december 31

Enjoying a quiet evening in this last day of 2011 ... watching football; pizza for dinner and a glass of wine.

This concludes another year of my 'photo a day' project; continuing on into 2012.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

december 30

Soft yellow and pink colors fill the blue sky at sunset this evening after a lovely day in northeast Oklahoma, with temperatures in the sixties.

december 29

after Christmas sales ... a set of four pasta / rim soup bowls in the Lenox Winter Song pattern, to add to my holiday dinnerware. :)

december 28

a game of Scrabble this evening

december 27

winter sunset view from the back porch

december 26

Fred ~ the red eared slider

december 24

ducks and geese on a nearby pond

december 23

Area highways filled with people traveling to their Christmas destinations; and finishing up last-minute holiday shopping.  Gasoline prices in northeast Oklahoma at local QuikTrip.

december 22

vintage Santa cup

december 21

My son mixed up a recipe of cocoa mix this evening to give as holiday gifts. :)

december 20

My son prepared moroccan roast leg of lamb for dinner last night; a fabulous dinner for four! The dry spice rub filled the house with aroma as the lamb roasted. All I snapped a pic of was the bottle of shiraz used for the red wine reduction sauce.

december 19

Christmas decorations

december 14

Even though I have a candy thermometer, I also refer to the 'cold water test' guidelines in my cookbook when making fudge. I mixed up a batch of chocolate marshmallow fudge to send my brother. I'll get it in the mail to him tomorrow.

december 13

white chocolate and candy sprinkles pretzel rods

december 12

I noticed this window display at Miss Jackson's in Utica Square as we were on our way to dinner Sunday evening.

december 11

Christmas Lights Extravaganza, Rhema Bible College, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

december 10

This little tree reminds me of the vintage silver Christmas tree from the sixties ...
now all I need is a color wheel.

december 9

What a special holiday treat; my aunt mailed me a loaf of fruit cake just like Grandma used to make!  Thank you, Aunt Frances!

december 8

cranberry bread ... thanks, Linda!!!

december 7

milk glass sleigh, circa 1963

december 4

Jazzy Beagle sitting by the fire in her Coleman doggie sleeping bag

december 3

holiday decorating

wine with dinner

my favorite recipe for pecan pie

Caramel Pecan Pie

• Single Crust Classic Crisco Pie Crust
• 3 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 (12.25 oz.) jar Smucker's® Caramel Flavored Topping
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups pecan halves

Directions:

1 HEAT oven to 350°F. Prepare recipe for single crust pie. Roll out and place in 9-inch pie plate. Press to fit without stretching dough. Trim even with pie plate. Flute edges.

2 BEAT eggs slightly with fork in medium bowl. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Stir in topping and butter until blended. Stir in pecan halves. Pour into crust.

3 BAKE 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

december 1

yellow onion

november 28

I saw this plate at a nearby antique store a while ago, and recently when I was there shopping, the plate was still there, so I decided to get it for myself.

november 27

grrr...antibiotics for an ear infection

november 26

I was ready for an upgrade!

november 24

A wonderful Thanksgiving Day with my family.

My husband baked a pecan pie ... it was delicious!

november 23

Wednesday afternoon at an area Best Buy, and campers are already lining up by the front doors for the 'Black Friday' deals.

november 20

steak marinade recipe from Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce ~ may be my new favorite for grilled steak, and so easy!

november 19

sunset

november 16

Fred the red-eared slider

november 15

autumn color, squirrel on the fence, squirrel nest in a pecan tree

november 10

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices; add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into greased and floured 12 x 18 x 2-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon cream or milk, if needed

Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract, adding enough of the powdered sugar to give desired consistency. Cream can also be added, if needed.

~~thanks to Karen for sharing this recipe~~ 

it's now a seasonal family favorite!

november 7

november 6

autumn color in northeast Oklahoma along highways 99 and 75

november 5

fall color in the neighborhood

october 31

views from the neighborhood


the last photo reminds me of this poem:

~ Five Little Pumpkins ~

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late."
The second one said, "But we don't care."
The third one said, "I see witches in the air."
The fourth one said, "Let's run, and run, and run."
The fifth one said, "Get ready for some fun."
Then whoosh went the wind, and out went the lights,
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

october 30

october 28

all-season floor mats for my car :)

october 25

mushroom

october 24

october 23

stopped for gasoline at the Owasso, Oklahoma QuikTrip

october 20

Nice evening, Karen! Thanks for hosting!