Pumpkin Dump Cake

Oh man! You have got to try this recipe!
Not only is it delicious, it is very easy and fun to make!
I don't mind a recipe with many steps...but sometimes I just feel like making something simple, and this totally fits the bill!

Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Dump Cake

1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
10 oz. evaporated milk
1 C. light brown sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 C. chopped walnuts
1/2 C. Heath Toffee Bits
1 C. melted butter

In a large bowl, dump in the pumpkin puree, evap. milk, brown sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Dump mixture into a greased, 9 x 13 baking pan.

Next, evenly sprinkle yellow cake mix over top of the pumpkin mixture.

Sprinkle nuts and toffee bits all over the top.

Finally, pour the melted butter over top of everything.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Enjoy!!



P.S. The bottom of this cake will turn out to the consistency of pumpkin pie.
Beware! You will want to eat and eat and eat...it is irresistible!!!

Fall

It is Fall!

Glorious Fall!

I haven't been posting very much lately and I want to get back to it!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi!

Here's a pic of my hubby gathering firewood he had just chopped...I love how it turned out!

I will be back later today or tomorrow to share a recipe with you.

Pumpkin dump cake!

Oh it is so good!

You'll see!

I see myself in my son

Do you ever see yourself in your children?

I saw myself in my son today.

His appreciation and awareness for everything that is around him...that is JUST like me!

This day,
right here in this photo,
he had decided to do his homework on the swing.

Why??

He had come in from swinging and told me it was so peaceful there. He said he could hear the birds chirping, the crickets, and a squirrel that ran behind him. He also described how the sun was coming through the trees and how nice it was.

I'm thinking, wow, he is 9 years old and he "gets it".

It's just funny because that is exactly how I think.

When I'm in a place and I am overwhelmed with the simplistic, organic beauty of it all...I want to just hang out there. I want to get my journal and write there...I want to read a book there...I want to lay there and take a nap...basically, I want to be in it, of it, with it, a part of it. It fills me with inner peace and a happiness...not a, jumping up and down, kind of happiness...but a smooth, calm, fulfilled, warm, love life, kind of happiness.

When I looked out the back door and saw him on the swing doing his homework, I knew I wanted to capture this moment. It was so precious and beautiful.

See?
I really am, into the "moments" of life.
It seriously gives me a kick.

I am absolutely the person that stops to smell the roses. For that matter, I will actually closely examine the rich, deep blood red color, the velvety smooth texture of the petals, the faint sweet smell.

As far back as I can remember...as a child...I used to sit and look...I mean, just look...at a flower...deep inside...the stamen, the pollen...and just marvel at how each flower would grow to be just like it's other...almost identical. I studied the clover, the blades of grass, the bark of a tree, the big blobs of sticky sap, how the sunlight glowed through it, turning it a golden amber when you looked at it at just the right angle.

Maybe everyone does this...I'm not sure.

I haven't noticed this so much with my first born son...but my second born son...I catch him studying things up close...just like I remember doing...like I do still.

I smile to myself when I see this.
It makes me happy.
It is SO cool to see traits of yourself in your own children!

What you don't realize: daily duties of a librarian assistant

I love the public library! It is one of my favorite places to be...all of the books at your fingertips just waiting to be read...all of that knowledge...and it's free, provided you return it on time and not spill your coffee on it!

Of course there is a lot of work that goes into the library so people like you and I can enjoy this wonderful freedom. We must never take the library for granted...especially the librarians. It might seem like they have an easy job. You may think that all they do is check books in and out and put them back on the shelf. Well, that is just not so!! There is so much more to their job than that!

Recently, I have been enlightened about the responsibilities of a librarian assistant. I have a wonderful friend named Kathy, whom I know through the blog world who is a librarian assistant. Her blog is Kathy's Trip Through Life  I always enjoy reading her posts, as she always has something interesting going on at the library or in her daily life.

I asked Kathy if she would write a post about the daily doings of a librarian assistant. I was so curious about her work, as she was always saying that sometimes it's hard to get all of her work done in her shift. I was often wondering what was the work that she couldn't get done. I knew there was much more to her job than I as a patron knew or realized. She so graciously answered my request and wrote about her job.

Please click on the link I have provided to read about her daily duties at the library. 

Kathy's trip through life: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LIBRARY ASSISTANT  

*When you leave a comment on her blog, please let her know that I referred you. 

*If you remember, please comment here and let me know you read her awesome post!

 I know it will give you a greater appreciation for your local librarian!! It certainly has for me!

P.S. For some reason the link to her post puts you at the very bottom of her post..please just scroll up to the top of her post...I am SO not good at creating links!! LOL Either way it gets you there! Thank you!!

Apple Cozy

 

An apple cozy. 

You need this!
Don't deny it.

I am completely smitten by my new apple cozies!
I saw the idea on Pinterest...and immediately messaged my friend who crochets.
She whipped up about 20 different cozies for me to pick and choose from.

I bought 8.

I could have bought more.
I wanted to buy more.
I will buy more!

 I'm taking an apple in a cozy to my son's teacher for open house.

I gave one to my friend as a hostess gift when she threw a campfire weiner roast for our Bible study group at her home.

I'm going to give one to my mother-in-law today when I deliver a home cooked meal for their dinner because my father-in-law just got out of the hospital/rehab from a very painful back injury.

 I'm giving one to my neighbor today when I return her travel mugs she lent my hubby and son for a backpacking trip so they could make tea and oatmeal and what-not.

I want to give one to my son's principal because she rocks.
She's a tough bird, but a fair bird who somehow naturally commands authority and trust.
She is exactly what elementary school students need.
I'm sorta scared of her, but not really.
LOL
Does that make sense?

The opportunities for giving apple cozies are endless.
It's like giving a smile you can hold in your hand.

Oh and did I mention...the girl that makes these only charges $2.00.
She's already planning to make jack-o-lantern faces and Santa faces for teacher gifts.

P.S.
I'm purchasing a small, chubby pumpkin today.
I've asked her to crochet a cozy for my pumpkin..
Solid black with a big brown button!
I'll be sure to share a picture when it's done.
I think it will be absolutely beautiful!