Pumpkin Crisp

I love fall and Pumpkin Pie... When I was a child, we always got to choose our birthday cake... As it turns out, my sister and I share the same birthday eight years apart... yeah, I'm the old one. She would choose Red Velvet Cake. I would choose pumpkin pie. This recipe ousts my long time favorite pumpkin pie recipe! AND, it is just too easy. Hope you will enjoy it, too.



Pumpkin Crisp

1-15 oz. can pumpkin
1 c. evaporated milk
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 package butter-flavored yellow cake mix
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. butter, melted

whipped cream (optional)
ground nutmeg (optional)

Stir together first five ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9. Sprinkle cake mix over pumpkin mixture; sprinkle evenly with pecans. Drizzle butter over pecans. Bake at 350 for 1 hr. to 1 hr. 5 min. or until golden brown. Remove from oven, let stand for 10 min. before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg if desired. Happy Fall Ya'll!

Trying something new today! Playing Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

Date Day in Dallas

The temperature was perfect. The sky was clear. The two of us were ready for some fun!




We headed to Dallas with a few items of shopping needing to be tended to... but, mostly a desire for lunch at Houston's. =) This house smoked salmon is killer!




Then the Tai Steak Salad... oh, my... Nice glass of Cabernet...




This thing is friggin' unbelievable! Crisp, smooth, sweet, spicy. Perfectly seared tenderloin, mint, parsley, cabbage, peanuts, mango, avocado, tomato, mixed greens, noodles... a taste sensation unmatched!

And, of course, what is a meal without a good cup of coffee and dessert! Apple walnut cobbler with ice cream... I was in heaven. In addition to this wonderful treat, we found a raincoat for Evan, a wedding gift, a house warming gift, and a new Vince Flynn novel! We looked at furniture at Rob and Stucky's, Restoration Hardware, Metro, and Crate and Barrel. And, we ventured through IKEA. Plus, we saw Couple's Retreat. It was a great date day. =)

Happy Birthday, California Girl!

I want to wish a very happy birthday to California Girl of Empty Nest Evolution and Women of a Certain Age! It has been my pleasure to cross paths with her through blogging. She is passionate and witty. Her comments to others are always thoughtful and engaging. Her boys are adorable and well loved! Her husband is a wonderful photographer. Together they make a fine family. And, while I do not share her political view, I applaud her for having a point of view. More of us should be so interested in what is going on in our country (apathy is the rot that will destroy us). Keep it up, California Girl.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Deborah!

These Boots Are Made For Walking

Deb is hosting a boot party today! These are my favorite boots. I found them in Canton at the Trade's Day with Amanda and Barbara last year. They just make me happy when I pull them on. Rainy, gloomy weather... no problem.



Since the end of September, East Texas has enjoyed (endured) a mini-monsoon. We have many areas standing in water... rivers out of their banks... gray, cloudy, wet days... I smile and pull on my zebras! =) I also have a pair of leopard ones from Amanda! Too fun.

Hook-In at Marla's Lakehouse - Primitive Rug Hooking

Today, I went to Marla's lakehouse. It is on a small private lake north of town. Cute as a button! The purpose was fellowship and food... a hook-in for the "hookers". Rug hooking is amazing in that five women could be working on the exact same pattern, even using similar materials and they would all be unique to that woman. It is an art started by women who used the burlap feed sacks and old wool clothes to create rugs for their homes. Now, many patterns are on fine linen and the wool is hand dyed... still... the art goes on...



There was a dozen of us who brought food and whatever we happened to be working on at the time.




I didn't really start taking pictures until late in the game, so I missed some folks... and some projects that were really cool.



This is Dee and Sue. Dee led me to this group SEVERAL years ago and I only realized while I was uploading pictures that I MISSED photographing Dee's project! That she finished today... only to be talked into working on mine (while I knitted... imagine that). Sue is prolific! Most of the rugs pictured in here are hers, including the cute sheep guys at the start.

This is Sue's current project.

A wonderful fall scene... scarecrows, pumpkins and crows, who obviously do not appreciate the fact they are supposed to be "scared" away.

This is Marla... she was the hostess with the most-est today! Thank you for your warm hospitality, Marla!

She is very close to finishing her project, too.

It will be a beautiful table runner when it is finished.

Martha is another prolific hooker!! She can finish a room sized rug before I have time to do a place mat!! Her constant theme is America... red, white and blue. Nobody does it better.

These are some of Sue's ladies...

And, her dog friends... Hers is the little angel in the lower left corner... with the halo. =)

I had a great time today... the fellowship was fabulous... the inspiration, outrageous... but, let me just say, these little cakes were the favorite part of my day!! Thank you, Kerry!

Proprietary Photos

My daughter is thoughtful and sends me "special - Noni only" photos. I love feeling like I have some moments with Little Man that are just for me... since he is 1200 miles away and we don't have that many moments. I loved the pumpkin patch shots. He looks like a wise little old man... like he has a secret only he knows... I'm sure he would share it with his Noni.

After seeing her new post this morning of my "special" thumb sucking photo, I have realized I better hurry and post my other special photos while they are still special! LOL! I love these little brown cords! I wrote and told her I thought they would be great with the sweater I am knitting for him. However, I found out that he was already out growing them... Love you, Little Man!! Big hugs and lots of kisses from Noni!! Thank you for the special photos, Amanda! Love you and big hugs and kisses to you, too!

Playing Tag...

I was tagged by Nanny! Who was tagged by Solar!

The deal is: there are five questions to answer and then there are two people to tag!

The questions are:
1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

• I had to really blow the cobwebs out of my old menopausal mind to have a clue what I was doing 10 years ago. After remembering, it seems more like 20! I was still working for an Orthopaedic Surgeon, spending time in the office and the OR. Worked out and ran like a little fiend. It was no problem to cruise through 12 miles just to clear my head. I was single. I was close to God. Life was good. (Delete... Just started telling about my children and realized that I would save that info for one of my taggees to tell herself... ) My favorite songs of the moment were Life Uncommon by Jewel and Truth of the Heart by Melissa Etheridge.

2. Five things on my to-do list:

• Call the lawn service.


• Finish the sweater for Little Man.


• Pick up more paint chips for possible color change in the Bungalow.


• Go by the bookstore to see about the book by Diane Kress, R.D., The Metabolism Miracle, because I NEED a miracle! LOL.


• Keep up the exercise!!

3. Snacks I enjoy:

• Almonds
• Chocolate
• Almonds and chocolate
• Did I mention chocolate?
• Did I mention almonds and chocolate?

4. Places I have lived: Yes... they are all about the south...

• Sweetwater, Texas
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Calvert City, Kentucky
• Hardin, Kentucky
• Mobile, Alabama
• Loraine, Texas
• Shreveport, Louisiana
• Longview, Texas
• Tyler, Texas

5. Five things I would do if I were a billionaire: I think this subject would require more thought!

• Buy Evan a Mariner Rolex and a Porsche presented with a note that said he didn't have to work anymore. =) Love you, Honey!


• Create a non-profit to help people... not by enabling and rewarding crippling behavior, but by teaching and rewarding life skills.


• Hire a really good property manager, who would love my Old Girls like I do.


• Buy and save more old homes and duplexes.


• Recruit a great chef and some other businesses for my favorite little shopping strip (which I would buy).


• Buy Evan a "compound" so that he could have a place to hunt and play outside.


• Take my family on lots of trips!! =)

I am going to tag my newest blog friend, Linda, and my reason for starting this blog, Amanda!

Nanny, thank you for the fun!

Tag, you're it!