Inspiration for the Coming Year

I've found this to be the perfect sentiment for 2010. What could we accomplish if we just went ahead and tried?

Happy New Year

Today I'm linking with Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sunday. Be sure to stop by their place for more inspiration.

Merry Christmas!

Rice Krispy Turkeys

Don't these turkeys look like so much fun?

I ran across a great website this morning that I thought would be fun to share with everyone. On it there is an unbelievable amount of information for every holiday imaginable. Of course right now they're featuring projects for Autumn and Thanksgiving. By the way, do you realize that three weeks from today and Thanksgiving will be over? Yikes! There's still time to plan, but not much! Be sure to check out this site for some really fun things to do with your children or grandchildren.........and for complete recipe and instructions for the Rice Krispy Turkeys go on over to Alpha Mom.

Have fun!

Today I'm linked with these great sites.....but sure to drop by!

September Walk

.…"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

~John Muir~

There's a lovely walking path directly in front of our home. A walk there anytime of day is beautiful but I particularly love ones taken in the early morning.

Desert Yellow Bells are blooming profusely this time of year........and they seem to thrive in our continuing 100 degree plus heat........

Though the temperatures this weekend continue to soar on the desert floor, we seem to have some beautiful Autumn colors going on here.......there's always something to be grateful for....... :)

This is the stunning Mexican Bird of Paradise......it will bloom like this until our first frosty night........which may or may not come in late December.

Enjoy your week.

And be sure to take that walk......

Today I'm linked with Spiritual Sundays, That's My World Tuesday,

Today's Flowers, Outdoor Wednesday,

and Sunday's in my City. Be sure to check them all out.

PB Monster M&M Cookies

Since I've had several online and offline requests for the big cookies I mentioned here in my Autumn Meal post I thought I'd share them today. Like most easy cookie recipes this will take very little time....don't you love that about cookies? This is a conglomeration of recipes I've seen over the years that I've tweaked to just the way I like it.....but it's very forgiving and can be played with even more. Gotta warn you though, this version is pretty darn good! Make a batch or two and see if you don't get some instant love going on at your house.

Monster M&M Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup peanut butter (crunchy preferred but smooth is fine)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs (beaten)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups M&M's (divided)

Step #1: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the baking soda, baking powder, and salt with the flour.......sifting it all together is a great way to do this......in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Combine the next ingredients in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer, or in the bowl you use for mixing with your hand-held mixer.

Step #2: Using your electric mixer (or it can be done by hand) beat the butter, shortening, and the peanut butter until nice and smooth. Add white sugar and brown sugar and beat until well blended.

Step #3: Add the eggs one at a time....mix a little between each addition....then mix in vanilla.

Step #4: Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time mixing each time until well blended.

Step #5: Fold 3/4 cup of the M&M's into the batter, distributing it as evenly as possible.

Step #6: For really big cookies scoop out dough using a heaping Tablespoon measure and drop balls onto a cookie sheet. Or actually use a bigger measure to make gigantic ones if you like. Be aware that if you use the Tablespoon measure you should only bake 6 or 8 cookies at a time so they will not run into each other.....even fewer if making the super large ones. If you use a teaspoon measure you can bake a dozen at a time as in most recipes. With a fork flatten each ball slightly making a criss-cross pattern on each.

Step #7: Top each batch of unbaked cookies with remaining M&Ms. Bake in the oven about 9-10 minutes for chewy cookies or 11-12 minutes for crispy. After letting them sit for a minute or two remove the cookies from the baking pan with a spatula. Let cool on rack.

HINT: As with all cookies take them out of the oven right before they look done to you. They will continue to bake for a short time after they are removed! Experiment with each cookie recipe you bake to get them just the way you and your family likes them!

Enjoy this first weekend of Autumn 2009.....

Today I'm linked with Michael at Foodie Friday, Nicole at Friday Food Ann at Food on Fridays and Jesse at Friday Family Recipes Just click on over for more Friday deliciousness.

I'm also participating in the Fall Festival at Hoosier Homemade. Drop by for some wonderful

Autumn Ideas for Decorating, Cooking, and Celebrating!

Med School Blue with a Little Bling

Stephanie, my sister's youngest daughter is a second year Med School student . Not only are we proud of her, it's also nice having her close during the school year since the Medical School she chose is here in town.......and as an added bonus Jane comes over from Los Angeles more often to see her baby......meaning more sister time for us.....always a plus! Steph spends her summers between her home in L.A. and humanitarian medical trips to Guatamala....busy girl.

Of course, when fall comes it's back to studying. She already has a crazy cute apartment to come to and while everything is pretty much decorated, she wanted to redo her bedroom this year. When she and Jane arrived a few weeks ago that was top priority on the agenda. She wanted a pretty blue with a little bling to come home to every night.

Christopher and I went over to help with the painting

Now we all know it's in the details...........

.............some bling on the tassels........

......new frame for the Van Gogh.......

......Jane recovered the headboard with sheets from Anna's Linens......

notice the big button tufting.........love that part

............a girl's gotta have a few flowers in her room.......

........Amy.....recognize some of the accessories?..........

.............the curtains were made from the same patterned sheets as the headboard........

The lovely finished product........

We thought it turned out great...........and most importantly......Stephanie loved it! While she has a very nice office set up in her place she said she she does a great deal of her studying curled up on her bed with her laptop and books...........and now with her brand new little kitty to keep her company.

Finally, here's Stephanie........isn't she gonna make a great looking doctor?

From a doting aunt........

I'm linked today with Sally for Blue Monday and Susan for Metamorphasis Monday. Just click on the photos to get your Monday off to a great start!

A Well Watered Garden

"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, Your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.

I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past.You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again." Isaiah 58: 9-12 The Message

Blessings on this beautiful Sunday..........

Today I'm linked with Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sunday.

Shabby Chic?

Is there anything better than a catnap on a warm afternoon? Especially if you can take that nap curled up on your favorite old quilt?

What if that quilt is on the tail-end of shabby? Shall I call it shabby chic?

Yes, I think I will. I've had it for so many years.....didn't pay that much for it even when it was new.....but I've always been in love with it.

White with just a hint of now-faded color. Incredibly soft and tattered.

The years have taken their toll.....but I confess the way I use this little cover has been

the biggest culprit. You see, it's outside a great deal of the time....especially in the cooler months.

Usually you will find it draped across a patio chair or one of my backyard swings.....occasionally spread out on the lawn. I've been known to forget to bring it in (books fall into this category too, but that's another post....more than once I've rushed home in an impending rainstorm to rescue a favorite stack of books, or been awakened in the wee hours of the morning by the sound of sprinkles on the roof only to have to scurry around the backyard in my whatevers gathering valuables in my arms before the downpour). My only excuse is that I use the things I love....and sometimes there are consequences! Sigh.

This summer it has been spread across our bed much of the time. There's a perfectly good white duvet under it that looks ever so stylish on a summer bed.....but it's not quite as old and familiar and cozy. My beloved quilt is shabby chic......that's my story

and I'm sticking with it.

Today I'm linked with Julia at Hooked on Houses

with Kelly at There's No Place Like Home, and with Melissa at The Inspired Room

Key Lime Bars

I couldn't resist our local market's great special on key limes this week. Now, what to do with them all? Actually there are so many ways to use limes in our cooking that it's not really a problem. We're having homemade tacos this evening so I wanted to try some sort of lime dessert to go with it. I ran across a recipe I had clipped from a magazine years ago but had never tried. Oh come on now, I know all of you have lots of those too, don't you? Anyway, it seemed to fit the bill for tonight's menu. Just took them out of the oven and after sneaking a little pinch off of one, I think I know my family well enough to say they're going to be a favorite from now on.

A KITCHEN TIP FOR TODAY.......Look in your old recipe files because you just might find a real gem. You obviously thought you'd like it when you first clipped it out...... so take one out of storage and give it a try!

Key Lime Bars

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

Bottom Layer:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Top layer:

2 eggs

2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice (6 small keylimes or 2 regular limes)

1/2 teaspoon grated lime zest (optional)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 drops green food coloring

Preparation:

For the Bottom:

Mix together flour and powdered sugar. Cut in the butter until crumbly and the mixture clings together slightly. Spread the dough in a 8x8 inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes. While the crust is baking prepare the topping layer.

For the Topping:

In a mixing bow, slightly beat the eggs. Add the lime juce, zest, sugar, flour and food coloring. Mix well and pour the mixture over the hot baked crust. Bake for 25 minutes more at 325 deggrees. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool and cut into 9 squares.

Note: This recipe can be doubled and made in a 9x13 baking dish.

I have a feeling the guys will be saying I should have used the bigger dish! :)

Enjoy!

Today I'm linked up with Mouth Watering Monday, Tempt My Tummy and Tasty Tuesday. Just click your way on over to enjoy more great recipes.

An Arizona Autumn

In mid-September the National Forest Service here in Arizona begins their daily Fall Colors report. In the low desert we will see very little, if any, leaf change..... but in the high country it is an entirely different story. The colors across the peaks are absolutely breathtaking and since the season is very short, it has always paid to keep track of when the trees are at their most colorful. It's a lovely drive just a couple of hours north of Phoenix ......a drive we always look forward to this time of year.

The landscape begins to change as we leave the desert floor and head north on I-17 towards Flagstaff.

Oak Creek just outside of Sedona, the beautiful red rock country.

Arizona maples on Rim Road near the Mogollon Rim........

Gorgeous show of foliage in Oak Creek Canyon

A grove of Aspens near Christopher Creek

Autumn in the White Mountains .....

Country road near Flagstaff.....

"Ditch Camp" in the White Mountains .......

Bassett Peak .......

Slide Rock in Oak Creek Canyon..............

So before very long we'll be stealing away for a day (or maybe two ) to enjoy the lovely sights of the season........what's it like in your part of the country? Do you have colorful leaves falling right outside your window, or do you enjoy driving to the mountains to see the sights? What special little things are you doing to enjoy this incredible Autumn season?

Today I'm linked to these two great sites.

Just click on the photos to see more lovely outdoor shots.