~Now I'M The Grandma~

I love the song, "Over the River and Through the Woods". It brings back so many dear childhood memories of going to my Grandmother's' house for Thanksgiving and holidays. She was always there....standing in the kitchen. Red-cheeked. Old-fashioned house dress under her apron. The house always smelled SO good. And we all gathered around her huge dining room table. All of us.

Then, my Mom became the grandma. And we would pack up the boys and head to "Grandmother's House" on holidays. She was always there....standing in the kitchen. Red-cheeked. Slacks and a sweater under her apron. The house always smelled SO good. And we all gathered around her huge dining room table. All of us.

And now....I'M the Grandma!! They get to come to MY house. I'll be here.....standing in the kitchen. Red-cheeked. Slacks and sweater. No apron! The house will smell SO good. And we will gather around our huge kitchen table. All of us. And we will remember. All the childhood holidays spent at OUR Grandmother's House. We'll be making those same memories for our grandchildren. And my grandbabies will look back, long after I'm gone....and remember~

A Happy Blessed Thanksgiving to all my blogger friends, all my dear customers, and all my 'real' world family and friends. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you for many more Thanksgivings to come~

***Watch this space for Black Friday Specials on my Website tomorrow***

~ Pumpkin Pie Martinis....Oh My~

Turkey time! My favorite holiday meal-of-the-year tomorrow, AND my grandbabies and whole family will be here!! How lucky can a very tired lady get??

Katie came yesterday and we worked into the evening. Lots of orders to go to the PO today.

Pumpkin pies are in the oven.....the tables are ready to set......all the prep for potatoes, stuffing, appetizers will be completed this evening. Jim gets off today at 3 pm which is a huge help AND he loves to cook! Again.....I'm a lucky gal.

For now....I have promised myself to spend the next 6 hours in the studio working on orders since I'll be taking the rest of the day and tomorrow off. Katie and Fannie will come back and spend the day Saturday in the studio with me.

We'll be saving these to make tomorrow. They're DELICIOUS!

Pumpkin Pie Martinis

This recipe only serves one, so you need to double, triple it etc. for your guests~

• 1/2 cup ice
• 1 ounce of vanilla vodka
• 1.5 ounces Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1/3 cup half & half
• 3 tablespoons of pumpkin puree (from a can is fine)
• 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
• cinnamon and sugar

1. In a shaker combine the ice, vodka, Bailey’s, half & half, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Shake vigorously until chilled.
2. Use a napkin to wet the rim of a martini glass. Combine equal parts cinnamon and sugar on a plate. Roll the rim in the mixture.
3. Pour the martini in to the prepared martini glass and sprinkle with more pumpkin pie spice (if desired).

Rosie and I have lots to do. We were both up at 3 am sneaking around the kitchen and dreaming about tomorrow....so I best gather her up and head to the studio. Have a beautiful, thankful Day-Before-the-Turkey wherever you are in this world~

~Monday Blessings, Pumpkin Scones and Free Shipping~

Happy Monday! Do you know there's only 17 days til Thanksgiving??? Woo Hoo!! I can't wait. We'll be hosting 20 family members for dinner here. It's one of my favorite (and easiest) meals to prepare, and marks the beginning of the 2011 Holiday Season!! I love it~

Lots of Blessings this fine November Autumn....actually too many to list...so I'll move on to: FREE SHIPPING on my website this week by using Coupon Code FSN at checkout!!

I tried a new recipe yesterday that I am going to share here for all you pumpkin-lovers out there. It's absolutely delicious!!


PUMPKIN SCONES

For the Scones:

1. 2 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3. 1 Tablespoon baking powder
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
7. 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
8. 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
9. 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
10. 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
11. 3 tablespoons half-and-half
12. 1 large egg

For the Powdered Sugar Glaze:

1. 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2. 2 Tablespoons milk

For the Spiced Glaze:

1. 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2. 2 tablespoons milk
3. 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4. 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5. 1 pinch ground ginger
6. 1 pinch ground cloves

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with fit the paddle attachment, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Add the butter and toss with a fork to coat with the flour mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal, with the butter pieces no larger than small peas.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half-and-half and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a 1-inch thick rectangle about 4 inches by 12 inches. Use a large knife to slice the dough making three equal portions. Cut each of the portions in an X pattern (four pieces) so you end up with 12 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.
4. While the scones are cooling, make the powdered sugar glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. When scones are cool, use a pastry brush to spread plain glaze over the top of each scone. Allow to firm.
5. While the powdered sugar glaze is firming, combine all of the ingredients for the spiced glaze. Drizzle over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (about an hour).

Yield: 12 scones

Note: you can freeze unbaked scones and enjoy hot from the oven scones any day of the week. Just freeze on a baking sheet until firm, tightly wrap in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc freezer bag. When ready to bake just pop into the oven straight from the freezer, no need to thaw. Just add a few more minutes to the baking time.

Enjoy....and Happy Monday wherever you are in the world~

~A Blessed Thanksgiving~

Bountiful Thanksgiving Blessings to all my family...both near and far....and to all the friends God has blessed me with. Thank you, Lord, for all the gifts you've bestowed on all of us~To You goes all the glory~Amen.

Dear Mom......

Thanksgiving has come and gone. You couldn't join us this year. You said it was "too hard". We missed you. I know this is all so hard for you. It breaks my heart. You can't walk anymore. Your legs are too weak to hold you up. But your brain doesn't remember that, so you keep trying. And keep falling.

The kids were here all weekend. I'm so glad they all came to see you. Ella's eyes light up when she sees you. You got to see Jackie's pregnant belly....and looked at Amy's sparkly engagement ring again. I know it was all overwhelming for you, but I'm happy we were all there with you. I will remember it for a long time.

You have no short-term memory now. Only very long-term. And only sometimes. I am so thankful you still know who I am. And I believe you know Ella and Jackson, too. At least I think you do.

My shows are finally done for the year. I'll have lots more time to visit now. Remember how you used to help me with them, Mom? Remember that cold Ohio Mart that we wore long-underwear and mittens it was so bitter out? Long-ago memories.

Hospice has come in to help now, Mom. I know you don't understand exactly what is happening. I'm not sure I do, either. I just know that they are angels. All of them. They give you lots of extra attention; bought you a new, padded wheelchair, and a new, lower-to-the-ground hospital bed. They brought special padding to put next to it so that when you fall, it's not as hard.

I know you can't understand any of this. It's just not fair.

Just know that you have a family who loves you dearly, Mom. And we are here for you. Always.

With Love,

Carol

Related posts: Black Abyss
My Mother's Smile

~To Grandmother's House We Go~

Over the river and thru the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and thru the woods,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the woods,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the woods,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

And now I'M the grandmother! I don't feel old enough to be a grandmother....but a grandmother I am. For years I traveled to my kids' 'grandmothers' houses for Thanksgiving. Now, the kids travel 'over the river and through the woods' to our house.....where we're waiting with open arms, lots of turkey, and much love.

From all of us at RoseCreekCottage:
May you have a Blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones today and everyday. Happy Thanksgiving!