My colorful Wall

Since I mentioned this in my last comment, I decided to take a shot and show you...should have dug out the tripod and made it clearer but I just wanted you to see.  Love these markers!

My Beautiful Bench

Gavin made this for me in 4-H.....his dad is the shop director, so Gavin has some really good instructions and help.  He brought it down to me for the finish work...neither of them really like the painting end...but I do!  I wish I'd made it a bit darker but it works!  Of course, he got a blue ribbon at the exhibit.

 

We got the plans from here...Shanty2Chic  I had had it pin for some time and when Gavin said he'd make something for me...I didn't hesitate to pull this one out of the pin files!  I love, love, love it!  The little yellow pillow is one he bought me for Christmas a few years back. Now I need to add something to the wall above it...just not sure what it will be yet...maybe a window with vinyl saying on it.  I'll post when I come up with something!  My plans for the drawer are to store all my 1000's of photo's that I never find time to put in albums...LOL...maybe, just maybe, I'll at least try to organize them before storing...

Trying to play catchup!

I've really gotten a long way behind with my card shares.  This was done clear back in April for Gavin's 13th birthday...I can NOT believe he is 13 and it was a really sad day for me...not only because he is growing up so fast but it was the end of an era...no more birthday parties...he chose to invite just a few friends to go to a huge bounce house and spend the night...this granny felt so down!  LOL....he did invite me to go along but that was the day my little sister almost lost her leg and I spent it at the hospital instead.

Anyway, I got this image from JustInked and colored it with my Spectrum Noirs...I need a lot more practice but thought it really looked like our little man once it was done.  All done on the Silhouette.

Vinyl Words on Window

Just finished this up....a job for my friends daughter in law.  I like how it turned out...makes me wish I was a farmers wife...LOL...not really!  But, it does make me want to make something similar for me.  I'll have to do some checking to see what quote I might like.  This was a bugger to weed and now I know why they charge so much for pre-cut sayings.

I hope you have a wonderful time at the lake in our beautiful state.  The colors are just starting to turn around here...no red yet, mainly yellow but hopefully its better in the south.

Fall is time for Apple Pie

Made this Dutch Apple Pie yesterday and was going to get another snap of a piece cut out with ice cream on top but it got to late by the time we were ready to eat it the I didn't have the light anymore.

You'll just have to imagine how it looks on a nice plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Brent's Dad is visiting for a few days and he didn't leave a drop on his plate so he must have liked it.

Neal brought me the apples and recipe, it's the one he always uses.

DUTCH APPLE PIE

PIE:
3/4 c. sugar                                       2 tsp. ground cinnamon
6-7 c. apples, pared and sliced      1 1/2 Tbsp. butter, optional
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour                 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
1 unbaked pie shell

TOPPING:
1/2 c. butter                                       1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. all-purpose flour                                   1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For the pie, mix sugar, cinnamon and flour; mix in apples.    Heap in unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle vanilla over top of apple mixture; dot with butter.

Mix all topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over apple mixture.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes. or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown.

October Puts me in the Mood for Pumpkin!

This is on the menu for tonight...along with Maple Chicken Breast and a large garden salad. 

Pumpkin Pie Squares 

 
3/4 cup Bisquick Heart Smart baking mix
1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1/3 cup Fat-free sour cream
2 Tbs. + 2 tsp. low calorie margarine ***
2 cups (one 15 ounce can) pumpkin
1 1/3 cups Carnation Non Fat Dry milk
1 (4-serving) package Sugar Free Vanilla Cook n Serve pudding
2 tsp. Jo's pumpkin pie spice
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup Splenda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with butter-flavored cooking spray.  In a medium bowl, combine the baking mix, oats, and Brown sugar blend. Add sour cream and 2 tablespoons margarine.  Mix with a fork until mixture is crumbly.  Press mixture into prepared baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, add pumpkin, dry milk, pudding, pie spice and water. Mix well with a wire whisk.  Spread mixture evenly over warm crust.  Continue baking for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, melt the rest of the margarine in the microwave.  Stir in  the pecans and Splenda and sprinkle evenly over the filling and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

185 cal. 1g fat, 7g Pro, 28 g Carb, 163 mg Sod, 197 mg Cl, 3 g Fi.


I messed up with the margarine....put all of it in the crust when I was suppose to save out 2 tsp. for the nut mixture...then I melted too much margarine and my nuts and Splenda 'stuck' together so they don't look nice on the top.  I added a few more nuts to make it look prettier...but I will be cutting my servings into 9 instead of 8, so the extra pecans won't be too hard on my waistline!

I know you can't eat this with the Splenda but needed to post something!