Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

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FOR TODAY - October 27, 2010 

Outside my window... It is a beautiful Autumn morning!  The sky is blue, the sun is shining and it is very cold, 29 degrees when I woke up this morning.  Earlier this week it was cloudy, very cold and wet.  We are suppose to have another storm coming in by the week-end, maybe we will even get some snow.  It's time for snow here in Idaho.  I can remember many, many Halloween nights that I drove my kids around our neighborhood to go Trick-or-Treating, because it was snowing so bad.  I can also remember as a girl, going Trick-or-Treating without even wearing a coat.  Our weather is so fickle! 

I am thinking... How thankful I am for such dear blogging friends!   I look so forward to reading your blogs and finding out what is going on in your world.  I love to laugh with you when you are having a funny, crazy day, and cry with you when things aren't going so good.    Thank you for all the get well wishes.  I am feeling better and better each day!

Kimmie, my sweet friend at http://theserendipitycafe.blogspot.com/, had a giveaway last week.  It is  a poem, to be written by her husband, who is a poet, and guess who won?  Me!!  I am so excited!  Kimmie is one of my favorite friends, she lives in Australia, but I feel like she is very close to my heart.  Thank you Kimmie and Heartpoet . . .  many hugs to you both!

I'm also thinking about my mother.   I know that this is a hard time of year for her.  My father passed away on Halloween, which was also their wedding anniversary.  He was only 59.  Then, we buried him on his 60th birthday.  I was a difficult time for all of us, but mostly for her, she was so young. 

I am thankful for... Mouse traps!  I have always had an outside cat until the last couple of years.  This year, we have had a problem with mice . . . eeeeeeeek!  I have mouse traps set out, but no luck so far.   My dog is, apparently, afraid of mice because he sure does not keep them away!   When you live in the country, this can definitely be a problem,  so I guess I will have to break down and get a barn cat or two.    I just get so attached to them, and always feel so bad when they come up missing. 

From the learning rooms... Well, maybe not from my learning room, but from Emily's learning room.  She started pre-school this year, and she was so cute on her first day of pre-school that I just have to share!

All dressed up for her first day!

Emily and her teacher.  Can you tell she was excited to be there?!  Look at that grin!

From the kitchen... Even though it seems like I am dieting for the rest of my life!  I still like to make something yummy once in a while.  On Sunday, I made a wonderful apple cake with caramel topping, it was delicious! 

Carmel Apple Cake

3 medium apples

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves and nutmeg

1/3 cup chopped walnuts or raisins (optional)

Wash, core, and chop or grate apples.  Cream butter, sugar, and egg together.  Stir in apples.  Sift dry ingredients together and stir into creamed mixture.  Fold in nuts or raisins.  Pour into a greased 8x8 baking pan.  Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  I served it with a small scoop of icecream on top and drizzled the whole thing with caramel sauce.

Caramel Sauce:  Stir 1/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup cream,  or canned milk, (I used fat free half and half) over medium heat until it starts to thicken.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 1/2 tsp.  vanilla.

I am wearing... Jeans and a sweater, I even have on socks!

I am creating... I'm not really creating anything, but I am going to freeze the rest of the tomatoes from the garden . . . so I can create deliciousness later!  I am also crocheting hats for my grandchildren.

I am going... Well, I just got the phone call that I missed the appointment that I had to get my hair trimmed today!  I truly thought it was tomorrow, but apparently, it was today!  No, I'm not ditsy!

I am reading... Still reading, Drowning Ruth, it's an interesting book - not sure it's my favorite.

I am hoping... That the weather will hold out long enough to get one more trip to the mountains before the snow flies!

I am hearing... The Lettermen sing, Going Out Of My Head.  Do any of you remember The Lettermen?  Lots of trucks going up and down our road!   I will be so glad when the road construction is over!

Around the house... I have so much to do around the house today.  I am going to clean and sanitize the Lazy Susan, and everything near it- that's where I found the mouse tracks!  I have a few batches of laundry to finish up, some to fold and put away.    I need to go outside and finish cleaning out my flowers, maybe try to organize a closet or two.

One of my favorite things... Snuggling up in my chair next to a warm fire and watching a good movie with my favorite guy . . . that could mean my sweetheart . . . or one of my cute grandsons . . .   ;~)

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Today -Get the tomatoes in the freezer, clean out flowers, clean up after a dirty mouse, laundry . . . etc.
Tomorrow -  Clean the trailer and get it ready to be winterized.
Friday  - Winterize the trailer and go to Weight Watchers.
Saturday - Halloween!!
Sunday - Church, then dinner at my house with my kids! 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Caleb is getting potty trained, little stinker, thinks he can just "go" anywhere . . . 

This is what his mom thought of it!!

'Between the innocence of babyhood 

and the dignity of manhood, 

we find a delightful creature, called boy.'
-- Author Unknown

Warm Hugs,