Wife, Mother, Singer, Songwriter

No, I'm not talking about myself. In my dreams! If I were describing myself, it would be more like; Drill sergeant, TV police, complainer, procrastinator.

I'm talking about Lori McKenna. Mother of 5, and amazing songwriter. Her voice is a little Stevie Nicks, with a touch of Suzy Boggus.

Read an interview with her at 5 Minutes for Mom and comment to be entered in their contest to win a 4-song CD and DVD. Or then again, don't enter. My chances will be a little bit better.

You can see her in action here. How can you not like her?

More Pumpkin Love

Every year about this time we’d head on out to pick some pumpkins, then go home to spread newspaper over the table and make a huge, goopy mess. We loved to use patterns from the Pumpkinmasters books, though I have to say we kept them pretty simple. Their website has 3 free patterns to print out, and they also have a variety of pumpkin recipes. The Better Homes and Gardens site also has a Pumpkin Stencil Maker, but you have to register {quick and easy} to use it.



We can’t seem to get enough pumpkin around here. I experimented with our usual Krusteaz pancake mix and some pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla and made some quick, yummy pumpkin pancakes. This is what they look like after my little piggies dive into them, and here’s how they were done:



Quick Pumpkin Pancakes



4 ½ cups Krusteaz Pancake Mix
2 tsp. cinnamon
4 cups water
1 tsp. Vanilla
½ small can pumpkin (about 1 cup)
Stir dry mix and cinnamon together, then add other ingredients. Try not to over mix or the cakes might be a little tough. This makes a very large batch, about 2 dozen very dense pancakes. We usually have some leftovers that I freeze for quick breakfasts.


We ate these with some of this:
Cider Syrup
1 c. sugar
2 T. corn starch
½ tsp. Pumpkin pie spice, or ¼ tsp. each cinnamon and nutmeg, and a dash of cloves
2 c. apple juice
2 T lemon juice
¼ c. butter


Mix sugar, corn starch and spices in a sauce pan. Add juices and butter. Heat and boil for 1 minute.
That’s it!


Now, don’t get me wrong, these are yummy with just plain old maple syrup. But if you really want a taste of Autumn, and you have a few minutes while the pancakes are cooking, cook up some Cider Syrup. This is another recipe from my Aunt Ramona. I remember visiting when I was a youngster and her kids would beg for pumpkin pancakes and cider syrup. Well, I cheated on the “homemade” pancakes, but the syrup is the original.

This post is part of the Winter Bazaar.

{Yeah, around here Winter is usually Bizarre}

To see more participants, go see Scribbet.

Get your life organized with these amazing Organizing Bags!

Edited: Contest is now closed. Thanks to those of you who entered! Click here to see who won.

If you're anything like me, you're constantly trying to get organized. You think about it, make lists about it, start organizing, but things just don't end up the way you planned. Oops, did I give away a little too much information about myself?

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The Lazy Organizer is having a contest for a set of 5 bags, one of each size, but only til tomorrow. Just leave a comment here on my post, and click here to leave one on her blog. I am now an "affiliate" and can take orders for these awesome bags! I'll add a button to my sidebar as soon as I figure out how! lol For now, you can check them out or order by clicking on this link:

Lazy Organizing Bags

October = Pumpkins

Scribbet is hosting a Winter Bazaar on her blog, so I thought I'd hop on the bandwagon.

October has always been the Pumpkin month for me. When we were still in California I would get the kids from school and head to the pumpkin patch in Sebastopol, then Davis when we moved to Winters. I have many fond memories of choosing pumkins, including the year I sprained my ankle; 7 months pregnant and holding a 2 year-old I took a tumble while heading to see the three little pigs in the petting zoo. Ah, those were the days.

So, here's some pumpkin love for you. This scrapbook page was made last night while watching Boston Legal with Andy. I have to do something when I watch TV, otherwise I'll just end up snoring.

Page is a 12x12 sheet of cardstock, and with some orange and white felt, floss, and buttons, I had my page in minutes. The title is obviously just hand cut, as well as the pumpkin. The pumpkin is 2 pieces, the pumpkin-y shaped bottom piece, and an oval over the top to give it a 3D look. I blanket stitched around the outside edges of both pieces, added a button and piece of ribbon, and voila. I'm channeling my inner Elsie, just not as funky, more homespun.

And what should you eat while making a pumpkin page in October? Why, Pumpkin Cookies, of course! This is my Aunt Ramona's recipe, and they're yummy.

Pumpkin Cookies

1 c. sugar

2 c. flour

1 c. shortening

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. canned pumpkin

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients, drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Double this recipe (why wouldn't you?) and use 1 small can of pumpkin and 1 bag of chocolate chips. And yes, that's a lot of shortening. You could probably cut it down a little.

Just a little down-home fun

at the Green Ridge Harvest Fun Fest. At least I think that's what they called it.

We call it Park Day. It's the day that residents of our town,

population 4 hundred and something,

get together to have a little fun.

Just about anyone can participate in the parade and craft fair for no charge.

This is the view from the Pre-School float.

Carmen, Natalia, Jerica and Monkey are tossing out candy to innocent by-standers and parade-goers who hopefully are paying attention so they don't get a Tootsie Roll upside the head.

What do you do with the empty candy bucket?

Why, use it as a hat of course.

Pre-teen boys need something to do. Why not get a little creative?

Yes, that's Brian in the wagon.

His friend Joe is driving. See the sign? "Lawn Mower Posse".

And the wagon up ahead is the "Paddy Wagon".

This is what a three-year-old looks like after cleaning out the bake sale.

Can you say tummy ache?