Walkin' On Sunshine Day 11

We had perfect walking weather today were I am! Fall is here. :-)
How did every one do? We're on the down-hill slide now!

Johnny Cake

Johnny Cake

12 servings

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/3 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease thoroughly an 8 inch square cake pan. Combine cornmeal and milk; set aside. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Stir together the egg and milk; set aside. Cream shortening; blend in sugar. Stir flour mixture and egg mixture alternately into creamed mixture. Blend in cornmeal mixture. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm, with butter and enjoy!

This is a sweet, light corn bread. Perfect to cool the tongue after a bowl of spicy chili! :-)

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it
either for the first or last time."

~Betty Smith

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 10

Sunshine Walkers I have failed you! :-( The weather and my schedule got me today and I didn't get my walk! I pledge to walk twice tomorrow...

Can you ever forgive me?! ;-)

If you walked today, please post your progress!

And welcome to one more sunshine walker - Regina! :-)

Guess what? Tomorrow we'll be half-way done! :-)

A Simple Little House

"I like a simple little house

With flowers by the door,

An ample larder for my needs

And not much more in store.

I like a window toward the sun

And doors that open wide,

The trickle of a bath for birds

With feathered friends beside.

I like a tidy nook inside

Where my books and slippers lie,

A cup for tea, a magazine,

A warming hearth nearby.

I like some trinkets on the sills,

White ruffles at the panes,

The comfort of a sturdy roof

To shelter me from rains.

I like the cozy ambiance,

A place of sweet retreat

Where life unfolds along the way

And each new day's a treat!"

~Virginia Borman Grimmer

Sweet Kelli, at There Is No Place Like Home, shared this poem and pictures of her cozy home on Monday, with an invitation for others to do the same. Thank you Kelli! I love this poem and enjoyed putting pictures of my "simple little house" with it! :-)

Please leave me a comment, and let me know, if you share the poem on your blog, too!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 9

It was 2 miles for me today. How did everyone do?! :-)

"The little farmhouse is waiting

Beneath the maples' rich yellow;

Corn shocks stand with pumpkins near,

And frost-nipped apples are mellow.

The red barn is filled with grain,

Cellar shelves hold treasures;

Oh, I am thankful to be living,

To share in autumn's pleasures!"

~Earle J. Grant

from Ideals magazine

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Days Gone By" by Jim Hansel

Farmhouse Hamburger Soup

Farmhouse Hamburger Soup
8 servings

oil
½ onion, chopped fine
1 pound ground beef

2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 can green beans, drained

1 can baby peas, drained
2 potatoes, chopped
1 cup baby carrots

1 small can tomato sauce
2 cups chicken stock
salt to taste
lots of freshly ground black pepper
cheddar cheese, grated
sour cream
tobasco sauce

Cook onions in oil until tender; add ground beef and cook until beef is done. Place onions and beef in a large stock pot (or crock pot). Add tomatoes, corn, green beans, peas, potatoes, carrots, tomato sauce, chicken stock, and seasonings. Simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender. Top with cheese, sour cream and tabasco sauce to taste. Serve with cornbread and enjoy!

I am trying this in the crock pot since it is soccer practice night. I am hoping four hours on high will cook the potatoes and carrots. :-)

Edited to add - four hours was just right!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup, Jam Hands Recipe Roundup August.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

I've always thought the color of hot cocoa

was the loveliest color in the world! ;-)

Hot Cocoa
4 servings

2 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons sugar
¾ cup water
3 cups total of milk and/or cream to taste

Mix sugar and cocoa. Add water and whisk until smooth. Place over low heat until mixture boils. Add milk; heat until scalded. Do not boil. Just before serving, stir smooth. Pour into a favorite mug and enjoy!

Country Oatmeal

There really isn't much decision to make, 

as far as what to have for breakfast on a rainy autumn morning... :-)

Country Oatmeal
2 servings

1 cup water
¾ cup milk
1 cup quick oats

Bring water and milk to a boil. Add oats and cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Cover, remove from heat and let sit 2 to 3 minutes. Serve with your choice of butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon. Curl up in a cozy chair and enjoy!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 8

Who's out there walkin' on sunshine? I'm going to leave the doggie at home tomorrow and try to get 2 miles in. :-)

Happy Columbus Day!

Activities -
Enchanted Learning crafts - Columbus
We chose to do the color-by-number, alphabet code, and map activity.

Books -
Monday
I, Christopher Columbus
by Lisl Wiel
Things to Make and Do for Columbus Day
by Gail Gibbons
Tuesday
1492 Year of Columbus
by Genevieve Foster
Wednesday and Thursday
Columbus
by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
Friday
I, Columbus My Journey 1492-1493
edited by Peter and Connie Roop

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
24 servings

for filling
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
for muffins
2 1/4 cups flour
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon all spice)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup oil

For the filling, beat cream cheese, egg and sugar until smooth; set aside. Combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Divide half of the batter among 24 greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Drop filling by teaspoonfuls over batter. Top with remaining batter. Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks and enjoy!

Supper Menus
October 13th-19th

Monday
"Columbus Day Dinner" super easy super cheesy lasagna, caesar salad, italian bread
Tuesday
hamburger soup, jalapeno cheese cornbread
Wednesday
Mrs. Wilt's saucy chicken sandwiches, lettuce and tomato salad
Thursday
texas chili, johnny cake, rustic autumn fruit tart
Friday
pot roast, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Saturday
steaks, corn and bell peppers on the grill, baked potatoes, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls, Laura Ingalls Wilder's gingerbread

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 7

We're 1/3 of the way done! Didn't that go by quickly?! I only got in a token walk this evening - ran out of daylight. How did you do today? Please leave your progress in the comments! :-)

If anyone would like to be a "Sunshine Walker" for the last 2 weeks of Walkin' On Sunshine, please feel free to post a comment and let us know you're joining in! :-) Happy Walking!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 6

We're one more day closer to the goal! How did everyone do today? Post your time and/or distance for Saturday. It's ok to miss a day or two. I'm just trying for the 21 days in a row to get that habit back in my mind - to feel like something is missing if I haven't walked. Happy Sunshine Walking! :-)

Napkin Folding

My daughter was taught a nice way to fold a napkin at her last 4H meeting. She would like to share the instructions with you!

Start with a square napkin.

Fold it in half.

And fold it in half again.

Fold down the first corner.

And then fold down the second...

...and third corners.

Pick up the napkin and turn it over.

Then fold one corner in...

...and then the other corner.

Turn it over again. Now your napkin is complete and...

...you have a pocket to put your silverware in! Fun!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 5

Sunshine Walkers, how did you do today?

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 4

Hi all you Sunshine Walkers! It's time to report your times and/or distances! Four days down, only seventeen to go! :-)

Comfort

"It doesn't matter what you have, someone else always has something bigger or better. And those decorating magazines can often give us great ideas but also a dose of the "gotta have it" syndrome. Maybe it's time to take a little break. Instead of focusing on "home beautiful", concentrate on what makes your home warm and caring. A place where you can express your God-given talents. No mater how little or how much you have, you can experience the results of a godly home. Make it more of a sanctuary in the best sense. A place of security, trust, and comfort. That comes from you. There's no decorating scheme in the world that can replace the role you play in your home!"

from "The One Minute Home Organizer"
by Emilie Barnes