Warm and Cozy Feelings On A Cool Autumn Evening

We had our fireplace serviced today and tonight we are having our first cozy fire on this cool Autumn night in our new home here at lovely Lake Wynonah.

 

Autumn In Schuylkill County/Lake Wynonah Pennsylvania

The following photos were shot during a short trip to the grocery store here in my picturesque neck of the woods, Schuylkill County, PA. I picked up two of the grandkids on the way and then we ate lunch here at a dock in my lovely community Lake Wynonah.

Chicken Salad~Salad

My cousin Kathy and I had our first encounter with this detectible salad while having lunch at the lovely Seagrass Cafe in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.  I have since come up with my own version and it is a hit with all who have tried it!

2 cooked chicken breast halves
2/3 cup mayonnaise 
2 green onions chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
1 cup of seedless grape halves (white or red)
 You may also add apples chunks, walnuts, and/or pecans

Directions

1. Mix together the chicken and mayonnaise in a bowl, stir in the rest of the ingredients.

  



 Make a salad with your favorite greens, tomatoes, and cheese. You may also add more grape halves, cranberries, raisins, nuts, and strawberry halves if you wish.  Sprinkle with a mixture of balsamic vinaigrette lightly sweetened/thickened with plum sauce. 

Place the salad greens mixture on a salad plate or bowl and dollop the chicken salad mixture in the middle.  Enjoy!

And A Child Shall Lead Us...

Texas Sheet Cake

Click on pic to ENLARGE!

Easy, Bundt Pan Sticky Buns

 

 

 

 

2  tubes Aldis Jumbo refrigerator biscuits (I used these, other brands will do also)
 1/2 stick butter, melted
1/2 C. pancake syrup (any brand you like, I used Aldis)
1/3 C. packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon1/4 cup sugar
1/2 C. chopped pecans, optional

Instructions:
Spray a fluted pan with non-stick spray. Combine the melted butter and syrup in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar and nuts . Place about half of the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan. Then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top. Dip one side of biscuit in sugar/cinnamon mixture, arrange the biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping edges (closely together) to form a ring. Top with remaining syrup and nut/sugar mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1/2 minute in the pan, then invert onto a serving platter and enjoy!

Memorial Day Red, White, and Blue Trifle

 

Photo from Briar Rose Bed & Breakfast

 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 store-bought pound cake (12 ounces), cut into cubes and stars with small star cookie cutter
• 1  (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 cups fresh blueberries (three 1/2-pint containers), rinsed and dried
• 3 cups fresh raspberries (two 6-ounce containers)

Directions

•  Slice pound cake into cubes and cut out a few star shapes to garnish top.

•  With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese with remaining 1/3 cup sugar on high speed until lightened. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream in a steady stream; continue beating until mixture is light and airy (mixture will be like a very soft whipped cream).
  
• Arrange half the cake pieces in the bottom of a 2-quart serving dish. Spoon half the cream-cheese mixture over cake in dollops; spread to sides of dish. Scatter half the blueberries and raspberries on top. Repeat layering with remaining cake, cream-cheese mixture, and berries, piling berries in the center.
  
  
  • Garnish top with star shaped cake
• Cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Why I Haven't Been Posting

This is why I haven't posted in awhile:

I bought a new home in a lovely gated lake community. It required some slight rehab work, mostly paint, and then the move after living in the same home for ten years. We have been extremely busy, and still so much to do. We aren't even completely out of the old home yet. We still have the entire lower level to rehab, both bathrooms, the deck, shed, and yard. I purchased the necessary components to create a water garden, and my daughter is going to help create it with my direction. Hope you enjoy looking at this photo slide of the transformation of some of the rooms.

All Are Equal

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Showers Of Blessings

click on pic to enlarge

Showers of Blessings for my new home...

Happy Sixth Birthday Maggie!

My extremely talented daughter Jamiann put together a marvelous Wizard of Oz party for her youngest child Maggie.  Maggie's daddy worked very hard to help Jami pull it all off...two devoted and wonderful parents! Jami not only baked a Glinda cake,dozens of delicious cupcakes, and decorated them beautifully, but she made Hors d'oeuvres including her tasty stuffed mushrooms.  She cooked and served an Italian Main Course of meatballs, sausage and peppers, and baked ziti served with a variety of cheeses and fresh hot Italian bread.  

Guests came from Maggie's school, and far off places like Lansdale, Effort, Bath, Bethlehem, Easton, and Wilkes Barre PA and Alpha, NJ.  Everyone said they had a fantastic time with an abundance of delectable dishes and interesting conversation.

The children played four games that included musical chairs and pin the tail on Toto with prizes handed out to the winners.  They all seemed to really enjoy themselves. Maggie's daddy was the DJ for the party playing tunes from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz.

♪ ♪ Happy Birthday Dear Maggie, Happy Birthday To You! ♪ ♪

Let Go, Let GOD

Let Go, Let GOD

My mother forgave everyone. She was the most pure form of unconditional love I had seen on this earth. 

If Jesus, the son of GOD could forgive us our sins and die a horrible death because of them, then why should it be so hard to forgive each other?

Each person is walking their own path and many are struggling with depression, mental illness, or a form of addiction. Is it for us to judge them for their mistakes or illness? No it is not! Jesus has told us to love even our enemies, and to take care of the least of these. 

Not one of us is privy to what is in store for us in the future. I have seen people who had been extremely wealthy and highly educated come into the Welfare Office when I worked there asking for help because of an unexpected illness, accident, or loss of employment.

Debbie Reynolds the famous actress was on top of the world with fame and money and had lost her fortune through wrong decisions and an unscrupulous manager. She actually ended up homeless living out of her car at one point. 

Never think that you are better than someone who is financially less fortunate, and never mistake wealth for happiness. The most peaceful soul is one who can let go and let God handle everything. That person loves everyone and never judges another. The wealth they have is in the life they lead filled with the unconditional love of Jesus.

Redecorating The Kitchen In My New Home

I just signed a contract to purchase the above home. I have the closing date in a few weeks and excited about redecorating.  I love to decorate and my head is overflowing with ideas! Here are a few of my ideas.  The following is my strategy to lighten up the kitchen and give it the simple elegance of  the "Shabby Chic" style.

I have decided to paint the cabinets and island the color in the photo below. I also plan on adding some texture to the island using molding. We are going to paint the blades(to match the walls) on the overhead ceiling fan too.  The walls will also be the same as the color of the walls below, and of course a new refrigerator and stove.

Aside from painting it the same as the cabinets I am going to embellish the island with crown moulding. Below are some examples:

 

I am also going to remove the ceiling fan from the dining area and put that in the living room area. The living room fan will be placed in the family room on the lower level.  

In the place of the ceiling fan of the dining area will be the following chandelier that I have been using in my present home.

Easter 2012

I may also add wall lighting on each side of the L. Basse't oil on canvas painting that is now above the sideboard in the above photo. This painting will be on the wall of the dining area.

Truly The Information Highway ~ Part III The Burren In County Clare Ireland

*The Burren in County Clare is a unique lunar-like landscape. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comes to life each spring with a mixture of alpine, arctic and Mediterranean plants growing side by side.

Burren is rich with historical and archaeological sites. There are more than 90 megalithic tombs in the area, portal dolmens.

The grykes (crevices) provide moist shelter, thus supporting a wide range of plants including dwarf shrubs. Where the surface of the pavement is shattered into gravel, many of the hardier Arctic or Alpine plants can be found.

The rolling hills of Burren are composed of limestone pavements with criss-crossing cracks known as "grikes", leaving isolated rocks called "clints"

*From this Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/DiscoverIreland

Barrel Of Piggies ~ Fun Cake To Bake and Enjoy!

I had a weekend sleepover with the grand-kids baking a whimsical chocolate cake. Kit-Kat bars, chocolate cake, Hershey's Cocoa Frosting, and homemade fondant (melted pink jumbo marshmallows, a little water, and confectioners sugar, mix and knead to texture of fondant) mold in the shapes as pictured, and use a toothpick to decorate piggies.

Creativity Runs In The Famiy ~ My Daughter Jami...

Jami made these for a baby shower for her son's teacher. She made her own fondant from scratch too!

Her very creative snow globe birthday cake!

The Pink Girly "Ruby" Cake from Max & Ruby 

Max's Wormy Cake from Max & Ruby

Cupcakes for her son's birthday party in his school. He is a huge fan of the Lego cartoon Nnjago!

Back in the day when he was so into cats, this is his cat Max

Perry the Platypus from the cartoon Phineas & Ferb. These went on top of cupcakes.

For her eldest daughter's school birthday party.  She's our little Hippie,  loves all things Peace Sign!