redhenfarm

A mess? Pumpkin guts? Oh, this is better: pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Cream Frosting Ingredients for cake: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1-1/4 cups light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups sifted cake flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 cup buttermilk (room temperature) Ingredients for frosting: 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1-1/3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two pans about 8" diameter. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add eggs, one at a a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla and beat until incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and buttermilk alternately to the pumpkin batter, in three additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes and invert and remove cake from their pans. Cool completely before frosting. Frosting: Place the cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl and mix until creamy. Add the maple syrup and confectioners sugar and mix until combined. Adjust syrup and sugar until you have the right consistency.

Hmmmmmm. Now I'm envisioning a skeleton in a bikini but I'm feeling really dumb and clueless.

Happy Monday morning I hope Monday doesn't foretell the rest of the week. I woke up with a headache. This is the third day of cloudy weather. If it would just break through we would have sunshine and be warmer. It's 54 right now and our high will be maybe 72. Yesterday both of my sons went to the last Sunday Market (open air market of vendors). I got three pots of grasses that are so dark they look black but the base of them is green - it's very pretty. Also got three "black" pansies. These are very deep with purple in the centers. It's sad to see the market closing for the year. It won't reopen until Mother's Day weekend. I feel like cooking today and gardening. Usually both together don't work. I get pooped out from the gardening part. We'll see. Karen: This is a good place to share, just like you did, about what's going on today. Unikemom: Great it's going to be a good week for your DH. I can see getting ready for slow season for you. Snowmom: Take care. Did you see a dentist about your tooth? It's good you and Old Pine had some time to yourselves. Well, folks, if I don't get out of my bathrobe I won't get anything done today - so off I go.

Oh, Mary, I missed your party - I'm so sorry. Will you put the dress on again today so I can see? Good thing about the cyber food and no calories! Maybe there's a piece of cake left. I've got a cup of coffee here. Since I missed the magic of your party I'm just sitting here in my purple bathrobe. Best wishes for the coming year

I missed going to the pool for aerobics this morning because I was up in the night wide awake for awhile so I couldn't get my get-up-and-go to work. So I called my son to see if he was free to do something. His wife was busy preparing her things and getting ready for her move to Portland to look for work so just the two of us went out to Ft. Stevens State Park to walk on the bike trails. I knew about the trails but (duh!) never connected you could just walk on them. The sun was out and it was beautiful walking under the trees but also my son is the most entertaining person to walk with. He has taught himself about so many things in nature. He knows what birds we are listening to and showed me many kinds of mushrooms and told me about them. We saw one kind of mushroom he was going to look up when he got home that looked much like a shiny, red apple. We must have walked three miles or more. I'm thinking more because my legs are stiff tonight and they usually aren't. It was fun just walking and talking and him stopping frequently to show me something on the side of the path my eyes would have missed. Sigh. I'm going to miss him so much when he moves and I'm so thankful for a perfect day like today.

We used to be referred to as a "melting pot". Apparently that notion has changed for some. In Job Corps they proudly proclaimed we weren't a melting pot - but a salad bowl, meaning immigrants should be encouraged to keep their own ways. Therefore there were students who spent a couple of years in Job Corps and STILL graduated (?!) not able to speak sufficient English to hold a job. I worked with some of these young people and most had good hearts and tried really hard but they needed to be in an immersion program to learn the language. I liked Ginger's concept in the study of Ruth on how to really help people to help themselves. My grandparents all had to learn English when they came to this country. In the 60s my aunt and uncle went to Norway and a young family member really wanted to come to the US. They had arrangements for her, but she was unable to get employment and show herself to be self-sufficient so she wasn't allowed to come to this country. When did those laws change? Jan

LOL

It is beautiful here today but only 56 right now. My son and I are going to go out to the park to walk. I wanted to go to pool aerobics this morning but I woke up in the night and it was too hard to get going this morning. I am really looking forward to walking around Ft. Stevens. We'll walk on the bike paths. I deep cleaned my kitchen countertops this morning, stovetop and burners. How do the burners get so icky so fast? Like refrigerators, I think. Isn't it great when things are all cleaned up? Unike: Sounds like you are on a roll this morning and it was "catching". With my DH back at work it changes how things get done around here. When he was "retired" all he had to think about was when the lawn needed mowing, etc. Wiccad: Terrific news about exchanging rent due for massage and good for you hiding the phone. Let's just hope he doesn't have a phone jack in his room. Have a great day everyone.

Good morning Unike and everyone else who shows up later: The sun is out here this morning but it's only 46 brrrr. Our furnace comes on for awhile in the morning about the last two weeks, but then it's pretty good for the day. Our family room (where the computer is) was converted from a garage before we bought it and the heat isn't ducted out here. We've had a couple of electric wall units but now use an electric space heater and it is on this morning. Today I need to take some photos my cousin loaned me down to be copied. Since the furnace has been serviced I can move a couple of plastic containers back to store in that space so when DS#2 comes down this weekend he can find his bed. Unike: Hope all goes well with the doctor visit. Your a mom - I'm sure you'll get a tooten thing done today

It's afternoon here now. I can just about smell the vegetable soup from Unikemom's house. Will you have leftovers? I like making things where there's a bit for at least a lunch another day. It's nice of you to make something your aunt can eat with her dental problems. Too bad we don't have a graemlin of a pot cooking away on the stove. Snowmom: It's great you make a special time for the little guy while the older one goes to Scouts. I remember well (so many years ago) how it felt that my sister got to do so many wonderful things just because she got to be the age to do them first. Nowadays she just gets to be older first

Westie, They don't know what thongs are!

Good morning everyone Sounds like those little ones are settling in. Take care of yourself, too. Buttercup: I remembered as I read your post I have to renew our registration on one of the cars this month. I think bow hunting has already started here. Guns start in October some time. You know when you hear the gun fire and don't see the deer or elk. My son was hearing gunfire in the woods behind his apartments and tried to call the police and they laughed at him. Some of the gunfire was automatic but we live in a good, ol' boy county(imho). Have a great Monday everyone.

Hill: This looks so good and easy. What smells better than something with cinnamon baking?

Good morning everyone . Have a great Saturday everyone.

Hill: Adding my hugs

I'm here late this afternoon. I've been going to the pool with a friend on Monday and Friday and leave the house early to do that. We get in on half of an aerobics session taking place and then do another one for the hour after that. Then a short time in the hot tub. I've been using hand weights in the pool and can really feel it across my shoulders. We started out very foggy this morning which burned off to a glorious day. This afternoon I went down to a fall open house at a country type store - really just decorative although there are cookbooks, cute dish towels, etc. Unikemom: I have fond memories of school programs from long ago. Becca: What nice days for you, too, with the kids in school. Snowmom: Good thing you saved those bunkbeds. We got our kids some when they were about 4 and 8. When it was together and made up we all got up on the top bunk and got the giggles because it was so fun being up there. Sounds like busy times for you, too. The cousin I haven't met yet will be here tomorrow afternoon. I'm really looking forward to it.

What a beautiful time to share with your grandson. It sounds like one of those times you will remember forever. I plan to do some work in the garden this afternoon.

Yesterday was tired Monday for me - I left the house before 8 with only one cup of coffee in me which means not awake yet to go to a water aerobics class with a friend. We're going again Friday and I like it except the early part. Made the mistake of getting in the hot tub and felt all wrung out like a rag doll all day. A friend told me a couple of years ago the way to do that is after the hot tub (if you want to accomplish anything all day) is to dip in the cool pool before you shower. Anyone else have that happen? Last night I had a surprise call from a cousin I've heard of but have never met who is going to come visit me on Saturday. She has geneology information and I am interested in hearing what she has to tell me. Mad dash house cleaning before then. Dinner here tonight will be apple chicken skillet with brown rice and kale. Heading out for number three.

Sad: Down In The Valley - I think it's the tune that makes it so sad. Silly: Hokey Pokey

Sad for those she left behind, great victory to Fran as she is free from all crying, sorrow and pain and in the arms of the Lord.

19 miles.

My favorite muffins: Morning Glory Muffins 1/2 cup raisins 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups peeled, grated carrots 1 large tart apple, grated 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts 1/3 cup sundlower seeds 3 large eggs 2/3 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease 12 muffins cups. Put the raisins in a small bowl and cover them with hot water; set aside to soak while you assemble the rest of the recipe. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices, and salt. Add the carrots, apple, coconut, nuts and sunflower seeds. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, oil and vanilla together. Add to the flour mixture and stir until evenly combined. Drain the raisins and stir into the batter. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven, let cool 5 minutes, then turn out of the pans to finish cooking.

Yes, I saw it. I wondered which one was your cousin. What a tough competition to be on with Ken. Your cousin did well.

Good morning everyone I don't feel as cheery as Snowmom sounds but the sun is out and the sky is blue and it's another day off for DH (unless he gets a call). Weatherbug says it's only 46.4 degrees here but will be about 75 today. For the first time in a long time my whole family is off today. There is a Civil War Reenactment at Ft. Stevens and we might go over to see some of that. DH said as he came home on Friday he was some of the reenactment people in their costumes walking along the highway - that must have been a strange sight! Anyone read Sharyn McCrumb's Ghost Riders? What's everyone else up to today?