Pumpkin Bread



Patty’s Favorite Pumpkin Recipe

Pumpkin Bread

2/3 cup shortening

2-2/3 cup sugar

4 eggs

1  can (16 oz.) pumpkin

2/3 cup water

2 tsp. soda

3-1/3 cups flour

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking power

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

2/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

2/3 cup raisins

Cream shortening, sugar and add eggs

Add dry ingredients and mix in pumpkin

Heat oven at 350 degrees, and grease pan

·         Makes 5- mini-pans, or 1- 9x12 loaf pan

·         40 minutes for mini, 70 minutes for pan







My Favorite Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Bread

In one bowl add:
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
*cream shortening and sugar then add eggs, mix

Next bowl:
1-3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Last bowl: 1 cup of mashed banana's (usually 3 make 1 cup)

Add dry ingredients to shortening, sugar and eggs, then mashed bananas. Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts if desired.
Place in a well greased 9x12 bread loaf pan, pre-heat oven at 350 degrees, and bake for 45-50 minutes.

Note: the darker the banana the better the taste. Let me know what you think.

Pressed Flower Creations

 
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Pamela Vincent



Pamela Vincent lives in Andover, Minnesota. She works full-time, but at the end of the day she retreats to her studio and creates pressed flower creations. She started out by taking photographs of her flower gardens, and then painting or drawing from them. At an early age, she began gardening with her Godmother and Father. She even worked at a well know nursery in the Twin Cities, and that is where she became a "Master Gardner." Five years ago her Godmother gave her a shirt box filled with dried flowers, along with a wooden press. She shared with her how much fun she had pressing the flowers and would make book markers with them.  Pam said; " I thought if I could paint a garden with watercolor, why not pressed flowers." Pam has been given a talent to visualize color schemes and patterns before she creates her garden.  Recently Pam had a very rewarding experience."My sisters best friend  is fighting cancer. She asked me to create a special piece with all of her flowers from her walks. Pam, was honored and called it " Serenity Garden."  Everywhere Pam goes, she brings a bag or container and is always looking for something to pick. She says; " I feel like a kid in a candy store." Like so many of us, Pam has been inspired by surrounding herself with creative people. Pam has named her flower creations "Bringing Life to Art."  Contact Pam at vincentcreations@gmail.com or click on our Creative Chicks  "Sites We Love" and view her work.



 

 Serenity Garden



Feline Diabetes

Two years ago we left out of town for a week on vacation, when we came home Snoop was very sick, she had lost a lot of weight, and I thought she may have had a urinary track infection. She was constantly crying for water. We took her to our vet the next morning for testing, and were shocked when we were told she had Feline Diabetes. She was 12 years old at the time, and had never been sick or had any problems. Our Vet explained what would be involved, several tests over 4-8 weeks with different insulin levels until she reached the correct units needed . Gone were the days of putting out food and water and heading out the door for a few days. Everyday we have to give her insulin, feed her with a low carb diet and watch her. Yes, there are costs involved, the initial testing every two weeks, the new low carb diet food, insulin and syringes. People told us, your crazy, you will become a prisoner in your own home and never be able to travel, just put her down. My response to them is, '"what if you became sick, and it was not your fault, should we put you down." I know that people can make insensitive comments, and we have had to make many changes in our life to care for her. But our friends and family members who are animal lovers understand the decision we have made not to euthanize her. Snoop is healthy, and playful, and sleeps at my feet every night. Of course she sleeps more now at 14 years old, but the old girl still puts a smile on my face and makes me laugh. Her favorite buddy is "Mr. Walrus" and old stuffed animal she carries it around in her mouth, and she makes the weirdest sounds ever. We hide it at night so we can sleep. I wish there were a pill versus insulin we could give her, but our Vet says it is not as effective. Does anyone have any thoughts about the medication they can share with me?

Growing Up On A Lake



My Life

I grew up in a small house on a lake. We were blessed to be able to swim, fish, skate and slide down the hills on our sleds. The changing of each season was breathtaking, and there was always something to do outside, even chores.  Dinner was at 5:00 when Dad came home from work, and you better be at the table with your hands washed or you were grounded. My parents were not rich, my mom was a stay at home housewife, my father a constuction worker. We were not raised on materialistic things. My dad used to say "there is nothing easy or free in life, you have to earn it through hard work."  I have two brothers and two sisters, and I have a identical twin. My sister Pam was my best friend growing up, and I always had someone to play with. My sister Sandy took care of all of us when my mom was sick. She has always been their for our family, and taken care of others before herself. She is a true caregiver. I left my brothers for last, because they put us in the hockey nets with our figure skates on and took shots at us. They brought the tomboy out in us. I lost my dad 11 years ago, and my mom just 2 years ago. It has been a life altering change to have just memories now, and not be able to call them or see them. We all habor things in our past with family and siblings. Now, all I have left are my siblings. It's time to heal, and move forward in the second half of my life. Life is really too short, and very precious to waste on past events.