Category: holidays

Saturday Sweet Talk…

Wiwohka5 Comments

With the fall season rushing to fill our senses, and our kitchens, with warm and comforting October favorites.

My favorite flavor’s during October center around apples, caramels, and those delectable crumbly cobbler style muffins and cakes.

I decided to start with the apple’s, as they go so well with fall spices and syrupy drizzles, which are my weakness.

Personally, I believe that an apple can make or break the flavor combinations in certain styles of bakes. While many apples are plenty sweet, tart, and juicy when you eat them raw, things change when you bake with them. If the apple isn’t tart enough to stand up to all the sugary flavor, the apple flavor gets drowned out, if you know what I mean.

So began my mission toward successfully baking a gluten-free apple cake from scratch… no more store bought box mixes! It was time…

First, I needed to find a recipe that I could follow for a flavorful apple cake, and gluten-free. Honestly, I see amazing videos on Facebook all the time, which is where I watched a woman make these jaw-droppingly glorious Apple Crumble Muffins. The down side was that it wasn’t gluten-free, and also made with muffin tins, which I don’t have unless my girlfriend brings hers over when she comes for Sunday Coffee/Tea.

So, I headed back to Pinterest, which is God’s gift to all DIYer’s!

I realized that an apple cake or bread was the better choice for this recipe, as using a muffin recipe can have unpredictable results when converting it to a bake in a cake or bread tin. I decided on a cake recipe, as I want to save the bread one for a pumpkin dessert I’m attempting to bake for you, on a different episode.

While I was forced to make numerous adjustments, which I will share as we go, under no circumstances do I wish to take any credit away from those that came before.

Here’s the original recipe and link, as I’m certain that this recipe will be just as wonderful, if not better than mine. Be sure and check it out…

High Protein Apple Crumble Cake (Gluten-Free!)

Make this Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Cake and fall obsessed in minutes! This high-protein dessert is a dream come true for so many reasons; it’s decadent without being heavy, it’s gluten-free and easy to digest, it’s sweet but not going to spoil your sweet tooth and it’s just downright beautiful! It’s packed with warm spices and the addition of protein powder makes it a nutritious choice, perfect for enjoying any time of day and sure to become a seasonal favourite.

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Servings: 8

Author: Teri-Ann Carty

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes minsCook Mode

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Equipment

  • oven, 8″ springform pan
  • mixing bowls
  • measuring spoons and cups
  • offset spatula
  • rubber spatula

Ingredients

Apple Crumble Cake Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • ½ cup sugar coconut sugar works in this recipe too!
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1¾ cup gluten-free flour blend
  • ½ tsp xanthan gum omit if your flour already has it
  • 1 scoop Botanica Protein Powder (¼ cup)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger and nutmeg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 medium apple diced

Crumble Topping Ingredients

  • ½ cup oats
  • ½ cup gluten free flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ cup pecans chopped
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ cup butter melted

Optional Icing Ingredients

  • ½ cup icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp cream
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp vanilla
  • pinch salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350d. Grease and line an 8”pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Add oil, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla to a bowl and whisk to combine.
  • In a separate bowl add dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Add dry to wet, whisking till you reach a smooth batter. Add chopped apples and fold them in until combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with an offset spatula.
  • Make the crumble topping by adding dry ingredients to a medium sized bowl.
  • Pour melted butter on top and stir to combine. The crumble should hold together when squeezed.
  • Scatter the top of the cake evenly with the crumble topping.
  • Place in preheated oven and bake until a skewer comes out clean from the centre of the cake and the cake is golden brown, 45-50 minutes.
  • Let the loaf rest in the pan for 15 minutes before removing the springform ring. Carefully transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • While cake is cooling make the glaze. Add glaze ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Once cake is cool drizzle the top with the glaze and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 542kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 334IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 2mg

https://pin.it/63l3i4tHk

**Disclaimers** My cooking skills, ingredients, and baking tools are all based on real world baking! Not everyone can afford most of the high end name brands, or the organic labeled ingredients that triple the price simply by saying the words Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and the like. I also don’t think that the craftsmanship of said measuring cups and spoons, pans, trays, and/or cooling racks need be a deal breaker. I once watched a video of a guy making an entire burger on a clothing iron, and I would have eaten it! Rule for today is… sometimes ghetto get’s the same result! It depends on how hungry you are for somethin sweet, I guess.

Now, back to the bake…

So, with recipe on board, I set about my task of mastering the Apple.

I chose SugarBee for our apples, though you may have your own personal favorites.

As you may have noticed, there was far more sugar sweetening in the recipe, than apples, in my opinion, so I did some changing in regards to that drizzly sugar syrup topping. I also didn’t have any safe protein powder to add, as many use wheat and I don’t have the one she recommends. If any of you do this recipe and use the protein powder, please let me know how it turns out. I may go back later and try doing it with said powder added, just to see.

What I decided to do was add an extra quarter cup of my gluten-free flour to offset the moisture. I also did a radical change to the crumble topping, so watch for it, as we go. Alright, let’s do this!

First things first… we need to prep. A clean baking environment, breeds success…

I absolutely do pray that God gives me success, when baking. I need all the help I can get!

Apples peeled and diced. Half were set aside to be mixed into the cake…

The other half were turned into an apple compote, with quarter cup sugar, quarter cup brown sugar and quarter cup plant-based butter. I used Country Crock…

I didn’t make any other changes to the cake recipe, aside from the protein powder. I used Oat Milk in mine, but she says that you can use any plant based milk. I took the apples that were set aside, tossed them in some of the cake mixture, and then mixed them into the cake mix.

After lightly spraying my 9 inch cake pan with Olive Oil spray, I poured the cake mixture into my pan.

Here is where I went off the reservation… and a miracle happened!

I took all of the apple compote, liquid and all, and poured it on the top of my cake mixture. Looks reckless, doesn’t it? I didn’t stop there, though…

I filled that bad boy all the way to the rim of the pan with the crumble mixture, minus the pecans (I didn’t have any) from the recipe above. I was so worried that it would overflow before the sugar had a chance to caramelize and soak into the crumble mixture that I put a dish under it to catch the spills.

I realized early on that 350 for 45 – 50 minutes wasn’t going to get it done for this monstrosity, so I baked this apple crumble bomb at 380 for a whapping hour and 15 minutes… I know, right?! What was I thinking?

I think sometimes God loves to show favor on His children in some of the smallest, and most unexpected ways… that’s part of why I love God so!

Don’t ask me how, but I watched a miracle unfold, right before my oven eyes…

The only way that I can describe this would be to suggest one combine the most deliciously moist and flavorful apple cake/pie they’ve ever had, with the chewiest and gooiest apple oatmeal cookie known to mankind!

It was so heavy that I had to use two plastic plates from the Dollar Tree just to flip it over and out of the cake pan…

The apples didn’t sink to the bottom, nor was the cake stodgy or too bready, even after placing that pie filling on top, before baking.

I know the lighting is terrible, but I hope you get the idea… light and fluffy, with a caramelly crunchy topping.

I wouldn’t dream of taking credit for this amazing recipe, nor do I wish to forget the video from Facebook that gave me the idea for the compote, so please be sure to visit this site, as well. You never know, perhaps you’ll want to make them, too. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1226523166181722

I would have to say that this experiment in gluten-free baking was quite literally, The Bomb! Mee-maws Apple Bomb, that is…

Wednesday Words…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Eustace watched Game of Thrones, and now he walks around the house dressed like he’s about to go hunting, whispering “winter is coming”, in the most ominous way… and then quickly adds, “so eat your vegetables!”

He seems to think that it’s hilarious, and has chosen to perform this little ball of apparent comical genius for the company’s Fall Festival Talent Contest.

Ok, maybe it is sort of funny, but I’m not so sure it’ll win him any prizes.

Is this one of those times when you tell your friend their fantastic, because you don’t want to hurt their feelings? You know, like they do for all those contestants auditioning for all those talent shows on television? I don’t want to mention the actual shows, since I think that American Idol and America’s Got Talent have legal teams that block people from using their names for things like this.

Anyway, I don’t know what to do, here. Should I let him do it, or should I try to talk him out of it?

He is a cheeky camel, as you know, so perhaps he really doesn’t care what others think. Who knows? Maybe he’ll be a hit! I mean, he did take an unscheduled summer vacation, and they welcomed him back with open arms. For all we know, he might actually win the contest and become an overnight star!

If you want to know the truth of the matter, I think this whole venture has more to do with retaliation, than any trophy or applause! You see, I think Eustace got his feelings hurt when the company turned down his idea for adding a fresh vegetable cart in the break room. They stated that with the Holidays right around the corner, there wasn’t enough **((time))** to add another venue to the company’s upcoming employee events…

Camel’s are stubborn, you know. I don’t think this is over, do you?

Saturday Sweet talk…

Wiwohka8 Comments

As you must know by now, I’ve had to go ala natural with my foods. This means having to rethink every single thing I eat, from the ground up!

Baking sweet things has been my passion from the time I was a small girl, as I talk about my Easy-Bake Oven at every opportunity. Being the tenacious cookie monster that I am, there will be no white flag… no meek signs of retreat, no, no!

Seeing’s as it’s already heading into the holiday baking season, we’ve been afforded the opportunity to begin displaying our favorite sweet treats… even if it is Gluten, and mostly, Dairy Free (I can still bake with eggs, even if I can’t eat them on their own).

For now, I shall bring you a new recipe each Saturday that can replace an old one, thereby, allowing continued baking success for this Wiwookie Monster (I know, that was worse than a bad Dad Joke).

I know that I probably told you about my first successful Banana Muffins adventure, but it was a bit like cheating to be honest. I simply bought a box mix and added water, in a manner of speaking. The point is, it wasn’t homemade the way I’ve always done in the past.

I’m not about to be bested by something as silly as flour or milk, are you kidding me?! No way…

I found a recipe on Pinterest that I’ll share for anybody that’s interested, because it came out so good that you’d be hard-pressed to consider it Gluten Free.

And, there was hardly any sugar added…

https://www.noglubread.com/gluten-free-banana-bread-recipe/

gluten-free banana bread

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

A moist and flavorful gluten-free banana bread recipe that even picky eaters love.

  • Total Time: 75 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 medium overripe bananas
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup neutral oil (or melted butter)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a fork.
  2. Add eggs, oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract; stir well.
  3. Add gluten-free flour blend, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix until almost no powder remains.
  4. If using, fold in nuts or chocolate chips now.
  5. Pour the mixture into a greased or parchment-lined loaf pan.
  6. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 65 minutes, starting to check at 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes, then cool on a rack before slicing.

I only had two overly ripe bananas and one that was fresh and new, so she suggests that you can add several tablespoons of raw honey to add more sweetness. Besides adding three tablespoons of raw honey to the mix, I opted out of the nuts and chocolate morsels, so as to get a true taste of the banana. I used everything else per the recipe, aside from adding a sprinkling of brown sugar across the top, for that crunchy crust that I especially love.

It rose just as much as a normal gluten bread…

And it was very sweet, moist, and had a bready texture as one would expect from a sweetbread…

I give 5 stars to this recipe, as I only had to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 3 Tbsps. of raw honey, in order to achieve a Banana Bread Lover’s melt in your mouth sweetbread!

Definitely, two thumbs up!

Tune in next Saturday for the next scrumptious scientific survey of sugary sweets, or possibly savories, or maybe even some soul foods. If you’ve suggestions for any specific scientific surveys you’d like me to try my Easy-Bake hands at, shout it out!

Have a blessed weekend, my sweet WordPress Family.

Remember that God loves you very much! And, so do I…

Wednesday Words…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Apparently, Eustace has such a nice voice that he’s been asked to make the morning announcements for them. Well, at least til December, anyways. After last year’s success, the company has permanently installed him as their Christmas Camel!

I did have to have a long conversation with him, regarding how long it took him to get back into shape after his candy cane infusions, remember?

The poor camel was downright hateful, there for a while. We would like for this season to go a bit easier. Eustace assured me that they’ve ordered him an outfit for this year. I guess the insurance company had a fit when they got the bills for all rehab. I don’t blame them, do you?

Perhaps that’s the purpose of offering Eustace some differing jobs, other than the eating kinds. We’re probably fortunate they didn’t ask him to be their stand in fire extinguisher, what with all the water he carries in his humps…

You ARE like those you associate with…

Wiwohka4 Comments

Brands, that is…

Daily writing prompt
What brands do you associate with?
View all responses

Ah, the good ole days…

Once, there was time when a girl could eat whatever she wanted, with reckless abandon. She wasn’t tied down to just any old brand. And she never had to worry over what brands she chose to associate.

There was a time when she loved to celebrate with her closest associate, Mr. Folgers…

Alas, those days are gone.

There were the days of joyful indulgences with her most frequent of associates… you may know them. Folks used to call them the Tillamook Gang, but to me, they were my friends. I think I miss Cheddar the most, as she was most often in the kitchen…

Well, as I mentioned at the beginning of this, you are like those you associate with! Unfortunately, they weren’t the best influence, so I had to give them up.

Now, after learning to let go of that which is a bad influence, I cleaned up my kitchen and now have a new circle of brands to hang out with… the healthier kind!

At first, it wasn’t so easy. Meeting new brands that behaved far differently than my old brands was difficult for a time. Strange names and unusual characteristics made me feel very self-conscious and intimidated, not to mention a bit scared. Change is never easy, but for the sake of healthy associations with brands… it had to be done!

Now that I’ve taken the time to get more familiar with her, Chiquita has become a very loyal brand, faithfully supplying me with a better association with potassium, and the like…

Chiquita was so genuinely helpful and giving, she actually introduced me to the Foster Farm Girls…

You know, associating with them has done wonders for my health, seriously!

There is, however, one brand that has been my friend since my earliest days. My mother actually introduced me to them, first. I was only about five years old, when my mother bought me an Easy-Bake Oven. I’d never made cookies before. I’d only ever seen my mother do it, but she was now handing over the spatula, so to speak!

I was placed upon a stool that had been stacked with several Yellow Page telephone books. Before me sat my brand new oven, all the little trays, sprays, spoons, and such. But the world turned on it’s axis, when my mother handed me a large bowl filled with cookie dough! It wasn’t just any cookie do, however, but the original recipe from Nestle Toll House Morsels package… that was all it took!

From that little oven, came some of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted! Now, perhaps it was the sugar rush that kicked in, or even the bit of caffeine from the chocolate chips, hitting the bloodstream. The point is, I was hooked… not just on cookies, but on the Toll House brand!

I’ve had occasion to use other brands, but I always come back to Toll House! Whenever I see their packages, I’m immediately transported back to my childhood days… the good ones, though they be few. Thank you, Toll House!

I bet you guys are glad I kept this brand. I wouldn’t serve you anything less than wonderful… hugs

Barnyard Blues…

Wiwohka3 Comments

I awoke this morning, to questions that don’t seem to have satisfactory answers, as far as deciding on what to write for my normal Friday post. I’m going to be fully honest when I say that Barnyard Business episodes may not be the right fit for WordPress.

While my heart wants to continue with the stories, the response on WP has not been what I’d anticipated. Now, don’t go getting your feelings hurt or anything, because I’m certainly not blaming any of you.

The imaginative stories I come up with are really meant for children, and let’s face it, there aren’t any little ones knocking on my WP door. If folks are reading any of them to their children, I’ve never had any comments or such that might reflect someone’s interest.

I published a children’s book, but it was mainly for testing the waters. I think I’ve sold one copy, but I wasn’t surprised. My books are meant for children’s hands, not in the form of a futuristic Etch a Scetch!

This will be my third Christmas spread that I’ll be putting together, and as you already know, nobody ever seems to show up for the party. You can be butt hurt about this statement, or you can simply accept it as truth. You all have busy lives, I get it! Plus, the bottom line for this site is to reach hearts, not collect back pats and overly wordy accolades… it’s not about me!

Unfortunately, I have a tendency to make it more about me than about sharing the Gospel. Maybe it wasn’t my primary reason back when I started… but it is now, more than ever! I try not to overdo it, but let’s face it… that’s what the cookies are for, right?

As I am the president of my own Overthinkers Anonymous Club, it’s important that I make no rash decisions about a thing. Prayer comes first, then looking at said thing objectively, follows. After that, I write my thoughts down, usually here on WordPress. Any following steps come into play, once I receive your feedback. You may or may not even realize how important you are, in terms of what I write, how I write it, and when I publish said thing.

You are my family, and your thoughts matter to me, especially when it comes to what I put on this website. Why? Because you are important to me… very important!

I really would appreciate your feedback, as to whether or not I continue with any of my children themes, here on WordPress. It may be a situation where I simply journal on WP, but pull all of my main character episodes to a different venue. My desire is to write that which is useful for your edification, inspiration, encouragement and overall blessings. If it needs changing, so be it! I love you enough that I’ll write however I must, if God can use it to reach your hearts!

Hugs

Preferably with family…

Wiwohka7 Comments
Daily writing prompt
How do you celebrate holidays?
View all responses

Wasn’t I just writing about how many holidays there were? How funny is that?

I would have preferred that WordPress ask me about one or two holidays, rather than lumping them all together. Why?

Because, holidays, the main ones at least, are vastly different from one another, and each carries its own significant meaning, traditions, and ceremonies.

If I were to attempt in sharing my celebratory habits for each of the holidays that I recognize, we’d be here til the cows come home, as they say. And, not only that, but we’d never get to the cookies that I leave down at the bottom of the page!

I suppose at the heart of it all, it doesn’t really matter which holiday anyone chooses, as long as they are celebrating with friends, family, and loved ones, ya know?

That means YOU, just in case you weren’t sure who I was referring to. I may have inadvertently given that secret away, with all the “Hugs”, the bucket’s of cookies, or possibly all the Monday Messages harassing you for Christmas lists.

I guess I could say that all that effort put in with idle threats, affection and sugary bribery is my way of celebrating the holidays.

Now, some might not agree with my list being a valid form of Jolly activities, but it bothers me not! You know why?

Because, just this last Sunday I made my first successful Gluten Free Banana Muffins… and they tasted good! In all good conscience, I shouldn’t be serving you cookies that I haven’t tasted myself, first. How am I to know if you’ll like them?

I start my holiday celebrations for November and December, here, right now. I know that it’s only September, but I need the time to practice, taste, and even sample what I wish to offer you during the holiday season.

So, what does all this blather mean? Let me shorten it up a bit…

Holiday + Family + Cookies = Happy Holidays!

Cookie?

Monday Messages…

Wiwohka9 Comments

Can you believe that we’re already halfway through September? Summer is rapidly dwindling, as the cooling winds of the fall season begin transforming the lush green foliage to all those differing shades of glorious reds, yellows and golds.

I think that it should be a law that the moment the fall arrives, everybody has to put their Christmas lights up! Well, think about it for a moment! There’s far less lighting in the fall and winter months, so it would make things far brighter.

I think Halloween and Thanksgiving can still do their own thing, but just work around the lights, that’s all.

I mean, come on. All the stores put all their holiday products on the shelves at least two months before the actual holiday, so I say we fight back!

From the moment the stores start piling up candy and pumpkins all over the place, we should all put up our Christmas lights as an act of defiant solidarity!

Maybe I want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in December on my birthday, I don’t know. That way I might get an actual gift. Honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who is born on or near a holiday. Everyone just figures they can do a twofer… no fun! I am praying my granddaughter is born on or near my daughter’s birthday in November, because her due date is the day after Thanksgiving.

Also, why can’t we just combine Mother’s day with Father’s day and just call it Parent’s Day. You know, I asked Google how many holidays there were. First of all, it has to break them down into categories. That should be our first clue that we humans have far too many holidays, memorials, tributes, Month long celebrations for nearly every nationality out there, and special events commemorating this or that! Seriously, we should really think about extending our 365 day cycles to like 600 or so, just to really have recovery time in between parties!

Remember watching Little House on the Prairie, when they would celebrate Christmas? They gave each other handmade gifts and items needed for survival, and they didn’t have cars to drive to and from their festivities… they had to risk life and limb to travel through the wilderness in six feet of snow, just to bring gifts!

I don’t know, in a world where time waits for no man, as they say, we sure do have a lot of time to waste on all these “pat yourself on the back” parties. Now, I’m not saying that everyone behaves this way, so don’t go there! I’m simply basing my findings on what I see, hear, and experience from where I’m sitting. You wouldn’t believe the immense pressure that is put on folks living in poverty. It was so humbling for me to attend my daughter’s baby shower on Saturday, with no gift to offer… nothing.

Of all the things I’ve ever done wrong in my life, the people I’ve hurt, and the pain I’ve caused others, namely my children, God tells me I did something right. You know how? In the character of my children. My youngest daughter, who turned 30 this year, pulled me aside, and produced a gift for me to give her sister. Maybe it was for my sake, or perhaps it was her sister she was thinking about, but I don’t suppose it really matters.

Why am I rambling on about all this silly nonsense about too many holidays and celebrations? First of all, everyone is already seeing the stores gear up for cavity night, so I know you are feeling the beginning birth pains from your wallets… and the parties haven’t even started, yet. And, secondly, because I am fairly confident in saying that many of you already purchased holiday items for this year, but at the close-out after holiday sales from last year. Don’t panic, nobody will call you out on it, most of all myself. I get it! A bargain is a bargain, am I right?!

I suppose that I wanted use this mid-September Monday Messages just to start prepping you for what’s inbound for these upcoming months, so nobody can say they DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH NOTICE to get me their virtual Christmas list, which seems to be very difficult. This will be our third Virtual Christmas, and I have plans! So suck it up, Buttercups, and get it together!

I mean it!

If you don’t, it may spoil the whole thing. I know I’ve probably said this in the past, but this time, I’m being fully serious! I have some major surprises, not to mention my third installment of Tilly and Santa’s adventures. Oh, and there’s so much more, but I can’t say a thing, yet. So, now do you see why it’s so important that I get your lists ahead of time. I need time to put everything together.

So, your jobs… virtual Christmas lists mailed before Thanksgiving, and, show up for the party on Christmas morning. Last years idea of a bag of puppies was exhausting! I had to hand deliver most of them, since there were too many absentee guests… holes in the corners of my couches, poo doo on the floor, and somebody peed on the Christmas tree, shorting out the lights!

So, if a puppy is on your list… you better show up this time, or it won’t be charcoal that Santa leaves in your stocking! Tilly has quite a bit of influence with ole Saint Nick, seriously. If I were you, I wouldn’t risk it!

Barnyard Business…

Wiwohka10 Comments

Today must be one of the laziest days we’ve had in quite some time. Honestly, I didn’t realize how good it would be to get back to the barnyard. There isn’t much better of a feeling than sleeping in your own bed, after a long time away from home.

Eustace was invited to a company retreat, so I’m not exactly sure what he’s doing, just this moment, but I can hear snores coming from the porch, the barn, and my upstairs bedroom. It seems that everyone around here is sleeping in, this lovely Friday morning. Everyone, that is, aside from myself.

While I might not be able to enjoy coffee anymore, I still love to sit in the still of the morning, with a good cup of tea. It’s so quiet, aside from the wind in the trees or the occasional birdsong floating across the meadow.

Well, I should say that it’s usually very quiet. As for this morning, it’s a fair bit away from being the normal serene calm that I’m used to experiencing. Funnily enough, I’m not bothered in the least from all the snorts, mumbles, and growls calling to me from every corner of the barnyard. In fact, I find it rather comforting, like a warm blanket on a winters day.

Snoring babes means happy babes, as far as I’m concerned. Life at sea has it’s benefits, but when it comes to rack-time aboard a massive ship on the water… well, you never know if you’ll wake up in your bunk, or on the floor, what with rough waters and high winds!

Take Osrig, for instance. He barely came out from under my bed while on the ship, but now that we’re home, he rarely comes in the house. His favorite spot for napping is just outside the kitchen window, on the porch…

Honestly, I don’t know that we’ve ever seen him so happy and relaxed.

Speaking of seeing someone happy, oh my goodness, you should see miss Tilly! Well, you can’t actually see her, right this second. She woke up when I did, begging me to help her pack a basket of fruit for young Henry, and his family. She left straight-away, headed for the river where the two lovebirds often meet. I don’t suspect she’ll be back til this evening…

Ahhhh, young love! Something tells me that she will be spending a great deal of time with her sweetheart’s family, which I am glad for. Tilly has grown up right before our eyes, and in such a short time, it seems. Besides, Henry spends a lot of time here with us, as well. I’m thinking of inviting them all for Thanksgiving dinner. There’ll already be an army of ants, from Lilly’s kin, and Squagon has invited family members from both his Acorn and Pinion Valley clans. The more the merrier, I always say!

Well, my tea has gone cold, and my tummy is shouting “Oatmeal… Oatmeal… Oatmeal!” I best get busy making breakfast.

Oh, yeah… and it’s FRIDAY, everyone! Have a blessed weekend… hugs

Monday Messages…

Wiwohka2 Comments

Fall is fast approaching, bringing with it many of our favorite holidays, savory homecooked meals, sweaters, and nostalgic old movies, right?!

Fall also marks the anniversaries of several wonderful beginnings, for me personally. I believe that Tilly’s journey began during Christmas time nearly three years ago, and I began the story of my journey with Brutus in the early fall almost two years ago, as well.

With the holidays come new adventures in all the Barnyard Babes’ stories, so it’s especially exciting! There are some really wonderful events in store, new cookies to bake, and scads of holiday music to be shared. The lobby is going to be alight with activity, laughter and celebration… so buckle up!

Again, I will put out the request for participation, virtual Christmas lists, and the sharing of holiday joys with one another. Let’s turn our WordPress Street into a Holiday Wonderland!

As you may already know, I’m going to be doing it with or without you… so don’t make me do it all by me onesies, savvy! Yes, I made a Jack Sparrow reference… I can’t help it!