Halloween Wishes & Treats

My celebration was baking a little bit today. One of our neighbor girls showed up on her bike about the time I was ready to begin (she was fundraising for her 5th grade basketball team). She offered to help bake as she loves to cook. We had fun!

Neighbor Girl helped me with the layers for these Candy Corn cookies, and pretty much made the Halloween Turtles all by herself. I paid her with candy and jewelry, and a jolly ball for her horses that my donkey girls just never really felt the love for.

These treats could also be made allll the way up to Thanksgiving (or beyond) if you like, of course! You can find the recipe for the Candy Corn cookies here. Thanks to a co-worker for finding these cute cookies!

For the Halloween Turtles, I modified another recipe found somewhere (sorry can’t remember!). Pretzels are the bottom layer, then place a Rolo’s or Great Value Creamy Caramel Milk Chocolate Cup (which is what I used), and bake at 350 for about 2 or 3 minutes. Just enough to soften the chocolate a bit. Lastly, press a candy corn in on top of the softened caramel/chocolate to complete the “turtle”.

Here are but a few completed Turtles and Candy Corn Cookies (the cookies are tiny & bite-sized & pretty yummy). A tip: watch the youtube video mentioned in the comments for the cookie recipe. It’s not that difficult, but hard to explain.

Hope to be back later this week with a post about a darling wedding shower I attended this weekend. It was Farm Girl themed, and, why yes… I do have pics :)  Hope everyone has, or is still enjoying, a fun-filled Halloween!

Grandmothers are…

just antique little girls, aren’t they? And what a blessing they are. We recently celebrated my Grandma’s 97th birthday. It was truly a joyous day for all, but this photo by my cousin Susan captured the joy oh-so-perfectly.

Grandma on her 97th birthday this month, with great-great granddaughter.

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudolph Giuliani

Here is what it looked like in our neck of the woods one year ago today.

 

Things aren’t so colorful here this year, or at least not yet! How is Fall where you are?

Upcoming CSN Stores Review

Back in the Summer, I was offered a chance to do a review for CSN Stores. In my usual procrastination mode (even for the fun and positive things – silly me!), I am just now getting around to starting this.

As you may know, CSN is an online retailer with over 200 stores, selling everything from dining room chairs to chicken coops (yes, really).

I’m not sure what the review will be on – still working on that. Hmmmm, could be cooking related, Christmas related… the list is endless with all those stores to peruse! Please stay tuned for the review.

I also want to let Patti know that this pretty sedum is doing well, and it’s such a lovely shade of pink. Very different from the other, darker blooming “Live Forever” that I have. Patti so kindly sent me this and some other starts in the Spring while my Blacksmith was in their neck of the woods. Love it!

 

On another note - we will attend a local Fiddle Contest tonight. There just are not many of these old-timey events around anymore, so it’s good to see one small town trying to renew this tradition. Of course the Fiddler is involved! Lots of good, toe-tapping music to be had.  Tomorrow we celebrate my Grandma’s 97th birthday at my uncle’s farm. Yes, she will be there with bells on. She only recently moved to a nursing home, but still is in reasonably good health for her age. She always knows and recognizes her grandkids, great & great-great also… and loves each and every one! I am continually blessed and inspired by this wonderful, faithful, dear lady.

What’s going on in your neck of the woods? Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Reminders everywhere ~ if we only look UP

Sometimes I’m too busy to look UP… how about you?

An early morning view over our barn.

Psalm 121 2-8

A song of ascents (NIV)

² My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
       the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.

So glad I looked UP this morning! Have a wonderful & blessed Wednesday!

Exciting News x 3

First exciting thing…

I won, I won!! I am a whole lot late on announcing that I won (ummm… about 2 months ago) a wonderful giveaway hosted by Vickie at My Red Truck blog.

Look at these adorable Bottle Cap magnets she made!! They make me smile every time I see them on the fridge. Didn’t she use the cutest images? Thank you again, Vickie!! Please visit her to see some other wonderful things she has created. This girl has a knack for the crafty! (Photo courtesy of My Red Truck).

And, I won, I won… again!! Yesterday, after a fun day at the Craft Festival with my sister (and having this unexplained “lucky” feeling all afternoon), upon return home I found out I had won a $35 gift certificate to CSN Stores from Rural Revival. How fun this will be! If you aren’t familiar with Andrea @ Rural Revival, then you’re really missing out!! I just adore Andrea and her blog. From the renovation of their beautiful 1860 Ontario Gothic Revival farmhouse, the day-to-day adventures with Andrea and The Artist and the Glimmer Twins, to the storybook beautiful Rural Revival Wedding last year… you’ll be hooked too!! Don’t miss their beautiful wedding photo or the priceless American Gothic version of Andrea and The Artist (on her sidebar).  Just go read. Now. You’ll be captivated for hours :)

Thank you again, dear Andrea!!

My final reveal of exciting news for today involves this --

The first egg laid by one of my little Ameraucana girls!! Trust me, the egg is not nearly as large as it appears here. It’s so tiny and cute ♥ Nope, I wasn’t there when it arrived, but I did notice Peaches sitting nearby. I don’t know if she deserves the credit for this first little gem, or if she was just waiting to lay one of her own.

Oh, by the way, did I mention I still don’t have the nest boxes installed in the coop?!

I hope everyone is enjoying a fabulous Sunday!!