Today

I haven't been well,but today I hope brings changes,we will see.Yesterday my granddaughter and I went for a walk around the house,just seeing what we could,and of course I didn't take the camera,and that was a shame,we had a butterfly making a beauty of herself.She was flying all around us,and I knew by the time we got in the house and back out she would be gone.She was so pretty.So gracefully flying around us and my granddaughter loved it.I hope today to go back out and see if she is still around,I put a pic of what she looked like,and maybe today I can get the real picture. I have decorating the outside some,have got all the Fall decorations out,and maybe if doesn't rain this weekend I will do the Halloween decorating.This is the last weekend of September,so think it isn't to early now. I love this time of year,just not the winter that follows.I have so much to look forward to and to be thanful for,I just do not like being stuck in the house even more.I have started on my needle tatting again,got one doily made this week and another one started.Need several made for gifts,and I know thou I will come through.And I hope each of you are making something pretty also that will encourage me even more.Hope everyone has a good day,hang in there,if I can you surely will,and remember to SMILE ;)

The One similar to what we saw yesterday just taking her time and flying around us.

Just a little of my decorations

Flumes from my Pampas Grass in Spiders' Web

The Jambalaya I made yesterday

Sweet Sorghum And Jambalaya

Yesterday I made a pot of Jambalaya,and now I can't find the recipe on line I used and it isn't under my Favorites or neither can I find it when I look under Yesterday's History,oh well at least I got a picture of it,and it was so good.Even my husband thought so,and he is my biggest critic.I used fresh tomatoes,peppers,onions,and basil in it chopped up.With Cajuan and Creole spices also. Not sure if many know what Sorghum,or what I call it Molasses,is from sugar cane,grown in the spring looking much like corn,without corn on the stalks,eastiest way for me to describe it,and with the weather cooler this is the time of year to make molasses.And many people here in our region call it Sorghum Molasses,which is what I grew up calling it also.Sorghum was brought from Africa made from a type of grass.And believe me it has a nice sweet taste.It was used alot for sweeting instead of sugar,Molasses contains significant amounts of vitamins and minerals and is a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron.And the reason for this,is it is used in the Stack cake I make during the Holiday's. And this morning is very cool,down to around 50 with tomorrow morning 39 for the low,shoo can we say yes it is "FALL".And I hope everyone has a very peaceful Sunday.

Balloons

Today was a day that I really needed to see this Balloon.There was two of them and they both went over our house.I really appreciated being able to see it.I can't put my finger on it if is a relapse of MS,or am I depressed.I think it is both,maybe wrong,oh well,whichever I needed those balloons to go over my house. I have not worked on one single thing today,and that isn't right.I have got to focus on what needs to be done,and not what I am thinking is going on,make sense?? It was pretty here,and suppost to be tomorrow,but after that oh well,maybe that is what I need,a cool-down to get me warmed up and doing something. But I really hope all of you have a nice weekend also.I think one of my daughter's is getting me out tomorrow,and I am ready.Going to try to got to two of my favorite antique shops and browse around. But remember to SMILE ;) it really does help.

Felt like I Needed to Post This Molasses Stack Cake

PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE PICTURE IS NOT ONE I HAVE MADE,NOW I WILL MAKE PICTURES OF THE ONES I MAKE; Lately I have been thinking how I am going to miss the kids for the holiday's and what I can do for them and this is it,I plan on making my daughter and granddaughter one of these for Thanksgiving.My "MAMAW" made these at holidays and I have in the years past,and it has been a few since it requires alot of attention while making but I know that this year I will try it again,one of my uncles past away this year and I made him one after he had survived an Aneurysm,and it pleased him,so I hope someone else will also give it a try,and if you have never been to a Molasses Stir,then you haven't lived,love it. Dry Ingredients 21 ounces (4 1/4 cups) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Creaming Ingredients 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 10 ounces (1 1/4 cups) superfine granulated sugar 3/4 cup molasses 2 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk For the Dried Apple Filling 8 to 12 cups dried apples 2 pounds (4 cups) superfine granulated sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons nutmeg 2 tablespoons molasses 3 cups water For Serving Confectioners' sugar print a shopping list for this recipe view wine pairings Preparation1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the rack in the middle position. 2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 3. Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed until wet and grainy. 4. Add the molasses. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a flexible spatula to get all of the molasses into the mixture. 5. Add the eggs one at a time. Scrape all the way to the bottom of the bowl and mix on low speed. 6. Alternately add the buttermilk and the dry mixture about a quarter at a time. Stop the mixer to scrape the bowl and turn it on again on low speed for about 10 seconds. The mixture should be stiff like a soft cookie dough. 7. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 8. Divide the dough into 6 or 8 equal portions and place each one on a round piece of parchment paper a little larger than a 9-inch cake pan. Roll out the dough to the size of the parchment. Place the cake pan over the disk and trim away the excess around the edge. 9. Leaving the parchment paper underneath, lift the disks onto baking sheets and bake them for approximately 10 minutes, or until the top surface appears dry and a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. 10. Slide the disks off the baking sheet onto a flat surface to cool. 11. To make the filling, combine all the ingredients in a large, heavy-bottom saucepan and bring to a light simmer. Immediately transfer to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse into a thick paste. 12. To assemble the cake, spread about 1 cup of the filling onto each layer, taking care to center each disk on top of the one beneath it. Repeat until all the layers are used. Do not put apple filling on top of the cake. 13. Wrap the cake well and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. This gives the apple filling time to work itself into the cake. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve chilled. Baker's Note: Ideally, you should dry the apples yourself in a fruit-dehydrating machine. If that's not an option, go for store-bought dried apples. Don't cop out and buy applesauce, because the secret to the stack cake is not just what absorbs into the cake, but what doesn't. Jarred applesauce gets lost in the layers, leaving only a soggy stack. Although success isn't guaranteed, you can try to make dried apple slices in the oven. Peel and thinly slice 15 to 20 fresh apples (I like Gala or Cortland). Place them, without overlapping, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a 225°F oven for up to 4 hours or until dried Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Tennessee-Mountain-Stack-Cake-359949#ixzz273rzglHt Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Tennessee-Mountain-Stack-Cake-359949#ixzz273rcdea5

Think Autumn Is Here

This morning it is cool,and this weekend down in the low 40's for the night time,yes people Fall is here.The apples are ready to be harvested from the trees,the pumpkins and gourds have been or are being brought in from the fields,yes Autumn is here.I am so anxious now,it is closer to all the Festivals in the area,and they can be so much fun.I know there is one I want to go to here in our area,it is called "The Exchange Place".The life is recreated from the very early settlers in our area.There is so much in this area to visit for one day or a nice Weekend getaway.I am so anxious to try to get to Asheville NC this Fall.There are some Thrift Stores there I want to visit,and there are shops close to The Biltmore that I want to do some Christmas shopping at.And My MS had better give me a relief so I can get out away from these 4 walls. Last night I decided to start on something new after I got half of the baby blanket done,I decided after going to PINTEREST again,lololololol to loom knit the cover that goes over a glass bowl for Christmas,and yes I do believe I did do it,I was up until 3 am,sometime with MS you can't sleep and then other times that's all you want to do,but back to the comment of the "snowman" glass bowl cover I made last night.It turned out cute I thought.It was better for me to just make one than find a sock or sweater to cut up for it.And the best part I have a granddaughter who is finding her love of using the knitting loom,hey she is only 7 will be 8 in December and she is doing such a great job on her baby brother's cap that is due in first of January. I have got to get busy also and make more doilies needle tatting.Another reason my MS had better behave,lolololol So I hope everyone has a great day and you can get out and enjoy "Living",it doesn't have to be climbing mountains,it can be getting out and looking at the mountain.And remember to smile,others may feel like have climbed a mountain. ;)

Busy as a Bee

Haven't been here alot,and one reason I have been so busy.Got one gift made and ready to mail tomorrow.Got the youngest grandbaby's tutu made for Halloween,she will be a ghost.Got the oldest one in progress,have the tutu ready to sew and put the feather around the waist,she is the White Swan from The Black Swan,and with that one is going to be the Black Swan,have her tulle cut and ready to tie one.And I have started on another baby blanket,did I say I am busy.lolololol And I have got to make Christmas Gifts,time time time will I have enough. The weather is cool and very rainy here,we are now transferring to our Autumn season,you can feel it in the air.I can't wait to see all the leaves changing to the pretty Golds,Yellows and Reds.And of course we already are in the middle of Ragweed,which plays havac on anyone who has allergies.This time of year is busy here in our area,we have lots of Festivals,beautiful scenery to go and visit.A few of my favorite places are of course The Great Smoky Mountains',The Blue Ridge Parkway,and the area around it in North Carolina,Asheville Blowing Rock and of course that means I will get to meet my daughter and granddaughter over there for a quick visit. And of course we will have marshamallow roasts using the fire pit.And good times to share once again with each other. I hope everyone has a prosperous week as I am going to try to have,MS will not have time to keep me down,lololololol and please SMILE it does catch on,and what is better a smile or a frown which makes your entire face wrinkle.

Going to look for

Reliving

This evening it was so comfortable out,finally,and my husband and myself were enjoying the wonderful cooler temps and waiting on the sun to go down.We were discussing all that needs to be done before winter.And he proceeded in telling me about a gentleman at one of the jobs he works(has 2) and about the persimmon he took to work today.The gentleman cut the persimmon and took the small seed out and cut into it gently.It looked the shape of a spoon.And according to this getleman we here in the North East mountains of Tennesse are in for a alot of wet heavy snows.I have heard alot of folklore about the weather in my life,living in the mountains that happens,lololo but never this with the persimmon seed.So I guess it will be a wait and see.
I have been trying to stay busy but with MS it is hard alot of times to do some "things".I am getting my Fall and Autumn decorations when I can,making a few things but nothing this week to brag about.It has just not been a good week for me,but I know it will get better.I have alot of family behind me and pushing me along not to give in.
I am looking forward to my daughter and granddaughter coming home for the weekend tomorrow,Friday.We already have plans to look at venues for her reception nex June.Can't believe how places get booked so far in advance.They are having a beach wedding and the reception here in her home town,and one place is a Mansion and the Barn here.It is beautiful,the barn,the pics are awesome of it.And another one is a rooftop venue,which is so pretty decorated.So we will see.I am looking with her online for her design of a bridal dress.It is both their second and she is as anxious as she was the first time,she says this is the one,lololo.But anyway after the birth of our very first grandson,I will be busy helping her planner with all the decorations and planning here for her.I am so anxious.I use to do wedding and direct them as a second job and LOVED every minute of it.
Enough I know,but I am so excited and like I said "they" help me with this miserable MS.And with that I hope everyone has a great weekend as I have already getting planned,and remember the American Red Cross.And most of all SMILE,it really does help and it catches on really fast, ;)

my youngest granddaughters' tutu for Halloween

One roll of each White and Black Tulle and her waist was 19 inches,and the tulle was cut into strips of 8 inches,and elastic was cut and stitched together with the Tulle being tied on 4 white and 1 black,she is going to be a Ghost for Halloween.

Where Has Time Gone

I can't believe that September is here and not long to the end of the year.I hope it stays nice just like it is right now till winter.Got to get my house ready for winter but going to sure enjoy my Autumn.We live in the prettiest area for fall foliage,and with several festivals this time of year there is never a lack of places to go,that is if my MS behaves,and it sure better,lolo. I have got alot going on in the future,and yes I have to have a reason to keep "truckin" and not to give in.Got to get Halloween costumes and decorating done for Fall and Halloween.And we are such kids at heart in this family,when people snarl their noses up in the air about Fall or Halloween,they need to enjoy life in our household.I hope my daughters and granddaughters always continue to enjoy life and living.We love roasting weeinees and marshmallows over an open fire,being around others this time of year also. Got to prepare then for Christmas and for the birth of our first grandson,4 granddaughters later love its heart.lololo We are hoping he will be here around New Years',that would be one day he could claim right to celebrate. With that I want us all to remember SEPT.11,please have a brief moment prayer,or whatever your belief for all the families that still struggle,and give to the AMERICAN RED CROSS,always there for anyone,and most of all please SMILE.

Seems like I am only on here late at night,but that does happen,no sleep.I finally finished up on my chair that repainted and reupholstered the seat,looks great and the young girls love it,of course.
We went to my favorite Antique shop here and only was there for a few,it is so hot and steamy here,we are getting the rain,and that shots the humidity up.Let me add I got some pretty canning jars.
Another story that touched my heart today was what Kellie Pickler did for her BEST friend,and I honestly can say I would do it also,my hair is a wild mess anyway,loloBut what a way to show that you care.I guess that is the country gal in her.
And with that we are looking forwrd to a wedding next June,and shoo I forgot what that was like,10 yrs since the last one,and love her heart my daughter and granddaughter found their soul mate,or should say my daughter did,and he and his family have been so good to them so far.And her living out-of-state and planning is going to be pushing alot next year.But my MS and myself are ready for the road ahead of us anyway,got a new grandbaby,grandson, due the first of Jan.but all bets are on the end of December she never goes her term.And with helping my other daughter prepare for him to take a position in this family is going to be a joy also.But the canning jars maybe in her wedding reception,it will be here in her hometown,and her wedding will take place at the beach,a small ceremony with just family,since both had been married before they opted for this,but it will be just as grand as if a big formal one,and her reception will be here in a lovely venue.
And then the day after Halloween decorating for Christmas,yes with my daughter going to be very pregant we have to do what has to be done at both homes,yes homes,you can have houses,but they must be a home to have love and caring in.
And again remember the Red Cross,so much they do,and remember SMILE,k

Today I saw an old manual typewriter on a FB page much like this,and reminded my from back in the day,yes I typed on one in our Typing class,there wasn't enough to go around for me to use an electric typewriter,and then I purchased a used one in my senoir year to get my typing skills up,more words per min.I wish today I still had the typewriter like this one,they were a marvelous piece of machinery.And then in the 90's when I was working in the HIS dept at a hospital we got our first computers.Yes and look how far we have come since then.Keeping up with admissions and discharges was done with "top sheets' put in a admit book and then when patients went home we took the and added them to the "discharge book" with all doctors who saw the patient pen written on the sheets.Can you image how ESTATIC we were to get a computer that printed off all and all we had to do was enter the MR and ACCT numbers,so much simplier.So what I am saying is I am Vintage,in a good way,lolololo and I do love VINTAGE.Something that lasts so much longer and lasts and lasts...
I am working on an old chair been repainting it and new upholstery,another vintage item.And I guess that is why I wanted to learn to "needle tat" something from the past,vintage.And I am thankful for all the conveniences of today,just somethings were made to last from "back in the day".
And I have to add once again"Please give to the American Red Cross",they have their hands full now with all the damage from Issace.And people are so thankful when they see the Red Cross vehicle pull up.And last but not least please smile,  ;) it really does help all involved.