Reflections on October....

Here we are, already past the first week of November!  But, I wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on October before it just becomes a dim memory.....

What a busy month it was!  A lot of time was spent decorating for Autumn and Halloween.  I put a lot of effort into it this year since we live so near the grandkids and I wanted Mimi and Papa Ed's place to be really special for the season.  It might have been a lot of work, but it was a lot of FUN, too!

All that effort drew lots of attention and compliments from the neighbors and trick-or-treaters!  In addition, my blog post,  "Make Mine Spooky, Please", garnered some attention from FrontPorchIdeasandMore.Com and was featured in a special Halloween decorating section on their website.  You can check it out RIGHT HERE.   What a thrill to see my porch somewhere other than on my blog!  LOL.

Another project that seemed to require a lot of time in October was preparing for my stepdaughter's wedding in Oklahoma.  There was much to be done as far as helping Ed plan the meal that she requested for the reception....but, most of my time and energy was focused on finding that oh-so-right dress.  Remember???

I waited for my educational requirements to be evaluated by the Texas Real Estate Commission and my application to take the state licensing exam to be approved.  I was disappointed by the delay, but started an intensive review of the material I studied over the Summer.  I heard back from them just before leaving for the wedding.  I have a "green light" to take the exam!

And, finally, we put together a family evening of pumpkin-carving and chili-eating to celebrate Halloween.  It turned out to be so much fun - I'm sure a new family tradition has been born!

But, as I reflect on the month, one of the most special and rewarding moments had to be making cookies with my 4-year-old granddaughter, Ansleigh!   On the day before Halloween, I picked Ansleigh and her 6-year-old brother, Trayden, up and brought them over for some quality "Bake Time" with their Mimi (uh, that would be me).  We mixed up packaged sugar cookie mix (so simple!), rolled it out and used cookie cutters in the shapes of pumpkins, ghosts and bats to cut the cookies.  Then, we sprinkled orange sugar crystals on them before baking.  VOILA!!!  Halloween cookies!!!

To be honest, Trayden lost interest in the project pretty quickly.  He cut out a couple of cookies and then headed out into the backyard to romp with the dogs and search for treasures in the dirt.  But, Ansleigh took to cookie-making like a duck to water....and stayed with me through the last sheet of cookies.

This was a morning I will always treasure!  Just look at those precious little helping hands.....

And so October has raced past us....remaining only in memories.  Did it fly by for you, too?  Did you accomplish your goals for the month?  Spend the time you wanted with your Family?  Oh, I hope you did!

I am linking with Heidi at "Heart and Home" for Wednesday Gratitude.  Please take a moment to go over and check it out! 

Looking forward....

Jane

Prep Night and Pie...Revisited!

Hey, y'all!  Greetings from the Heart of Texas. 

Robin, over at "All Things Heart and Home", has the most wonderful idea for a holiday link-up party to cover all the holidays, Thanksgiving through New Year's!  She is truly one of the most talented bloggers around and I hope you will take a few minutes to head over and check out her terrific blog and the party!  

Since Thanksgiving hits first, I am revisiting this post from the night before Thanksgiving of last year.  It's one of my favorites because it includes a simple, but oh-so-yummy, recipe for pecan pie!  Give it a try.....I guarantee you will not be disappointed.  


Thanksgiving is upon us.  A time to count our blessings...to be with loved ones...and savor every moment! 


And speaking of savoring....I just finished my pre-holiday baking and it smells absolutely HEAVENLY at our house!!!  I've got the cornbread and biscuits ready to build some dressing around the turkey tomorrow.  Eddie baked two pumpkin pies, bless his heart!  Brownies with walnuts are cooling as I finally sit.  And I made two of my favorite old-fashioned pecan pies.  This recipe is the same one my mother used when I was a little girl and it's fail-proof, super easy, and TOTALLY YUMMY!!!


You will the following ingredients for one pie:



3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 stick of margarine - melted
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup pecan halves (this just works better than chopped pieces)
1 9-inch deep dish pie shell (uncooked) 


Beat or whisk the eggs. Add sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla extract and mix thoroughly. Stir in the pecans, blending them in well. Pour into the pie shell and place on a cookie sheet or shallow pan in 350 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes. The pie is done when golden brown and the middle stops jiggling! 


Now, I cheat...I always use frozen pie crusts! I just don't have the patience, the time or the knack for making pie dough from scratch. And the rich, gooey filling in this pie, combined with the delicious pecans, will overcome the shortcomings of any store-bought pie crust! TRUST ME!!!

With all this baking going on, you're probably thinking I have a house full of guests for dinner tomorrow. Nope. It will just be me, Eddie, my Dad (who drove in from Abilene) and Ed's youngest, Kenzie (who is home for college for the holiday weekend). Like alot of empty-nesters, our children and siblings are scattered so far and wide, it's hard to get everyone in one place. Once the young 'uns get grown, they marry and we have to learn to share time with in-laws. Besides that, Eddie is working night shift through tomorrow night, but we get to head to Abilene on Friday morning to see lots of FAMILY!

Until then, we'll be stuffing on the traditional Thanksgiving feast and giving thanks just to be together!

Wishing all of you a warm and blessed day with loved ones!

 
Jane 

******Oops! Looks like somebody's already been into this pie...******