This and that

Hi all! I hope your Monday was good! :) I had two sick girls home today, but I think they will be able to go to school tomorrow. They shared their colds with me, bless their hearts, so it will be nice to be able to rest tomorrow. If we get one more cold...

On a different subject, I finally finished a little Thanksgiving project I mentioned earlier this month.




I used white cardstock and gold sticker letters/numbers I found at Michaels, then glued ribbon from the Michaels dollar section for a border. Add a couple felt leaves and some adhesive gems, and it was good to go! A simple project if you don't count the problems I had with framing it! I spray painted a frame gold, then white, then a different frame gold, tried a black one~ NONE of them looked good! I finally found this one at Wal-Mart for two dollars. I haven't shopped there for around four years, even though it's really close to us, but I have been there twice in the last month searching for the very elusive Christmas topiary...I didn't find the topiary, but I found some frames, so I guess it wasn't for nothing! :) I am not a huge Wal-Mart fan, but that's a whole different subject. :)

Oh, and I wanted to share this wonderful pumpkin cookie recipe, because they were a BIG hit at my house! Something about pumpkin, chocolate and icing...

Pumpkin Spiced and Iced Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
*1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups (15 oz. can) pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12-ounce package) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Vanilla Glaze (recipe follows)

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and walnuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. ( I found 15 minutes was perfect.) Let stand for five minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle or spread with Vanilla Glaze. Makes about 5 1/2 dozen.

For Vanilla Glaze:

Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well.

These are SO good, and they disappear fast! :)

******************************************

I also wanted to say a great big thank you to Sandy Toes at Shell in Your Pocket for giving me this sweet award! It's taken me a few weeks, but I hadn't forgotten! I love her blog, and it's one of my "must reads"! :)

I would like to pass this award onto the following bloggers:

1. Angie from The Happy Homebody
2. Carrie from Buzzings of a Queen Bee
3. Tricia Anne from Notes of Sincerity

If you haven't visited these blogs, make sure to check them out! They are so much fun! :)

Well, sorry this post got so long! I hope you all have a great night! :)