Some fun photos

AWWW, poor Katie! Jack folded her ears back and she looked so funny!
SHHHH! Napping hound! LOL!
This is a covered wagon at a small park on Main Street.
Here is the story of the wagon.
We had a butterfly visit us this afternoon! Isn't he pretty? He didn't even mind his picture being taken!
We had fog the other day and here is a cobweb with beads of moisture on it. I hate spiders but the webs can be so lovely!
A visiting woodpecker. This is the smaller of two that visit. As soon as I got out the camera the big one left! Jack says he must be shy! We also have a family of bluejays in the neighborhood.
Let me tell you those dudes like to have what I call a scream-a-thon once in awhile and it is LOUD! Jack says they are having a family meeting and hollering at one another! So I hope you enjoyed the photos!

Weekly recipe

Here is the link to the cookie mix recipe-->Mix
And here are the rest of the cookie recipes this week. next week we will do brownies! Yummy!

Chocolate Drops

2 1/2 cups cookie mix
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup nuts

In mixing bowl combine cookie mix, egg and milk; beat well. Stir in unsweetened chocolate, then chocolate pieces and chopped nuts.
Drop by teaspoonful 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Remove to a wire rack and cool. makes about 30.

Peanut-Molasses Coolies

2 cups cookie mix
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons water

Beat together cookie mix, egg, peanuts, molasses and water. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Cool 1 minute and remove to wire rack. Cool. Makes about 30

Orange-Coconut Drops

2 1/1 cups cookie mix
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 egg
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup coconut

In mixing bowl stir together cookie mix, orange marmalade, egg and orange juice; beat well. Stir in coconut. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Remove to wire rack, cool. Makes about 30

Granola-Raisin Bars

2 cups cookie mix
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup granola
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons melted margarine

Grease a 9x9x2 inch or an 8x8x2 inch baking pan. In mixing bowl stir together cookie mix, egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir in HALF the granola and raisins.
Spread batter in prepared pan. stir together remaining granola and melted margarine; sprinkle over top. Bake in 350 degree oven 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars. makes about 24.

Chocolate Chip Bars

2 1/2 cups cookie mix
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 6 ounce package semisweet chocolate pieces

Grease a 9x9x2 inch pan.
In small mixing bowl stir together cookie mix and brown sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir in semi sweet chocolate pieces. Spread batter into pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars. makes about 32.

Word-filled Wednesday

This scripture just jumped out at me after I found this blank of a little cottage. Yes, we do chose to serve the Lord in this household and I hope you do too! Please join us for Word-filled Wednesday. Make your own or copy and use one of ours! Now go here to look at others or sign up to join us!

Sunday fun

I have to start off with this picture first! This is little Noah who decided he was going to go down the slide. So up he went, sippy cup in hand but then he wasn't so sure he wanted to do it! LOL! There is grandpa Randy on the far right, Noah's dad Nick next to him and there were several others trying to get Noah to come down! He finally did slide down! Noah's grandpa is my cousin. We had a family dinner after church today and it was so much fun but I am plum tired now. I saw family I hadn't seen in years, there must have been close to 40 of us all told. I worked to hard yesterday cooking and ended up really sick last night with a spell of vertigo which is not fun cause it makes you feel like you have the flu. But I was well enough to go today thank the Lord!
Here is the progress on my sampler. The house is done finally! I am working on the alphabet above it.

Got my first apron done to a week or so ago. Nothing fancy but good enough for cooking and work in the garden so I don't get my clothes super dirty!
And here is a lovely PIF given to me by Sue. You might be able to make out all the seed beads she put on it. I have it hanging over my dining room table on the curtains. That way I can enjoy it all the time! The little book mark I am using in here for my Bible.

So I guess that is all for me for now. I need a glass of peach herb tea something awful! Have an awesome week!

Weekly recipe

I wanted to share some recipes with you. It will take several Fridays to share them all. It is mixes you can make ahead of time and freeze and use when you need them. You can also put the dry ingredients in a pretty jar or some other container with a recipe card attached to give as gifts. This week I will start with the cookie mix and half the cookie recipes. Here we go!

COOKIE MIX
4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/3 cups shortening

In mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening til mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in freezer for up to 6 months. To use let come to room temperature. Measure by lightly spooning into measuring cup and leveling it off. makes 8 1/2 cups

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
2 1/2 cups cookie mix
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup raisins

In mixing bowl combine cookie mix, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add eggs and milk; beat well. Stir in oats and raisins. Cover and let set 30 minutes or refrigerate until ready to use. Drop by teaspoonful 2 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Cool. makes about 36 cookies.

Lemon-Yogurt drops

2 1/2 cups cookie mix
1 egg
2/3 cup lemon yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup lemon yogurt

In small mixing bowl combine cookie mix, egg, the 2/3 cup yogurt and vanilla; beat well. Stir in pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Remove; cool completely on a wire rack. Combine sifted powdered sugar and the 1/4 cup lemon yogurt; frost cooled cookies. Makes about 30

Peanut butter and Jelly Cookies

1/3 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups cookie mix
sugar
grape jelly

In mixer bowl combine peanut butter, egg and vanilla; beat til fluffy. Add cookie mix; beat until well mixed. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down centers with thumb. Bake in 375 degree oven about 10 minutes or til done. Cool about 1 minute before removing to wire rack. Cool completely. Just before serving, fill centers with grape jelly using about 1/2 teaspoon for each cookie. Makes about 42.

Okay that is it for this week. I will have about 6 more cookie recipes next week. Then I will share other mixes and recipes with you such as biscuit mix, drink mixes,brownie mix, cake mix and more! Enjoy!

Word-filled Wednesday

This picture is of the garage in the vacant lot next door. It made me think of this scripture, so I decided to use it this week. I hope it will bless you. Please feel free to copy and use it on your blog if you would like to join us. Don't forget to visit Amy-Deanne to sign up so others can come visit you!

Hometown tour

Jack and Katie are here to welcome you to our little town.
Here is our city pool where I spent a lot of summer hours as a child. They just recently redid it and added murals to the walls of the locker rooms.
Our little library. Don't let it's size fool you, it is excellent and our folks take great pride in it.
The Wayside Inn Museum. Lots of historical and antique items. It was still a hotel when I was living in the little white house you see to the right. That was in the late 1970's. Every year, we have Hysterical Historic Days and it is a lot of fun.
Our post office. Still has wood floors and walls.
Looking towards downtown from the south on Main Street.
The founders of our city in the 1800's. The Cruce mansion used to stand on the south side of the park. Sadly it burned to the ground with all the antiques that were in it. The city had wanted to buy it but the family wanted a lot more money than the city could afford.
This is the wash basin folks used before our town came into existence. Some people had come across the springs in a cow pasture and were healed of their illness after drinking the water. Soon people from all over heard about it and started coming here to drink it.
Our new city hall and community center across from the park.
Looking east to Main Street at the park.
A long walk down to the springs!

Can you tell how much iron is in that water? Fighting rust on the tubs, sinks, and toilets is an every day thing here. The water is loaded with a lot of minerals and either you love the taste or hate it. I love it and Jack hates it! We joke that the water here is so hard it will knock you down if someone throws a glass of it on you.

South of the park looking at the bandstand. Yes, we still have free concerts all summer long!
A monument to all the people from our town who did surveying work.
Katie and I next to my dad's name, Lawrence Lane.
This house was close to being torn down in the late 1990's after being empty and run down for many years. Someone bought it and is fixing it up. It was a house kit from Sears Roebuck and Co. in the early 1900's. It came into El Do by train car in crates and was hauled by horse and wagon to this site. Yes, you really could buy houses out of a catalog!
Don't you love this old Victorian? We have a lot of old homes in town.
This is our opera house which is being fully restored and will once again be a theatre. Want to learn more? Visit The Opera House and see all the goings on. All of downtown is going to be restored including antique look street lights.
This was once a ratty, run down laundry mat and look at it now!
I am very proud that our town is once again taking pride in where we live and fixing it up to be a little jewel in the Ozarks once again. Some have asked how I came to live here when I moved this past summer. Well, my family on my mom's side have been in this area since before there was a town and my dad's family wasn't far behind! I left for awhile but am back to stay. We have lots to do here, wonderful places to eat, lakes all around to play at and plenty of peace, quiet and family values. Thanks for coming to visit us here, so nice to see you. Come again when you can and you will be very welcome!

Smile award

This was given to me by Angela. I am so grateful to her for it and sorry I took so long to thank her. Now I want to pass it on to those who make me smile! Once again I am cheating. There are just so many of you who bring a smile to my face. So if you read this, you are a dear friend to me and consider yourself awarded! Huggles!

A chilly, rainy Saturday hello!

See this afghan? Looks okay doesn't it? Well, it is 27 years old and has been very well used. It is stretched out in places and there are areas where the yarn has broken. I fair to say it will one day be shot! It is large enough that it covers our queen size bed and we use it in place of a blanket.
So I have decided it is time for a new one. I am making squares this time. Here they are. It looks like a complicated stitch but is actually very easy to do. Might take me a bit to get them all made because I can't crochet for long periods anymore with out suffering a lot of hand pain!
And here is a fresh update of the quilt Jack is doing. Most likely it will go to Newborns In Need when it is finished. I like the little plaid green dog next to the bear!
I just got my PIF from Sue today! I don't have a picture yet but I wanted to share my good news. It is a cute bookmark and a boucle that she made! I am so blessed! And I got a British cross stitch magazine from another friend named Sandy. Oh wonderful Saturday!
What's that!?!?!?!? Katie heard her dad coming home from the grocery store.

Here is a video of Katie hunting a grasshopper Thursday! Enjoy!

Word-filled Wednesday

It felt so fall like today, I wanted something that looked fall like too. And then this verse just jumped out at me. Even if we have little, it can be much if we share it and make God a part of it. You will see! It just has a way of mushrooming and growing larger! Don't miss out on a blessing or deny someone else a blessing because you feel you have so little to give.
Join us for Word-filled Wednesdays! Visit Amy Deanne and learn more!

Friends, a horse and stitching

I want you to meet a very lovely family! This is the Burrell family! Here is Dad having a bit of fun with his daughters
Here is the whole family. Dad Paul and mom Angela and the girls. They have the most awesome website full of recipes, sewing tips, stories, pictures and just tons of other stuff. They also explain their journey to living a plain and simple life. Whether or not you agree with their manner of dress and living, you owe it to your self to visit them at Sheperd's Hill. You won't be disappointed. They are a loving Christian family. I haven't known them long, but I already feel they are friends.
Now I want you to meet a little fella we met this past week. We had to go over to a bigger town west of us to do some banking and other errands. Here was this little guy half asleep, waiting for his family!
Yes, I have been cross stitching. Sorry the photo is blurry but my house is nearly done. I would have taken another, better picture but I am down in my hips and back today so this is as good as it gets! LOL! I just need to do the fence, backstitch and it is on to other areas.
Remember all the progress I was making on my Ruth 1:16 piece? Ha, ha, some progress!!!!! I have to tear out a lot, and I do mean a LOT of my stitching and redo it. I messed up BIG time so it isn't lining up right. I put it aside for now and will deal with it later! So that is enough for me for today. See you soon!

Kathleen Marie tagged me to do this last week I think it was. So here it is finally!


Where did you meet your husband?
In Wichita Kansas. We talked for over an hour on the phone the first time. it felt as if we had known each other forever!

What was the first thing you said to your husband?After 27 years i can no more remember than the man in the moon!

Where was the first kiss? first date? Our first date we went out to eat and drove around. I gave him a little good bye peck on the cheek.

Did you have a long or short courtship/engagement?
Very short. We met in Febuary and married that June

Where did you get engaged? My apartment about a week after we met. We actually looked at rings on our second date!

Where did you get married?Miami Oklahoma

How did the reception go? We didn't have a reception

How was the honeymoon?Never had a honeymoon!


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One Word Meme

1. Where is your mobile phone? none
2. Relationship? Married
3. Your hair? silver
4. Work? nope
5. Your sister(s) none
6. Your favorite thing? hubby
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream car? PT
10. The room you’re in? den
11. Your shoes? barefoot
12. Your fears? spiders!!!!!!!
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? joyful!!
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Family
15. What are you not good at? Math
16. Muffin? banana
17. Wish list item? none
18. Where you grew up? Everywhere!
19. The last thing you did? sewing
20. What are you wearing? jumper
21. What are you not wearing? Shoes
22. Your pet? Katie
23. Your computer? dell
24. Your life? Great!
25. Your mood? thoughtful
26. Missing? nothing
27. What are you thinking about? baking
28. Your car? compact
29. Your kitchen? country
30. Your summer? Nice!
31. Your favorite color? Autumn!
32. Last time you laughed? Today
33. Last time you cried? Yesterday
34. School? YUCK!
35. Love? God

Once again I am cheating by not picking anyone. If you want to do it fine and dandy! if not, oh well! LOL!

Too cute to pass up!

You have got to watch this video of a little girl!
23rd Psalm

Word-filled Wednesday

This is a little different than what we usually do. It isn't a photograph at all but rather a little card they used to give to you in Sunday School. I am not sure if it was my mother's or my grandmothers but it is dated June 7, 1942. I thought it was pretty cool! The scripture is partially missing so here it is for you.

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.~Isaiah 53:5
Please join us for Word-filled Wednesday by visiting Amy-Deanne and signing up on Mr. Linky. You may make one of your own or use someone elses.

Welcome and come on in!

Come on in and set a spell! Have a banana nut muffin and some blueberry tea and we will chat a bit. Got a nice size bag of ripe bananas for a whopping 39 cents so seemed like a good time to make muffins!
Here is Katie this morning surveying her kingdom. She was watching the little dogs across the street and keeping a close eye out on a squirrel!
Caught Jack puttering in his shed/workshop. I am surprised it came out good enough that you can see him fairly clear!
Progress on Jack's baby quilt! Looking good!
Here is a close up of the bears face. I think he is a cute little begger!
That's all I have! A quiet weekend in Missouri! Huggles until next time!