Aunt Jane Goes to Ferris!

Well, sort of. . . .

I made Aunt Jane's Pumpkin Cookies this morning for Sheala to take back to school. She came home for homecoming this weekend.

Here is the recipe:

1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins or dried cherries
1/2 cup nuts (none for Sheala!)

Heat oven to 375. Mix sugar, shortening and pumpkin. Add the rest of ingredients. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-12 minutes until light brown. (Depends what size cookies you make.)

Cool on wire racks. Then glaze. (Pat takes the glaze off his!)

Glaze:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 TBS milk

Heat butter on medium heat until a delicate brown. Add sugar and vanilla. Then milk a little at a time until smooth. Drizzle over cookies immediately.

On our way home

This morning we met my niece, Liz and her boyfriend, Joe for brunch. We went to a little deli near their apartment. We had an hour wait (it was so worth the wait!) so we had a wonderful visit.

It is called Marie Catrib's. Marie came out with scrumptious slices of fresh baked gooey sweet bread. Then we were seated on the patio. It is a beautiful fall morning so it was great sitting outside.

We ordered different foods and tasted each others. Every plate was a big dish of delicious comfort food.

We really enjoyed our visit with Liz and Joe. Now we are on our way back home. I will have to work all week to be ready for the show on Saturday! But this weekend was worth it.

Lights in the Night Grand Rapids

Oh these lanterns are beautiful! They gave out 20,000 lanters that were set off for an interactive exhibit in the Artprize. We were mesmerized! The last picture I downloaded from the facebook page of Lights in the Night Grand Rapids. I loved it and just had to share it.

The Lights in the Night Grand Rapids is now in the top ten! I hope they take home the top prize.

An Enjoyable Afternoon

We made a picnic lunch of tuna lettuce wraps, an apple and a cookie. We ate them in the park in Sanford before setting out.

Then we drove to Rifle River for an afternoon with our friends. Sat by the campfire. Listened to kids laughing and playing at the campground. Talked with our friends. Then on to O'Brien's in Mio for dinner.

Fall Morning Sky

The sky was so beautiful this morning - this is what I see when I have my coffee in the morning. Right out our front window.

We are going to visit our friends camping at Rifle River today. We were supposed to go camping with them but Pat's back was pretty bad the past few weeks. So we decided it was best just to go for a visit.

It is supposed to be a fantastic fall day. We went for a ride yesterday and the colors are just so muted. That hot weather with no rain this summer must have really affected the color.

A Great Afternoon with Robbie

We picked Robbie up from school yesterday. Stopped at a little deli and he had a couple slices of pizza. While he was eating we went over interview questions.

For his Communications class he had to interview someone about his/her profession. Robbie has plans for his own career. He wants to get a degree in criminal justice while in ROTC. Then he wants to serve in the Air Force. So we were on our way to see Chief Pussehl of Saginaw Charter Township.

Robbie already had an A on his questions but there were 32 of them. So we went to his appointment. I went in with him to get a hug from my former boss and then I went outside to wait with Pat. It only took about 20 minutes. The answers were very concise and to the point.

Then we stopped back at our house and Robbie added a few facts from the Internet. Then he helped Pat carry up several containers of dishes. Then we took him home.

Now, an explanation of the pictures. Robbie got a seven point buck during youth hunting season last weekend. We are so proud of him! He brought the horns out to the car to show me! The picture in the field is a little blurry but I couldn't resist including it.

It was a great day.

Beautiful Rainbows

Sheala!

We took Sheala out for drunch. (That is a combination lunch and dinner!)

It was such a beautiful fall day we decided to go for a ride. Pat said, "Let's go see Sheala!" So I texted and she said she could go after she was done studying with Brandon.

So we stopped at Goodwill and found a Vampire Princess costume for Ayva!

Then we drove around for awhile until Sheala texted us. We tried to find the Mexican restaraunt but gave up and went to Bennigan's.  We had such a nice visit. Then we dropped her off at her dorm to do more homework.

We told her we don't need to see her next weekend when she comes home for homecoming weekend. Now we are on our way home feeling so happy after our Sheala fix!

He's Back!

I thought Pat was going to be at his brother's all weekend. But he just walked in the back door!

Yeah, I missed him.

Happy Fall! I love our four distinct seasons in Michigan.

The boys next door asked if their friends across the street could bring over their basketball hoop. So now we have a full court game going on in the back. There is laughing, yelling, screaming and balls bouncing. They are having a good time. I did call Marge to tell her there would be about 15 tall boys in the backyard.

Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent is HERE!

I am so excited to announce that the second book of the Saginaw Series is ready. Click here.

Get Ready, Get Set. . . .

We are going to pick up the cover for Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent tomorrow. It should be online within two days!!!! You are going to LOVE Aunt Sarah!!!

Art in the Middle...school: Celebrating Creativity - Dale Chihuly

Art in the Middle...school: Celebrating Creativity - Dale Chihuly: The Joslyn in Omaha has an awesome Dale Chihuly sculpture that definitely made an impact on the kids. 

Click on the green title above to go to the original site.


They took plastic plate - decorated it with markers - heat gun - Chihuly!!!

Coffee Filters!!!!

Beautiful Fall Morning

Spending our morning chasing balloons in Midland! They are beautiful in the sunshine with blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Day 9

This is the first cold in about three years. It kicked my butt! I hate taking cold medicine but I had to for this one.

I have a dental cleaning apt on Monday, I better be okay by then.

Caroline, Ayva and Joanna are having a girl's day with Sheala today. I made peanut butter, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for them to take to her. Hope they have a wonderful day!

Awwww

Cute little outfits for Romeo! Little sacks and onsies, burp cloths, Adorable little brother and Halloween onsies, littke booties, too.  I can't wait for him to come visit!

It would drive me nuts

I know - short trip!

Today we are driving around Breckenridge. It is quite windy. All the windmills are going. We stopped close to this one and there is an eerie whistling sound from the wind blowing through the blades. It isn't real loud, just constant. I don't think I could live near one.

All Went Well

The surgery was shorter than expected. Everything went well. The time at the hospital will only be one week instead of two!

Thank you, God.

Nice Afternoon with Robbie

So - Robbie came home to our house after school. We talked and outlined his Chemistry chapter. It sure is nice to talk to him. He had to take five things to his communications class that meant a lot to him. He took xbox stuff and Ipod stuff. I told him he would be expelled from school if he took his rifle, bow and arrow, knives, etc!!!!! Good thing the boy has common sense!!!

He is planning on taking law enforcement in college through Air Force ROTC then on to the Air Force for a career in law enforcement. He thinks things through which is the one thing you have to do in law enforcement. He will be good.

He has to interview someone - I suggested Chief Lipe. We'll see what he comes up with. He is outside cutting the grass with Papa right now. We told him he could take the van to Campus Life tonight.

A nice way to spend the afternoon. Still waiting to hear about Romeo - Jesse says probably around 7:00 we'll hear something.

Prayers

Romeo will be having surgery at 2:00 this afternoon. St. Luke please watch over the surgeon while working on this sweet tiny baby. He is in good hands and we trust you to ask Jesus to bring about a successful surgery with a quick and full recovery.

Baby Romeo

Jesse's daughter, Crystal, had little Romeo in the wee hours of this morning. He is on his way to U of M where he may need surgery. Please say prayers for our little sweetie.

40 Years!

Yes, I am the luckiest woman alive! Married to Patrick for forty years. I know we have always worked hard at being happy with what we had, never wasting the happiness wishing for more. We often tell each other how happy we are to be married to each other.

Of course I still dream about winning the lottery and make lists in my head of all the houses and junk we don't need we would buy! But that is just dreaming and having fun.

We have had a few major disagreements, I remember three. It took a bit of extra work to get through those. We have had hundreds of minor ones, that is where compromise comes in.

The reality is that life is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes it takes all your energy to get through to the next minute. Every single time I have needed to be lifted up Patrick has been there. I love that man!

Julie & Julia

Yes, I am watching one of my favorite movies! The scene at the train station where they pick up her sister is the best. I love this story.

I forget that it isn't Julia in the movie. Meryl Streep has the uncanny ability to transform herself into her characters.

1:30 am stupid

Watching part 2 of the stupid Coma movie. ALL BY MYSELF! Pat went to bed and even though we didn't like the first part of the show last night there wasn't anything else on.

So here I am watching people trying to kill people and closing my eyes with no one to tell me what is happening!

I do feel special

Jim and Cindy, my brother and sister-in-law, took us out to dinner. We celebrated my first published book! It was such a nice thing for them to do.

With the sweet reviews and friends saying they bought the book it feels as if I'm wrapped up in everyone's arms.

My niece Sarah talked me into playing an online game called Bakery Story. Even a few of my neighbors in the game bought the book.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame. . .

We had fun with the Martinez family at the Loons game last night. The weather was cool, the Loons won, the sky provided a spectacular sunset, the kids had fun running all over before the game and then were so good about staying with us after it started.

We went out to Pizza Sams before the game. Good pizza and a lively family atmosphere. Thank you Caroline and Jesse for taking us to the game.