Try-it Tuesdays Pumpkin Bars

These are so easy and quick to make. They are great anytime of year and travel well for potlucks or picnics. You can reduce 1/2 the oil and use applesauce. I also opted to use only 2 eggs. Still Delicious!
Pumpkin Bars
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 cups flour (whole wheat flour is great with this recipe)
1 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Mix altogether. Pour into 11x15" pan. Bake 350 for 35 minutes or until slightly browned.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 ounce) light cream cheese, softened
1/3 stick butter, softened (or 2 tablespoons skim milk)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Spread over cooled pumpkin bars. Cut into squares and ENJOY!

Monday Gratitudes

Ugh I think the previous owners loved pale yellow it is everywhere. Here are some before and after photos of the paint in the stairwell and the flooring in the hallway.

We still have to paint the trim once we take the finish off. We hope to finish that this week.

The Trim work and the stairs are very ornate. It might be hard to see that from the photos. Once we get some of the detail painted, I'll take another photo to give you an idea of how beautiful they really are.

*Very grateful to be slowly getting to the point of loving the work we've done. What a long process but well worth it.
This weekend we took out the front fence which looked liked this fence behind the kids. It never matched the look of the house. The fence across the street is for a horse corral.

*So grateful that our neighbor was able to help us pull up the fence posts with his tractor. Some of the posts were buried 3 feet deep. We are looking into an ornamental iron fence that fits with the era of the house. That might be awhile too many other projects that have to be done first.

Monday Gratitudes

I had every intention of keeping this blog up to date.

I even intended to send out a Christmas letter.

I thrive when things are in order and go as planned.

But things happened.

December was crazy.

We ripped up the flooring in the front foyer.

We painted the front foyer and hallway

We painted the hallway a second time.

and...

I decided to make a ton of Quillows.

They were Christmas presents.

I decided a couple of years ago to start making homemade presents. Who doesn't like to receive a homemade gift? Right!?

It still is a good plan, but I need to start a lot earlier. Maybe March is a good time to start!

I was enthusiastic and thought.... if anyone can do it, I could.

I started sewing.

I realized that my eyesight really isn't as good as I think it is.

They took longer than I thought.

I shipped the last one off a few weeks ago.

I also had to make 2 shepherd costumes and a lamb suit for

our kids Nativity play.

They did turn out good.

So today I am grateful for life...in all aspects.

grateful to be busy.

grateful for things slowing down a little??

grateful to have found beautiful hardwood floors under the tiles.

grateful that we didn't go to Disney-world. Too much to do on this Old House.

grateful that we can go next year!

grateful for all the Christmas letters from family and friends! I vow to do better.

Yummy Food

Happy Thanksgiving!

Try-it Tuesdays Heart Healthy Lentil Soup

We have had so much rain the past few days. The whole area is on flood warning, We have one section in our basement that is about 2" deep and still rising even though we live on a hill. We're used to it. It seems to happen once a month. Projects never cease to end. We'll tackle that one in about a year. Crossing my fingers while writing this
Anyways something warm on a chilly wet day is always nice, so I thought I would post this yummy recipe. Goes great with a loaf of sourdough bread.

Lentil Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large chopped onion
bag of carrots sliced
couple stocks of sliced celery
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound lentils, rinsed
1 -2 chopped tomatoes
1 quart chicken broth

1 to 2 quarts water
dash of cumin

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, cumin, water and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes.

Note: You can add corn, cauliflower, slices of kelbasa suasage, etc. to fit your taste.

Quick October

It’s already November. When did that happen? Every store is decorated with gift-giving ideas -showing that Christmas is right around the corner. Before I look ahead, I wanted to post some October photos. We had such a fun month.

We had family come for Halloween and were so sad to see them leave. My kids relish any time they have with cousins.

We thoroughly enjoyed going to

Carthage and Nauvoo. We went during the off- season and were glad to be able to do all the wonderful things without the crowds. It was peaceful. We stayed at a nice place called Nauvoo Log Cabins.

Thanks Cousins for coming to our neck of the woods!

Happy Halloween

My kids love watching their faces dance around. So funny to hear them giggle. Before you press the arrow, go down to the bottom left hand side of my blog and pause the music.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Try-it Tuesdays Pumpkin Spice Cookies

This is such a fun fall recipe. I came across this recipe years ago in the grocery store. I make these every year during the fall season and these cookies always come out just right. It's a keeper.
Hint-You can substitute fresh pumpkin instead of canned. If you don't like chocolate with your pumpkin just omit the chips. Tastes great either way.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 can (15 oz.) Pure Pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
• VANILLA GLAZE (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease baking sheets or just use your sil[at. 

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. 

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle or spread with Vanilla Glaze. 



For Vanilla Glaze: 
Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well.

Monday Gratitudes

Okay I love older homes. The architecture and character of an old home is just something you can't achieve in the new housing markets of today. But then you have to contend with the numerous mistakes the previous owners have made over the years.
We need to redo this old grandma kitchen! it is desperately in need of some help. The cabinets are fairly new but so flawed. The drawers are only 2 inches deep and don't even hold a utensil tray correctly. So sad but it needs to be redone.

If you have any ideas or photos, please share! It definitely needs a splash of color. The yellow is no longer on the walls. Now it just has a coat of white primer.
I've been thinking of white cabinets and some fun colors? This second kitchen was in another house that was on the market when we bought this house. I loved that house but it had no yard for the kids to play in. Compromise is always good. Right.
I am truly grateful to have a roof over my head and am more grateful that my hubby is able to work on a lot of the projects in this old house of ours. Right now one of our hallways is torn apart. I would love to take photos but there is so much dust in the air, I;m afraid it would ruin my camera. More to come

Monday Gratitudes

My sweet little boy started preschool for the first time this past week.
I was worried. No, I was petrified.
Since my stroke this past January he's been very clingy and will not leave my side. He is literally my shadow.
But guess what.. he had an absolutely wonderful first day and seems to like the kids in his class.
Miracles still happen -even small ones. I am grateful for this.