i do make one heck of a goody bag

i may be the worst nanny ever----

seriously, i don't believe that--but a couple of things have me questioning, just what is a good nanny--

i hear my other grandchildren laden friends, talk of trips with theirs, weeks of them staying with them---

now of course, i know that some of them--are dealing with grand-kids that don't live close by---

the other day, it happened again---i was standing in a check-out line, when one lady starts up a conversation---i am buying a couple of toys for two of my granddaughters----she tells me she has three grandchildren--tells me the sexes and the ages and then asks me would i like to see her pictures of them---i did-----they were very cute----good thing, she was so involved in hers, that she did not inquire to see mine---for if she had, i would have been forced to attempt to find them in my great abyss of a pocketbook--or shamefully had to admit, i did not carry any photos of my dear seven grandchildren---

then just yesterday--robyn and i were chatting about something, when she interrupts me---"mom, wasn't dannon's birthday yesterday"----i tell you, it was like someone hit me in the gut!

now in my defense, her party is to be held this coming saturday---and the actual day of her birth---had been rather a busy one---helping with my dad----and returning home, tired---asked robyn to make me some noodle soup--the kind you put in the micro-wave-----but you must put water in it---

spent the rest of the afternoon--with the fans, trying to blow the horrid smelly smoke out of the house---

back to the realization, that i had not called my little granddaughter nor put up my customary pic on fb of said child or written the birthday status----

i immediately called her----telling her i was sorry i had not talked to her on her day----and asking her did she know how much nanny loved her----she quickly said she did and preceded to excitedly tell me what her mommy and daddy had given her---i assured her i had lots of goodies, waiting for the party saturday-

if i don't rectify the situation of the missing grandchildren pictures, the next time some over zealous granny wants to show me hers---i will simply tell her that i must have left them in my other purse

a fall day and news

okay, so i am taking a little break in my day of baking for the church bake sale ---
our church had a yard sale/bake sale last week and it's on again for this saturday---

i am hearing that the cookies we sent last weekend didn't sell too well---i think the loaf cakes did---

today robyn  and i made pumpkin loaf---butter pecan applesauce muffins---chocolate hershey kisses cookies and cranberry dipped in white chocolate cookies---yesterday i made peanut butter chocolate balls----

i can really get into baking some times--especially if i have a helper or if i am the helper----today robyn and i did pretty well in sharing the work----and we had dillon to run to the store when necessary--

i don't know if i will attend the yard sale thing again this week though-----

if you are a long time follower, you may remember "big tommy" and how we were expecting him to be moved to a group home---well it has happened

we visited with him last saturday and probably will this saturday morning---

lots of mixed feelings about this change in his address----in the end, we didn't have much say in where he would be placed----but, you will not believe, how God has worked in this----although, it is not in the best part of our town----he is just down the street a bit from us---takes us like 8min instead of the 45-to an hour drive, where he has been all these years

he seems to be adjusting pretty well, but it is so strange to see him in a home with only a couple of other residents and having his own room----tommy has never had his own bedroom---really just a bed and a small chest for his things

thank you to all of you that have prayed about him or sent good thoughts our way---

it's raining here this week --the fall temperatures have finally kicked in--

the grand-kids football games go on and one car is bought and one more in need----

the days remind me---gather all you can out of this brief season and season of your life----buy all the candy and little joys, the grand-kids love---do it now, while they want them---buy those baby dolls, while they still play with them------and enjoy the days of baking and fighting in the kitchen with my daughter------

look out the window more often and notice those yellow and scarlet leaves---notice them before they are covered with the crispy brown ones-

just know, that life will change and places once familiar will fade away---but maybe the new ones, will have time to become a fondly remembered season

the purse

searching through her purse, she found it---shoot, it had melted---she pressed it into her mouth and thought about, how it's misshapen-ed  form, still tasted the same-

her life had become like this piece of candy---a little unrecognizable but sweet non the less-

was this the lesson she was to glean today---that although, we all change, there is still a deliciousness to life

no she assured herself, maybe more like---don't leave chocolate in your pocketbook--- and don't read too much into things

she reached in again to retrieve a tissue--but the damaged candy had completely changed it's use

don't read this kids

good morning blogging friends---once again i am feeling that nudge--okay, you all know how it is---it's more than a nudge---it's more like a constant nagging, to write---even though i don't think i have anything to say, or maybe it is more honest to say--nothing i can share---that stupid old dilemma i keep coming face to face with these days----oh to be a writer of pure fiction

i started hating hearing myself, ponder the idea of writing about my less than joyful looks at life these days--although, i have to say, they are very much alive and well---alas, i push on

frank is starting over again at a new company, as his place of work, was once again sold the other day--kinda saw it coming----yesterday, i felt like a mom, with her child on the first day of school----he didn't cry or have a potty accident---so he's off to a good start------

the newlyweds are doing well and busy planning for their futures----i look at them and marvel--all the dreams and daydreams-----it all seems a little familiar----

my boys lives are very busy too----kids in school----new york trips for some----football games for both families and car problems for some----uggghhhh why can't i win the lottery----

hey you know what, i am gonna share something personnal---heck, i am old enough to do that, right and i will try to be an equal opportunity sharer, okay kids (they don't read my blog anyway--oh wait, robyn might- i will go easy on her)

i don't know if i am a good mother to my boys, one hung up on me last night and the other one---well he "de-friended" me a few months ago on facebook-----they think i am kinda like the mom on  the show "everybody loves raymond"----no, all kidding aside, they love me and the reason they feel this way, is mainly my fault---my son that "de-friended" me actually did it for my own good---every time, he would post something, i was commenting and worrying ----but now, if i am bound and determined to see what he has been up to--i just go on robyn's---still have her password------and the one that hung up on me-----well i was whining about something and trying to fix a problem that is not mine to fix----although, i am "the car whisperer"-(that's another story)----hmmmm and what can i tell on robyn---she made smoothies last night and didn't share-----that little tidbit, will infuriate  her---should i omit it-----naaaa,-

well that felt amazingly liberating--

soups on

hey anyone up for another recipe, of sorts---

last week i found myself once again with nothing much in the house to prepare for dinner----that plain spaghetti with jar sauce, didn't sound good, again-

so i said, to myself--what about using those frozen soup vegetables in the freezer and go from there---

here is my creation

vegetable soup

1. one bag of mixed, corn, carrots, peas and green beans, frozen veggies---
2. the rest of the vegetable juice i had in the freg---probably 2 cups or so----and several cups of water
3. lots of seasoning--pepper salt lemon pepper sage garlic salt--all just to taste
4. 1 can of pinto beans--partially drained
5. 2 packages of lipton chicken noodle, dry soup mix-
6. oh i almost forgot--a steamer bag of summer mixed frozen veggies--i cooked them in their bag beforehand
7. okay this maybe a little confusing--you know those oodle of noodle soups--well this is the instant kind in the large package, with it's own dish---the teriyaki flavored--the flavoring packets and all
8. i think that was all---seems like there was something else
9. (anyone that read this before, i am remembering that something else haha----pulled chicken from hot wings-
conclusions

frank really liked it---
with any soup--the leftovers with the noodles, get too mushy for my taste--but was really good the first night
i would next time, add more corn---some butter and potatoes

all in all it was a keeper---happy cooking

watching the season enter

something keeps bugging me to write this morning----i haven't made up (except in my mind) any new recipes ---

the fall is coming strong our way----even though today and the next few days are promised to be more like summer---i feel the autumn winds and the autumn set of the afternoon sun-----

each season comes with excitement and dreams and memories----sometimes, i try and tell myself, to be careful not to let the past cloud my observation of life----you know what i mean?---

it's like when you go somewhere or have to do something that maybe you dread or fear the unknown---you can't help but have an expectation of what it will be like----at these moments i speak to me--"pretend you have no idea what this thing will be like--just go with it"----

and then there are certainly times when our remembrance can bring us comfort--and peace--as we look back on all that God has brought us through----the past is made perfect when we can see the pattern of our lives and not have too many regrets--

as i set my thoughts on the fall chill ahead and the cozy moments it all brings----i speak in whispers to my ever changing heart and say to it----don't worry, so much----yes, it's not true that most of what we worry about won't happen---but the comfort cannot be found before it's time---melt into this season, we are watching float past us---wrap the blanket of hope tightly around you and just be

cooking again

i pretty much promise, you, this is not going to turn into a food blog---

the other night, i was planning to make a baked spaghetti---as i didn't have enough ingredients and didn't want to have plain old noodles with jar sauce---i decided to get a little creative-

i started with frozen vegetables--broccoli, yellow squash and onion with green peppers---
i fried them in a good amount of vegetable oil---added lots of seasonings----lemon pepper, garlic salt, italian blend, and more salt and pepper---i was surprised, how fast this part was---turn the heat up high and be nearby---

while i did this, i boiled the spaghetti (thin) noodles---breaking them, three times-----

cooking them a shorter time-- since it would be cooking in the oven at 350 for about 45min.--cover with foil-

i took two cans (smaller size) cream of chicken soup--adding about a half of can of water----then i added a bag of shredded cheddar cheese-

this was not bad----if i made it again, i would change the following----add two large cans of soup--one cream of chicken, one cream of mushroom----i would add a whole big can of cream and half can of water---and i would add another half of bag of cheese and change it to a mixture of parmesan and mozzarella

add some garlic bread and a fruit based salad---for a quick and different take on spaghetti night