Pages

▼
▼

Monday, October 29, 2018

My Beloved Mom


Kathryn Carlson McCloskey  

June 30, 1929-October 23, 2018

My mom passed away this past week.  Her little body was just wearing out, and shutting down.  I was so thankful to spend her last days with her.  After her Memorial Mass, my sister, nephew and I spoke.  Here are the words that I shared.

My Mom

Thank you everyone for coming today.  

I was married to my beloved Rich for 43 years, in this very church over 48 years ago, but my longest relationship was with my mom for over 69 years, and 8 months.  

She taught me how to love and be loved. 

She passed on the seasonal decorating gene to me and how to make a cozy home.

She had such a sense of style and always looked so fashionable, with matching shoes, belt, jewelry, and cute clothes.   I always try to look my best because of her.  She always sent me home with clothes from her closet, and they were always bought on sale.  In fact, this dress I have on today, my mom sent home with me last summer.  

Even though my mom didn't like to cook, she always had such good, home cooked meals.  She let me cook in her kitchen from when I was just a little girl.

Mom and I always laughed and laughed together,  We always thought we were so funny and just cracked each other up.  She was such fun!

Mom taught me to say my prayers and to believe in God.  

Mom was always interested in what I was doing each day, and when I'd tell her, she'd say, "Oh, you're so lucky!"  She loved hearing about all of our family, and the grandchildren, and great great children.  

It was such a gift and an honor to help care for mom, along with my angel of a sister, Amy, during her final days on earth and her transition into heaven.  

I will continue to try my best to make both of my parents proud.  There will always be an invisible umbilical cord between mom and I until I'm with her in heaven.

She was so loved and will be so missed.    

Even though it was such a sad event, it was happy at the same time.  I saw a friend from elementary school, another from high school, two families of now grown ups, that I babysat for years ago, a special cousin and her husband, my wonderful friends that we had in Ohio, then moved to Texas, and were in Columbus to visit, and nieces, nephews, a brother and sister-in-law, and three of my four kids that came into town.   It was so nice to connect and share memories of someone that touched so many lives.  
 
Thank you for your kind visit.  xo

 I am sharing with these lovely parties:

at 56 comments:

Monday, October 15, 2018

Giveaway Gifts from Mary and a 1st Birthday!


 Recently I was one of  the recipients of Mary's Halloween giveaway.  Mary blogs at Home Is Where The Boat Is, and she always amazes me with her creativity, inspiration, kindness, and generosity.  



 Mary was so sweet to include my granddaughter, Cissy, who comes to bake with me  every week.  I waited until Cissy came over so that she could do the honors of opening the box.


 Look at all these Halloween baking goodies that we won! Included in the box were two tea towels, cookie stamps, a Jack-O-Lantern cookie cutter, 48 cupcake cases, and 24 assorted toppers, a spatula, and a container of Halloween sprinkles.  Cissy and I were thrilled!!!!  Mary wrote the sweetest note to Cissy and I, and signed it, "Happy Baking!  XO, Mary, Gracie and Lola".  Gracie and Lola are Mary's two adorable pups.

 Since we needed to get to one of Cissy's brother's football games, we made a quick treat of Halloween Bark, and added the Halloween sprinkles.  Who doesn't love to lick the spatula??

Here' s Cissy with her bag of Halloween Bark to take home to her family.  Thank you so very much, Mary, you are so kind, thoughtful and generous! 

 My youngest grandchild, Hayden, celebrated her first birthday!!


Here's adorable Hayden, who is the sweetest, most pleasant baby ever!  I made her this outfit, which looked so precious on her.  I think she likes her cake, don't you?

I'm off to be with my dear mom, who's health is failing, and I may be gone for awhile.    Please say prayers for her during this time.  Love to all, and God bless you!

Thank you for your visit!  xo


at 30 comments:

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Applesauce Spice Cakelets for Fall in Love with Texas


Welcome to my home for the Fall in Love with Texas Blog Tour.  I've set our tea party on the patio since we still have nice days here in October.  Would you like an applesauce spice cakelet?  They are so moist and perfect for a Fall treat.  I love using my Sadler Brown Betty teapot year round.   I had a gift card to HomeGoods and I bought an Autumn Treats Pan by Nordic Ware, and Cissy, my granddaaughter,  and I had fun baking the cakelets, with the recipe that came with the pan. 

 Katie, from Let's Add Sprinkles, is our hostess.  Thank you for organizing this for us!

 This is one of my favorite Fall teacups, which is Johnson Brothers, Harvest Time.  Isn't it pretty,  and with such a lovely, vintage transferware design?  Bringing it out in the Fall is like seeing an old friend!

 My American Family Scale is a such fun accessory for my kitchen. I got this for $18 several years ago in a downtown McKinney antique mall!!





Yield: 6 cakelets

Applesauce Spice Cakelets

These are moist, very flavorful cakes, and perfect for Fall!  Cissy helped with them and grated the nutmeg. 

ingredients:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/ 4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/ 4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1/ 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg (I used freshly grated)
  • 1/ 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/ 2 teaspoon vanilla

instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare pan with spray or butter and flour (I like to use Baker's Joy).
Blend butter, sugar and eggs together. In separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, spices and salt. Slowly add dry ingredients to butter, sugar and egg mixture. Add applesauce and blend in vanilla.
Divide evenly between each cake well. Tap on counter-top gently to remove air bubbles. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake ’s center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10 minutes before turning out.
Created using The Recipes Generator




Please check out the Fall in Love With Texas Blog Tour each day:

Monday 


Tuesday


Wednesday 


Thursday





I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

at 43 comments:

Monday, October 1, 2018

Whirligigs

 This past week, Cissy and I made these chocolate and peanut butter whirligig cookies.  How about joining us for some tea and cookies?  I always love using my cottage teapot, and my leaf plates.   My table covering is a tea-towel that a sweet friend sent me.


 My Royal Albert teacup was also a gift from a friend, which belonged to her late mother.  It's such fun to get out seasonal teacups.


 Here's Miss Cissy with her take-home plate of whirligigs.  These weren't the easiest cookies to roll, but my oh my, are they ever tasty!  

Today is my daughter, Molly's birthday!!   We left for some girl time with shopping and pizza after Cissy cheered at her game this past Saturday.




Whirligigs (Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies)

I received this recipe from the receptionist at my hair dresser's. I've tweaked the directions to make the process easier.

ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 and 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 oz of chocolate chips, melted, and cooled slightly

instructions:

Cream together the shortening, sugars and egg.
Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together, and add to the creamed mixture.
Chill dough for about 30 minutes. 
While dough is chilling, melt the chocolate chips, and set aside to cool slightly.
Roll the chilled dough between two sheets of wax paper to about a
Spread the dough with the chocolate and roll starting at the long edge into a log. 
Chill the log about 30 minutes.
Slice into about 1/2" slices.  Using a serrated knife that has been warmed will help with this process. 
Place the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10=12 minutes.
Created using The Recipes Generator

I am sharing this with these lovely parties:
at 33 comments: