sending Thanksgiving wishes...

Wishing you a day filled with family & friends, laughter,
sweet memories, and quiet moments to reflect on your
many blessings.

the many moods of Little Man...

Little Man has a birthday today...where does the time go?

He's such fun to photograph...laughing eyes, mischievous grins, and he does a mighty good impression of his grandpa's "stink eye" as it's called. You know...it's that look that that says,
"I don't believe a word you're saying."

I love the way his expressions change during each step of a haircut, so I decided to snap some pictures on one of our
visits to the barber. 

Here's the typical scene...

Happy Birthday Little Man...we love you!

my, oh my...mini pies!

A recent trip to Amish country found me coming home with mini pies. Just right for two, and so yummy, they gave me an idea...
this year for Thanksgiving I'll bake mini pies to share with
family & friends.

Pie making seems to be a lost art in our fast-paced world,
and really they're so simple to make. I've been using a dough recipe shared with me by a friend...I'm not sure where it originated, but I think it's the best. The secret ingredient
is the vinegar...it makes the crust tender and flaky.

Pie Dough
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1-3/4 c. chilled butter, diced
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. ice water
1 T. white vinegar

Combine flour, sugar, and salt; cut in butter using a pastry blender or 2 forks. Whisk together remaining ingredients and add to flour mixture. Gently mix ingredients with your fingers until combined. Divide dough into quarters, shape each into a ball; wrap in plastic. Chill one hour before using. Makes 4 single crusts.

You'll find mini pie pans alongside the kitchenware in most stores. To make mini pies, simply reduce your recipe's baking time to about 35 minutes.

The pies pictured above hadn't been out of the oven long and
Little Man was pacing while I tried to take a picture.
"Can we eat them yet?!"

If you haven't done it before, give pie baking a try...
guaranteed smiles!

November's bounty...

The early days of November are a gift. Each day we've been blessed with a clear blue sky and warming sunshine. Our busy harvest time is over...potatoes and onions are stored in the cellar, while jams, jellies, and pickles line the pantry shelves.
We enjoy the slower pace of autumn, lingering over these
glorious days.

And while the days are warm, the mornings are quite chilly.
It was 23 degrees this morning when I bundled up the kids and took them to school, and there's a forecast of snow for Friday morning. Most likely it will only be flurries; however,
I'm planning a warming soup and homemade bread
for dinner that night.

The flannel sheets were put on beds days ago...
ahhh, how wonderful they are to climb under on a frosty night. And how hard to climb out of of on a chilly morning!

November sets aside a day to give thanks. I read somewhere,
"Be glad of life," and so I am.

Giving thanks for...

-a blue-skied day filled with warm sunshine

-a woodpile, crackling fire, and family to share it with

-cozy flannel sheets, quilts  handmade & handed down,
  and little ones who love to snuggle

-health, family & good friends

-my time here to love and laugh, learn and grow, and enjoy the
  simple pleasures to be found in the everyday days of my life.

Life has a way of making the days pass quickly...too much to do, not enough time. However; let's set aside some quiet moments and pause...let's make every day a day of thanksgivng.