Chicken and Dumplings

As the ghost and goblins scurry the streets for tricks  or treats - I am making a savory dish of homemade Chicken and Dumplings. On these cool crisp nights  nothing can beat this soup/stew to warm you up and make you happy this season has finally arrived. We have many children knocking on the door and saying,  "Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good  to eat!" And we are. But the Chicken and Dumplings  will be for us grown-ups, with all the trimmings.  We are enjoying this last day of October -  in the warmth of my home.  And yet I am ready to welcome in the month of November.  Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is my favorite, because it is about giving thanks to my Heavenly Father for all my blessings -   My life has been so blessed.

Happy Halloween

As dusk dims the sky, I am preparing for this evenings Halloween Costume Party. I ordered my costume a few weeks ago and it looks so cool. I do not dress in scary costumes, favoring characters over the blood and gore. I am not an evil person and have never donned costumes that puts the emphasis on that. I look at Halloween more in terms of a 'Fall Festival' or a Costume Party. It is the one time of the year I can dress-up and be anything my imagination allows. Even as an adult, I become a kid this time of the year. I love candy and treats as much as anyone. I even like to throw in a few tricks, too. It is all in fun and should be for everyone.

Be safe and check all treats, before eating!

So, everyone dress-up and take the family out for Tricks or Treats!

This evening, I am paying homage to my Mexican ancestry. I will dress an a member of a Mariachi Band. The musician's traditional attire is called a "traje" which means a suit and consist of a wide-brimmed hat called a "sombrero", a jacket called a "chaleco" or a "bolero", and tight-fitting trousers with shiny buttons on the sides. Of course there is a large bow tie, because it is formal attire. I will replace the tight-fitting trousers with a tight-fitting skirt, with a slight slit on the front side. 

I will not play an instrument, but I will accept TIPS - or treats. 

I hope you all like my costume of choice.

 I wish you all a Happy Halloween! All Hallow's Eve!

ELB

2011

Red Makes Me Happy

Red Makes Me Happy

I have been HAPPY all day. I think it has to do with me wearing RED!

Or maybe, because this is the ending of a wonderful week. Or maybe, because this is the beginning of a wonderful weekend!

I have a dinner date this evening at 7:00 with a great guy. We are going to a club after dinner to dance off the calories of that dinner. I am at a HAPPY time in my life, enjoying myself as never before. And feeling truly blessed. 

I think another reason I have been so HAPPY is, because of the season. I adore autumn and the weather makes for dressing up a little more pleasurable. I love fall fashion and I like to dress for success. I have a very classic styling and rarely do anything trendy. Trends are just that - trends. They come and go like the wind, but classic styles will be around years after that initial purchase. I am a girly-girl and I love being a woman. 

And today, I am the lady in RED!

Check out my haircut! Love it!

ELB
2011

Pumpkin - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Autumn I love the changing of the seasons with fall being my favorite time of the year. I have so much fun with the styling and for this shoot I collected some leaves from under our tree and grabbed one of my pumpkin decorations from out in the yard, set it up on my table and voila, Autumn perfection.  Autumn never tasted so good! These aren’t gourmet perfections and what makes them are the chocolate chips.   There just a simple drop cookie, but they leave you craving more. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake: 10-15 minutes Ingredients 1 - regular sized canned pumpkin 2 teaspoon milk 2 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoon baking soda 4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon cinnamon 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups chocolate chips Cooking Directions In a large bowl, add all the liquid ingredients and mix till smooth. Sift in dry ingredients and mix again till combined. Add chocolate chips and stir till dispersed. Drop by tablespoon or icecream scoop on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Happy Autumn I love the changing of the seasons with fall being my favorite time of the year. I have so much fun with the styling and for this shoot I collected some leaves from under our tree and grabbed one of my pumpkin decorations from out in the yard, set it up on my table and voila, Autumn perfection.  Autumn never tasted so good! These aren’t gourmet perfections and what makes them are the chocolate chips.   There just a simple drop cookie, but they leave you craving more. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake: 10-15 minutes Ingredients 1 - regular sized canned pumpkin 2 teaspoon milk 2 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoon baking soda 4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon cinnamon 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups chocolate chips Cooking Directions In a large bowl, add all the liquid ingredients and mix till smooth. Sift in dry ingredients and mix again till combined. Add chocolate chips and stir till dispersed. Drop by tablespoon or icecream scoop on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Happy Autumn I love the changing of the seasons with fall being my favorite time of the year. I have so much fun with the styling and for this shoot I collected some leaves from under our tree and grabbed one of my pumpkin decorations from out in the yard, set it up on my table and voila, Autumn perfection.  Autumn never tasted so good! These aren’t gourmet perfections and what makes them are the chocolate chips.   There just a simple drop cookie, but they leave you craving more. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake: 10-15 minutes Ingredients 1 - regular sized canned pumpkin 2 teaspoon milk 2 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoon baking soda 4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon cinnamon 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups chocolate chips Cooking Directions In a large bowl, add all the liquid ingredients and mix till smooth. Sift in dry ingredients and mix again till combined. Add chocolate chips and stir till dispersed. Drop by tablespoon or icecream scoop on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Happy Autumn

I love the changing of the seasons with fall being my favorite time of the year. I have so much fun with the styling and for this shoot I collected some leaves from under our tree and grabbed one of my pumpkin decorations from out in the yard, set it up on my table and voila, Autumn perfection. 

Autumn never tasted so good!

These aren’t gourmet perfections and what makes them are the chocolate chips.  

There just a simple drop cookie, but they leave you craving more.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Bake: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 - regular sized canned pumpkin
• 2 teaspoon milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl, add all the liquid ingredients and mix till smooth.
2. Sift in dry ingredients and mix again till combined.
3. Add chocolate chips and stir till dispersed.
4. Drop by tablespoon or icecream scoop on lightly greased cookie sheets.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Linus Van Pelt in the 'Great Pumpkin' Patch

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! (1966). One of my favorite Charlie Brown series. The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus Van Pelt waits for the Great Pumpkin. And as always, the only thing Charlie Brown get in his Trick or Treat bag is a 'rock'! I am glad some traditions still exist on television. I never miss this episode.  It puts me more into the spirit of things - on Halloween. Boo! ELB 2011

Elena at Bonita Lakes on an Autumn Day

Elena at Bonita Lakes on an Autumn Day

I have enjoyed this season so much. Autumn and all it brings makes me smile. I love all the colors of red, orange, yellow and green - God's creation is such a beautiful thing. I basked in the warmth from the sun at Bonita Lakes. Today's high reached 78°, with plenty of sunshine for all to enjoy. I certainly did. After seeing these photographs, I called my stylist and made an 11:30 hair appointment for Thursday. Looking at these photos, I was like - Whoa! What a mess! I can blame it on a busy day, since I had several errands I needed to run. I cannot complain, the weather was gorgeous! Oh! Did you notice my 'farmer's tan'? Well, look again, if not! I have been spending time in my yard, enjoying these sunny, yet cooler days, all while beautifying everything, and adding fall decor outdoors.  Yes, I have a 'farmer's tan'. Ugh! I hope all of you have been enjoying your autumn days and evenings. I have been admiring all the pumpkins, gourds, corn, sugar cane stalks, scarecrows, mums and bales of hay on display in yards and store fronts. I cannot wait till Saturday night, because it is the night Meridian residents will Trick or Treat. I will definitely dress in my costume and maybe get a few treats, too!  Happy Birthday Maw-Maw Burnside! I love you! October 25, 2011 ELB 2011

Autumn in Mississippi

Autumn in Mississippi

Autumn in Mississippi can bring a few surprises, like azaleas in October.  I decided to attend church in an old barn, out in the country. I had a great time singing old Southern Gospel Hymns and some of that old-time religion - a hell-fire and brimstone sermon.  That kind of preaching wakes up a congregation.  It also makes one take a look at just what the Lord desires for us.  I have a lot going on with work, school, and dating - not to mention my obligations to my church, my family, my friends and events and charities I support. Time is the only thing I do not have enough of.  Life is Good. God is Great. I am Happy. Today, I carried my Grandfather Burnside's King James Version Bible to church. ELB 2011