Wordless Wednesday: Fall Fun...

According to the calendar, winter doesn't start for a few more weeks, but from my window it looks like winter started last night.  Mother Nature blessed us with about 1 inch of the yucky fun stuff.  I shouldn't be complaining because other parts of the state saw 10 inches!

It makes me glad that we soaked up those last warm days to the best of our ability.  I make a leaf pile for the girls every year.  Normally B is all about it and Mel isn't.  I often her, "I don't yike it.", over and over from Mel.

This year the roles were reversed.  Be jumped in it once...

Posed for a picture... 

or two... 

Mel LOVED jumping in the leaves this year.

She is the worker out of the two girls so she had to make the pile just right before she had any fun...

Now it is finally time to jump...or hop rather...

She was a little apprehensive at first and then it was only high jumps from then on....

She is going through a phase where she doesn't like me to take her picture.  She always says, "Sop Mommy!"

That is what she was saying in this photo...

So I had to go incognito with the camera...

I guess now she'll have to settle for jumping in the snow.  Ugh!  She won't have to worry about me taking her pictures though.  It's about time for me to hibernate!

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The Things You Do For Friends...

A little over a month ago, my good friend asked if I would wax her eyebrows.  I said yes thinking, "How hard can it be?"  I have always dreamed of being a hair stylist so how hard can it be.  I can cut hair plus I get my eyebrows waxed once a month so I practically have the system memorized.

All you do is put the wax on the unwanted hair apply the paper strip and pull.

Boy was I wrong!  There is definitely a difference between the store bought wax and the stuff the pros use!!!

The store bought kind requires you to microwave the wax, however, when you are with a friend you get distracted very easily and start talking about other stuff and forget about the boiling wax in the microwave which means you have to put it in the freezer to cool it down.

They do provide this handy dandy little stick that has black letters that read "Ready".  When the letters fade, the wax is too hot.  When they don't fade it is just right.

Now, I sound like Goldilocks!

Anyhow, the store bought kind(or at least the kind Chantel bought) doesn't come with paper strips.  You have to apply the wax and then PULL the wax.

They also provided these handy dandy little guide strips, which I found out weren't too handy because they didn't stick very well and the wax got behind them which then removed some wanted hair!

There was plenty of laughter.....from me!  I tend to laugh a little a lot when I am nervous!

Chantel, on the other hand, was NOT laughing.  She was nervous and I believe our friendship was probably on the line!

Our friendship may be in question again once she sees that I posted this picture....

Sorry Chantel!  I have to give my readers the full effect!!!

In life I have learned to never say, "Oh crap!"  when you are cutting someones hair or waxing their eyebrows!

I don't think I did too bad?

Still friends...

I texted her the next day and asked her if her husband ran crying and curled up into the fetal position when she walked in the house.  She said "no".  I'm not sure if I believe her!;0)

She texted me two weeks ago and said that she is trying to maintain her eyebrows by plucking and wanted to make sure that was okay with me.  Of course I said yes, but if I ever need to release any frustration, I will probably be calling her!

Her 9 year old daughter Lily took these pictures!  She was very excited/proud of herself and has been anxiously awaiting for the day when I would post time on here.  So, here you go Lily!  I hope this makes your day!;0)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Thankful....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you all are having a wonderful time with family and friends.  I also hope you are eating yourself silly!

I am thankful for (in no particular order except for Hubby being first and the girls second!):

1) Brad

2) B and Mel

3) Family

4) Friends

5) Laughter

6) Our health

7) Farmers

8) The ability to be a stay-at-home mom

9) Christmas music

10) B's amazing Kindergarten teachers

11) Wine and beer ;0)

12)  Harvest being over

13) Photography

14) The awesome ladies that I have me through The Real Farmwives of America!!!!!!!

15) My cooking/baking ability

16)  Our home

17) A cozy bed to sleep in every night

18) Living on the family farm

19) Christmas music

20) Blogging...all of my followers....and all of the amazing people that I have "met" through blogging

21) Family traditions

22) The farming community that we live in.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!! 

Craft Time...

This craft idea came from Pinterest.  You can find it here.  My niece was here and was able to join in the fun!

We read a book about the first Thanksgiving.  Then we set to work making our own Mayflowers.

First, paint your child's hand brown and have them press it onto a sheet of blue construction paper.

Then let them paint the ocean and clouds. 

Next, cut squares from white paper and glue them to the the fingers on the hand print... 

Taylor's.... 

B's... 

And Mel's... 

As usual, she opted out of the whole picture taking thing.  This time it was because her knee hurt.  That is her excuse for a lot of things.

After the Mayflowers were finished, B wanted to make Pilgrim and Indian hats. So we did. 

Pretending that she is using a bow... 

The three girls... 



Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cake...

Only 2 more days until Thanksgiving!!!!  That means two more days until we eat ourselves silly and have to expand our belts!  I have the perfect and most delicious recipe that will have your guest raving!  It's called Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cake and the recipe came from Shugary Sweets.

Beat together butter, applesauce, eggs and vanilla.  Spread in the pan...

Next mix together butter, sugar and add in the pumpkin, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.  Spread over the snickerdoodle layer...

The next step is the most important!  Lick the beaters!  Always lick the beaters!

I told you it was the most important step ever!

Sprinkle a mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top of the pumpkin layer...

Top it with some cream cheese icing once it is cool and Enjoy!!!!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cake

Snickerdoodle layer:

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup applesauce

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

For the pumpkin layer:

1 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

5 Tbsp. butter, softened

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 egg

15 oz can pumpkin pie filling

Combine and sprinkle on top:

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter, applesauce, 2 eggs, and vanilla.  Add in the dry ingredients for the snickerdoodle layer.  Mix until well blended and spread evenly in the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.

For the pumpkin layer, mix butter and 3/4 cup sugar.  Add in the pumpkin, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.  Mix until well blended and spread over snickerdoodle layer.

In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with 2 tsp cinnamon.  Sprinkle over top of the pumpkin layer.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool completely. 

Spread cream cheese icing over top.  Enjoy!!!



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