Happy Birthday Mr. P and Holly & Recipe to Share

Did we not just celebrate several birthdays on my blog ? Today we have two more in the family.  October is a busy month for birthdays.

Twenty nine years ago today Mr. P had a big out of town hunting trip planned to celebrate his birthday.  He was so excited as he loves deer hunting.  But that hunting trip was canceled.  Our daughter Holly decided she was giving her daddy a big surprise and she was born on his birthday exactly 2 months to the day early.  Yes, she was due on Dec. 26, thus the name Holly was chosen.  She weighed in at 3lbs. 7 oz. and back then that was a tiny baby. Healthy from birth, she was in the hospital gaining weight and sleeping until we got to bring her home one month later on Thanksgiving Day at 3 lbs. 15 1/2 oz.  They doctor had thought she would have gained to 4 lbs. thus he was letting her come home.  Yes, that first few months was scarey but we were so blessed. 

Holly, you are the best daughter a parent could possibly wish for.You are my best friend, a wonderful wife and a great mother to Darbee Rae.  You are the voice to my phone calls, my side kick when we shop,the ear when I complain,and the hug when I need one.  Happy Birthday and we love you.

And I can't say enough about Mr. P.  He is a wonderful companion, friend, father and grandfather.  I am so blessed and thankful God  has let us enjoy all these years together.  There have been many birthdays since the day Holly was born, but he would have to say that was the very best gift ever.  Happy Birthday Mr. P.  Love you too.

Now, all that said Halloween activities are going on everywhere this weekend.  And we all know candy corn and Halloween go hand in hand.  This is a very simple recipe and if you love butterfinger candy bars ,, then this is the recipe for you. You will need candy corn.

Smooth peanut butter

semi-sweet or milk chocolate baking chips or chocolate candy coating

When using the chips, I add 3/4 block parifn wax to my chocolate as it melts in a double boiler.  This assures it setting up perfect.  Do not use if you choose candy coating.

Butterfinger Bars

16 oz. candy corn

16 oz peanut butter

16 oz chips, or candy coating

Melt candy corn in microwave for 1 minute.  Stir. Melt candy corn at 15 second intervals, stirring after each interval. When melted , add peanut butter and mix well.  Mixture will be stiff. Put into greased pan. Pan size depends on how thick you want the candy pieces.  I used an 8x8 pan. When completely cooled, cut into squares and dip into chocolate.  I always melt my chocolate using a double boiler but if you perfer following packaging directions to melt in microwave. Put pieces on Wax Paper to set.

If you don't want to dip, you can melt the chips and pour over the candy in the pan and cut into squares.  These are rich so I cut mine into little pieces and it makes it easier to dip.

Enjoy!

Hoping all of you have had a great week, and now we are looking forward to the weekend.  The weather had warmed up here this week, but another cool spell is heading our way for the weekend.  Great crockpot soup weather.  Can't wait!!

Until we talk again.......

Pride, Party, Pictures, Pooped!!

Sitting here this evening with the soft glow of the fire sending shadows across the great room I have to say my heart is filled with pride and emotions.  As a wonderful fun filled Saturday is drawing to a close, I have to recap my day with all of you my friends.

Lets go back to last night.  Around eleven o'clock the phone rings and Holly's very tired and stressed voice is on the line.  Our conversation starts with,"  I so hope one day Darbee Rae will know all the work I have done  for her birthday parites." FLASHBACK.... Around 25 years ago this month , the same words came out of my mouth as I was doing the same themed Halloween Birthday Party for Holly.  Not until she was grown and doing the same for her own did she really realize what a parent will do to make something special for her own child.  As a mother I gave her the reassurance that she needed that all would be fine and today would go great. 

I arrived a little early to help her put the food out, and because I know my child so well, all was calm and under control.  The party was beautiful, lot of kiddos and adults and my heart filled with pride knowing my child did it all herself.  At some point in a mother's life it's a great feeling to know we taught our children well and have a feeling of accomplishment for a job well done. 

Thought I would share a few pictures of the tables.  Can you believe the names of the food  and drinks she served her guest? 

Holly even made the cupcake stand.  Thought it turned out so cute.  And there were goodie bags and spiders made by her and Darbee Rae for the kids and Halloween Bath and Body sanitizer for the Mommies. 

Most of Darbee Rae's little friends came in costume and they were too cute.  Here is a picture of some of the kids at the table set up to decorate their own mini pumpkins.

Snapped a picture of Darbee Rae before all her guest arrived.  She was one excited little girl.

Of course after the party we had to take the gifts  inside and Darbee Rae, her Mommy and myself played with 3 new Barbies, vaccumed the floor with Darbee's new vaccum cleaner, opened games and activity sets, listened to music on her portable CD player and when this tired Nana left she and her Mommy were opening her new DS.

All you Moms out there who still have children at home know how tired but happy Holly must feel knowing today was a success, and it is now over and almost bedtime.

All of you Grandmas and Nanas who are fortunate enough to be able to celebrate your grandchild's birthday with them, know the feeling of love, pride and thanfullness that I feel tonight. 

Hoping you all have had a wonderful fall day and don't forget to be thankful for the little things that make life enjoyable.

Goodnight......

Happy Birthday Shirlee

Good evening all my blogging friends.  Today is Shirlee over at Farmhouse Ponderings birthday.  If you follow her blog you know her hubby has been having some health problems.  Today was spent at the hospital having test run. And now they are having to wait to hear the results.

So jump on over to her blog and let her know we are thinking of them and wish her a Happy Birthday.  Tell her Nana Angela sent ya. You can find her  here.  Have a great evening.

Ramblings from the Homeplace

A chilly evening here in the South !!! YEAH YEAH!!!  Can you tell I am so excited?  I just love Fall/ Winter and I am so ready for the temps to cooperate with the season.  I know,, the 7 day forcast shows us getting back into warmer temps. but for tonight and the weekend I can pretend the cooler temps are here to stay.

Yesterday was Darbee Rae's 4th birthday.  What a bad Nana I was not to make a post and wish her Happy Birthday.  But I did call her early in the morning and sang to her.  She had a fun day with a party at daycare and last evening along with her parents and her other Grandmother, Papa and me joined them in Fayetteville at Chunky Cheese for a fun filled evening.  She is having a big bash on Sat. so tonight I am just going to share two pictures with you.  The  one on the left was when she was 2 weeks old ready for her first Halloween.

And on the right , just before our night of fun on her 4th birthday.  She is so proud to be four.  She told anyone who spoke to her yesterday, she was a big girl and she was 4. 

Monday morning I had taken a project out on the porch and was sitting there listening to  the water feature Mr. P has in the yard and the maillady  stopped at our mailbox.  She sat there a few minutes and then pulled off to the side of the road and came up the walk.  Now,,,, I smelled the package she had in her hand before she reached my front steps. Really, it smelled wonderful, and she commented on that fact.  I laughed and told her I had no idea who it was from , but it had to be tarts or candles.  I bet she really hated to leave  the package  with me because it had to make her mail truck smell good too.

Shirlee over at Farmhouse Ponderings was so generous and gifted me with all these wonderful  tarts and so many different yummy scents.  I was so touched by her generosity.  She had sent a package to me (posted in a previous post) and had included a few tarts.  Those were the most wonderful tarts I have ever burned and lasted such a long time in the burner.  She gave the e-mail address to me of the lady she purchases them from and decided to share with me until I can get my own.  You should smell my house tonight... prim , cozy, and simply delicious. 

Smelling those tarts before I had even seen them put my old brain to thinking.  How we take our senses for granted.  True, I had rather loose my sense to smell than my sight, but what would life be without the smells we are so familiar with  in our daily lives?

How many times have we walked into a primitive shop and the aroma of a tart or candle makes us feel so comfortable and puts us in a shopping mood?  Often times that smell becomes the ice breaker between us and the shopkeeper as we ask what scent that is and  does she have it in stock?  I have so often purchased the item I smelled in  the shop in hopes of making my home smell that welcoming once I returned from my shopping.

The smells of fall, what could smell better?  Apples cooking in the kitchen, whether it be apple butter,  sauce, bread,  muffins, cake, or apple dumplings the scent gives us a feeling of comfort. And we can not forget all the recipes that are available for pumpkin this time of year.  Hot, spicy and yummy. Do we ever stop to think would these foods taste as good if we could not smell them while baking in the oven or cooking on the stove top?

The smells of cotton candy, hot dog stands and corn dogs at the county fair?  Smells that we have grown to enjoy since our childhood.  And all the craft fairs we attend in the fall.  There is funnel cakes, kettle corn, curly fries, all the smells that we associate with that particular outing. 

And not only are there smells of food, the smell of fresh cut firewood and kindling awaiting the first fire of the season.  The smell of leaves burning after a morning of raking  and a the smell of a fresh cut hay field.

Yes, one could go on and on with our favorite smells.  But do we think what life would be without them?  I am going to try this season to march to a much slower pace and enjoy the simplest of gifts, the gift of smell.  I am beginning as I type. One of my favorite smells of fall.....

Yes, tonight we are having our first fire in the fireplace.  It is warm and cozy inside and the aroma of coffee brewing in the kitchen is drifting in the room.  Tonight  life is good here at the homplace.  Wish you all were here to share it with Mr. P. and I.  But since you are cozy in your own homes,, won't you share with me your favoirte smell of the season? Tonight I am thankful for the gift of smell.

Until next time.......

A Few More Ohio Goodies

Good evening everyone.  Hoping you all have had a wonderful Monday.  It has been a great day here at the homeplace.  I woke this morning with determination to finish two projects  I had started, and WOOHOO, tonight they are done.  Mission accomplished.  Now as far as housework,,,, we won't go there.  Only so much this gal can  do in a day.

Carmen, this is for you my friend.  I have not shown one of my favorite purchases from our trip to Ohio.  I so wanted to wait until I have the bedspread finished to go with my purchase, but it's taking longer than I thought so here you go.  My first coverlet.  Also got the pillow shown on the bed.

Will show you the bedroom when I get all the accessories I want in there. I hope to add to my collection as time goes on.

I got my first Billy Jacobs prints.  I was so excited to purchase them and now can't decide where I want them hung.  So right now their home is upstairs on the guest bed.  Will find the perfect spot one day.

And a dough bowl full of more bittersweet I purchased at an open market. I was so thrilled to get this and from talking to some of you, it was a wonderful price.  Wish I had purchased more.

I also got placemats, lots of  candles, and too many smalls to name.  Yes, it was a great trip and wonderful memories were made. 

Hoping you have found something during your day that made you happy and brought a smile to your face.  Happy Fall to all of you.  I cherish all of my friends and followers and love it when you  visit. 

Until next time......

Friday Night Football

Twenty five years ago  when Holly was Darbee Rae's age now, supporting our local high school football team would have been where you would have found us on Friday nights.  Loyal fans we were as we sat out each home game whether is was through heat, cold, or rain.  Holly loved it at a young age.  Remember the days of Cabbage Patch Kids?  Well hers would be dressed for the occassion as well , be it the girl in her cheeleader outfit or if she chose to take her boy in his football outfit.

Last night brought back all those wonderful memories for me.  It has been 13 years since I have been to a home football game.  After Holly got in high school and could go with friends we just got out of the habit of going and instead listened on the radio..  She decided it was time to take Darbee Rae and see if she liked the sport.  She was totally dressed for the occassion.

And being Holly's daughter, she totally got in on the excitement of the game.  She was a fan of the sport right from the beginning of the game.

Yes, I can see a future cheerleader in the making.  But, she loved the band also.  Their home is just down the street from the high school.  On any given evening when the band is practicing you might find her and her Daddy walking up the sidewalk to go and watch. 

I was surprised to know she actually listened to the announcer as well.  He called out the players number and said intercepted by James Primm.  Immediately she turned to me and said, "Nana, that man said James Primm.  I want to see that Prim football player."  That's my Darbee Rae.  Already she has prim on her mind. 

And speaking of prim.

Before the evening was over the temps. had dropped to the high forties.  Cold for us here in the south. And who forgot his jacket?  This is my Macho Mister  wrapped up in a prim blanket.

Not only did I relive many football games spent with my family when Holly was small, I watched my granddaughter experience the first of many  football games in her future.  We visited with many of Holly's grammer school teachers , talked with friends we haven't seen in awhile, and even saw some family there. And at the end of the game.....

We WON!!!

After the game we went to IHOP for a late night breakfast and warmed up with a pot of hot coffee.  We took Holly and family home and Darbee Rae was still so excited and going strong and it was after midnight. Last night was a wonderful, funfilled evening with my family , and I am truly blessed. 

Wiishing you all a fun weekend spent with someone you love. 

If I Were A Carpenter,,,,,,,,,

 I would have known a little more about what I have been doing out on the carport every night this week until after dark.  But being the dork I am and not being able to read a standard tape measure once I get past and inch or half inch mark, I have been lost all week long. 

Mr. P had contracted with the company he works for to build 2 light boxes for an inspection station they are building at work. The boxes were 10 foot long and 4 foot wide.  He did not have room in his shop to turn them so he had to build them on our carport.  My poor car was booted out to take all the rain we have had and the carport was turned into a wood work shop. I was to be his helper.  Bless Mr. P's heart.  Do you  know how hard it is to stand beside the man you love and keep your mouth shut as he measures and thinks and measures again?  And the complete job was to be built using  metric measurements.  Did I say I was lost already??

The poor thing gave me "the look" several times.  Don't know if that meant to shut up, or he couldn't believe I was that dumb!!!  But tonight they are done, loaded and ready to be delivered in the morning.  I will be so happy to get all that saw dust off the carport and my car get its space back.  He used his brain, and I helped lift and turn as much as I could.  Our son-in-law came tonight and helped us load them.  They are soooo heavy.  Here is a picture of one of the boxes

It doesn't look that complicated but there are little grooves in the sides, and holes drilled in the bottom, and it had to be so precise down to 2 milimeters.  Anyway I am so proud of Mr. P.

Now all of you have been showing such beautiful pictures of your countryside and all the fall color.  If ya know me by now I don't want to be left out.  The mums above have opened really pretty for me and I have a tree in the yard that caught my eye this afternoon.  A little glint of fall as the leaves are changing.  Now don't ya go laughing.  This is God's country and I am down here in the south.  Take a look

Now I asked you not to laugh.  I am really excited over my few red leaves.  Here in Ga we may get pretty trees a little later or we might just wake up one morning and the trees be almost bare.  I enjoy what I get.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you got a smile from visiting.  Take care and have a great Friday.

Until next time

Thank You Holly and A Great Soup to Share

Hello to all of my friends.  Hoping you all had a great day and now we are counting down toward another weekend.  We are suppose to have storms tomorrow afternoon and after that beautiful weather for the  weekend.  There is a craft show in a neighboring town but there are never prims there but a quilt shop near by so hoping we get to go visit on Saturday.

Do you guys like coffee?  Welll the Mister and I both LOVE coffee.  The only day we have time to sit and empty a full pot is on Saturday.   On Saturday we compromise as to the strength of our coffee.  Our taste differ.  He likes his STRONG and I like mine , well  medium strong. We both take it black. But in the evening when we drink a cup and have  dessert we each like our own coffee.

A few weeks back Holly surprised me with my very own one cup coffee maker.  I am so in love with this little pot. No it's not an expensive coffee maker, and she got it at Wal-Mart but now I can have coffee the strength I want whenever I want it..  It's a Hamilton Beach and it is even in my favorite color.

Now this is definitely not for you folks that drink more than a cup, but at night just perfect for me.  And it uses these little pouches. 

You can get these in all different flavors and strengths.  I now have a good cup of coffee each night .  In fact it's about that time and a piece of homemade pound cake is waiting on me.  Thanks Holly, a great "love ya" gift and  one I use every night.

Today at the homeplace it was cloudy, damp, and wonderful.  I was lazy today and just did a little of nothing.  Soup sounded good for supper and I had a new recipe I had been wanting to try.  And I am so glad I did.

It was called Queso Potato Chowder

I was visiting blogs and just happened upon this recipe.  You can find it here. It was delicious.  Mr. P is a picky eater and I was scared he wouldn't like it but was so excited when he emptied two bowls.  It will be a keeper for sure. 

Well that is about all I have to share today. Thank you for stopping by to say hello and a warm welcome to the new followers who recently decided to follow along .  Until  next time.

. 

Fall in the Great Room

Well I have been feeling quite bad since our visit on the front porch.  Remember  I ask you not to peek in the great room as we entered into the kitchen to have a bowl of stew.  Darn, I just lost my manners and what happened to my Southern Hospitality?  Sure didn't intend to keep you waiting this long to come back for a visit, but my birthday celebration just kept on going.

Playing with my new camera, I found a special feature.  I can put it in the sketch menu and this is what will happen.  I am having so much fun playing with it.  This is a pencil sketch  of the living room looking thru to the sunroom upon entering the front door. 

Table in the foyer.

Top of the black computer cabinet

Remember visiting the porch back in the Spring?  This old flour bin that belonged to Mr P's. grandparents was out there.  So many of you wrote and told me it should be inside.  I finally talked myself into bringing it in and I am loving it in this room.  I got the lamp when we were on vacation in Ohio, as well as the little digital pinkeep and the candy corn candle. 

This is what is inside the old dough bowl.  Do you see the little sprigs of fresh bittersweet here and hanging in the above display?  I got a bundle of fresh bittersweet in Ohio.  Was the first I have ever seen and I was so excited.  Should have bought more as it didn't go too far in my decorating. 

Top of oak roll top desk.

The fireplace mantel.

Love the burlap and bittersweet here as well.

The built in over the t.v. cabinet

Love this paper cone ornament.  Found it at a craft show.  I have old yellowed newspaper and can't wait to make some of these.  Would even be cute for Christmas

One of my favorite jacks. So ugly he is cute. 

This poor fellow won my heart when I saw him.   After all these years he is still a favorite of mine. 

I made the glass enclosure years ago from picture frames.  Inside are two old decorations.  These were two favorites of Holly's when she was a very little girl and have become just as special to Darbee Rae.  Maybe its the "pappy" in the pumpkin's mouth.  The skeleton hand...... who knows.  Love the face on the pumpkin.

 

Hope you are still with me as this has been a long and picture heavy post.  But I so enjoy company and it is Friday night.  Don't that mean we can stay up late and chat?  Hope you felt right at home and cozy here in the great room.  Wishing all of you a great fun filled fall weekend.  Until we meet here again.......