Color My World

Welcome Beautiful Fall

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Although we’ll miss Fall in the Ozarks this year, we’re looking forward to experiencing Autumn in the deep South.

 

However, some things stay the same no matter where you are…like your favorite Fall yummies.

 

Two of our favorites are the famous Pecan Tassies and a “fork lickin’ good” Pumpkin Roll

Mmmmmm, cinnamon and spice aroma ? Warm apple cider~

 

Decorating has certainly changed A LOT for me since long gone are the days of decorating our Little Cabin in the Woods. Now, with only 379 sq.ft. of space I have only one plastic tub of pretties! So, at times I live thru others’ beautifully embellished homes. (I don’t miss weeding the flowers but I DO miss decorating!) Recently, I visited Simply B Boutique in Paducah, KY with my cousin Jackie. I found the beaded pumpkins (pictured above)and decided I MUST find a special place for them! Aren’t they pretty?

So, my friends, welcome Autumn with open arms and embrace all the beauty it brings.

OH…

on a

final note,

do you

think this

is a

celebration

of the

COLORS

of the

season?  

Hmmmmm????

 

 Celebrate the season!

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Welcome New Members

Jeff Simmons On the Road with Bloomers and Drawers

Margy Vogel Coomer

 

Blessings Y’all!

Kathy

Lemon Zesters

Does anyone else LOVE The World Famous Paradise Bakery like I do?

Recently, I had a layover at the Denver airport where I passed the time by reading my Kindle, watching people scurry to their gates, and playing Mahjong. When that got boring (4 hour layover!) I meandered thru the airport searching for something new. Then I discovered

P A R A D I S E … BAKERY.

The baker told me their Lemon Zesters have been a long time favorite, and after eating one, I knew why. If you love lemon flavored goodies this cookie’s for you!  When I was young, at least one box of Lemon Coolers was a necessity for a weekend camping trip and these cookies are almost as intoxicating!

Needless to say, the Zesters recipe is not published so I found a “close second.” I adapted their published sugar cookie recipe and it tastes very close to the real deal!

 

Here’s the recipe I used.

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups shortening
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 3 1/3 cups CAKE flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• granulated sugar for rolling, powdered sugar for decorating
• FOR LEMON ZESTERS: add 2 teaspoon lemon extract and 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugars and shortening using an electric mixer.

3. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.

5. Slowly add vanilla (lemon and zest if making Zesters) and beaten egg while mixing.

6. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not over mix.

7. Scoop with an ice-cream scoop and roll in granulated sugar.

8. Place directly on cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.

9. Bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, the edges do not brown

10. After cooling, dust liberally with powdered sugar.

Come on over and we’ll enjoy some with a tall glass of sweet tea!

~YUMALICIOUS~

This week’s rainy days FORCED me to read blogs and read blogs and read more blogs. In doing so, I found some wonderful new adventures to follow and gained some new Bloggyland friends.

Welcome New Followers!

Josette - my grama's soul

Jim and Sandie - Where Are The Dixons Today

Ain't For City Gals

Joycee - Granny Mountain

Ellie Great - Blogger (Profile)

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Who has the answer???

I’d like to post a map of our travels like some of you do but I’m not sure what states to include. Do you have to spend the night in the state to count it, or just pass thru? My map will be WAY more colorful if you choose the latter…

Blessings Y’all, Kathy

BiG tOoLs MiNi PiEs

This morning I hit the floor running at 4:30am YES 4:30AM! 

to get Robert out the door at 5:15.

working 6-6 for the next few weeks

 

my hubby works extremely hard, uses BIG tools and gets REALLY filthy

 

                  BIG-O nuts and bolts                           BIG BERTHA, now THAT’S one big air wrench!

  

Oil refineries

So, every morning I make him a HEARTY breakfast YES, EVERY MORNING! and I’m not talkin’ about a poptart and milk, I’m making breakfast burritos, ham and eggs, baked grits and turkey sausage, etc.! Then I prepare a lunch that the other workers will swoon YES SWOON! over.

This manly man doesn’t take samwiches and Cheetos but

yumalicious

lunches like chicken pot pie, baked pastas, fajitas, etc.

granted, some of these are from the previous night but hey, sometimes things get better with time

like cheese, fine wine and ME

So, today I COOKED. I don’t usually share my recipes but this one is too good and too easy to keep to myself.

MiNi HaM & ChEeSe PiEs!

  ~said like Oprah when she’s giving everyone a car~

Now these are no ORDINARY pies…

When I took them to teachers’ luncheons, they would be out in the parking lot with binoculars preparing for the attack when I drove in.

NO KIDDING!

Ingredients:

2 unbaked pie crusts

2 cups cubed ham, sautéed enough to get the water out

2 cups cubed CoJack Cheese

2 Tablespoons chopped green pepper

3 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese

2 beaten eggs

dash of Tabasco, to taste

dash of pepper, to taste

(You can add chopped onion, green onion, mushrooms, etc)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together except the crusts.

Cut 2½” circles from the crusts

Push crust circles into mini-muffin tin.

(I spray mine lightly with canola oil)

Fill with cheese mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350° or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

Let them cool for a few minutes.

Slide thin knife around the edges to loosen before removing them from the pan.

Serve warm. Makes 18 pies

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

for all you sweetsaholics out there, here’s another filling

shhhhhhh I got this from my favorite TV cook, Paula Deen

Pecan Tassies

½ stick of butter, melted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped pecans

10-ounces Heath toffee bits (sold in 8 oz. packages)

Bake the same as Mini Pies.

This is a party favorite! 

Enjoy!

 

Do you have a favorite “mini” food? 

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now for my favorite part of every post…

Welcome New Followers!

carolk

Georgina

MargieAnn

Southern Lady

Paul and Marty Dahl

Luci & Loree

Jeff & Sheryl Bright

Pidge

You make my day!

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~** 

Blessings Y’all!

1.11.11 at 11:11

What time is it?

Gosh, I’m not sure, let me check with Robert…

hey Roberto…what time is it?

when I didn’t hear a response, I peeked into the living room and what did I see???

?

?

?

now this is just TOO much…

ONE laptop for Facebook

ONE laptop for a football game

ONE big screen TV for who knows

good grief!

I thought this was supposed to be a “simple” life…

‘nough said~

I don’t know if there’s any real significance to the numerals today

nothing weird happened, no “ah-ha” moments, no lottery winnings…

guess I’ll have to wait for 11:11 on 11.11.11

Did anything weird happen to you today on 1.11.11?

`````````````````````

I did find an interesting community close to our campground

note the suspended bike

   

super creative imaginations or smokin’ something wacky

but wait pawdner…

I DID find something

♪♫WONDERFUL♪♫

just around the corner

cue the music

Hark, I hear angelic voices …♪♪♪Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh♪♪♪

cue the lights

this is puttin’ me in my happy place

for the next four weeks!

 

Blessings Y’all!

Welcome New Followers!

sorry I preciously missed you

barbedwire

Homeiswheretheheartis

bjneuhaus

Danielle

d.erick

JoAnn

 

 

 

yikes!

Seriously?

We’re taking a ginormous camper and that big-o long truck on Highway 1? 

  You know, that two-lane highway skinnier than Twiggy remember her? with switchbacks tighter than a…drum. Yes, you can look straight down those cliffs into the jagged rocks and ocean below….

Am I ready to meet my Maker?

Yes, but I’d like to survive this so I can do some more stuff like Ped-Egg my heels and learn to dance the can-can ~  We even consulted with our campground neighbors, Hal and Vickie from Cloverdale in Sonoma County, a delightful couple who gave us a recommendation for a campground in Bodega Bay, IN CASE WE MADE IT!

 NOT the White Cliffs of Dover~

H

A

  N

   G

 

    O

     N

 

   

 

The hunk-o-love I’m married to, otherwise known as  “the greatest driver EVER” had no problemos!

We got some good pics and great video.

for when we’re old and can’t remember

 

We made it!

 

just in time to get the camper set up and head to Bodega Head for a spectacular sunset.

Migratory whales are spotted in this area January – April.

Topping off the night: Fish Tacos and Flash Fried Dungeness Crab  at Rocker Oysterfellers

Today was amazing! We saw everything from deer in the woods to powerful ocean waves.

Thanks, God~

  

Welcome New Followers!

Blessings Y’all!

 

See ya later Gulf, Hello Atlantic!

After 17 delightful days on the Gulf Coast, we moseyed over to the East Coast. We drove the coastline all the way up to St. Augustine, then into Georgia.    Here are some memorable sights~

Three Amigos~ Dani, Kathy, Tina

View Full Album

We visited Ft. Matanzas, Daytona Beach, and drove a bit on Ormond Beach ~just to say we did~

 

Included in our “Bucket List” is visiting Lighthouses. ~I have a fascination with them~ We had never been inside one so we climbed the 178 stairs to the top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse. This was definitely a highlight of this trip! We also explored Fort Pulaski ~impressive ingenuity!~ before heading on to Savannah, GA.

 

 

Yep, that’s me up there!

View Full Album

Fort Pulaski

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Awwwww Savannah, GA~

We toured the downtown area of this charming city by trolley, then walked down to The Lady and Sons Restaurant planning to just take a couple of pictures, believing the line would be so long we would never get in. But ON NO, we got right in! I was so excited! Meeting Paula Deen is still on my Bucket List but at least we enjoyed a wonderful meal there!

From beautiful Savannah, we drove the Heritage Corridor, Discovery Route taking us thru Edgefield, SC, visited Ninety Six, SC then traveled down the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway, Hwy. 11.   We explored Poinsett Bridge, the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina. Nearby is the only remaining covered bridge in SC, Campbell’s Covered Bridge in Tigerville.

 

 

 

Next stop-Blue Ridge Parkway

stay tuned-I WILL get caught up!

Blessings Y’all!

Welcome new followers!