Another Month Comes to a Close

The Autumn colors don't look like this and probably won't this year because of our exceptionally hot, dry summer. September has been a quiet month, with a few exceptions.

Daisy and Pinky's pet cat Oreo died last week. Leaving a quietness in our house. There's no cat jumping down the stairs or chasing her favorite ball around the living room. There's no cat to lean against your leg when she wants something. There's no cat purring in your ear to wake you up in the morning.

In other news we had Parent-Teacher Conferences last week for the big kids. It went pretty well. Pickles is still having trouble in math, but his teacher says he has the time to work with him. Hopefully he has the patience.

I had my first performance review at work... it went really well. I have to admit I do love my job. I couldn't ask for a better place to work.

Today is Granny's birthday. She is 69 years young today. I'm fixing her favorite dinner and she relaxing like she always does. Happy Birthday to my favorite old coot !!

Farewell to Our Little Friend

You will be missed by our entire family.

One Sick Kitty (Day 2)

Well, Oreo is home and while she's a little shaky, she is eating and drinking and being her normal little unpleasant self. (the vet bill DIDN'T put us in the poor house either)
The hypocalcemia was caused by her getting into something poisonous. We just don't know what it could be. I've gone over every inch of the house trying to figure out what she could have licked or eaten. I just don't know.
It would have to be something like antifreeze, but we don't own any antifreeze. (She's an indoor cat, so we know it has to be something from inside the house)

I just want to make sure she doesn't get into it again... hard to do when you don't know what you're looking for.

One Sick Kitty

Oreo is sick.

We're not sure what is wrong with her, but I can tell by the way the veternarian was calculating the bill it's not gonna be pretty.

**UPDATE**
The vet called and said that Oreo is hypocalcemic, which means she has low blood calcium levels. (her level is 3 and should be between 7-11) So Oreo is getting an IV and some medicine and hopefully we can pick her up tomorrow.

Labor Day Dessert Recipes (Part 2)

This recipe is sooo cool and refreshing. (and simple) Everyone loved it.

Frozen Lemonade Pie
1 (14oz) can sweetend condensed milk
1 (6 oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed UNDILUTED. (don't add water)
1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed.
2 (9") prepared graham cracker pie crusts.
Garnish: lemon slices and fresh mint.

Fold sweetened condensed milk and lemonade concentrate into whipped topping.Spoon into crust.FREEZE until firm.Garnish, if desired, before serving.

Labor Day Dessert Recipes (Part 1)

I probably should have taken pictures, but the food was gone before I could find my camera. Take my word for it though....these desserts are wonderful

Apple Cider Pound Cake- I didn't make the caramel glaze, but the cake was delicious without it. Tasted like an Autumn day.

Apple Cider Pound Cake With Caramel Glaze
CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
Category: Pound Cake
Serves/Makes: 12 Difficulty Level: 3 Ready In: 1-2 hrs
Ingredients:
***Pound Cake***
1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apple cider
1 teaspoon vanilla
***Caramel Glaze***
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 10-inch tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.
For pound cake, soften butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar, beating for 1 minute. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating for 1 1/2 minutes after each addition.
Sift together flour, salt, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, cloves and cinnamon. Blend together cider and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with cider mixture. Stir until well-blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until done.
For glaze, combine sugar, buttermilk, baking soda, corn syrup, margarine, vanilla and cinnamon in medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over low heat. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top pound cake with glaze.
Recipe Location: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/155/Apple-Cider-Pound-Cake-With-Ca79496.shtml
Recipe ID: 50280
This recipe is from CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
© 1995-2006 CDKitchen, Inc.

Happiness Is....

My favorite time to go to the library is Saturday morning at 9am. Right when they first unlock the doors. It's so quiet you can actually hear pages turning. Kids don't really start coming in until noon. So all morning it's like being on an island surrounded by books.

It has to be one of the best places to go when you need some quiet time.

WFMW: (Cereal) Brand Loyalty

I am fiercely loyal to Kellogg's and General Mills for their wonderful sugar-filled "breakfast" cereals. I love them almost as much as I love my children. I often buy a box (or two) of Cookie Crisp Cereal just for me and hide it in my private cereal stash.

I can't even understand the concept behind cereals such as Cocoa Comets, Apple Dapples and Apple Cinnamon Toasted Oats (which sounds like something you'd feed a horse...in Autumn). My brain says why buy fake when you can have the real deal ?? I know, I know it's cheaper and more cost effective, but they taste like cereal-flavored cardboard.

Don't let there be a cereal sale...with coupons !! My eyes get misty just thinking about 6 boxes of cereal for $8 with a $2 off coupon.

and don't even get me started on Toaster Treats (fake Pop Tarts), which look like oversized postage stamps (and taste like fruity paper).

For more Works-For-Me-Wednesday Tips head on over to Rocks In My Dryer.