Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween to my favorite witches, ghosts and goblins.

Temporarily out of service

So where are the pictures?
Well, just in case you're asking yourself this very question, our computer died ... and NOT by my doing. I feel like I'm going through blogger's withdraw. There's lots going on and cool pics to post and I simply cannot do anything about it. I feel confined, trapped - - like a caged squirrel (I have a story about a caged squirrel, well, actually Dave has the story. In case you've never witnessed such a thing ... it's not a pretty sight). I digress.
Anyway, there's hope. We ordered parts, so I anxiously await.

Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients
Cake:
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups white sugar
1 Cup oil
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
2 Cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt

Frosting:
1 (3oz) package cream cheese, softened (I used a little more than 3 oz)
1/2 Cup butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Cups sifted confectioner's sugar

Directions
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.) In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin w/ electric mixer until light and fluffy. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.
3.) Spread the batter evenly into an ungreased 10x15 inch jellyroll pan (I used a 9x13 pan). Bake for 25 to 30 mins. in preheated oven (I had to cook the cake a bit longer b/c I used a 9x13 pan). Cool before frosting.
4.) To make frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar a little at a time, beating until mixture is smooth. Spread evenly on top of the cooled cake. Cut into squares.

..... Enjoy

The Hands of a Grandparent

I liked this, so thought I'd share. I hope you like it too.
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Have you ever looked at your hands? I mean really looked at your hands?

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years.

These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak, have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when, as a toddler, I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and put on my boots.

They held my spouse and wiped my tears when he went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band, they show the world that I am married and love someone special.

They write letters to friends and family. They trembled and shook when I buried loved ones. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed my body.

They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day, when not much of anything else seems to work real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly, I hope that it will be these hands that God will reach out and take as he leads me home.

I will never look at my hands the same again.

Author Unknown

Pumpkin Picking

On Sunday we took a drive to see some foliage. I think we were a week or two too early. Grrr. No worries though, we still had fun. We stopped for lunch at Noodles Cafe in Clifton Park, then stopped at some local farms for cider donuts, pumpkins and coffee. On the way home we stopped and had supper at a local wing place ... Is it just me or does it seem like all we did was eat all day? Now, that explains why I had such a good time !

Alpine Slides

After Jackson's soccer game on Saturday, we took the boys (Jackson and his cousin Jacob) to the Alpine Slides in Jimminy Peak, MA. I didn't get as many pics as I'd like ... I was having too much fun!!!

The Saga continues

We took a long drive on Sunday afternoon to see the foliage and hit a few local farms. While in the car, Jackson decided to do some artwork. There are a few more where this came from, but he liked this one the best. Brad, I thought he forgot. But clearly an impression was made.

On Saturday Dave, Sandy, Sawyer, Claude and Rebekah came over for dinner. Then, the ladies went out on the town while the guys watched the children.
On Sunday we had the Adadjo family over for dinner. Here is a picture of Jackson w/ David and Raychelle (Fred and Julie's children).

*Debbie we missed you. We'll try again soon.

Boys and their toys

One of Dave's many projects. This one was to expand our backyard (just a little). It required a lot of fill ... and two dump trucks, a trailer and a bulldozer (Dave's favorite)!
(Before) (During)
(After)