The wind is howling, the ghosts are about, and the goblins will get you if you don't come out!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This was the children's breakfast this morning

spider web pancakes

Pumpkin and Ghosts pancakes

Bat, cat and ghosts biscuits

Hope all of you have a wonderful Halloween!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

LOOK WHAT I DID!

I got to do something so cool last night!

We have a great place here called Sips N Strokes

You bring your own wine or favorite beverage

 pick the class and paint

Their Version

My Version!!

I still have some things to do to tweak mine.

But it was so much fun!

Trick or Treat Buckets

My Sister in Law is selling these Trick or Treat buckets for $10.00 if you are interested let me know! She will be doing buckets for ALL holidays. How cute would one of these be for Thanksgiving with a turkey on it on a children's table? Or filled with mums on a front porch!

We have been carving pumpkins!

Before you ask.. NO THIS IS NOT A STENCIL.

This is the pumpkin that has become a tradition at our house for Halloween. My mother actually designed and carved him for the first time about 10 years ago. I have carved him every year since. I am thinking of putting him on a carvable pumpkin from the craft store next year, so that I do not have to keep doing him over and over. BUT it wouldn't be Halloween at our house if the old man did not make an appearance!

This is the Princess's pumpkin of the year. She wanted a cat and a moon! She drew it off and Joe carved. I know there are a lot of stencils out there. But they free handed this one folks!

This stencil can be found in the Martha Stewart Living Magazine October 2006 page 164. I fell in love with it then.        ( I tend to do things from years past that I love)

                              I love using it with the dry ice don't you? However, she said if you use it as a punch bowl you should line it with a clear glass bowl.

(Not a bad picture to have been taken with my dad's iphone huh?)

It is fairly easy. Just follow the stencil. I made a copy of mine on the copy machine and went from there. Maybe, you can print this out and play with it.

Father, I adore you!

This weekend at our church, we had Celebration Sunday. This is the Sunday that we all make our financial committments for 2010. Joe and I could not have been more touched or filled with the Holy Spirit as we watched our 10 year old take her card and place it in the basket. She pledged $1.00 (of her own money) every week for the year 2010.

Science Project Time

This is Bubbles.

He is a Sud-a-pus. has a feathered tail
He lives in the children's bath
and eats bubbles.

He breathes oxygen,

but breathes out bubbles

This science project was so much fun!

The children were to design, sketch, and report

on an imaginary creature that lives in their home.

I tried to convince Olivia to do dust bunnies

for OBVIOUS reasons!

However, she had her heart set on Bubbles!

This was such a fun project.

Thanks for dropping by Y'all

Harvest time

We were blessed with beautiful,

although very chilly, weather

on Saturday for us to visit

the pumpkin patch and cotton harvest

at Old Baker Farm! This is not just any 'ol pumpkin patch mind you.

This was hayrides; corn mazes; hay mazes;

Wild West shootouts; War between the States reenactment (yes, they beat the Yankees in this battle LOL);

Native American Dancers; Food Galore; Blacksmiths;

and handmade broom makers

(no word yet on whether or not these would stand up);

And then of course there is the cotton harvest

This farm has everything and is one of the oldest working farms in the nation.

I hope you get to visit one day!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Recently, through the magic of the phenomenon known as facebook, I have been able to reconnect with many old friends.

Over 530 of them to be exact!

It is like a mini reunion everyday and I love it!

I love even more that I have found some very special people again and that they are back in my life.

Michelle and Jeanne.

Now, these two and I have talked almost everyday for a while now and eagerly wanted to get together.

I cannot believe it has been almost 20 years

since last we saw each other!

Jeanne and I both live in the same Metropolitan area, so that happened this weekend!

It was a blast!

We were only missing Michelle

and hope to get her over here soon!

I have a lot to fill you in on this week,

including an award winning table scape!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Foodie Friday!

Be sure to visit Gollum for more Foodie Friday!

We have had such a cold snap that we did Chili for Foodie Friday! We made it full of Halloween fun though so be sure to check out the last picture.

This recipe (as are most) was handed down to me by my mother so this is

DEB'S CHILI

Shopping list:

2 packages of Chili-o

2 cans of tomato soup

2 cans of stewed tomatoes

1 can light red kidney beans

1 can hot red chili beans

1- 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef

Mix chili mix, soup, stewed tomatoes,

and beans in a stock pot.

DO NOT ADD WATER.

Brown meat, drain and add to stock pot.

Simmer for as long as you can.

This is another recipe

that gets better the longer it simmers!

Then serve with toppings of your choice,

cheese, sour cream.

Perhaps rice or Frito's!

Or even plain.

For Halloween we did this for the children!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

This is so crazy YOU MUST TRY IT!

Yes my broom is standing up by itself

I posted this on facebook and tons of people tried it and it worked for them as well.

Even though a few skeptics

accused me of creating a hoax,

I promise dear readers, this is no hoax!

It REALLY works!
My parents did it

and got BOTH of their brooms to stand alone.

It doesn't matter what type of broom you have

as you can see in this photo.

So what is at the root of this phenomenon?

Apparently, right now the way the planets and the equinox are lined up, it effects the gravitational pull and the brooms stood for over 30 minutes before they fell. Some people are reporting longer. This should work for the next few days.

How do you do it?

Simple:

Make sure the broom is north / south, stand it up as centered as you can, then gently let go.

You may have to help it find its center a little.

You will actually feel a slight pull when it sets

(this is where I got goosebumps).

Absolutely CRAZY!

I promised you more Halloween fun!

Be sure to let me know if you try it

and if it works for you!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Happy Birthday to my Hubby!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

To a devoted and amazing father

An adoring, supportive, loyal husband


A faithful Christian

(this is our church sanctuary)

an EXCELLENT Fisherman

and entertaining Sous Chef!

Please join me

in wishing my husband

a very

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

WE LOVE YOU!

First Cold snap of Autumn and Foodie Friday sneak Peek!

With the first cold snap of Autumn,

we made chili here at the blog plantation.

Being that it is so close to Halloween,

I had to play with it!

Sneak peek of Foodie Friday this week.

Be sure to drop back by

and let me know what you like in your chili!

YARD SALE TOMORROW

Our community is hosting a yard sale

tomorrow at 8 AM

The plantation is participating.

If you are in the area come on over!

We have everything from sporting goods,

Children's accessories and clothing,

interior design, kitchen goods,

and hunting!

See you in the AM!

Foodie Friday!

Many Thanks to Gollum

for hosting another Foodie Friday!

Be sure to drop by

and see all the other amazing FF!

Since it has been cold and rainy

it was time for some good southern food.

Red Beans and Rice!

This is a wonderful dish,

you just need to remember

that the longer it cooks,

the better it will taste

SHOPPING LIST:

1 large Onion

1 large Bell Pepper

1 bag of dried red beans

(soak overnight in a large bowl of water)

2 sausage links or a few slices of ham or bacon

Salt

garlic

spoonful of bacon grease

(all true southern women have some in the fridge)

1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper

rice

After you have soaked the beans in water over night, drain and place in a large stock pot. To the pot add cut up onion, bell pepper, crushed red pepper and the meat you have chosen. Add bacon grease. Add enough water to cover the beans. Add salt and garlic to taste. Remember that the beans will absorb the salt so you may need to add more as it simmers. Let simmer all day! Then when ready follow directions for your rice. Serve beans over rice. You will most likely want to serve with cornbread as well. I learned a while back that cooking the cornbread in a muffin pan made it easier to eat.

Now in true fashion of the FF

here at the blog plantation,

another recipe that doesn't necessarily go with the first.

IT CAN, I eat (could) cole slaw with everything!

I have been on quite the cole slaw kick.

I can't get enough of the stuff these days.

When I was expecting my second child

it was THE craving I had the most!

My precious mother made it for me.

Now before everyone gets excited,

NO I AM NOT EXPECTING,

it is just so delicious!

SHOPPING LIST:

1lb bag of cole slaw mix (with or without carrots, your choice) This is really just shredded cabbage, but I buy it pre-washed and shredded to save time!

1/2 cup diced bell pepper

1/2 cup Celery

1/4 cup onion

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup sour cream

2 TBL sugar

2 TBL white vinegar

1 TBL mustard

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

Mix your liquids first,

then add all ingredients except cabbage mix.

After mixing well pour over cabbage mix and toss!

SO WONDERFUL!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!