Pumpkin Carving and Halloween Parade

No clever title to this post.....just the facts!

These are the family pumpkins, we all did them together!

This is Mitchee from Camp Rock.....She is quite the rock star!

Mother Earth is a Recycle Bin, love that! She is my Green Girl!

Thankful this Thursday

I am thankful today.............

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. --Woody Allen


And what I am thankful for...........

The proof is in the paintbrush and the ladder and the drop cloth! I am finally "with painter" and getting happier by the minute!

You say it's your birthday???

Happy Birthday

Heather

in every language!

Love, Catherine

From my front porch

Two for Tuesday

Two images I came across today when I began to blog about something totally different(will have to wait for another day)

First I found the one of my girls. It is about 5 years ago on Campbell's birthday at our first home, I believe she was turning 3. The swing they sit on was a gift from my sister and they spent many hours swinging on it! I love the look on Campbell's face!

The other is just an image I saw on the Internet, I just love it. It speaks volumes of how we all should be all the time.

Enjoy.....have a Terrific Tuesday.

Not me Monday time again......here goes

I am not mad about my dad's cancer

I do not hate cancer of all kinds

I am not tired of hearing bad news about people who have cancer

I do not hate smoking

I am not bitter and angry today

Ok, maybe I am and therefore

I did not act grumpy to my girls and hubby this morning

I have not been a slacker about house cleaning

I am not totally frustrated about my house and it's condition and smells

I am not PMS'ing

I am not a grump-a-lump today! BLAH

Oh well, tomorrow is Tuesday, it will be brighter I am sure!

An Award!

Some may say it is silly, but when you blog like I do, it is fun to see that people read my blog, even people I do not know. One of them found me and gave me an award.



Thanks to Evolving Mommy for passing along the Kreativ Blogger Award!



So as a condition of receiving this award I need to share six things I love and then share this award with Six blogs I love. so here goes.....

I love my family! (husband, girls, etc)
I love chocolate! (eat it EVERY day)
I love Wednesdays.
I love thanksgiving.
I love cooking.
I love books.

Blogs I really like!!!! (love) are .......

Jennifer and her 3 Indians
Heather and This is the Day
Mommy's kitchen
In the Trenches with Becky

New Favorites.....
Heather's Sister
Get the Bean
Smitten Kitchen
A year of Crockpotting

Ok, that is more than 6 but I could not decide.

Thanks Catherine in Colorado!!!

Got the Bean

I GOT THE BEAN!!!

My order arrived today and oh boy was I happy. It is cold, rainy and a gloomy day all around and the bean came just in time, and so did the bags, tea bags.


I ordered Highlander Grog Coffee and boy does it smell delightful. Also got Ginger Peach tea and just know it will warm my toes!

So do not forget to get your bean today!

Now I will get a cup, snuggle with a book and RELAX! Happy Friday!

Cuban Beef Stew

I think this may win me a few brownie points with Texas Word Tangle!!

Seriously, this is a crowd pleaser....an all day, cool weather favorite....try it, you will love it! I can smell it cooking already!

The traditional dish uses a good amount of olive oil and meat with a lot of marbling. This version is lower in fat, but is true to the spirit of the recipe. Although it does take a fair amount of time, it is not difficult to make. Prep Time: approx. 10-15 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 2 Hours .

Cuban Beef Stew
2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 pounds sirloin tips, cubed

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup dry sherry

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup pimento-stuffed green olives

1/4 cup raisins

2 tablespoons capers

4 potatoes, peeled and quartered

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil, stirring frequently, until transparent.

Stir in cubed meat, and cook until browned. Stir in red bell pepper, bay leaf, cumin, and oregano; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in sherry, tomato sauce, vinegar, olives, raisins, and capers.

Pour in enough water to just cover meat.

Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, and cover.

Simmer until fork tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add more water if the stew becomes too thick.

Stir potatoes into the stew. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, covered, until potatoes are almost tender. Uncover, and cook until done.

Serve with crusty bread. Serves 6-8

Books are my favorite thing to kill time with

I love books, reading, glancing through, skimming, touching, smelling and burying myself in them. As a child...."not so much" as they say. My love of books began as an adult. I started reading at the suggestion of a friend and can't even remember who or when but a book or two were suggested and I tried it. And now, I love books. I read less that I wish I could but more that I used to.

I am trying to leave this with my children also. They have more books than most children's library shelves will hold. We have 4-5 book shelves of just kids books, that is separate units of 4 shelves each, not just 4-5 individual shelves! They have picture books, board books, chapter books, comic books, holiday books, books on tape, books that were mine and Kipper's, books from garage sales, library fund raisers and half priced book stores. When the book order form comes home, we order. We almost always get the $1.00 book, not matter the title. For a $1.00, how can you go wrong.

And getting rid of books, that is hard for me. I have my book group books from the years past. I have talked with my friend Jan about that one.....we share the same dream. Someday our kids will look at the shelves of books from our book groups and will admire them, fight over who gets them and remember us when we are gone. Well, that is our big dream anyway. They will likely be a pain in their sides and a part of our estate sales!!!

Today, I came across yet another book source. Barefoot Books was at the bottom of an email I got from Angie, a Newcomer friend. This site has some really beautiful, cultural and artistic books. I can't wait to order and send as gifts.

So, now that it is cooling off, I can't wait to curl up in front of a fire with coffee or wine and read a good book. You should join me! As I tell my girls, "a book is a window to the world". Love to share titles of good ones, Anne sends some of the best.....you can send me some too! Go Ahead....Read on!