More bounty from the local farmers market

I have been visiting our local Farmers Market quite a bit lately. I love the fall harvest. The colors are so beautiful. I usually go with my husband and sometimes my daughter. My daughter and I have sort of a contest every year to pick the gourd with the most bumps and is well ,ugly lol.

When we got home we start cooking, homemade soup and fresh tomato sauce are among the treats we make.

It always turns out to be such a nice family day. I love to cook and I can't think of any place I would rather be than in the kitchen with my daughter cooking something delicious.

Look at those portabella mushrooms and the color in the eggplant. I love fall.

Have a great week and God bless you Anne

Small Talk Six on Saturdays 7/11

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Topic for Saturday, July 11, 2009:

6 things you think would be great about being a rock star (or just famous in general)

1. Lots of money. I know that is greedy, but I would just like to know what its like. I would do good charitable things with it, honest.



2. World travel, I haven't been lucky enough to see a lot of the world yet, I am sure as a rock star I would get to see it all.

3. I might get to be a guest at the White House. I have always dreamed what it would be like to be at one of those extravagant dinners. I might even be the guest of honor.

4. I would like to eat a fancy and expensive restaurants all over the world. The ones I only dream of now

5. I would get to meet Sir Paul McCartney! Enough said.

6. Ok, seriously I would like to know what it is like to have enough money to do all those things. I would also like to have enough money to be able to help people that really needed it. We had a few sad events in Michigan the past few days. One a car with 5 young people in it decided to try and outrun a train and didn't make it. All 5 are dead. In another area, a family was camping. The Dad got up early and was cold, his family was sleeping so he went to their car to warm up. He fell asleep and hit the gear, running over the tent. His wife and 1 year old daughter are ok, but the 5 year old son is critical. He is a homeless Irag vet and they were living in the tent. Now they are going to take the children away until he can provide a home for them. Now I wish I had the money I earned from being a rock star to buy that family a home and get that child the best medical care available. I wish I could pay for the funerals of those 5 families and get them the help they needed. It wouldn't change anything but it might give them less to worry about.

I am sorry to end on a sad note, but I can't get these stories off my mind and I thought they could use some extra prayers from the blogasphere.

Thanks Anne

Happy 4th of July

My husband and I were reminiscing about 4th of July's when we were growing up. I wonder if any of you have the similar memories. The 4th of July was a very exciting time for me as a child. We always spent the day before decorating our bikes at the local high school gluing red, white and blue crepe paper all over in fun patterns for the big parade and contests. I was always afraid to ride it home so I would walk it all the way home so I wouldn't ruin the decorations.

I would wake up early to get my bike over to be in the parade down our main street and then they would judge the decorated bikes for ribbons and bags of candy. The mayor and other officials would sit in the back of convertible cars and throw candy and after our part in the parade which was always first we would run to collect the hard candy.

Next after a quick stop at home, (by this time I would ride my bike because the judging was over) to drop off my bike and treasures we would walk to the park. We lived very near to it in fact just beyond our back yard was a golf course connected to the park. Now the real fun began.

We would line up for free cracker jack, free ice cream with the little wooden spoon and free flags. After that there were contests, my favorite was the penny scramble. I remember waiting in the anxiously as they lay down the saw dust and then buried the pennies and if you were lucky larger coins into it. They would actually shoot off a gun and what seemed like thousands of us which was probably 30 or 40 kids would dash and dive into the sawdust and begin the search for coins. One year I found a quarter and I thought I was the luckiest kid alive. There were water balloon fights and 3 legged races, potato sack races and there were prizes if you won. Nothing major except to the winner.

There were people having picnics and sparklers and fire crackers were everywhere. I headed home with my latest rewards and then we had a barbecue with the neighbors. My Dad always burned the hot dogs and to this day I love a burned hot dog. The potato salad was the best, the watermelon the sweetest and I had not a care in the world. I didn't know how to have any yet. At night with flash lights and blankets and bug spray, we headed through the backyard and up the hill to the golf course where we had a perfect view of the fire works. We would come back home and finish the day with sparklers and popcorn balls. I would fall asleep to the sounds of the last firecrackers off in the distance.

We still have fun 4th of July festivities. Our daughters best friend (we call her our other daughter) was born on July 4th so now every year we go and spend the day with her and her family. We have very good memories from that and my daughter especially loves that her friend has a birthday on the 4th. I guess good memories are found in many different ways. I am so lucky to have good memories growing up and good times to look forward to every year.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

Saturday Small Talk Six

If I had magical sunglasses name 6 things I would like to see with them.

1. I would like to see inside of someones brain while they are thinking, I bet that would be cool.

2. I would like to see what Sasha(my shih tzu) looks like inside especially when she is running

3. I would like to see where very evil world leaders from certain countries are hiding

4. I would like to see what the traffic will be like before I go out so I can plan my route(no gps yet)

5. I would like to see inside of that darn watermelon before I buy it and all melons as well.

6. I would like to see inside my husbands body to make sure everything else is still working ok, even though his kidneys aren't

If you would like to participate please check out http://www.momdot.com/blog/. They have lots of cool ideas on that page.

Have a great weekend. Anne

Greenfield Village in Michigan

This is a wonderful place to visit if you can. It is a step back in history. My daughter took these photos I hope you enjoy them.

A GIFT FROM MY DAUGHTER

My daughter and I took a trip to Shipshewana, Indiana last year. We had such a nice time and talk about comfort food. They have every pie known to man, pies I have never even heard of and some I have heard of but never tried. Our favorite was the fresh raspberry , and fresh peach, too good! I tried shoo fly pie and have to admit I didn't care for it, a little too sweet for me. They had bakery the size of footballs and the chicken dinner was unbelievable. We live in Michigan so we do go up to Frankenmuth where they also have wonderful chicken dinners but this was just as good. The shops are so much fun and the atmosphere is very pleasant, not rushed, peaceful. I recommend going there to you all. My daughter and I were also huge fans(until the last season which I won't talk about) of The Gilmore Girls. In Shipshewana there was an area that reminded us both of Star's Hollow, we spent a lot of time there relaxing. Last Christmas my daughter made this picture for me, I was overwhelmed. It is just like the area we called"Stars Hollow". I am a lucky and very proud Mom.

Happy Mothers Day!!

To all of the Moms, have a great day. We are going to a brunch, I am looking forward to it. My daughter is the best, I am so proud of her!
Fun breakfast food: Take a 6 or 12 serving muffin tin and butter each section or use cooking spray. Depending on how many cut the crusts off 6 or 12 pieces of bread. Save the crusts, dry them and make bread crumbs or feed to the birds. Fit the bread into the muffin sections making a little well, and then add 1 raw egg to each well on top of the bread. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, until the egg is cooked, add a sprinkle of cheese and bake for a few more minutes until cheese is melted. Sometimes they stick a little but I take a butter knife and go around the edges and then lift them out. It is delicious and a fun way to serve eggs. Kids can help with preparation. You can make sure the egg is cooked by sight or jiggle the pan a little. I used to make this with my Mom. Have a great day!