Another Pumpkin Recipe

Around this time every year I've seen many different pumpkin bread recipes and not having much to post about I thought I'd post another one for you to see or copy to make for yourself and your family.

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1-3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-light olive oil
3/4 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the sugar, eggs, oil and pumpkin. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture alternating with the water, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the loaf sit in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

NOTES:  Makes 1 loaf (about 12 slices).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I'm keeping this short as we are having very high wind warnings and a possibility of a power outage. At least the heavy rains and flooding has subsided. So dear friends have a day of blessings.

The Sleepless Night

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below my answers to the meme. I enjoy doing this meme once a week. It's always fun seeing how a story adventure can be created with just 4 fill in the blanks questions.

The Sleepless Night
1.   Not being able to sleep this one night a few years back during halloween, I twisted and turned in bed and turning toward the hallway I - noticed a dim light coming from the kitchen.

2.   Rising from my bed I decided to walk to the kitchen and - see what could have possibly turned the light dimmer on.

3.   This is when I spotted the - little creature. It wasn't very big, measuring around 2 feet high. It resembled a goblin. I could not tell for sure what it was; it was slightly dark but bright enough for me to see. It had very distinct pointed ears and piercing eyes and green-brown skin. At the time I couldn't move as we exchanged looks for about a minute. It was just standing very still by the kitchen door looking at me.

4.   I was afraid that if I - moved, it would run off or attack me. After watching it for sometime and seeing nothing happening, I decided to slowly walk backward toward my room then turned to get back in bed. When I turned around again to see if it was still watching me, it had disappeared. The "little creature" has never returned since then. I still can't decide if it was a figment of my imagination or the beginning of a nightmare that became almost real.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.

Friday Foto Friends ~ New Diner In Town

Thought I would share photos of the new soon to be diner here in the town I live in for this week's Friday Foto Friends. Here's construction on breaking ground with a great view of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson River.

The Luecks  (owners)  plan to move the 1950s-era diner to a vacant property they own along Route 9G just north of the village of Germantown, Columbia County, NY.

The previous owner restored the original 1950s interior. The diner will be the second restaurant for the Luecks, who have owned and operated Charlie O’s Hometown Bar and Grill in their hometown of Red Hook since 2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Their Red Hook, NY popular casual restaurant called Charlie O’s sources a lot of its ingredients locally and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and German-style specialties.

My sisters and I are so looking forward to the diner's grand opening of which I would guess is a few months ahead. We definitely love diner food and usually go to them for lunch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. It's a wonderful group of ladies that participates. Until next time dear friends have a lovely and blessed weekend.

Wednesday's Poetry Day ~ Falling Rain

Yesterday it was such a dark and dreary day with a steady rain coming down and hitting my windows all day long. It was so quiet around here that I spent the day not accomplishing much of anything. So here is my poem for today that reflected yesterday.

Falling Rain

Darkend daylight and steady rain
Strangly soothing on window pane

Birds in background chirping too
Softly I hum following their cue

Even the clouds moving in time
Make for a day drearly sublime

Cool and yet still warming my soul
Weather right now is in control

Eyes closed relaxing no strain
Enjoying the sound of falling rain.

Toni Taddeo ©

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thought For The Day

Hope you enjoyed my "Falling Rain" poem. Not much else to post so until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.

The Walkway Over The Hudson River

I thought you might enjoy something different from close to my area about 45 minutes south of me in the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County for today's entry. This video shows the abandoned railroad bridge that was transformed into a walkway over the Hudson River in 2009. It's a fast moving video and enjoyable.


Facts:  In October 2009, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opened as a legacy project of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial. The park provides access to the Hudson River's breathtaking landscape for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. The bridge deck stands 212 feet above the river's surface and is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to an extensive, nationwide railway network. For decades, it was a major rail corridor for both freight and passengers.

After a fire in 1974, the bridge was abandoned and sat for decades as an orphaned relic. The park was made possible due to the unwavering commitment of the community, who, through a non-profit organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, forged a public-private partnership involving the State of New York, the federal government, neighboring municipalities, private corporations and other not for profit groups. The amazing result of this partnership is Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, one of the Hudson Valley's top attractions. Ride the glass elevator up to the park or down to the Poughkeepsie waterfront. Along the way, be treated to great views of the surrounding scenery and the structure of the bridge. The elevator is located at Upper Landing Park, a short walk from the Poughkeepsie Train Station.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It is amazon to see and my sisters and nieces have walked the bridge but alas no way could I make it so I enjoy viewing videos of it. Hope you enjoyed this one too. Have a day of blessings dear friends.

The Cafe Diner

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below my answers to the meme. I enjoy doing this meme once a week. It's always fun seeing how a story adventure can be created with just 4 fill in the blanks questions.

The Cafe Diner
1.   While driving most of the night I spotted a cafe diner sign up ahead and decided to stop. From the outside it reminded me of an old-fashioned bullet trailer diner. Hungry and thirsty I parked the car, walked up the 2 steps to the door and opened it to find - a scene that could have come out of the early 1940's with Glenn Miller's band playing "In The Mood" through an old jukebox in the corner.

2.   Not sure of what to expect I decided to sit at a booth across from the counter anyway and to my surprise - I found I was the only one dressed in modern clothes. The men were dressed in WWII military uniforms and the women all looked like versions of Betty Grable with 40's hairstyles and dresses. Even their makeup came from the 40's with bright red lipstick and nail polish. It was like watching an old black and white movie.

3.   One of the waitresses spotted me sitting in the booth mesmerized and - came over smiling and noticed I was almost in shock. She too was dressed in a waitress' uniform that you would never see in today's world.

4.   Sitting down beside me she said - "Hope we didn't scare you too much and thinking you might have went back in time, but you accidently stepped onto our movie set. We are filming a movie here. Letting out a deep breath we both laughed and I was given a cup of coffee and a donut. As I walked out the door thanking them, the cast and crew all waved goodbye. Walking to my car I thought to myself, "That's one movie I won't miss!".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.

Friday Photo Friends ~ Remembering Autumn

This year the Autumn colors here in my area due to the crazy warm weather and cooler weather plus now back to warmer weather again have made it not one of the best for colors. the trees are still green or brown and some are bare. A truly disappointing Fall color season. So, I thought I would post some of my past Autumn photos I've taken from the past around this same week.

My Old Apartment Complex This Time Of Year

On An Old Road Trip To Vermont

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. It's a wonderful group of ladies that participates. Until next time dear friends have a lovely and blessed weekend.

Wednesday's Poetry Day ~ Crunching Leaves

Looking forward to the "real" Autumn weather in my area and remembering what it was like walking with my kids through crunching leaves beneath our feet on our many leaf peeking trips. I thought I would invite you to "take a walk with me".

Crunching Leaves

Come my friend, take a walk with me
Through colors bright and blazing
They slowly fall from every tree
And crunch beneath our stepping feet

A walking bridge will mark our path
Beneath the bridge a flowing stream
As autumn's chill surrounds us now
And mirrors a blazing colorful scene

It's early morning in the park
Empty now of summer's many sounds
As only our footsteps do we hear
And crunching leaves on fallen ground

Toni Taddeo ©

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hope you enjoyed my "Crunching Leaves" poem. Until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.

News Flash!

I'm always looking for things to write that I hope you enjoy reading as much as I do and I know sometimes it's silly things but they are good for a laugh too. And so I've been rummaging through old blog files again!! I've found some great things there that I've shared with you and will still share with you. Especially the funny and strange ones. This one was a lot of laughs. The comments in parentheses after each label are mine. Let me know if you like this sort of stuff or comment on any other "smart labels" you found.

News Flash...Stupid Label Instructions

On a Sears hairdryer: "Do not use while sleeping."
(Darn, and that's the only time I have to work on my hair).

On a bar of Dial soap: "Directions: Use like regular soap."
(and that would be how?...)

On some Swanson frozen dinners: "Serving suggestion: Defrost."
(but, it's "just" a suggestion).

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: "Product will be hot after heating."
(...ya think?...)

On Nytol Sleep Aid: "Warning: May cause drowsiness."
(and...I'm taking this because??)

On most brands of Christmas lights: "For indoor or outdoor use only."
(as opposed to...what?)

On a Japanese food processor: "Not to be used for the other use."
(now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts: "Warning : contains nuts."
(talk about a news flash)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Amazing isn't it how the manufacturers think of their buying public. And now after leaving you shaking your heads and wondering why, I wish you a blessed day ahead.

The Cabin In The Forest

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below my answers to the meme. I enjoy doing this meme once a week. It's always fun seeing how a story adventure can be created with just 4 fill in the blanks questions.

The Cabin In The Forest
1.   While walking in a forest, you see a lovely cabin ahead that seems empty so you - slowly approach the cabin and on a rocking chair by the door you find a key that fits the door lock. Not being able to resist you open the front door and enter the cabin.

2.   In the empty cabin you spot a large chest in the corner of the main room and you - are curious and must have a look inside so slowly opening the chest which wasn't locked. Just as you are about to look inside the chest, you stop and---

3.   Suddenly you hear a noise coming from the outside, you - quickly shut the chest and as the person enters the cabin he says, "Hi Mom did I startle you? You answer "Yes!" Both laughing he says,"Glad you found the place, just knew you couldn't resist going inside. I bought the place for vacation get-aways for the family." Still dying of curiosity you ask your son what's in the chest. He answers, "Just some kitchen supplies I thought was needed here".

4.   The adventure now over, you leave the cabin and - with your son you return home and can't wait until vacation time to spend time here with your family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.

Friday Photo Friends ~ Lake Monroe Beauties

Here in upstate New York it's Autumn and full of blazing colors. Where my daughter lives in Florida we all know it's mostly warm summer weather. She hits many parts of the state being in Real Estate. She took these beauties last week in Lake Monroe, Florida. Now if you know the names of these wild flowers  (I think they are wild)  let me know what they are. I think the first one may be morning glories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Never been or will be a superstitious person being a believer in the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I definitely won't wish anybody good luck or watch out on this Friday the 13th. So instead I'll wish you a "Son"filled day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.

Wednesday's Poetry Day ~ Don't Hold Back

Looks like I don't have writer's block anymore as I thought and wrote this one down while I was taking care of "my addiction" this morning. Instantly coming into my mind and wrote it down. Here you go... Love this stuff.

Don't Hold Back
(My Coffee Addiction)

Hook me up
Don't hold back
It's what I need
To keep me on track

Pour it now
I like it plain
hold off the cow
Stops me going insane

Feels so good
Just what I need
Please no sugar
Just liquid java seed

So hook me up
Just plain and black
Here in my mug
Don't hold that java back...

Toni Taddeo ©

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hope you enjoyed my "addiction" poem. Until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.

The Simple Woman's Daybook {October Edition}

I thought I'd do Peggy's SWD meme again. I used to do it a few years ago when I had a different blog and I always enjoyed it.
FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it's afternoon and I'm starting to see the colors of Autumn across the parking lot.

I am thinking... a lot about my upcoming laser eye surgery on November 1st. No time has been set yet as I won't know until the day before.
I am thankful... that it's only a 5-10 minute out patient process with no pain involved.

One of my favorite things... is writing poetry although the past few weeks I seem to have writer's block. Not to worry it'll come back to me again.

I am creating... nothing right now except this post. When the blurriness in my eye disappears I'll start creating new graphics.
I am wearing... T-shirt, jeans and sandals.
I am reading... my Bible as we are studying Prophecies in the Bible, Sunday evenings in October.
I am hoping... I'll get enough energy to walk down the long hall to the mailboxes and get my mail later.
I am learning... to not be so organized and just relax a little more. This is hard for me as I'm so Obsessive and compulsive about it and I know it will take me a long time.
In my kitchen... there is not much going on right now as I'm getting a little lazy about cooking for myself. My lunch of bacon, lettuce and tomato on a roll and coffee doesn't count.

Post Script... Here's a link to my meme blog: Toni's Creative Adventures. Hope you try it as it's a lot of fun.

A Favorite Quote Of Mine... "I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it." ~Lee Maynard



Closing Notes... Happy Columbus Day to those who celebrate it. Not much else to post and so dear friends and family have a day of blessings.

An Autumn Hike To Remember

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures   Please do not copy from here. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below the meme. Thank you.

An Autumn Hike To Remember
1.   While hiking in Autumn through one of the many trails in the State Forest, you come across a - tiny shiny object on the ground just in front of you among the fallen leaves.

2.   You pick it up to study the object more carefully, when - you realize it looks like a tiny shiny village at the top of a clearing.

3.   Just below the clearing you see this wonderous - scene of little people laughing and playing together in what looks like a village pumpkin gathering. And while trying to move in closer you trip and fall knocking yourself out on a fallen branch. When you finally wake up and look, you see nothing but the forest trail, thankfully that nothing is broken on your body except for a few bruises and a bump on the head and hopefully no concussion, you smile to yourself and take another look around still seeing nothing, you think to yourself that you must have been dreaming and get up to continue on.

4.   And with much to remember on this Autumn hiking trip in the State Forest, you - quietly smile to yourself and never give up hope that you might have seen another part of a wonderous world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.