My Thoughts

  I know, I know......it's unbearable how long it's been since I was here last.  I have definitely neglected you with blatant disregard.  Forgive me.  It is gloriously Autumn outside; can you sense it?  I mean, like fully, sense it??  This is my absolutely favorite type of day. I am cooking slowly over the week.  I have my tablet on its cute, lil', decorative easel watching "The Price is Right" and enjoying my second cup of coffee.  Autumn scented candles are lit around the house, and I am having pumpkin baked oats for breakfast.  This is the warmest, gooiest thing I've ever eaten, and I fully intend to make this a regular recipe in my life........healthy and yummy. I've thought about you so much lately, and I have missed our times together more than you can imagine.  Well, maybe not more.....maybe you feel the same way. I fear that if I don't make our relationship a true priority, I will wake up at the end of my life and regret its pass...

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread This pumpkin cranberry bread is great for a fall dessert, or breakfast. Kids also love a slice of this bread in their lunch box, or for an afternoon snack. Pumpkin Cranberry Bread - makes 2 Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups pumpkin 1 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups cranberries chopped (fresh or frozen) 1/2 cup nuts (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 large loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in the pumpkin, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until ingredients are moist. Stir in the cranberries and nuts. Spread the batter evenly between the two loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Stick a toothpick to the center of the bread, if it pulls out clean, it is ready. Take out of the oven, and let cool. Thi...

It's the first day of Advent, and I overslept on the one Sunday I could actually attend church. Even though I have every intention of attending the "hanging of the greens" tonight, there is some part of me that feels complete abject guilt for not being at Sunday service on the one Sunday I am actually not working. My guilt comes in knowing that the strong connectedness I once had to the very legalistic aspect of the Methodist church has transcended into a deeper connection to my Savior. I remember also that the rituals became for me an auto response to a life I felt completely imprisoned in. Somewhere is my journal entry about the gilded cage............."oh I know why the caged bird sings." And then, in a breath, the guilt dissipates. The few rare moments of family togetherness afforded us in this crazy world are more priceless to me than the strength of the guilt. Today, I also restarted the calorie counting. Not sure why I have had such a hard year staying fo...