GRANDMOTHER'S LIBRARY: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

When I started reading this, I didn't realize it was book 11 of Kelley Armstrong's "Women of the Otherworld" series. It is a stand alone book and makes a complete novel by itself, although I felt as though it could be continued in another book.  The book is about Savanna, a witch, who is also a beginning private detective who is looking into a couple murders that could have supernatural overtones.  "Witch" in this novel is not a practicing Wiccan, but is another 'species' or a non-human with distinct biological differences than humans.  The book follows Savanna as she works on her first solo case and leaves me wanting more of the story filled in: Does Savanna lose her powers permanently? Do Savanna and Adam get together? Does Kayla get reunited with her grandmother? These unanswered questions make me think that there might be another book, but it looks as though the books in the series might not necessarily have all the same characters. I'll let you know when I read some more of this series! (which I definitely will).

GRANNY'S KITCHEN: Tomato/Carrot Soup

I was needing a quick meal this evening, and soup is always handy. But, sometimes I just feel as though it is not quite substantial enough. While trying to decide what to do, I just grabbed a can of carrots.  I put the Campbell's tomato soup in the pan, then poured the water off the carrots into the Campbell's can, then finished filling up the can from the tap.  I heated it on the stove. Add a little salt and a lot of pepper, and it made a tasty, quick meal!

GRANNY'S KITCHEN: Peanut Butter/Oatmeal Cookies

I made these yummy cookies using mainly food storage items from a recipe I found online here. 
I doubled my recipe and put 1 cup peanut butter powder and 1/3 cup water in my mixer to get it reconstituted.  I also used powdered eggs, which are very handy to have around. It makes it OK to eat the dough without worrying about raw eggs (which I never did anyway-- after all, I love Egg Nog!)  I reconstituted these, but you can add the powdered eggs in with the flour and add the water separate. I am still trying to decide my favorite method: I haven't found a difference yet.  The peanut butter powder is a lot easier to mix than regular peanut butter. And being dried, it won't go rancid if I lose it in the back of the pantry!  These yummy cookies have peanut butter, oatmeal, and chocolate chips. They are scrumptious!

A GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS: My Family

I went to a scrapbooking workshop this weekend and this is one of the pages I made. I took these photos last November. I had everyone dressed up so I made them pose for photos.  I should do this more often. They usually dress for church every Sunday: maybe I'll start taking snapshots once a month or so just 'because'.

GRANDMOTHER'S LIBRARY: Soulless by Gail Carriger

This is book of of the Parasol Protectorate series of books whose main character is a Victorian, prim and proper spinster, one Miss Tarabotti.  The book begins with the following paragraph:
"Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her eveing. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters, and Miss Tarabotti was not the kind of spinster who could  garner even that much pleasure from the event.  To put the pudding in the puff: she had retreated to the library, her favorite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire."  When the said vampire tried to attack her, she says, "I say! We have not properly been introduced."  Her prim and proper manners are too funny to read!  Miss Tarabotti is most upset by the vampire falling over the tea tray and ruining the treacle tart.
It seems that Miss Tarabotti has no soul, which negates any supernatural abilities in others: vampires teeth retract, werewolves cannot turn all hairy, and ghosts can be exorcised.  She seems to be very outspoken for a woman of these times, yet is always the picture of perfect etiquette!  This is absolutely a fun book to read!!

GRANDMOTHER'S SEWING ROOM: Closet Dividers for Baby

I thought these closet dividers were the coolest thing, so I bought the pattern and made them for a shower gift. My friend, Jenny, said she had just organized her baby closet and divided the clothes with extra hangers, so she loved them!  I thought I'd make a set for Baby Kay, but her momma said they don't have a closet for her.. Oh well.. they were fun to make!

GRANNY'S KITCHEN: Jalapeno Poppers

2010 was a great year for peppers! Our tomatoes did not do well, but our pepper plants looked like TREES, the stems were so thick!  We had an over abundance of cayenne, which I dried. Then I had several of these jalapenos, which I candied and made poppers.  We also grew quite a few banana peppers, which I canned, and some bell peppers which I stuffed, chopped up and used in a variety of ways.  
This is my endeavor with jalapeno poppers!
First I had to half and deseed, wearing gloves (other wise you get acid burns on your hands!)  The deseeded halves get placed on cookie sheets and frozen. The halves are then filled with cheese (I used cream cheese on some, and some left over cheese dip, which had been made from velveeta and salsa mixed together, in some.  The halves are squished together and placed back in the freezer.  When I had all my jalapenos filled, I pulled out my first tray, rolled them in flour, dipped in egg/milk mixture, then rolled in bread crumbs.  These went back to the freezer. When all were completed and frozen, I placed in freezer bags.  Then when ready for a snack, just take out what you need and deep fry!

GRANDMOTHER'S SEWING ROOM: Embroidered Quilt

When my brother-in-law had a kidney transplant, I made this quilt to auction off to help him with expenses.  My mom (Kathleen Cockrum) embroidered redwork western motifs on black squares. Each block is different -- when we ran out of designs, we flipped a few of them so they would technically still be different.  Some of the embroidery designs take over an hour to sew out, not including the time lining up the fabric in the hoop, finding the pattern, and transferring it to her Janome sewing card.  We had 40 embroidered blocks, so imagine all the hours my mother spent at the sewing machine for this!
I then set the pieces together with bandanna fabric.  I drew (from pictures I found on the internet: I had to get ideas from somewhere!!) the pantograph quilting pattern out on a roll of fax paper.  My aunts Marge and Cleo have a short arm quilting machine that we use for our quilting.  I put the photo in x-large mode so that you can see the details of the quilting: I alternated cowboy hats and boots!  Loran has always been into horses and horse shows, and was president of the Saddle Club for quite some time! (in case you're wondering why the western theme).  The quilt was then sold at a benefit auction held for Loran. I cannot remember what it went for, but every little bit helped!

A GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS: Pumpkin Carving 2010

Carissa had never used the tiny saws to cut pumpkins, so Nathan is helping out with her pumpkin. Naomi came to enjoy our annual family event!  

As you can tell, I didn't carve mine, but made a mummy . Believe it or not, that is a whole roll of gauze! The eyes are from a pumpkin carving kit from a couple years ago.

Natalie was busy hanging out with cousins, so she carved her bat the next day. The stinker would not let me take her photograph.


Nicolas also took the easy way out and only carved a scythe.  Carissa and Nathan carved the creepy stalker looking through the blinds. 

Naomi had a small pumpkin, but that's OK because I have a copy machine that can shrink images! She chose the intricate scarecrow.  I love the way it looks -- as thought the field behind it is on fire!

I took photos with and without the light inside. I think they are better looking when they are lit up in the dark..

A GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS: Pumpkin Party 2010

                                                        I have not figured out yet how to get my two photos side by side yet like the double layout pages they are. But anyway, here are a couple of the paged I did of Nathan's and Nicolas' birthday party.  Look at all the smoke coming off the candles -- good think we were outside!!  We set up bales of straw for our 'theatre' seats and set the projector to show on the side of the garage.  We showed Disney's Haunted Mansion and then Ghost Rider.  

We grilled hamburgers and had snacks, including Aunt Cleo's brownies!  
 Yummy!


We didn't have many carvers this year, but have to admit that EVERY STORE was totally OUT of PUMPKINS!!  There were NONE at WalMart, Ramey's or Country Mart!  The kids finally found the last two at the new Market where the Warm Fork Cafe' used to be.  

I tried to mention that next year I want to go back to just carving and snacks, but Nicolas informed me that he likes the grilling out and movies.  I do miss all the carvings from the past.  It might help if I sent out invitations like I used to do -- we just went by word of mouth this year.. I think people need that tangible invitation to help them remember.