Oatmeal Cookies from scratch!

My hands are never idle. If they are I'm sleeping. Today is our 7 month anniversary! We have kinda set a tradition to have a homemade dessert on our anniversary date month. So....................

today is Oatmeal Cookies. Not just the plain ones. Well, the basic recipe with a little jazz and pizazz.

These turned out so well just like I like them, thin and slightly crispy!

Yes, the homestead is fragrant with Home. Sweet. Home.

Yes they are YUM!

I tweaked the recipe out of the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook I have. Abbie is drooling as I type while I eat one now.  :P

This is my improvised version and it seems to make them more thin and crispy but soft in the middle.

Fox Mountain Homestead Oatmeal Cookies

 

1 and 1/2 sticks of butter, softened well

1 cup of packed brown sugar + a smidgen more (1 tbsp)

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 tsp of baking powder

1/4 ( or a tiny grains less) of baking soda

2 and 1/2 or so tsp of cinnamon (the more the better)

1/4 tsp of ground cloves

2 eggs

3 tsp of pure vanilla flavoring (no imitations)

1 and 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

2 cups of dried oats (uncooked, in quaker oatmeal paper cannister)

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 cup of finely crushed walnuts

 

 

Gather all your ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. The best way to yield a cookie without a darkened edge too much is to use Parchment paper. You can find it by the aluminum paper in the grocery store. A box will last forever. You only tear off a sheet large enough to cover a cooking pan. This make sure no sticking and is easy to clean up when finished. The paper will not burn unless you are baking over 450 degees.

 

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high for 30 sec to a minute.

 

Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and the salt, cinnamon, and cloves.

Beat in eggs and vanilla all together at one time.

Beat in all of the all-purpose flour for about 2 minutes.

 

Then  take off the beaters and hand one to your soulmate and one for you to enjoy and remember sweetness.

 

Then take a large spoon and fold in the batter the 2 cups of oats and the walnuts.

Stir all batter well.

 

On the parchment paper covered baking sheet, put 1 well rounded tsp about 2 inches apart (these spread alot)

 

Put in oven and set cooking time for 8 minutes.

 

Then when 8 minutes are up, scoop right away to a plate with a spatula (if you wait till they cool they cook longer even while not in the oven from the heat of the pan)

 

This makes the chewiest, thin, crispy oatmeal cookie you'll ever eat!!!!

 

When the plate is full set under your glass cake stand an enjoy with coffee, milk, or hot tea.

 

 

 

Place near the sofa and watch an episode of The Waltons!

 

 

Live simple.

 

Count blessings.

 

Spread love.

Faith, Hope, and Love Giveaway!!! Ginghers~~Jennifer series

It's that time of year again to give a gift to someone special at Christmas time. I wish I could give each and every one of readers here a pair but one pair is what I can give this year.

 

With this giveaway, you will be the first to have my Downton Abbey design with instructions pack.

Of course the scissors are  4 inch Jennifer series by Ginghers!!!! Here is a pic below:

 

Brand new, 4 inch with leather sheath

 

 

 

 

 

I found this while digging out the tons of decorations this year. I guess I was going to put a small motif in it for someone and didn't get the time.

Well, the time has come to find one.

Thinking of seriously putting a beautiful cross in it.

 

 

My other half and Miss Abbie who loves her some Mr. Darcy too, is sporting her Christmas dress from last year.

She loves to sit on his shoulder like a bird. :0

 

 

Speaking of Abigail Fox

 

 

 

 

 

yup, I'm determined to teach myself to either crochet or knit, OR BOTH!!! in this year 2013.

I took a knitting class a few years ago but gave up when I got home and couldn't figure out my mistake. HOWEVER, there's always second chances if we put our heart into it, whatever it is........

I do think I'm going to use a more contrasting yarn color for my beginner piece. I had picked this color up for a friend who is going to be a grandma to twins! I wanted to make the babies a blanket as they just found out both are boys! And they have 2 brothers at home waiting on them.

But I have some nice deep cranberry and dark teal that I can use for maybe a simple scarf to practice on first.

 

Someone from the big Christmas party, Mr. Darcy and I attended put this on my desk. They had taken a pic of us when we visited Santa. I will let the scene speak for itself. LOL

 

 

Mr. Darcy and Santa, NOT looking at the cameras!  :0  We had the best time dancing and dancing. He is a great dancer and such a gentleman. The party was catered and the food was awesome!!!!  We even won a Visa card with an amount on it and it was much needed right now. God is Good!

So 12 more days till Christmas.

You know the rules for the giveaway......

1) only post on THIS POST your comment or comments as a follower for one chance THEN
2) post a second time if you shared it on your blog
3) if your name is Jennifer too, then you get an automatic 3rd chance
4) for 4 chances post again, with your favorite character in Downton Abbey!


international readers welcome to enter

The giveaway starts NOW and will end December 24th, at midnight. Christmas EVE!!!!

You will get
1) brand new and rare/hard to find Jennifer Gingher series 4in scissors in box with leather sheath
2) a chart pack from Feathers in the Nest for  a sampler designed for Downton Abbey with linen and floss.
3) 4 fat quarters of  finishing homespun fabric
and a surprise added to your package.

Back to the homestead chores,
Jennifer

Hearth 'Tis Home

 

 

 

Hearth 'Tis Home

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

 

copyright 2012

 

 

All it took was a little sunshine after 4 days of clouds and rain, a long chat with an old friend, a visit to a primitive shop to smell the Fall candles, and news that much cooler, dry weather will be here this weekend.

 

Besides a big front porch, I love a house with a fireplace.

I'm so ready for sweater weather and walking outside to the aroma of oak wood in the fireplace.

 

I thought I would share my thoughts with you if you need a small to hang in your home in a special spot or on the mantle to show your love for home.

 

colors and fabric of choice

 

 Suggest Americana decor colors like Gentle Art Freedom Blue and Liberty.

Framed in a small black wood frame.

 

Enjoy your Thursday...............

 

Jennifer

Country porches~~~Color Therapy

I've been blamed for "loving my house too much".

 Ok. I confess, I do like the house because I put alot of work in it over the years and tried to make it a home. Before I moved here, I thought my dream came true to one day live in the mountains. It's honestly almost like a picture I had on the wall and would dream about it.

 I digress........

For the past 3 weeks, still working on the sanding of 5 layers of old bubbled up paint, in order to put a stain only, a redwood stain, on the floors.

I gotta BIG porch on the front, sides and back.

The project definitely took longer than expected but it's really so relaxing to sit outside at night, minus the skeeters. :P

I have to still do the trimming and sides where the pressure washer knocked off some paint on the bottom of the house and also will repaint these rails.

Note to self:  July is not so good a month to do such a job.

Yesterday and the day before we were in triple digits temp; but, the GOOD thing is a week without rain to do all this. I'm hoping and praying that it doesn't rain while the side is being done.

I was really hesitant at first to go with a drastic change in floor color but it really went well with the red tin roof and the front door. The front door is my next project but it will be painted in an oil based redwood. Then I'll put my "nest" sign back on.

I'm really pleased with the wood after the sanding and staining. So much better than painting over and over on bubbled up paint.

Abbie has been minding the computer and emails since I've been busy either working or running errands or chores around the house. However, she is NOT negected. LOL

She gets to watch from the top of the sofa through the windows.

Got the sticky stuff off the door that held the other sign. A good coat of paint in the same color will be good.

This is a pinecone wreath I've had for about 3 years from my Godmother, Dot.

And Thomas really does lay here under the bench on a freshly washed fluffy pillow.

The back porch, done yesterday, except the sides. Today I have to clean all the back porch and side porch furniture and move it back around.

Did this project ever make a sandy mess? Oh yeah!

The little sampler I stitched and was designed by The Sampler Girl about 2 years ago and it's sustained covered porch outside weather.

The lemonbalm helps keep the mosquitoes at bay.

What a project for today!

This table has always been with the house. The previous owner left it and I painted it redwood and it was housed on the back porch for the past few years. The top is an auction piece of stained glass window which fit perfectly on top of the table to have a spot to eat on cool evenings for two.

As you can tell I like red and I like hearts. This old shutter I got for 8 bucks at a local junkin place about 7 or 8 years ago.

Stay tuned for an after pic of the general re-do of the porches and rails.

This house should feel loved after all it's had done to it since moving here.

Even though I was hesitant at Home Depot, picking out this color, I'm glad I did.

I need to get busy cleaning but I"d rather be stitching. :)

Laundry is calling though. Tomorrow evening I think I will actually get some time to stitch. At least finish the sampler I am on and start a new one.......XXXX my fingers. Then it's back to work on Monday time.

The man that is making this sanding project possible

A cool dude who loves me mor-n- his coffee!

Stay cool!

Jennifer

Summer Homestead Happenings!

This week has flown by very quickly and boy, what a busy one! The homestead is getting a porch facelift!

Instead of paint this time that peels by the end of the season, decided to strip the entire wrap around porches, just the floors, and stain it with a barn red stain, not paint.

WHAT a job but so well worth it!

For the most part all done after 3 days but the edges and that will be done by the end of the week.

What a mess!

About 4 layers of paint--------gone. YAY!!!

lots of shadows but looks like new wood in real life here.

I can't wait for the barn red stain to go on. Thankfully, the sun has been staying out and no rain in the past few days.

Of course, looking off the side porch at this, with a cuppa helps too!

Miss Abbie is spoiled as she can be still. Once this week she actually dragged out her soiled potty paper in her pan and started folding it with herself and I guess she watched me do that so much, she was just helping and hinting that it needed changing. :P

She also has been thinking her doggie bed is her boyfriend and has been "intimate" with it ALOT!

Shocks me. I thought she was "fixed". She is definitely a personality of herself.

But all in all, the peace and contentment, good food, and Mother nature and Father time are healing and nurturing us through the Summer this year.

My stitching has been less lately but I did throw in a few more letters to My Everything designed by the Sampler Girl. Oh how I crave to stitch more and have many lined up projects when I have more than a few minutes here and there this Summer.

Red seems to be my "almost" favorite color of late.

A real close second to pink. :)

Of course, reading and writing is a love at heart as well. But Summer is just full of so many long daylight hours and things to do, especially around the homestead of late.

Good eats this week made from scratch are:

Peach cobbler

Fresh strawberry shortcake

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie (made with leftover smoked chicken)

Fresh tomato sandwiches with Hellman's mayo and salt and pepper

Cold Peach Treat wine from Habersham Winery, local 

Bacon and egg breakfasts with lots of coffee

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwiches, freshly toasted

Homegrown tomatoes just sliced up with fresh lettuce, salt and pepper

Hope your week is cruisin' along too with lots of Summer treats.

Miss Abbie has been doing a little training and she is definitely enjoying bacon treats as much as ever for rewards. She's my lump of sugga.

 The kitchen faucet finally pooped out and replaced with a more substantial and rustic faucet that I am lovin'.

Picked these twice now out of the yard and they last for almost a week in the house cut.

Every day gets a little brighter and this is a definite~~ good thing.

It's amazing what blooms given a nurturing environment!

( my aloe plant, it's growing like a weed right now)

Stay cool,

Jennifer

Lovely Gifts Near and Far and Stitchy Plans

I've been so busy, I feel like I've neglected writing!  I had 2 weeks of sheer on-the-go bliss, of which I haven't had in years and years. I received these beautiful pink roses, 18 of them with a very sweet, soft pink bear. Pink is my favorite color of course and I loved them and such a pleasant surprise this week.

In the stitching homefront, I've not picked up my needle and thread. I may get a chance to today though as I head out to a friend's house with long talks. Next weekend a special stitching friend is visiting the homestead on "Walton's mountain"  and I can't wait!

Life is good!  not perfect, but good.  Getting my feet back on the ground though has been alot but without God and you gracious friends all over the world, it wouldn't have been as easy. I do know God answers prayers in His own time. And in His ways, He shows us who really are a part of our lives and who are not. I thank Him for that.

I, again, thank all the readers and stitchers who stayed with me through the past year. I know many turned their heads who I thought were real friends but I do believe that is their issue and uncomfortableness and not mine. I would strive to hang on to friends who are going through bumpy times in life, but I gather that many I trusted preferred not. I thank God for the situation that showed me who wanted conditional friendships. I'm enjoying those who are new and old journeying with me and I with them.

With Spring, there is a promise of new beginnings and that is encouragement to me! I love home and creating a welcoming atmosphere for friends to visit. I have enjoyed that for sure.

Stitching is a big part of my life. Reading is also and I have read some great books in the past few months. It's time though to put the Kindle down or turn it to enable speech mode so I can get busy with the needle again.

I have a bag full of stash upstairs that must be organized and threads, threads, threads to organize especially since I came back from In Stitches in March! Problem with organizing my stash is seeing too many things I want to stitch at one time.

I want to finish The Coverlets sampler and put it on my guestroom sampler wall.

I then may go to finish a WIP I started way back from The Sampler Girl about There's no place like home because that is such a true statement!!!!

I'm halfway on that one.

Last week Lesley from the UK sent me a beautiful, absolutely gorgeous gift that brought me to tears. A heavy, glass plaque with an uplifting thought and such a nice compliment as I love nests!!!!

I received it very quickly checking mail before I was gone again on another trip with a friend.

I wanted to take some good pics of it.

I will treasure it forever. The words are so meaningful to me and I have an angel collection in my bedroom that will definitely house this beauty.

I'm really taken back by the love and hearts of so many people who have connected around the world.

I apologize Lesley for misspelling your name the first time but most of all want to thank you again for such a heart-filled gift which will be treasured forever.

I shared it with Mr. Darcy and he also loved it and thought it was beautiful!

Here's some pics.

I picked one of my newest angels from the US.

 She is sending peaceful thoughts back to you Lesley!

So sweet in heavy glass and will be a treasure in my home forever!

Abbie is showing her total devotion at waiting patiently with one of her favorite toys. Bear.

The area is much greener now and filling in nicely. Roses are reaching for the sun.

I must get going to finish this sampler.

Soon, I will start on this sampler. Summer will be here before you know it. I have the linen and threads for it. I remember my very first kitchen ever in an apartment was full of strawberry decor. ;)

Maybe life will settle down a bit during the Summer.

I hope you have a great Saturday and savor the love that surrounds you however far and however outside your radius of comfort.

For it's when we reach out the farthest, we do indeed test our strength and realize that the world is small afterall.

Thank you again for all your comments. They mean alot to me and I love each and every one of you.

Jennifer