Monthly Archives: October 2009

The Pumpkin who dressed up as a Sweet Potato ~ Margie’s Pumpkin Squares

23 Friday Oct 2009

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Here is the recipe for the delicious Autumn dessert that Margie Orr made for the church potluck.  I posted  a note on my wall asking who had made the tasty flavorful dish and no one fessed up.  I ran into Margie at the Women’s Retreat last weekend and she said very humbly it was hers and she gave me permission to share on my blog.  Margie is a lovely lady, beloved Sunday School teacher, mother of 4 grown children, and  volunteers as the Hope Treasurer.  All the flavors of fall, and  a colorful comfort-food that fooled me into tasting sweet potato when it was actually pumpkin.  Sweet!

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Pumpkin Pie Squares
 
1 c. flour
1/2 c. quick oatmeal
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) Imperial margarine (the only one I use)
 
Combine in a mixing bowl.  I use a pastry hook to mix well.  Pat on bottom of 13 x 9 inch pan.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
 
While the crust is baking combine
 
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
3/4 c. white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
 
Mix well and then pour over crust when done.  Continue baking for 20 more minutes.
 
Combine 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. ( about 2 1/4 oz) finely chopped pecans.  Sprinkle over pie filling then continue baking for 15 to 20 more minutes or until filling is set.  Cool in pan on rack.  Cut into 2 inch squares.  Top with a swirl of Cool Whip topping.  Makes about 2 dozen.
 
Enjoy.
 
Margie Orr

Early Morning Fright

19 Monday Oct 2009

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Autumn LeavesWhile driving my Cross-country runner and friends to school I realized I forgot to line my lips. I reached into my make up bag, grabbed the lip liner, and while driving , perfectly lined my lips… with Loreal khol black eye liner. The girls, apparently the only ones in the car who were wide awake, had a good laugh.  I batted my eyes and smiled widely for them in the rear view mirror saying “Girls, what do you think I’ve done?”  Both screamed so hard they could barely respond.

I usually put on Rimmels, East End Snob, or Wild Clover first thing in the morning and Chapstick the rest of the day, but what if we lined our mornings with dark thoughts and dark things?   We’d have a very difficult time shaking off the covers, and greeting the family, not to mention the people we work with and our neighbors as we scoop up our morning papers.

I dropped into my favorite coffee shop and decided to give the barrista’s a good laugh as I relayed my morning misstep — Halloween would come early for them this year.  They laughed hysterically, doubled over and left the front counter.

How do we chase away the ghouls and goblins of October?
We Praise God.
We read the Psalms and Praise God for who He is.
The darkness and light cannot coexist.
The light will bust in and you’ll be in the Almighty’s Zone.
Praise God.
Our days must be lined with hymns of Praise or they will run down to valleys.
Psalm 104 is a great place to rest your soul and refresh your spirit.
I’ve always associated the Psalm with garments, foundation and the face, because those words are sprinkled throughout the text.  I sat down to read my bible and would you believe today’s reading was 104?

Here’s just a few…

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great.  You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. v.1

You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. vs. 5,6

When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath they die and return to their dust.  when you send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of the ground. vs. 29,30.

Lining up my day in the Lord,

Trish

Sandwiched Between Two Parents

09 Friday Oct 2009

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One morning this week Todd was making lunch for our lovely teen daughter. She has always preferred one piece of bread cut in half with just the meat. Mom’s just know what their kids like best. My husband was making a sandwich with everything in the fridge on it with two pieces of bread. He had large pieces of lettuce, a large slice of tomato, mayo on both pieces of bread, 6 or 7 slices of turkey, a real Dagwood sandwich.   I was aghast…she doesn’t like mayonaise…or lettuce.  But I held my tongue.  She would face this alone.  Mom needed to step back as there was no sense micromanaging my husband’s sandwich production.  My daughter could just pull off what she didn’t like at school.

I envisioned her distaste as she slipped the gigantic sandwich from her lunch bag in front of all her friends.  Later that evening she called me into her room.  I expected she would quietly bemoan her mayo and meat behemoth.  But this was a meeting of another order, a monumental announcement from our formerly finicky eater who is exploring new horizons this year from cross country to choir.   In the kindest way possible she said “Mom, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I like how Dad makes my sandwiches.  Do you think you could add all the extras like he does?”

 

Stepping back,

Trish

The Smaller Footprint

06 Tuesday Oct 2009

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During our years in Tucson our small group read a book by Randy Frazee “Making Room fo Life”.  The Navigator staff couple leading the group asked us to read and implement the changes in every area of our life.  Our first change was to purchase a home in an area walking distance to school, a market, and would allow us to ride our bikes to and from work in good weather.  Freeing ourselves from the additional expense of one car, and ultimately allowing ourselves more time as a family.  We recently moved to a Texas and our home we selected had to fall into all the categories to be a “go”. 

Walking home from work today took exactly 16 minutes. 

These hidden blessings to our family have been the sunshine in the occasional cloud of inconvenience.

First off, our windshield time has been reduced dramatically. We stopped going in all different directions and started moving in the same direction as a family laughing, exercising and simply enjoying each others company as we are physically in each others presence.

Our school, tennis courts, restaurants, market and work are in close proximity to our neighborhood.

Walking to anywhere or riding your bike is not only is refreshing 

During our years in Tucson our small group read a book by Randy Frazee “Making Room of Life”.  The Navigator staff couple leading the group asked us to read and implement the changes in every area of our life.  Our first change was to purchase a home in an area walking distance to school, a market and would allow us to ride our bikes to and from work in good weather.  We are now free from the additional expense of one car.  We recently moved to a Texas and our home we selected had to fall into all the categories to be a “go”. 

Walking home from work today took exactly 16 minutes. 

These hidden blessings to our family have been the sunshine in the occasional cloud of inconvenience.

First off, our windshield time has been reduced dramatically. We stopped going in all different directions and started moving in the same direction as a family laughing, exercising and simply enjoying physically being in each other’s presence.

Our school, tennis courts, restaurants, market and work are in close proximity to our neighborhood.

Walking to anywhere or riding your bike is not only is refreshing as you enjoy fresh air, we are together more often laughing  while doing these things  and modeling a smarter, simpler lifestyle for our teen. 

Our daughter had a flat tire recently and undeterred rode her skateboard beside me as I rode my bike to the new breakfast spot that opened near our home.  We ride our bikes to the orthodontist, our family doctor, the post office and the library.  I rode my bike to pay my recent speeding ticket at the local police station.

My husband keeps our one car in tip-top shape, keeping up with repairs.  We rent a car when taking long trips out-of-town, and when attending a women’s retreat in Dallas I was able to rent from Enterprise a nice sedan for the weekend.

We communicate each day about our various errands, talking through our day instead of living out our lives separately.

Park a car for a day, a weekend, and work up to a month and perhaps permanently.  Methodically move towards a slower and healthier life creating a tight-knit family in today’s jam-packed lifestyle.

I advise something which frees you of additional financial pressures, your family leaves a visible smaller carbon footprint, and all relationships in your life especially the one with God have the space they need to flourish.

Resting in Him,

Trish