Thankgiving Recipes...and a Sneak Peek of Christmas

Oh Boy, It's almost Turkey day! Are you busy gettin' ready? I know I have a lot on my to-do list today. First thing is making some delicious pie. We'll be having my ole' stand-by the Amish Apple Pie. Then I'm going to try this delicious Turtle Pumpkin Pie from the new Gooseberry Patch Harvest Cookbook.  I'm looking forward to getting in the kitchen to roll out my pie crusts.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. carmel icecream topping divided
9 inch graham cracker crust
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. pecan pieces, divided
1 cup milk
2 (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding pkg.
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, divided

Pour 1/4 cup carmel topping into crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts. Beat milk, dry pudding mixes, pumpkin and spices with a whisk until blended. Stir in 1 1/2 cups whipped topping; spread mixture into crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Before serving, spread with remaining whipped topping, drizzle with remaining carmel topping and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Serves 10

Speaking of recipes perhaps you are looking for a sweet treat to bake for the game or a snack for this weekend. Check out these Shortbread Candy Corn Kissed Brownies from Picky Palate I took these last night for Christmas play practice and they were a hit. You may see pictures later next month using the cany cane kisses instead of the Fall candy corn kisses she used. The shortbread layer just melts in your mouth. The Mom's and Grandma's were so tempted yesterday they had to have a small sample too. It's just smelled so good while it was in the oven.

 

photo courtesy of Picky Palate

I am reminded of the very first thanksgiving and what that must have been like. I wonder if the pilgrims felt blessed or if they were comforted by God and the promise of a new life here. As I look back over the last year I'm so thankful for the time I've had with my family close by. There's nothing that I don't treasure more than these times.

I'm thankful for...

time with my husband

time with my children

being able to see my mother and father in law and seeing the joy in my children having grandparents close by

having extra help from family (never experienced this before with military life) just a phone call away

my health

precious visits with my sweet Aunt Princess

visits with my sisters

becoming a part of my old church family again and seeing some old faces that I haven't seen for almost 20 years

Here's a sneak peek to what I've been busy with over the last few days...

 

Blessings this Thanksgiving to you and your family, our blessings truly are given by God.

 

Carey

Christmas Decorating Inspirations and Frosted Candle Holder

This time of year usually has been busy preparing for Thanksgiving but recently I have decided to focus on the next big holiday...Christmas.  I've been busy getting ready pouring over magazines, reading blogs, crafting and putting my beloved Fall things away.  Here's some pictures that I've been inspired by...

Check out the vintage ornaments on the mantle

I just love white this year.  I'm a traditional red and green gal.  However, I'm lovin' the white.

Got a colander? Just add snowflakes, and white candles for instant ambiance

I love stars and this is the perfect time of year to bring them out!

photos from Better Homes & Gardens

Have you checked out their Christmas special issue, the ideas are flowing from that book!

I saw a really neat idea when I was out in a Gooseberry Patch magazine, I think it's Book 11.  I didn't purchase it, just not in the budget this time of year.  You take things that you already have love that and make them into something cool!  I found a jar in my pantry that was holding beans.  The lid was plastic and broken already but the glass was still good.  I bought frosted glass spray.  My daughter cut out a snowflake, my hubby taped in up for me and then I sprayed it.  After letting it dry I removed the inside tape of the snowflake and applied some elmer's glue and then some snow.  I found some ribbon, mine wasn't quite long enough but I'll replace it later with something longer, they used red yarn and left a small bit of yarn dangling.  Then you tuck in a green sprig, add a candle.  Isn't it cute?? I may make more of them, I think they would look cute down the table or on a mantle.  They used mason jars of various sizes and white candles inside.  So if you have some jars laying around and a little ribbon it will cost you next to nothing!

Blessings to you!
Carey

Thankful Blessings Part 2

In the past few weeks I've been trying to make some changes.  One of them being my attitude.  Instead of focusing on the have not's in my life or what isn't good I'm counting my blessings.  I have been writing them down in a journal.  At dinner every night we as a family share what we're thankful for too. 

Here's my latest thoughts:  I'm thankful for....

an able body

The other night my hubby and I made a trip to the emergency room, he wasn't seriously hurt but we thought he might have broken his foot.  Anyway, a lot of people in the waiting room and other various things brought to my attention I have a healthy body. 

my warm home (in this weather lately I'm so thankful)

baking in my kitchen with modern technology

not moving again (this time last year was difficult getting settled and decorating for the holidays)

being with my husband (so many military wives and families are separated this time of year, we're so lucky!)

What are you thankful for this week?  I'll be back soon with some new recipes and some inspiring decorating ideas.  Shh...I'm doing mine before Thankgiving this year and breaking my own rule.

Blessings! ~
Carey

Autumn Caramel Corn

Here's a yummy snack my girl and I munched on this afternoon.  It was a sweet treat!

It's super easy too.  It's in the new Gooseberry Patch book, Homemade Harvest.

Autumn Caramel Corn

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup dark brown corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3 quarts popped popcorn

Heat first 4 ingredients together over medium high heat.  Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir.  Add popcorn with mixture in very large bowl and toss to coat.  Spoon onto buttered baking sheet.  Bake at 250 for about an hour stirring every 15 minutes.  Enjoy! 

Check out Colleen's Holiday Goodies for more ideas!

Have a great week!

Carey

In Honor of my Veteran...

Happy Veteran's Day Honey, we love you!

This is my husband's uniform and his grandfather's uniform.  His Grandpa was in World War II and he was also in the Air Force.  My husband and his Dad built this box to keep the uniforms, it's quite large. We have their pictures on each side.  Then on the top we have a sign that says, " A man who is good enough to shed blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards"    Theodore Roosevelt

I'm so thankful to all the veteran's and their families today for the sacrifices they have made for all of us to have our freedoms.  So many people take it for granted today.  I hope that by remembering them we give back just a little so that we can let them know how much they are appreciated.

Happy Veteran's Day to you and your families!
Carey

Thankful

Good Morning! Where did October go?  It seems we are in such a hurry these days to rush through the season.  I want to enjoy things this year.  I do see a purpose in trying to get everything done ahead of time, but I feel we should remember the real reason for the season.  I'm going to be doing some posts about what I'm thankful for.  So this will be my first post about being thankful and I hope to do at least 3 more.

Feeling blessed for all of these things today ~

Our Lord Jesus Christ (the real reason for the season)

my family

my church family

having a teaching job

our new home


What are you thankful for?  So many times we forget to look at our lives as a blessing and dwell on our circumstances.  I think that if we focus on what we have our life will be enriched and  be able to live more fully.



Have a blessed day!
Carey

Halloween Highlights and a Fall Caving Trip!

Hello Blogging friends!  I wanted to share our trip pictures and Halloween pictures with you.  Our kids were on Fall break last week.  I had to teach class Thursday afternoon so we set off Friday morning for Kentucky.  My husband is an avid caver and he loves being able to get dirty and take the kids places he's been.  Now that they are getting older we can do that.  I think this must be the perk of having a preteen! My daughter has been reading some books about Floyd Collins and it was neat to see her put things together from the book.  We visited Sand Cave, Crystal Cave and explored Flint Ridge then Saturday took a tour at Mammoth.  I highly recommend doing this if you are ever in Kentucky.  You may not want to do it if you have a fear of small places though.  It was fun to spend time together and get dirty.  However, I was very sore!  We only ventured inside two caves Mammoth and Devil's Den.  I crawled about 50 feet in one, not fun!  My son loved it, now he wants to go with Dad all the time.  My daughter not so much. She isn't one for getting dirty and she said she didn't like the small spaces. 

This section of Mammoth is called Fat Man's Misery, it's kinda narrow

Look how dirty we were after coming out, this was Devil's Den, no movie theater lighting in here.

After finishing our tour at Mammoth we headed north for home.  We got home just in time to trick or treat.  There is a time difference in Kentucky than where we live in Indiana so we really had to hurry.

This house is right by our school, I used to walk by it everyday growing up.  Don't you love it?

My little Harry Potter

His archmesis, Bellatrix Lestrange

the all important loot!

Smokey, our cat in his costume

I'll be back soon with some yummy treats!

Blessings to you,

Carey