, I'm a Native Pilgrim American!" No one laughed but me of course. It was a fun time, and all the kids enjoyed sitting all together in the hall. Thanks Mrs.
Osterman!!

In keeping with the "Gratitude Attitude Challenge" my thoughts are simple.
I am thankful for funny moments like the ones today, messy pumpkin pie faces,
and for the gift of being a Mom!

Thank you for all your recipes, crafts, fun stories and photos! I am
truly inspired by you all everyday! Enjoy the weekend, and I will be back
on Wednesday with another recipe and a fun centerpiece for your Thanksgiving
table! Take Care!

Silhouette Tutorial

Hi everyone! Today I have a great little tutorial and Slow cooker sloppy joes! Mmmmmmm!

See below for the recipe. They are easy, hot, and yummy!!




With the holidays inching closer, I have been busy doing projects while I have a little bit of extra time. AND I thought, gee... I have to catch up to Colleen , Kindra and Grammy Linda with all their SUPER tutorials! Thanks ladies for the inspiration!!! I made these neat silhouettes of the boys over the weekend. They are very inexpensive and relatively easy to make!! Follow along for some simple instructions.



You will need:

Side view photo (I used a 5X7)
Sharp smaller scissors
Heavy black cardstock
White or ivory cardstock
Frame of your choosing
#2 pencil
Double face tape or scrapbooking Paper adhesive




step 1: Cut out the side view photo CAREFULLY with your sharp scissors.


step 2: Trace the cutout photo outline onto the black cardstock with your #2 pencil. Don't worry, it WILL show up on the black!


step 3: CAREFULLY cut the traced outline out.


step 4: Put several strips of double faced tape or scrapbooking paper adhesive to the back of your silhouette and center it onto a piece of the white or ivory cardstock.


step 5: Put your finished silhouette into your frame. I added an ivory ribbon hanger too!


See how easy that was? They turn out very old fashioned looking and cute!


Here is my Friday Recipe for the Holiday Swap, ENJOY!!



Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 onion, chopped finely
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 c. catsup
1/2 c water
1 T. brown sugar
2 T. mustard
2 T. vinegar
2 T. Worcestershire
1-1/2 T chili powder
1can kidney beans
6-8 toasted buns
1cup shredded cheese for topping

* Brown ground beef with onion and garlic, drain and set aside. Combine all remaining ingredients except for cheese in a slow cooker, stir in beef mixture and cook on low setting for 6 hours or on high setting for 3-4 hours. Spoon onto toasted buns. Top with shredded cheese if desired.

Gratitude Attitude abounds me today! I am thankful for these four beautiful boys in the silhouettes above, the inspiration I have found in others as of lately and for the bounty of friends who will share our Thanksgiving feast this season. May you find your blessings plentiful, and your tummies full this Thanksgiving!! Until next time, thanks for stopping by my friends!

Holiday Recipe Swap Starts Today!!!

Happy Friday Peeps!!

I am joining my new friend Colleen from "and baby makes five" in doing a fun Holiday Recipe Swap! It starts today, so be sure to click on the link at the right of this post to visit her blog! She has wonderful craft tutorials and a lovely home as well as more great recipes for you to check out! Each Friday, there will be new ones posted! Thanks Colleen for starting the fun! I am always on the lookout for new simple recipes to try especially this time of year!

I have a great cheese ball recipe for you to try today. I am sorry that I don't have a picture of it. In the future, I will try to have photos along with the recipe. :) This is a great one to bring to an ornament exchange, or to make when those wonderful friends stop by over the holiday season. I hope you like it!

Today I am thankful for making new friends through my blog, the fresh autumn air coming in through a crack in my kitchen window, and for the ability to laugh at myself. If not for that, life would just be tougher!!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

You will need:
12 oz Package mini semi sweet choc. chips
12 oz Package peppermint candies crushed
(great way to take out your stress, simply place in a tightly sealed freezer bag and pound away - ha!)
8 oz Package cream cheese, softened
1 C. Chopped pecans
Chocolate sugar wafers

*Blend chocolate chips, peppermint candies and cream cheese together: roll in pecans and serve with chocolate sugar wafers
makes 2-1/2 cups

Trick-R-Treat From Our Home To Yours

The night air was calm and crisp and our house was all aglow with Halloween excitement!! Lily the Westie was at the ready! She loves to greet the trick-r-treaters every year. You can't see it, but she has a "jingle-jangle" collar with ghosts and pumpkins on it! She was sooo cute! Each year we get over 200 kids at our home for tricks and treats! Andrew was Ozzy Osbourne this year, as you can tell by the hair, Nick and Gannon were army men and Spencer was a ghastly ghoul!! They all had loads of fun carving pumpkins too!

Today I am thankful for my family's good health, my wonderful good friends who are with me through thick and thin and the fact that we are able to pay our bills and have a little bit extra each month for a night out with my wonderful husband!

Oops! Someone got caught with their "paw" in the candy bowl!! Here is Lily with a Milk Duds box stuck on her foot! She wanted a treat too, but NO chocolate for doggies Lily!! HILARIOUS!

OK, here is a FABULOUS recipe to try during these chilly days!! (courtesy of Gooseberry Patch Harvest Kitchen Cookbook!) They are simply d-licious!

Prairie Praline Muffins

3 T brown sugar, packed

1 T butter, softened

1/3 C. chopped pecans

3 ripe bananas

1 egg, beaten

1/2 C. sugar

1/4 C. oil

1-1/2 C. pancake mix

* Stir together brown sugar and butter in a small bowl; add pecans and set aside. In a separate bowl, mash bananas and stir in egg, sugar and oil until well blended. Add pancake mix; stir just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Drop one teaspoon of the pecan mixture on top of each muffin. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes, until lightly golden. Makes one dozen. Mmmmmm!

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth!!

Happy Monday everyone! We are awaiting the infamous Tooth Fairy at our house! Nick lost both of his front teeth over the weekend! He was so brave when Daddy pulled them out! They were literally "hanging by a thread" and it was so hard for him to eat! It was definitely time for them to come out! He is getting soooo grown up!

I hosted book club at my house on Thursday night! We chose the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Have any of you read that?? It looks really neat. It's written all in letter format. Very Different! My sweet friend Jennifer brought me this pumpkin when she came. It's very "Martha Stewart" she painted the stem and added lots of really fine silver glitter. I just love the way it shimmers!! Thanks Jen!

I finally finished decking the house for the season. Here are a few photos of "autumn around our home." I have really loved seeing all of your homes on your blogs too! Before we know it, this lovely time of year will be all but a memory... covered in snow! I plan to enjoy every minute of it!

This cool pumpkin hooked rug is from Christine at Buttermilk Junction! If you have time, check out her shop! She is a sweetie!! I just love the colors in it. http://www.buttermilkjunction.com/.

I got this idea from an old Country Living Magazine from a couple of years back. I had this large glass jar and wanted to do something with it. It was inexpensive and I think I can change it our for Christmas by adding some "snow" or holiday rose hips and a Christmas candle. Or, maybe some pine boughs and berries... What do you think?

This is an old sap bucket with a pumpkin face cut out. I got it a few years ago at a local shop called the "Vintage Cupboard" they are no longer in business, and I miss shopping there! Girls, you need to re-open again! Hint, Hint!! I love this and put it out every year.

More autumn photos.....

Baaaaaa!

My Halloween tree! The boys love this!!

Well, that's all I have to share today. Thanks for stopping in for a visit! Oh, by the way... I am having trouble leaving comments on some of your blogs. I want you to know that I have really tried to visit you all, but can't leave you a note! Darn Blogger! I have decided to take part in the Gratitude Attitude Challenge from Mercy's Blog. Today I am thankful for warm little hands to hold on a cold autumn day, a fuzzy little dog by my feet and the great joy blogging has brought me! Have a good week peeps!

Antiques, Inns, Harbors and Vineyards!!

Wow! Door County was LOVELY! I have posted some pictures of my recent trip to Door County Wisconsin. I have wanted to go there for many, many years and finally did! My dear friend Pat and I left the guys at home and headed out for a week long adventure! If you have never been to Door County, you must go! When you drive into the peninsula you go through little "villages" that are reminiscent of New England towns. It is surrounded by water. Green Bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other. The leaves were turning and the small villages had fall festivals and autumn decor galore! Every inch of Door County is cute and decorated for the season!!! The first three pictures are of the Black Smith Inn on the Shore in Bailey's Harbor. It was wonderful and very Early American/Colonial. All of the rooms had balconies that looked out onto Lake Michigan. Next we visited a wonderful Winery called Orchard Country Winery. The grapes were just about ready to be plucked from the vines! Gorgeous!! We took a tour and did a little tasting. Mmmmmm! They grow cherries and apples here too! Next you will see Lake Michigan and some white caps! It was windy our last day in town. Following that is the Inn at Cedar Crossing in Sturgeon Bay. This is a historic Bed and Breakfast right down town Sturgeon Bay. The room had a wonderful wood archway leading to a lovely bed and it was filled with wonderful antiques! We had a great home made breakfast here too! Next is the Harbor House Inn at Gills Rock. This was a spectacular Scandinavian inspired Inn overlooking Green Bay! The Innkeepers quarters are in the "lighthouse" home! Very cute! I hope you enjoy the photos and stay warm! We have had Christmas in October here in Minnesota. About three inches of snow fell today! Thanks for stopping in!

Love from Nebraska Arrives!

Well, what a sweet surprise I received in the mail yesterday! My dear friend Kindra made me these Fall and Wynter Block sets! Aren't they the cutest? I am so lucky to have such a sweet and talented friend! Thank you again Kindra... you warmed my heart! You must go visit Kindra at 3guys,agirl and a prim place. blogspot! She has the best stories, photos, decorating and crafting ideas ever not to mention some super sweet little boys! Well, I must keep this post short, as I am heading to Door County, WI for a few days with my boys' godmom Pat! We have wanted to go for years, but I always hesitated to leave while the kids were too young. Well, they are all big boys now, all in school so it's time for us to go on an adventure! Check back with me next week, I will have loads of photos from the trip, our antiques and treasures along the way and some great pictures of the boys and Lily the Westie! Take care everyone and enjoy these fall days. Goodness knows we don't get enough of them.

These are sooooo cute! They love their new home here in Minnesota Kindra.. lol!

OMG! I made this granola today to take on our trip to Door County. It is fabulous!!! You can add whatever extras you want at the end, but I used dried cherries. I think that dried apricots or even chocolate chips would be Divine too! This is easy and I think this stuff is actually pretty good for you... bonus! lol

Goodness Gracious Granola

you will need the following:

1/4 cup water

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup whole almonds

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup flax seeds

1/4 cup wheat germ

3/4 cup dried cherries or other fruit

3/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3 tablespoons canola oil

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon almond extract

To make:

In large bowl, combine oats, flax seeds, wheat germ, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon and salt. Toss together with a large wooden spoon. Next, in a small saucepan over med. high heat, bring the honey, brown sugar, canola oil, water and almond extract just to a boil, stirring as you go. While this is cooking, spread the oat mixture onto a lightly greased large cookie sheet with a lip around the edge. Pour the hot liquid over the oat mixture and toss to coat WELL. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 22-24 minutes stirring twice. Allow to cool completely and add the dried cherries. Store in an airtight container. Freezes nicely! Yummmmmm!