Cookie day

Another bird

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It was a sunny morning but looks can be deceiving.  No walk outside today - it was a chilly 2 below zero.  So once more it was an inside walk.

I had some of those heart shaped cookies I made for the kids at church a couple of weeks ago left in the freezer.  Some of the icing was left too in the refrigerator and this morning I tried my hand at icing them again.  I thinned the icing and though they aren't perfect, I did a lot better job on them this time.  Ken thought so too and ate a couple of them right away.  : )

It was a day for cookies.  I also made the Black and White cookies and I'm pleased to say they turned out great.  Easy to make too.  Here they are ready for the oven.

 17 minutes later they came out looking like this.

 Once cooled they are turned over and the flat side is iced.

 We couldn't wait for snack time this evening to taste one so we shared one right away.  Oh my are they so good.  I think better even than the one from Brenda's.

New York Black and White Cookies

Ingredients
For Cookies

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg

For Black and White icing

• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon clear corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon water (approx)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Directions
Cookies

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Sift together flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
• In small bowl or cup, mix together buttermilk and vanilla.
• Beat butter and white sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes or until it's evenly distributed.
•  Add egg to butter and sugar mixture, and beat until blended.
• Gradually beat in flour mixture one cup at a time, and add in buttermilk mixture  between each cup of flour, and mix until smooth.  It will be necessary to scrape down the sides of the bowl while mixing.
• Spoon batter in 1/4 cup size servings onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  (I used the quarter cup scoop from Pampered Chef and made 7.
• Bake on middle rack for about 15-17 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and spring back when touched.
• Place on a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely before icing.

Icing

• Stir together icing sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and 1/2 tablespoon of water in bowl until smooth.
• Place half of mixture into separate bowl and add cocoa powder, and remaining water bit by bit until it is the same consistency as the white icing.  If the icing is too runny, add more icing sugar until it is smooth and spreadable.
•  Turn cooled cookies flat side up, and spread icing - half with white icing and half with chocolate.

The icing does not set solid on these cookies, and does not harden, but it dries enough to be wrapped as they are sold in the city. They can be wrapped individually in cellophane, or sealed in a plastic container.

Yesterday we had chicken for dinner and this evening I made Chicken A La King with the left over chicken.  It had been years since I made that.  My kids used to love it.  It was very good and something different for a change.

Thanks for all the kind words about the scarf I knitted.  It was really easy and fun to do. 
That's about it for today.
Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

How beautiful a day can be
when kindness touches it.
~ George Elliston

Update on my Mom:

They met with 4 surgeons and it was decided that my Mom would go ahead with the open heart surgery.  The prognosis is good and she should be fine.  Her surgery will probably be the end of March.  It is in God's hands and we will trust Him. 

Scarf is finished

A picture from yesterday's walk.

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Back to the basement this morning for walking. Got my 6 miles in during the day.  It was 7 degrees with snow flurries but by mid morning the sun was out though it stayed very cold all day.

Went food shopping at Walmart this morning.  Didn't see any one we knew this time which is rare indeed.

I took apart the last puzzle and though I haven't started the next one yet this one is next in line.  It will be number 6 for this year.

 Finished the ripple scarf this afternoon.  Here I am modeling it.  It is for a friend who I hope to meet one day soon. : )  If you'd like see the pattern click HERE.

 I've started another one in blue and yellow.

Thanks every one for the prayers for little Cohen.  I haven't heard anything but will let you know when I do.

Hope you had a nice Friday and you smiled often.
happyone : )

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark,

you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.

You sit still and trust the engineer.

~ Corrie Ten Boom

Comment replies:
Nellie - My mom's breathing has much improved with the oxygen but they still have to meet with the surgeon to see what options she has. 

Fingerprints

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Light snow showers and 22 degrees this morning but just a slight breeze so I got to walk outside again.  Started out at 7:00 and went to the post office to drop a another Netflix in the slot. 

The little bit of snow made it hard to tell where the ice was so I stayed on the main road where I knew the shoulders were clear.

Walked to the end of Barn Sale Road and back again.  No ice there either.

I heard a woodpecker but couldn't see it.  Walked passed the cows but they were too busy eating to walk over to the fence this morning.  The only birds I seem to see lately are crows.

I saw the woman who walks with the ear phones.  She says good morning to me now when I see her.

Two days in a row for an outside walk - hope tomorrow is another one.  : )
I walked 6 miles.

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Right after breakfast we left for church and spent the whole day there doing the Fingerprint Ministry which is putting the book of Romans in Spanish together.  We do that once a month.  Today I learned how to use the stapler machine.  I figure I did good because I didn't staple my finger. : )

I didn't finish knitting the scarf last night.  Maybe tonight.

Remember Krista who just had a baby a couple of weeks ago who I knitted the sweater for?  Her baby Cohen went to the hospital this afternoon with RSV which is a respiratory virus.  Please say a prayer for little Cohen.  Thank You.

Hope your day has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )

Couldn't find who said this quote but I think it is a good one. Any one know who said it?

The tongue has no bones

but is strong enough to break hearts.

Mind your words.

Walking Outside

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Got up, looked at the thermometer and saw that it read 20 degrees so I bundled up and went outside for my morning walk. : )  I left at 7:00 and there was a mix of sun and clouds.

I first walked to the library and dropped a book off in the book drop and then headed on over to the post office and mailed off a Netflix (Broadchurch, very good show), and then walked up to the cemetery.  Couldn't walk around it though because of the ice.  There was ice on about half the roads so I just walked where I could.  I walked up to the industrial park and walked around there.  Though it was 20 degrees there was a strong wind which made it feel a lot colder and at times the wind would blow right through all my layers.  There are two flags in the picture below and you can see how windy it is by how they are blowing straight out.

After walking a few miles I was just going to head home because I was getting cold but then the sun came out again and I changed directions and it didn't seem so cold so I just stayed out and got my full 6 miles in.  Sure was getting out of the basement and outside to walk. : )

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Finished the latest puzzle that I've been working on this afternoon.  I have one more left to do that I haven't done before.  Ken was cleaning out a cabinet in the garage some weeks ago and found this puzzle and another one.  He bought them in 2013 for Christmas, hid them and then forgot about them.

Late this afternoon I started getting a headache and it got worse and worse and my stomach wasn't feeling so great either.  I took a couple of aspirin took a little nap but it didn't help.  Slept some more and than about 7:00 I felt fine again.  I didn't feel good  for only 3 hours but it was long enough for us to miss church this evening which started at 7:00.  God must have wanted us to stay home this evening for some reason.

I'm going to do some more knitting on the scarf I'm working on and I might even finish it tonight.

Hope your day has been happy and bright.
happyone : )

There's no happier person than

a truly thankful, content person.

~ Joyce Meyer

Comment Replies:

Kim - Yes, there is another stairway to the basement inside the house. Our basement is all finished and is part of the house.  Here's a picture of the inside stairs for you.  : )

Eileen - Yes, I'll post the recipe for the Black and Whites when I make them.

Black and Whites

 Some more birds

Very cold here this morning with a temperature of minus 13, so you guessed it, another 6 mile walk inside.  The sun came out and later in the day it got up in the 20's.

I finished putting the rest of my recipes in the protective plastic covers and in order so now hopefully it will be much easier finding a recipe when I want it.  Feels good to be finished with that project. : )

Did a little reading and knitting this afternoon and never went outside today.  

Looking up the basement stairs.

The Backyard

My Black and White was delicious last night.  Today I went on line and found a recipe for them called New York City Black and White Cookies and plan to make them in the next few days.  Black and Whites are a New York staple and you can find them in all the bakeries in the area.  I'm originally from northern NJ and they were in all the bakeries there too.
We used to stop in the International Bakery on the way home from church when I was a kid and get some.  When I grew up and met Ken it was a pleasant surprise to learn  that his sister Kathy married Dennis, whose family owned the bakery.  : )  Dennis is still a great baker and has made me some delicious birthday cakes over the years.  He has also made me some Black and Whites a time or two.

Some of you were wondering what they are.  It is just a big cake like cookie with the white and chocolate icing. 

There was a Seinfeld episode about the Black and Whites which brought it to every one's attention.  I looked the episode up on YouTube and you can see the part about the Black and Whites HERE.

Diana - I had never heard of a Neenish Tart but looked it up and it does look like a black and white because of the same icing but they are very different.  I understand that a Neenish Tart has a crispy bottom and a sweet filling of butter, icing sugar, condensed milk and lemon juice.  Is that right?  They sound delicious as well

Only had the one black and white so tonight I'll be back to a snack of ice cream.

Hope your day was sunny and bright.
happyone : )

Laughter brings out the child in all of us.

~ Bill Cosby

The missing piece

 The owls are another one of the porcelain birds that I have 

that was my mother in laws.

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 It was above freezing yesterday and there was some melting going on.  Then it all froze during the night and this morning it was 13 degrees, windy and snowing so another 6 mile walk in the basement for me.

Remember that puzzle piece that I said was missing from the last puzzle I did?  Well, it's not missing after all.  I was cleaning out my vacuum cleaner this morning and there it was.  : )  It is a good thing my vacuum doesn't have a bag or I never would have found it.

By mid morning it cleared up and the sun came out though it was still in the teens.  After lunch I went outside just for an hour or so to get some fresh air.  Did a little snow shoveling and walk around.
I stood in my driveway, zoomed in on the mountains and took this picture.  The Farm Loop is up that way.

Late afternoon we went to the library.  The two books that I had on hold were ready for pickup.  Also picked out another book.  We had a few more errands to do and then since it's Monday we stopped at Brenda's for half price pizza on the way home.  Brenda has Black and Whites and I always want to buy one.  I love them.  Used to eat them all the time when I was a kid with my grandmother. : )  Today I decided to get one and have it as my snack this evening watching television.  We ordered it to go and when our server brought it wrapped up with the left over pizza and the bill she told us, "No charge for the Black and White.  It is on the house."  Wasn't that nice?!!! It is hard waiting to eat it.  Won't be long now. 

Hope your day was a happy one and you smiled often.
happyone : )

You may be deceived if you trust too much,

but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough.

~ Frank Crane

Poll Results

Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote in my heaven poll. : )

Some of us may not ever meet here on earth but we will meet up together in heaven one day.  

25 people plus me voted that the way to get to heaven is to simply believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your savior. 

 AND that is what the Bible tells us.

John 3:16 says that, For God so loved the world, that he gave is only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

Acts 16:31

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become

the sons of God, 

even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12

That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised 

him from the dead thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9

4 people voted being a good person, 1 voted doing good works and 8 voted all of the above would get you to heaven.  No one voted going to church or being baptized.

All of those things are good to do and we should all be doing them because that is what Jesus would have us do, BUT the Bible tells us that we are not saved that way.  

None of us can ever do enough good works or be good enough to earn our way to heaven that way. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
It is the GIFT of God:
not of works, lest any man should boast.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, 

but according to his mercy he saved us....

Titus 3:5

 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3

30 people plus me said YES we are going to heaven and 8 people voted they hope so.  The Bible says we can KNOW FOR SURE we are going to heaven.

I John 5:13 tell us :

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

THAT YE MAY KNOW that ye have eternal life, 

and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

So those 8 of you who hope you're going to heaven the Bible tells you if you accept Jesus as your Savior, you can know for sure.  I hope you feel that you could now change your vote to YES. : )

Interestingly no one said they weren't going to heaven and it made me sad to see that 4 people voted that they didn't believe in heaven.  I hope Jesus will speak to your hearts and you will listen.  I would like to meet you up in heaven one day too. 

Now is The Time to Accept Jesus as Your Savior.

 Behold, now is the accepted time,

behold, now is the day of salvation.

II Corinthians 6:2

As the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear this voice,

harden not your heart..

Hebrews 3:7-8

You can pray a simple prayer like this right where are, and if you mean it with all your heart you can be saved.  

God,

I know I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me.  I believe with all my heart that you died for me on the cross to save me and took away all my sins and I thank you.  I believe that you rose again the third day and now I ask you to come into my life and make me the person you want me to be.

If you do this you can know for certain that you will be going to heaven when you die.

God said so, and He cannot lie. : )

In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised before the word began.

Titus 1:2

Once again I would like to thank all of you who voted.

May you all have a blessed Sunday. : )

God Loves you.

happyone : )

An outside walk : )

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This morning it was a warm 18 degrees. Relatively warm anyway. : )  I bundled up and went outside for my walk.  There was some wind but just once in a while and when I left at 7:00 it wasn't snowing.  About a mile into my walk some light flurries started and before long it was all out snowing.

It was so nice being able to walk outside for a change.  Though I am thankful that I can still walk in the basement of course it doesn't compare to being out in the fresh air.

There was no one else out walking or doing anything and only a handful of cars came along.

I stayed around town just walking up and down all the streets which were packed snow.

When I left, my driveway was clear of snow and when I got home there was an inch of snow covering it already.   Traffic had picked up and the snow plows were out once again.  People out doing their errands in spite of the snow.

I walked 6 miles.

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Stayed home and just did things around the house.  Once in a while I just sat in my chair in the front room in front of the picture window and watched the snow coming down.  So pretty and peaceful.  I know a lot of people are tired of winter and want spring to arrive but I just like to take each day and enjoy it and not hurry it along.  Spring will arrive soon enough.  If we didn't have winter we wouldn't appreciate spring as much as we do. : )

We thought it was a good day to make homemade pizza for supper and it was a most excellent idea. : ) 

Hope your Saturday was a happy one and you smiled often.
happyone : )

A woman whose smile is open 

and whose expression is glad

has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.

~ Anne Roiphe

Comment replies:

John - No, I didn't see the almost flower in my footprints until you pointed it out.  : )

Sunshine today : )

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Too cold to walk outside again this morning and there was light snow falling so I walked three miles in the basement.

It cleared up fairly quickly and the sun came out and it was a beautiful day though it did stay cold.  I went outside after lunch when it warmed up to 10 degrees and shoveled the driveway again.  When that was done I didn't feel like going inside yet so I walked down our road a little ways.

And then I walked around the yard in the snow.  I like walking on new snow where no one has walked before.  Here's my footprints in the front yard. : )

I was outside 2 1/2 hours and wasn't cold at all.  What a difference no wind and the sun makes.  Since I got to go outside I didn't walk the other 3 miles in the basement.  It was great being out in the fresh air and sunshine. : )

Inside the house I did some reading and knitting.  A nice evening at home doing the usual.

Hope your day was sunny and bright.
happyone : )

Snow was falling,

so much like stars

filling the dark trees

that one could easily imagine

its reason for being was nothing more

than prettiness.

~ Mary Oliver

Still time take the Heaven Poll 

found at the bottom of the posts

if you haven't yet.  

This is the last day  : )

More of the same

Ken's mom collected porcelain birds and I have a few of them.

This Robin is the oldest one and I don't know anything about it 

except that I like it. : )

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I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but today was very cold, windy and snowing.  Another walk in the basement.  Not getting out to walk, I don't get out to take pictures so I walked around the house seeing what I could photograph and I came up with the porcelain bird.  I have a few more so you might be seeing some more of them for the next few days. : )

I've been home all day today.  Didn't even go outside to shovel the driveway because it never stopped snowing.   Did some things around the house and then I knitted on a rippled scarf that I started last night.  This is a third of it done.  I'll knit these same colors two times more.  I'm knitting it for a friend and it is a surprise. : )

A regular evening at home.  Ice cream, knitting, reading and a little television.

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

 Let my soul smile through my heart

and my heart smile through my eyes,

that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.

~ Paramahansa Yogananda

 Comment replies:
Diana - My pastor and his wife had a great time and loved New Zealand.  Sunday night we will be seeing pictures and hearing all about their trip. : )

Thank you all for the prayers for my mom. : )  The oxygen is a big help with her breathing.  Still waiting for the appointment with the surgeon.  I will keep you posted.

Lighthouses

My Lighthouse Collection

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Another cold with snow falling so no walk outside yet again.  Did the usual 6 miles the basement.

Keeping busy inside today.  Got more cleaning done, did some reading, and worked a little on the puzzle.  Haven't worked on it much so it's slow going.

At times this afternoon the snow came down harder than I've ever seen it before.  This is out my dining room window.

 Headed out in the snow for church this evening.  Didn't feel like cooking so we stopped at Burger King for a quick supper on the way.

 Pastor Leatherman and Kathy have returned from their trip to New Zealand save and sound.  It was so good to see them again.  We all really missed them.

Hope your day was a happy one.

happyone : )

 Every tomorrow has two handles.

We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety,

or by the handle of faith.

~ Unknown

I ask that you please keep those prayers going for my mom.  She isn't doing all that good.  She gets out of breath very easily and is now on oxygen.  Her test results said that her arteries are good but one of her heart valves is pretty bad.  Another appointment with another doctor to hear options and decide what to do. 

Comment Replies:

Ida - You have to go out here on snowy roads or you'd be home in the house all winter. : )  You just get used to it.

Bev - I lived in a crowed area back then and I think the fox was just used to seeing people around.

One more try

The picture of the fox is one I took a couple of years ago

on one of my walks where I used to live.

One of my favorites.

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Another cold morning with snow coming down so once again I had to walk inside.  This time I walked 4 miles at one time right when I got up.  By late morning the snow stopped, the sun came out and it warmed up to the teens.   After lunch  I bundled up and went outside for a couple of  hours.  Got the driveway cleared of snow and then walked around the yard in the snow.  I figured I got enough exercise outside so didn't do any more walking in the house.

I wanted to knit these fingerless gloves last night but never I didn't get started.

I didn't realize that the pattern calls for double pointed needles.  I've tried using them before when I tried to make socks but couldn't seem to get the hang of it.  The socks were on very small needles and I thought maybe I could manage on a bigger size and be able to knit this.  Well, I tried and tried last night and spent an hour on it again today and just can't get manage to get the hang of knitting with 5 needles.  I found a good tutorial on YouTube but it just isn't working for me.  I'll give it another try another day in a day or two and then I just may have to give up.  It really bothers me that I can't do this.  Every one tells me it is so easy.  I was not happy and Ken had to give me a hug before I felt better. : ) 

Ken is going through some old VCR tapes and came across tapes that we made from old 8 mm home movies from when I was a little girl.  There was no sound back then and the picture quality is pretty bad but what fun to see them again.  We watched me when I was only 5, 6, 7, 11, and 15.  How nice to see my grandparents again, other family members, old friends, and my parents so young again.  I'm older now than my grandparents were in the pictures.  That is really strange.

This evening I'm going to make weave-it squares.  Now that I know how to do. : )

A happy day to you.
happyone : )

Happiness is a butterfly,

which when pursued 

is always just beyond your grasp,

but which, if  you will sit down quietly,

may alight upon you.

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

In the trash

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At 7 degrees below zero I figured I'd better have another walk inside!! Did my usual 6 miles in three sessions.

Mid afternoon it started snowing again and it's supposed to stop sometime tomorrow.

Got started on this weeks cleaning.  I do some each day and by Thursday the house is clean and then it starts all over again next Monday.  I used to clean the whole house in one day but I always start out good and by the end I'm cutting corners because I'm just sick of cleaning.  I do a better job if I just to some each day.  I guess we all have our own systems. : )

I sewed the squares I knitted for the baby blanket.  I like the colors but don't like the knitting.  It looks too plain and amateurish and I just wouldn't like to give to anyone so I threw it right in the trash.  It's the two rows of squares in front in the picture.  The squares in the back are the weave-it squares and I'm continuing on with them.

I'm going to start a knitting project later watching television.  It is something new for me and tomorrow after I've given it a try, I'll let you know how it is coming along.

It is half price pizza at Brenda's so we cleaned off the truck and hit the snowy roads.  We really like pizza. : )  This is the main road, side streets are snow covered.

Hope you are staying nice and warm.  Though I do enjoy winter, I think I'm about ready for spring.
A happy day to you.
happyone : )

Pray and let God worry.
~ Martin Luther

Sunday

I waited patiently for the Lord: and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, and of the miry clay,

and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:

many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40: 1 - 3

Inside walk for me today too cold and windy outside.

The sun is out this afternoon but it is 6 below zero and very windy making it feels like 30 below. 

Nice to see a good crowd at church in spite of the weather.  : )

6 days left for voting on the heaven poll (at the bottom of the posts) if you haven't voted yet.  Thank you for all who have taken the time to vote.  Next Sunday will be a post about the poll.

A blessed Sunday to you all.

happyone : )

Weave in faith and God will find the thread.

~ Unknown

Banana Bars

A summer day.

This is the lake I used to walk around almost every day

where I used to live.

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I thought I would be walking inside today because I thought the temperature would be near zero but when I looked at the thermometer I was pleasantly surprised to see it was a warm 21 degrees.  Relatively warm anyway. : )  It was windy and snowing too but I bundled up and had a very nice walk.

Walked around the industrial park, around town and by one of the cemeteries.  There was nobody else out and very few cars.  The crows were out though.  When I walked down by the barn where I see the horses, I saw them in the barn and when I said good morning to them, they neighed back, but stayed in the barn.

I had Ken take this picture of me out the front window when I got back home.  Wanted to show you how bundled up I am when I walk.  I must weigh an extra 10 pounds!!  : )

I walked 6.3 miles.

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 It's been snowing pretty much all day and at times it came down looking like a blizzard.  Took this out the dining room window.  The temperature has been falling and right now as I type this it is 8 degrees.  I have a feeling that I won't be walking outside tomorrow.

A nice day to enjoy being at home in a nice warm cozy house.

There were a couple of bananas sitting on the counter that were too ripe to eat.  Thought about making banana bread but didn't feel like making it and besides I'm not really that crazy about banana bread.   Looked around on line for banana cookies.  I didn't find cookies, but did find Banana Bars and so I made them and boy they were really good.

Here they are in the pan done baking, cooled and iced.

Two sit on a plate which will be my snack tonight instead of ice cream.  

I already ate one.  I had to make sure they were good enough to eat. : )

Banana Bars

Ingredients 

BARS

1 cup sugar

1 cup mashed bananas (2 medium)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

BARS

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.  Mix sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Spread in pan.

2.  Bake 25 to 300  minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (mine were done in 22 minutes.)  Cool completely about 1 hour.

FROSTING

Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until blended.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable.

Spread cooled bars with the frosting.  Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Store covered in refrigerator.

You can freeze the bars up to 2 months.

I went through my recipes today and  organized them.  I got plastic covers and put the recipes in them and then in a big binder.  The plastic will keep them clean.  I came across recipes that I thought I had lost and it was so nice finding them again.  I had to laugh at all the cake and goodie recipes I have.  

I didn't get finished, too many to do in one day but I am pleased with the progress I've made. 

Well, that's it for today.  I'll get a little reading done and then when I watch television I'll do some knitting.

A happy day to you all.
happyone : )

Spread love everywhere you go.

Let no one every come to you without

leaving happier.

~ Mother Teresa 

This and That

 A couple of cabins in the woods across the lake.

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At 1 degree and windy this morning I thought it best that I do my walking in the basement today.  First thing in the morning I walked 3 miles, 1 mile just before lunch, and the last 2 miles later in the day.

Finished knitting the pink and purple slippers last night and this morning I sewed it up so that is another project that is finished.

The sun came out but was very cold all day and it looked like there was glitter in the air.  So pretty to see.

Krista had her baby in the wee hours of Thursday morning.  : )  They named him Deward Cohen, he was 7 lbs 8 oz. and 20 inches long.   Mom and baby doing fine.

I know the lady who lives in this house and it makes me smile that she drives her car to work.  She parks her car right here where I'm standing taking the picture and walks from the house along the sidewalk to her car and then drives to the parking lot where the arrow is.  If she left from her front door it would be just about the same walk.  : )  I see her some mornings walking her dog around the block.  Took the picture a few days ago.

After lunch went to Walmart to pick up a few things and sure enough once again we saw people from our church, two women and a couple.

This evening I'll be doing some more knitting on a baby blanket.  It's just plain knitting of squares and then sewing them together.  It's a small blanket for newborns so it won't take long to finish.  
My ice cream flavor tonight will be chocolate marshmallow. 

Hope your day has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )

The most important things are the hardest to say,

because words diminish them.

~ Stephen King

Icing

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Left the house at 6:35 this morning and went for my walk.  It was 29 degrees, windy and snow was coming down.  I was bundled up good and was nice and warm.  Wore my hiking boots too which kept my feet dry.  When I got home the temperature had dropped to 24.

I walked mostly up and down the roads in town. Just me and the snow plows out and one dog who ran the other way when he saw me.

It was nice being out in the falling snow.  At times it almost stopped and then would start up again.

Once the side roads were plowed they actually were more slippery because the packed snow turned icy so I walked in the snow.  Had a few 'whoa' moments but didn't fall.

Walked around both of the cemeteries too and before I knew it I had walked 6 miles.

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After my morning routine I made the royal icing recipe I got from Karen, but I only made half.  I tried to do the fancy cookies like Karen but I need a lot of practice yet.  Mine sure didn't look like hers.  I ended up just icing the the cookies and putting sprinkles on them.   I'm sure the kids will like them.  I'll have to practice with the icing when I don't have to make 60 cookies.  I have quite a bit of icing left over in the refrigerator and will try again another time.  I'm really tired of these heart cookies now!!  : )

Anyway here's a picture of the icing and then the cookies with the icing on them.

It's been snowing all day and the temperature has been dropping.  As I write this it is down to 12 degrees and I'm sure it will go lower during the night.

I've done some more knitting and I'm almost done with the second slipper.  I'll probably get it done tonight.  I've also started yet another puzzle.  Not enough of it yet for a picture.

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

There are two ways of spreading light:

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

~ Edith Wharton