Oatmeal Cookies

As a request I thought I would share my oatmeal cookie recipe with everyone. It is the one I grew up with that my aunts made all the time.
As a special treat they would often roll them a bit thinner and made a fudge frosting to go between as well. I only do this when I have a whole lot of time on my hands(so my family hardly never get them this way hehe!)

OATMEAL COOKIES

1cup of brown sugar
1cup of shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup cold milk
1tsp. vanilla
1tsp salt
2 cups of oatmeal
2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
start by leaving your oatmeal shortening milk and egg sit for 10 mins. then add remaining ing.
my aunt always said (and I have this written right on my recipe card) to add more flour if sticky. I usually always have to.

I roll mine out a smig less then 1/2 inch thick and cut them out with a crimped cookie cutter.

I sprinkle a little sugar on them before they go in to the oven.

I bake them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 mins. or until they start to turn golden brown (my oven is not very hot so I just watch them.)

ENJOY!!!


Filling for oatmeal fudge filled cookies

1cup of brown sugar
1/4cup cream
2Tbsp butter
boil together 2-3 min. Beat well add sifted icing sugar until stiff
spread thin layer between 2 cooked cookies and enjoy

Wednesday In Our Neck Of The Woods

The weather is just getting warm, but the winds are keeping everything from getting to hot. Except for my annuals which I seem to be watering so very much. (They are coming along so nice if I can keep the wind from burning them.

 This one is my favorite I loved how they spread over the old rocking chair. A lady came today to buy some yarn from me and just fell in love with it as well.(Made me feel real good)

 HB's window planters stood up the harsh winter.

 all Jayne's pansies grew well in the green house this year.

 the urns are finally filling

The front yard is finally taking shape

Yesterday HB and I celabrated our 13th anniversay. (Yes I was married the day after my Birthday, for a couple of reasons. First being that it was my great grandmothers birthday and 2nd being my HB will never have a excuse to forget hehe!) We did not do anything special as HB is working nights right at the moment and it is like a zoo around here with so much going on, but we promised each other that once everything slows down we will do something special.

Yesterday I did the usual clean, tidy up and do some barn work.Even got a batch of oatmeal cookies made up.

They must have been good cause there is none left now.


Today I got up early and did my barn work before the heat hit. I even burnt the garbage in both stoves as the house was chilly.
I worked in the garden and then moved with my cup of coffee to the front yard and worked in my flowers till the weeones crawled out of bed. I made scrambled eggs,toast, and yogurt for breakfast. Justin packed as he was going on a all day fishing trip with the farmer over the road. I made him a lunch to take with him,with a few oatmeal cookies and he was off. The girls and I cleaned up and got ready to go into the town to do a bit of girly shopping. We went to the salvation army store, the country gift shop,and the supermarket. I bought a new sign for my living room wall and a berry sprag with little metal stars in it. I also picked up a battery operated candle to make a little craft I was thinking about making. Jill bought her dolls a tea set for .25 cents at the thrift store and Jayne bought a board game. We picked up some bananas at the supermarket and headed back home to make supper before HB went to work.
I did a bit of crafting and then had a lovely visit with the lady who came to buy yarn. We had pork chops in cream of mushroom soup, rice, and honey garlic noodles. and I used up the rest of the sausage buns to make garlic cheese bread. (Which reminds me tomorrow is bread making day again.) I don't know but I think all my family does lately is eat. It must be all the swimming in the pool making them so hungry.
I watered all the animals and gave them their grain for the night. I watered my plants and the girls went for another swim before coming in for the night. I just have to go and put the ducks in, and then it PJ time for me. I think I will crochet a bit before bed. While I wait for Justin to get home. His supper is in the fridge waiting for him. I hope he gets some trout as he loves them and works so hard to get them.
Mom was told tonight that she will be moving out of ICU as soon as there is a bed on the floor ready for her. She was happy about that, as were we.
Tomorrow besides making bread,I think I will try to get the bedding all washed and on the line. I love the smell of a fresh bed. (I sleep so much better)

Busy Busy Busy

It has been none stop here in our neck of the woods. Last week we got caught up indoors while we had a few days of rain. We cleaned most of the house.On Thursday I made 6 loves of bread and 2 dozen rolls, some sausage buns and hamburger buns. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a lemon bread. The smells throughout the house were amazing.
Friday we worked outdoors and the rain had stopped we cleaned up around the barnyard and finally finished up this years shearing and then HB worked at his hay making equipment to get it ready.
Friday night we went to our farm friends for coffee and a nice visit.
Saturday morning after the barnwork was done we decided to take the beetle and the girls as Justin was working for the farmer over the road for the day, and go to the city. We stopped along the way at the farmers market in the next town. It was so nice to shop around and see and smell all the goodies. We stopped and talked to a friend who was selling his goodies there and then went to the city so Hb could buy a boat motor.
We took the long road home and enjoyed our day out. My Mother was having a good day and my Father was visiting her so we decided after supper we would head to the trailer for the night. We quickly packed and were off.
We had a quite early evening with a camp fire.We decided to go to bed and get up early to have a big breakfast and spend the day on the lake. BUT at 7:00 the next morning came a tuk tuk at our trailer door. It was the park rangers looking for me to come and call home as something had happened to my Mom. I called and my Dad had told me that early that morning she had taken a bad turn and had to be moved to ICU. We quickly packed and hurried home. We were back home by 9 and I went to see her. She is stable again but sure is not out of the woods yet.
Last evening I got home after 7 and had supper that HB had made up. Burnt hamburgers and hot dogs he had barBequed. (He is to sweet,that I did not have the heart to say a word about them and ate them anyway) After I ate I decided to take the last few hours before dark and mow the lawns. Mowing the lawns is a full time job around here it seems. You just get it all done and it seems that it is time to start over again.

This morning I was up early and made a big breakfast of eggs,pancakes and sausages as Justin was leaving early to go fishing before going to work for the farmer for the day.The girls got up and made me wonderful birthday cards as today is my birthday. 35 years old today. HB sat down next to me and smiled and said your Birthday gift is not ready yet and I don't want to tell you anymore. It will arrive in the next few weeks and you will never guess. Now hearing that from my HB is a bit exciting but at the same time scary. I never know what to expect from him as he always get me the greatest gifts but very different.


 I got the house cleaned up and worked a little on the new pond we are putting in the front yard. I went to the hospital to visit with my Mom but could only stay a few minutes as she was going for different tests and would not be back for a couple of hours. I came home and my Mom in law was here. She brought me a wonderful card and a cute little solar light with bird on it that hangs.

I put a roast of pork in the slow cooker this morning and we had that for supper with mashed potatoes and green salad. We are now using the lettuce from the garden as well as the radishes. We had a early supper as HB was starting his first night shift tonight and had to leave early.

I made up a batch of oatmeal cookies after supper while the girls cleaned off the table and filled the dishwasher. They turned out good and they got to have one for desert. I had a cup of coffee with mine and decided to take a little break tonight.

Homemade Bug Spray

With Summer comes outdoor living and with that comes bugs,and bug bites. and if you are like my children the bugs love you. I always hate to put that commercial bug spray on them as it is full of bad toxins. So I found a great recipe for homemade bug spray that seems to do the trick.

Homemade Bug Spray

6-8 oz unused sprayer bottle & small funnel

witch hazel

lemongrass essential oil

geranium essential oil

citronella essential oil

I just put my funnel in the bottle and fill with witch hazel, leaving one inch headspace. I then add in approximately 25 drops of Citronella and Lemongrass Essential Oils, as well as approximately 15 drops of Geranium Essential Oil. Remove funnel, replace sprayer cap, shake up and it is ready to use! I would recommend trying on a small patch of skin first, in case of any allergic reactions and do not spray near eyes. You can find sprayer bottles & witch hazel at any drug store 

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather and less bugs.

Camping, Chicken Coop,And A Little Gardening

Good morning, I hope all of you are getting nice sunny days. We have had a beautiful weekend and yesterday was just perfect.

Saturday after Hb got off work, we packed up the truck and went camping at the camp ground for a night. (HB took Sunday off,so it was nice little break)
After we got there we unpacked and the guys went down to the lake to try out their new paddle boat. They fished on the lake till dark.
The girls biked the trails to see who was there and they of course was lucky enough to find a new friend or two.
Franny and I went for a nice long walk all through the trails and came back,and settled by the camp fire with my crochet.
The girls went and had hot showers at the shower house and had a campfire when the the guys got back with popcorn and marshmallows.

Sunday morning after breakfast we went for another walk as a family down to the lake and the girls went for a dip.

 the mountains are just beautiful here.

 Jayne said the water was so warm

It is great how they rope it off for the little ones to go swimming.


After we had lunch the guys took off again for the afternoon and the girls went to play in the park and come back and forth to check in for a little break with me and Franny.

I spent the most of my afternoon alone,(But hey that's ok sometimes) I sat in my chair being lazy catching up on the latest issue of O magazine, and a bit more crochet.

They all found there way back to the trailer and we decided to go for another run to the lake so that the girls could try out the new paddle boat.

 and there off

 they went out very far.

 And they are heading back

Hi guys did you have fun?


After we brought the boat back up to the trailer and had a cool drink.
HB and Justin decided to clean up so of the wind falls around the trailer.

 Franny always loves going to the trailer

We had a visitor come for some peanuts. he is hard to see as he blends so well,and is very tiny. Jill has named him Chippy.
We made supper and cleaned up and headed back home before dark. We were all pretty a bunch of pretty tired campers Sunday night and went to bed early.


Monday was a beautiful day here. It got hot and muggy early, so the weeones were in the pool by 11. I decided after going into the chicken coop, it needed to be cleaned. Justin and I went for a small trailer load of cedar chips up at the planner. I  shoveled out what felt like a ton of chicken poo and laid down new bedding. We filled the nesting boxes with clean straw,and the girls washed all the dishes. It took a good part of the afternoon, but it was well worth it.

For the rest of the afternoon I cleaned out the rest of what was left in the green house for bedding plants. Jill and I filled all our hanging baskets and planters. Jill put a few in her garden and we gave everything a good watering.

I came in and made some mac and tomatoes with hamburg for supper just as HB was arriving from work. We had supper and heading back outdoors to do some more yard work. I cut the lawns and did a bit of whipper snipping and HB work in his garage getting my Beetle ready to drive for the season.

I worked outdoors till dark and came in with a terrible headache. I think I did a little to much, and got a little to much sun.

Today the are calling for rain late in the afternoon and for the next few days, so I need to get out early and weed my garden.
Justin needs to go to work over the road and mow a ladies lawn this morning. I am going to go ahead and make up a batch of pancakes for breakfast and then hurry and head outdoors.

Have a great day everyone.

Casserole For A Crowd Recipe

This is one of my favorite go to casseroles. It is one my Mother made for us often and always made for me to take to pot luck at the youth camp I worked at growing up. (Everyone requested it each and every year)
My children also like it and it makes a huge batch, so it goes a long way. unless you have my family and there is usually only a small bowl left and usually gets eaten up before bedtime.

2lbs ground beef
1 1/2 cups of chopped semi fine celery.
1 large onion chopped semi fine
1 green pepper chopped semi fine
1 can of mushrooms
1 can of bean sprouts
1 can of beef  consomme
1 can of cream of mushroom
1 can of cream of chicken
1 can of tomato soup
1/4 cup of soya sauce
1TBSP of prepared mustard
1 large package of egg noodles(I use med. broad)

in a large fry pan fry up the ground beef with the celery,onions,green pepper, and can mushrooms season with salt and pepper.and cook until beef is cooked and veggies are tender.

cook noodles as on package directions. drain,

 in a roaster pan add the cans of cream soups, beef consomme, tomato soup, soya,and mustard.mix well

dump into the roaster pan the noodles (I like to make it in a big one to have loads of room to mix) I also use foil roasters if I have them on hand.(great for potlucks)

drain fat and dump the ground beef mixture into your roaster as well with the noodles, add the bean sprouts,and mix everything up really good and bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 mins to 45 mins mixing 1/2 way through.

This freezes great as well.

Back from Camping

Well we survived our first camping trip of the season. We left around 4 on Monday and took our trailer to our favorite provincial park Mount Carlton http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/Products/M/Mount-Carleton-Provincial-Park.aspx

We arrived and the weather was perfect. We found a great lot and set up camp. We unhooked the trailer and unloaded. After whipping up supper, we went down to the beach for a swim and Justin went fishing. HB went for a shower and then we went for our showers.we had a camp fire, and a few tasty sweet treats.

We headed off to bed after 10, just as the rain started. It rained all through the night,and tapered off by morning. We slept in till 9:30 and crawled out to make up a campers breakfast.

We cleaned up and packed and got ready to head back home.

It rained all the way home and I don't think it has stopped since then. The gardens are starting to get to much rain. I hope the warm weather comes back soon and the rain goes away.

Mom ended up back in ICU last evening due to her heart again, but today she seems to be doing better. I ran back and fourth to the hospital today and came home and made up a casserole (casserole for a crowd) one of my favorites.

It is just about ready to come out of the oven, so I need to go get the biscuits ready to go in.
take care and I hope it is not raining to much in your neck of the woods.