Fall Recipes to Share

A Great Pumpkin Cheese Ball

8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
10 oz. container sharp Cheddar cold-pack cheese spread
1/4 c. crumbled blue cheese
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. celery salt
1/4 t. onion salt
1/2 c. walnuts, finely chopped
1 t. paprika
Garnish: 1 pretzel rod, broken in half, assorted crackers

Blend together cheese until smooth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and onion salt, adding more to taste if desired. Shape into a ball and set on serving plate; cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours, until firm. If desired, score verticle lines with a knife to resemble a pumpkin. Toss walnuts with paprika; press into surface of the cheese ball. Break pretzel rod in top for stem. Arrange crackers around cheese ball. Makes 10-12 servings.

Pumpkin Latte'

4 c. milk
4 T. canned pumpkin
3 T. vanilla extract
1 t. cinnamon
2 c. strong, hot brewed coffee
Garnish: whipped cream, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon sticks

Stir together milk and pumpkin in a saucepan; heat over low heat until steaming. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon. (I also added Splenda to mine). With a hand-held blender or electric mixer, blend for 15 to 20 seconds (takes much longer than this) until thick and foamy. Pour into 4 to 6 mugs or tall glasses; pour in hot coffee. Top with whipped cream; sprinkle with spice and add cinnamon stick stirrers. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Farmhouse Apple Bread

3 eggs, beaten
2 C. sugar
1 C. oil
1 T. vanilla extract
3 C. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
3 to 4 apples, cored, peeled and chipped
1 C. chopped pecans

Combine eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until well mixed; set aside. Combine four, baking soda and sinnamon in a separate bowl; stir into egg mixture. Fold in apples and pecans. Divide equally between 2 greased and floured 9"x5" loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour and 10 minutes. Makes 2 loaves.

Happy fall!

A Rambling Update...

We have a new Whirlpool washer, works great, lots of clean clothes.

I have another tooth ache. This is in a tooth that had a root canal in July of last year. - It could be a sinus infection (original diagnosis several weeks ago); a bacterial infection in the tooth that shouldn't be there; or a crack in the tooth that is there and the tooth will have to be pulled. So, I will most likely go pick up a z-pack on tomorrow or Friday, if it isn't better, I will be scheduling another root canal. All the while, I am hoping that there isn't a crack in the tooth under the crown in my mouth. If that is the case, I will need to have an implant put in once it is pulled. All I hear and see when that is mentioned is $$$$$$$.

Let's see, not much else to tell. Kids still the kids, work is still work, Mark is still very busy with work and travel.

I am hoping for fall weather and the holiday time of the year to arrive. I love the time of the year that is just around the corner. And to honor this time of the year...I will post some recipes that I prepared and shared with friends on Friday evening at the book party at our house. Thanks to all who came, it was a fun time.

Now, the Washing Machine

Is broken. Car repairs, now this. Not sure what will happen. I am sure by the end of the weekend, we will have a new washer.

E & I leave for Mobile early in the morning for a quick trip there. We will return on Sunday. So, Mark will have to do the washer shopping on his own. Oh well...

The Rest of the Story

So, it turns out that there was actually a tire that played a part in the stranded on 431 story. Earlier in the day, Mark ran over a truck tire that came off in the road and he had no where to go but straight - over the tire. This didn't come out until much later in the day yesterday. It turns out that he hit the tire and didn't realize that it would (did) do so much damage. The repair man said today that he has never seen anything like this.

So, the transmission is damanged, the starter is burned from the small fire, and the insurance adjuster will go to the repair shop tomorrow. If they decide that it is worth repairing, then we still have the white car with no A/C (which Mark has endured all summer). If they determine that it isn't worth the money they will have to put into it for a new transmission, starter, etc...then yes, that means we will be a 1 car family until we figure out what to do. In the meantime, Mark will have a rental car to drive.

So, now we wait on the adjuster's opinion of the damage.

Stranded

Mark called about an hour ago to tell me (he is on his way home from somewhere near Ft. Payne) that his car was acting funny, but he was going to try to make it home. He was in Gadsden at the time. So, he called back a very short time later to say the lady behind him (traveling with him in her car) called him to say there was smoke and "stuff" coming from the car. He called back soon after to say that he had decided to drive as far as he could, maybe to Oxford or Anniston. He called about 5 minutes later to say that the car stopped, just stopped. He called AAA, then called me again. To tell me that he was on the side of Hwy 431 and it was very dark, very very dark; he sent his traveling companion on home; and he was just sitting in the dark on the side of 431. He was going to get out of the car and go stand at the edge of the trees - no flashlight in dark woods in Alabama. She ended up coming back and they were going to drive home in her car and have the car towed by AAA to a garage there - south of Gadsden - wherever they are. So, AAA came. The guy said maybe adding some transmission fluid would help. Then he could drive it home. He just called again. The fluid didn't work, they were close to calling the fire department. He is being towed home by a AAA represented towing company at the price of $3 per mile. Yes, that would be close to $350 from where he is at right now. The guy told him that it will not be worth repairing this car. Did I just type that? Surely not. Are we about to be a one car family? Should I remind my readers that our old pick up truck exploded earlier this year? I am not sure how to process this information this evening. The car is possibly gone. Where does one find money to buy another vehicle? Get a loan? Oh wait, is anyone even loaning money for middle class workers who don't have cash on had to buy a car? HELP!!! I am not really freaking out yet, but I am sure that will come soon enough. Maybe I will begin walking to work after all. Maybe I can shower in the sink at the office. This makes me think all employers should provide showers for their walking employees. Deep breath, deep breath...

Another tooth, gone...

B was determined that one of his top teeth was ready to come out. I wasn't too sure. It is out, still not sure it should have come out. A friend told me that I wouldn't pull too hard. If it was ready to come out, it would come out. Well, it did. A lot and I mean a lot of blood later, he is finally in bed. Not asleep but in bed - at 8:45 he went to bed. 45 minutes late. Oh well.

He is talking funny and said he can't keep his tongue from going through the big gaping hole in the front of his mouth now. Funny boy. He looks funny, I guess all kids with holes in their mouths look funny though.

Yes, I should have taken a photo, but I didn't. Maybe in the morning.

And, so, we move on...

I am determined to have a better week this week. Friday was a culmination day for the week I had. Frustration at work was to a point that I am going to try very hard to forget and move past. At the end of the day, I did find a lot of humor in the frustration. So, we will move past that.

I made my lunch last night, made B's lunch last night, set the coffee pot on program to start at 6:00 am on its own, and thought we would start our week off on the right foot. That was all well and good, but if you sleep until 6:36 am on Monday morning, it isn't so good. I am not sure what my problem (and Mark's) is. At one time, I was actually getting up at 5:00 am, going to the gym and having a wonderful day. WHY CAN'T I WAKE UP!!???!!! Not really sure. I need to set my clock & put it in the kitchen. Then I will get up and walk in there to get it. Maybe then I would hear it and stay awake. Not sure, but I have to make up my mind that I will get up on time. Geeze.... All of that being said, we all made it to work and school. And although I am dressed rather casual again today, it isn't any more casual than a normal work day. I like my cool weather clothes much better than my warm weather clothes. So, I am anxiously awaiting much cooler weather. Maybe I won't be quite so casual at work.

Here's to a good week to our household and to all of my blog readers. I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!

The Raveling Seams...

This is my status on FB right now. K if you come here, you will find more detail, probably too much detail.

Today was a morning that started late. 6:32am I jump up, realizing the sun is up - it is no longer dark outside. Realization! We are running late. There are four of us that must get dressed for work/school/daycare in 28 minutes. Three of the four can manage pretty well by themselves -
on most days. On a day like today even the adults, me, can't get it all together. So, I throw on a pair of jeans, orange long sleeve top and black flops. I love flip flops and DO actually wear them in the winter - as long as I can. Lucky for me I am in the south. Anyway....b'fast is made (grits for the kids), clothes have been picked out, although E is crying. Why is she crying one might wonder. Well it is now FALL as was determined yesterday by the changing of tree color. So, in the FALL (she is saying fall very loudly with conviction each time she says it) time of year one wears long pants, and a jacket or sweater. OK, those of you who live in Alabama know that it isn't necessary to wear long pants and a jacket/sweater in September - even October for the most part. To get out the door, we let her wear long pants and a jacket.

Move on to 9:00. I have another appointment at the AU Medical Clinic (my new choice of med offices) to see our friend Ginny, who is a Physician's Assistant or aka my new medical professional. Anyway, I had a return visit there b/c I am continuing to have migraines and sinus pressure. I left the medical clinic and head home. I needed to get something out for dinner and well, change clothes. I was terribly casual. Even though this is somewhat accepted in our department, I was VERY casual. So, to feel a little better about myself/the day - I ran home. A crock pot of chili later and a change of shirt/shoes- I felt better. I have to say that I am sometimes amazed at one can accomplish running through their home when kids aren't there. I can get so much done. However, there was STILL a lot of work to be done at home, AND I needed to get back to work.

When I left home this morning, there were things all OVER the house. Dishes in the sink; clothing piling up in the corner of our room where all dirty clothes go in our house; clothes in both the washer and the dryer; no lunch packed for me (very common, I could do this the night before and never do); no breakfast (also very common for me); no exercise - what is that???; toys at the bottom of the stairs; hair things spread all over our room from E; ironing board/iron out; on and on and on. I get in the van...
the gas light comes on. Which isn't a big deal, but just another thing.

On days like today, I feel that I can't get things under control. I can't run a household, take care of kids, be a wife and be me at the same time some weeks. So, today I have felt like the threads holding the seams together are raveling. All too quickly. I like for there to be order in life/day to day living. I like for there to be calmness (my BP was 110/80 by the way - much lower than it has been since having E, 3 years ago - I know, I digress...) Today was a day that I could have and probably should have taken an mental health day off from work. I didn't and it is all ok. I came home with the kids this afternoon and got a lot done. As of this evening, 3 baskets of clean clothes have been put away upstairs in their rooms, our bed is made and has clean sheets on them.

SO, in the grand scheme of things and life in general, life is good. I am blessed and have so many things to be thankful for. But I can get so bogged down and weary (yes, Mrs. B weary- I can hear you say it) at times. When I get to the point that I could stay at home, not answer the phone, not check e-mail and just stay right here - that is when I know I need to slow down. Pull myself together and pay attention to the things that matter.

Starting QB

not sure what these two are doing here... lining up...playing on the line and not QB...he is in the middle of the photo looking ahead...

Yes, as if our B needed his head to be any larger than it already is?! His coach called to see if he would be at the first flag football game because B woud be starting quarterback.

I pass this information along to B in the van. His head immediately begins to swell. "QB, QB, shake your boot-ie!" I have no idea where he heard this! But wherever the origin, he continued to sing this to me in the car. Finally, I demanded that he stop saying it.

We had a conversation about humility and the talent of the other players on his team. Geeze...how do you get them to understand?

They had a great game against the Broncos - who actually won in the last 5 seconds of the game. The boys had a great time though. 5 more games to go!

MOMMY MOMMY!!!

What E? What is it?, I ask her. This is happening as we are all leaving home for work and school this morning. Her excitement, screams and pitter patter of her feet running back into the house was all due to a tree.

"The leaves have changed the color. It is red and orange now!!! Mommy, come look!! Doesn't that mean it is fall??!!!" It was so sweet. It was wonderful to see & hear her excitement over the leaves changing color. I will take a photo of this tree. It is across the street from our driveway. For the last two years that we have lived in this house, I have noticed this tree each day as I back out of the drive. I know the seasons are changing, if not by the weather, then by this tree. And today, E noticed it too!

Prayer, Church "work", & Cream Horns

So, I am lax in blogging again. It has been brought to my attention that I need another post. I can't imagine why anyone would not want to continually see the same photographs of my children over and over and over again as they pass by my blog. Just kidding, of course. It seems as though I have so many thoughts going through my head most days and would like to stop and "write" them down, and never make it to this point.

One thing I have thought a lot, maybe extensively, about is prayer. For those of you who have ever been in a Sunday School class with me have heard me say that I am not all together sure about prayer. Whoa! Now that I have scared some of my readers off, they won't hear the rest of the story. It isn't that I don't believe in prayer, I think my lack of faith stems from not wanting to expect the unexpected. Rather not allowing what can happen to happen, maybe? As I ramble on, maybe this will make some sense. So, in thinking on prayer, I have begun to note things that I should pray about - daily - not just when it is time to pray out of fear, desperation, or crisis. But to pray without ceasing. That is huge for me - to think, much less type it out. One specifically that I should pray for are family - so many stories there. Others I won't name here. But, I do feel that prayer is real, important, necessary... I just need to get to the place that when I pray I truly feel that there is an answer to that prayer and I have to seek Him to know that answer. Right? Or am I wrong. Not to expect the answer that I want, but an answer. Right? That takes me to prayer in my life that hasn't had the end result that I would have wanted or even prayed for. Of course, I think of the death of my mother. At what point does any person get to where they are completely ok with asking God to take their mother? You do and I did. It was real to pray for her healing, knowing that would come in the form of death for her. But at the same time the pain that remains knowing this was the answer - and thankful for it - is unbearable. Then you find yourself on "this side" of the prayer and wonder how you made it this far with that being the answer. There are so many things that I should pray about. I think I may start a list and see where I get. What is my problem? I don't think this is hard and is very easy...my mind just has a hard time wrapping around this prayer "thing". If anyone is still reading, I have probably lost you at this point. Seriously, I need to get back to the place that prayer is a very real part of my life.

Getting tired yet?
On to church work. Mark and I are involved in several committees at our church. Enough said...

On to Cream Horns. These are like a drug to me, like raw cookie dough in college. After church meetings, bad days at work, with the kids, anytime. So, I have a partner in crime with these little celophane wrapped styrofoam tray treats. Mmmm....they are so awful for one to consume - like a drug. They can not be good for anyone to put in their body. However, let me say, they are the best, most fantastic treat at the end of "one of those days". Here's to you my cream horn friend - may you enjoy the wonderful taste of the bland pastry around the luscious cream inside!

So many more thoughts, I could post about today...but...I have to leave now to go pick up B from school just for him to tell me that he really wishes I worked all day again so that he could go to after-school. Joy Joy.

Posing for a photo before we leave for ballet/tumbling:
Just a smile....
Listening to her teacher...
Listening to the coach...
Running his first drill at flag football tryouts...

Can't Think of A Good Title....

It has been too long since my last post. I have just been busy and haven't taken the time to blog about our latest comings and goings.

Today has been a little busy. We came home and had math homework, handwriting homework and then reading. We did our reading early today - it's normally before bedtime. E began beginner ballet and tumbling with the Rec Department today at 4:45. B had flag football tryouts at 6:30 - with Chappy's dinner in between. I took photos as both events, of course. But by now, you all know that story - it is on a roll of film and not on my digital camera. I have three rolls to develop - maybe at the one hour tomorrow. She was really cute (I am not biased) and so excited about going. B is pretty excited too. At his "tryout" they ran drills and each coach had a clip board, making notes of the kids for their teams. Interesting to me for flag football. I was reminded, however, by a coach that I do live in Auburn. Need I say more? Especially as the SEC football season has started.

So, now the kids are in bed, and I ran to get our mail. Yes, in the dark b/c I love to see what is in the mail each day - unless it is a bill. There were 2 magazines and a Gooseberry Patch catalog. Well, one of the small things in life that makes me very happy is....a magazine. I have a weakness for magazines. I just love reading them. I now have a Kraft food & family magazine as well as the October issue of Wonder time. Guess what is on the front of the Wonder time? A pumpkin and "happy halloween". You all know how much I love a holiday, any time to celebrate and a party to say the very least! Fall has always been a favorite time to me and halloween is fun time...so...Needless to say, I am quite excited to read this and see what new ideas are in there for halloween this year.

As I type this, and put off reading these magazines, I am listening to Rudy Guilliani speak at the RNC. I am not impressed. He seems to be rambling to me. I am anxiously awaiting Sarah Palin. I know NOTHING about her and hope to learn something of her and what her views are.

Yes, I am once again rambling. I find that I do that a lot in my blogs...My thoughts are usually all over the place, so my blog entries usually speak to that.

What can you buy for $1.50?

Well, several of you have already heard the story of my new purse...yes, new, not used. Well, I have needed a new bag for quite some time. If you haven't already figured it out, I don't spend a lot of money - on me that is. I had rather spend it on the kids, I guess. Anyway, I went to K-mart - yes K-Mart is still open in Auburn, across the street from Sears - I digress. I went to purchase ziploc freezer bags. On my way to that section of the store, I passed the handbag area. I thought, what the heck, look and see what is here. They were 40% off, so why not. As I perused the shelves, I didn't see anything that jumped out at me. I had an idea in mind, but didn't see anything like it. So, as I left that area of the store, I saw this purse - marked $19.99. I thought it was cute so I wanted to see if it was on the 40% sale. I found one of those price looker upper things on the poles around the store. The screen said - "see customer service for price". I got the ziploc bags (Holly suggested that I use a ziploc for my wallet at one point!) and headed to the register. It wouldn't ring up there either, so they went to the customer service desk to look up something. Turns out the purse was on sale - I would say CLEARANCE - for $1.50. I originally thought it cost $2.50 on the register screen. I realized later when looking at the receipt that it actually cost me $1.50. The freezer bags were $2.50! I still do not have a lens for my camera so I can't take a photo of it. When I take a photo, this post will be more exciting to say the least when you, my readers, can see what $1.50 can buy! If I continue to find bargains like this, maybe I will save enough pennies to buy the camera lens!

Mornings...

I know that they are only 6 & 3, but really...

Each Day the following must happen:
-Clothes on
-Socks & shoes on
-teeth brushed
-hair preferably brushed, but not a necessity if you want to look like a bed head all day
-breakfast in our stomachs

This all needs to happen before we walk out the door for school. That is only 5 things, 4 if you don't brush your hair. I hate morning fights about things that are given and must be done. Do I have really high expectations of my children?

I guess I could let them go to school with stinky dog breath with overnight plaque feverishly growing and multiplying on their teeth; the don't have to match their clothes - if their friends make fun of them enough times, maybe they will think it is important to match; and if they don't eat maybe thier hunger pains would eventually lead them to want to eat b'fast.