For Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

OCTOBER 2ND, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's SATURDAY!

BRRRCHILL!!

We may have been in the 50's yesterday morning but with the wind blowing it was much colder feeling for sure. I got out the Winter Silks, my cords, my wool sweater and my wool socks in order to keep warm.

Today will be much cooler yet, so I hope the wind stops blowing.

THINKING

Time to take a deep breath — a deep breath, then pause. There.

Feel better already, don't you?

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

October is National Cookie Month

Pumpkin Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/4 cup of butter, applesauce and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool cookies, then drizzle glaze with fork.
4. To Make Icing: Combine confectioners' sugar, milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add milk as needed, to achieve drizzling consistency.

You can also SKIP the icing and add a little more sugar to the batter.
...Or just skip the icing period, this way you can really taste the wonderful flavors of

the pumpkin.

One more thing, if you want the Halloween effect then dip the cookies into some dark chocolate for the orange and sorta black Halloween decoration!

PRAYERS

a poem and prayer by John Oxenham

We thank thee Lord, for all the rich autumnal glories spread

The flaming pageant of the ripening woods,

The fiery goose, the heather purple hills, the rustling leaves

that fly before the wind and lie below the hedgerows whispering

For meadows silver-white with hoary dew

We thank thee, Lord

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOUALL!

AROUND HOME

While sitting in the camper Friday morning I saw the most amazing site. Wild turkeys were running right across our road. I'd really never seen any before and they were quite large too. I just loving being here in the country on the hill in the woods. Of course I didn't manage to get a picture of them. They were in a hurry and didn't stick around.

FAMILY

DS#1 and family are going to a football game this afternoon and I am making swiss steak for them. I do hope it doesn't rain. We have a 50% chance of it here.

I'm also dog sitting. I'm sure we'll be sitting in the camper a lot keeping warm and with all the good smells of cooking going on I'll be ready for dinner when they return.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

No one can go back and make a brand new start.

Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

80 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

84 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma