You didn't get the Pumpkin, YO!

Things my five year old daughter says when leaving Safeway.

Pie for Underachievers

Whoever came up with the saying, "Easy as pie" is either a culinary wizard or didn't realize that pies aren't that easy. It isn't so much the filling but trying to get the crust right that is difficult. I believe it may be a lost art (at least in my family!) I really should have paid more attention in the kitchen when my grandmother was baking pie. She made everything look easy. Ah, well-- "live and learn" that's what I always say. Because if you're not learning something new every single day? You're not living!! Today, I learned that pie isn't easy but there is a remedy to that. It's called cobbler. Now that's something that is easy!

I was shopping at my nearest warehouse store yesterday-- by the way, they already have the holiday baskets and trimmings out already, it isn't even Halloween! What is this world coming to anyway? I bought the yummiest looking Granny Smith apples and now that I have them home I'm wondering what I should do with them.

Caramel apples always look so good. I always wanted to make some. I'm thinking I might regret it, though with all the potential for sticky mess they have and all. I wonder if I could make some fake ones to go with my cupcakes? That would be perfect.

So then over I click to my all time favorite resource, All Recipes, where I find a recipe for apple cobbler. There are lots of other fall-inspired goodies to make, so if you have a minute, go over there and take a look. In the meantime, here is the cobbler recipe:

Apple Cranberry Cobbler

Submitted by: Regina StockRated: 5 out of 5 by 7 members
Prep Time: 25 MinutesCook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 55 MinutesYields: 8 servings
"'My family enjoys the sweetness of the apples as well as the tartness of the cranberries in this old-fashioned treat,' says Regina Stock of Topeka, Kansas. 'It's a great dessert to make during the peak of apple season.'"

INGREDIENTS:
5 cups thinly sliced peeled tart
apples
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup fresh or frozen
cranberries
3 tablespoons quick-cooking
tapioca
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
2 tablespoons butter or
margarine

TOPPING:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter or
margarine
1/4 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, cranberries, tapioca, cinnamon and water. Let stand for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Cook and stir 3 minutes longer. Pour into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Dot with butter.
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to form a soft dough. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls over hot apple mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into topping comes out clean.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com
Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/23/2008

Doesn't that sound good?

Creative Marketing

Many times when we see a new product that is a great idea, it is so incredibly simple that anyone could have thought of it. With that said, I really can't believe that there aren't already the following two products available.

The first idea came to me after using the Swiffer Sweeper on my new wood floor a few years ago. My kids are always running on the wood floor and seeing how far they can slide. So, I thought why not combine the two and the kids can clean the floor while they have fun!

Introducing--- SWIFFER SOCKS!! I know I would buy them.....


This weekend I thought of another new product that I'm sure would be a big hit. Our boys, like most boys, love to play with their toy guns. They have water guns, cap guns, Nerf guns and airsoft guns. The airsoft guns use the little plastic pellets that end up all over your yard. Eventually they would probably blow away or roll into the gutter (I'm not sure exactly where they go).

Imagine this: having an airsoft pellet that is biodegradable, filled with fertilizer, preen, weed and feed, or whatever other product you spread around your yard! I think it's a brilliant idea. The kids would be playing and beautifying the yard at the same time. I don't know about your family, but here that is an oxymoron. When they are playing, something is getting destroyed, if you know what I mean. This would be a way to correct that. I think the folks over at Preen just might agree.

Have a Heavenly Birthday

Today is my mom's 75th birthday. She has celebrated 37 of those birthdays here on earth, and 38 in Heaven.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER

"Happy Birthday Mother"

It's sure to be the best one yet,

Though you left me here behind.

Did you think that I'd forget?

Your cake this year, will surely be,

A beauty to behold.

With the icing made of Silver,

And the candles made of Gold.
Yes your birthday in Heaven,

Will be such a grand affair.

And I know you'll look so lovely,

With a halo in your hair.

The Angels will come from everywhere,

To sing your birthday song.

And I know they'll be so happy,

That you've joined

God's Happy Throng.

No I can't send a card this year,

Or give a gift so fine.

So I'll just send a special prayer,

To that wonderful mother of mine.

By Winnie Lovett 1968

Whenever I think of her, I remember a needlepoint she made that was framed and hung in our living room. Every day I would look at that needlepoint and read those words, and think of her. It was my tangible connection to her. And still is.

Irish Prayer

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be ever at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

And the rain fall softly on your fields

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Happy Birthday, Mom! You are dearly missed every single day.

Weekend News Update

I removed the playlist because I found myself pausing it to read. I don't know if everyone does this but it can get distracting. It may come back in some form, later on.

Now that October is off to a good start, it is time for us to start visiting our favorite pumpkin patch farms. Next weekend should be early enough to get some good pumpkins but not too early that they spoil by Halloween. We are going to do something different this year and try the local railroad which is hosting a pumpkin farm trip. It looks like a lot of fun. Some fun pumpkin facts are revealed here.

Over at A to Z Teacher Stuff, there are lots of fun things to do with the kids this month!

It is already time to start thinking about the Christmas photo. I start in October every year and somehow I am still scrambling to get the cards out by the second week of December. Every year I have these grandiose ideas for a great photo but something happens in the translation. I really love receiving photo cards of my friends' families and seeing how much their kids have grown since last Christmas, or since the last time we saw them which these days is last Christmas. I'll keep you posted on our progress as it "develops".

This morning after dropping the kids off at school, I stopped at my mailbox to get the weekend mail, and guess what? My charge bill (which is due tomorrow!) is in my mailbox, returned because I put the check in front of the mailing address and since the post office isn't clairvoyant, they had to send it back to me. Darn! I'm paying fifteen bucks for phone pay again! Conspiracy, I say!

Woodshop hubby's birthday is coming up and I'm trying to think of what to get him that I can afford. He wants a miter saw, but that might have to wait. Do you think he will like a Rockler gift card instead? I hope so! Don't worry, he says he doesn't read my blog!

The reason he can't have a miter saw is that we just had some repairs done. Somehow, whenever you have a few extra dollars in the checking account, something comes along to eat it up!

It all started with water stains on our kitchen ceiling. I don't know much about indoor plumbing, but I do know that when you see water stains it is not good, especially when the shower is directly above the kitchen. We looked and looked for a good plumber (they are HARD to find!) The first two were left messages and never returned our call. The next one didn't speak English, at least not very well. The criteria for a good plumber dictates that he is able to communicate with his clients. On to number four, who came out the same day, checked the entire house and fixed the problem in under a few hundred dollars. Believe me, we thought it would be much more expensive than that! We were thrilled. Now we only have to pay another couple hundred to get that hole in the ceiling fixed. Boy when it rains, it pours.

Or it's the shower leaking.

We went to the sock hop on Friday and it was so fun! The kids love this annual event and it is a lot of fun for everyone. A little loud and crazy but fun. Here's a picture of daddy and princess having a dance:

Princess and Daddy at the Sock Hop

I'm not posting my picture, the one I had taken while I'm standing next to the Elvis cut out is not a good picture. I look FAT! That's bad, when you look fat standing next to Elvis! I was wondering why I keep seeing those Medifast banners pop up on every webpage I visit. My computer is trying to tell me something...

October 5th, St. Faustina Kowalska

Today is the Feast Day of St. Faustina, known as the apostle of Divine Mercy. I have been reading her diary for a number of years now, and find it just fascinating. At Faustina.org, there is a Reflections Page on some of the entries in her diary, and information about a movie coming out which is all about the message of Divine Mercy which our world so desperately needs today.

From You Tube, The Message of Divine Mercy:

Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels

I have an angel story that I may write about sometime. I have seen and been helped by an angel, as has my husband. They usually don't seem out of the ordinary and it isn't until after the fact that you realize what you have encountered was an angel. I love angel stories, as a matter of fact my favorite one was featured on Spirit Daily, about a woman who wanted to know her guardian angel's name and ended up actually meeting him one day during Adoration. I can't find the link to the story but it was amazing.

In one of my prayer books, we are told that it is a good habit to pray seven "Glory Be's" every day in thanksgiving and recognition of our Guardian Angel. I have found that it is a great way to start the day, right after the Morning Offering prayer. I also try to pray seven "Glory Be's" for my children's and my husband's guardian angels as well.

One day, when my daughter was a newborn, I was downstairs in the laundry room and heard her crying. I asked her guardian angel to watch over her until I could get back up there to get her. Just a few minutes later, I came up the stairs to find her sleeping in her crib while her musical mobile was playing. It had just been wound up, but not by me. I was the only one home, so I figured it was her angel and I wasn't in the least surprised by it.

My son saw angels on the altar during Mass when he was two. He called them birds, why are they flying around Father? Again, I wasn't surprised.

Because I believe in angels. The Bible has numerous accounts of angels helping people.

Sometimes, I imagine my angel sitting in the seat next to me while I'm driving. I even talk to him (I'm not sure if my angel is a he or she but I always think of him as a he).

I am certain my angel is sitting with me when I am at Mass.

At night, I imagine my angel finishing my prayers for me as I drift off to sleep in the middle of saying the Rosary.

The more that we are aware of our guardian angels, the more I believe they are able to help us. They may not be able to change our free will, but I do think they can inspire us to make the right choices.

My children have all named their angels. Princess calls hers "Miss Rose", Wild Thing called his "Saint Bird" and The Kid named his "Kara" after a cute girl in his kindergarten class.

This article about the Feast of the Guardian Angels is from Manila Bulletin Online:

Three days after celebrating the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the Catholic Church celebrates today the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels.

According to Christian tradition, God assigns to every person a guardian angel whose task is to guide and protect that person from all danger and harm. "How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it," Saint Jerome said.

In Catholic theology, angels are believed to be messengers of God,announcing His will to the people. At times, they are commissioned to do things pertaining to mundane affairs. In the Old Testament, angels serve as executors of God’s wrath to those who are disobedient and of blessings and deliverance to those who have been faithful to Him (cf. Genesis 28-29). They also serve as guide and protector of humans (cf. Job 33:23-6). In the New Testament, Jesus warns the people not to discredit the little children. "Their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven." (cf. Matthew 18:10).

This feast reminds all Christians of God’s abounding love for all
people. God cares for each one of us.

The opening prayer in the liturgy tells us that God, out of His
providence sent His angels to watch over us. Through our guardian angels, we feel God’s comforting presence and goodness. In response to God’s love and generosity, let us do His will and faithfully follow His commandments. We can do this with the help and guidance of our guardian angels.

"Angel of God, my guardian dear to whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day/night be at my side to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen."

from Manila
Bulletin Online

That's more like it!