I love this time of year! Wood smoke curling up from our chimney, the smell of baking in the kitchen, bales strewn all over the fields, just waiting to be picked up by the ranchers that have bought them, dry leaves blowing into the garden, were the last rows of carrots are still residing, cows being trailed home from summer pastures, geese flying overhead. Fall just seems so BOUNTIFUL.
We are almost on our way to Creston for Thanksgiving, I am literally counting the days!!! All of our children and their girlfriends/boyfriend are coming , along with our best friends, Mel and Loretta - in all, five fifth wheel trailers. We will be a regular convoy!!! LOL. Everyone has their camera ready to go, because we plan on taking a lot of fall photos at the fruit stands. We are going to cook our turkey on the BBQ and hopefully the weather will permit us to spend a great deal of the long weekend outside. I have cold Coronas in the fridge and a new camera chip, I have charged my batteries and packed the tripod - I am prepared!!
Now, if I could just get my shoulder to behave long enough to enjoy the trip, I would be forever grateful. I am hesitant to say it, but I have a SCRAPBOOKING INJURY!!! I would rather give birth to more children than go through this pain, so if you know some of the stories of what my children have put me through, then you can appreciate the pain that I am in!! My muscles are so tight, that they have literally pulled my collarbone and ribs out of place. Just from working with my shoulders forward and my head down. Let that be a lesson!! When you are scrap booking for HOURS at a time, make SURE that you get up and stretch and exercise your shoulder muscles!!
For my friends, Amy, Edna ad Debbie, here is a recipe that I know you are going to love!! I baked them for Daniel and Andrew and did not tell anyone what was in them - the rest of my family enjoyed them without even knowing that they were gluten free!
Gluten Free Gingersnap Cookies
350 degree oven
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 egg
¼ cup fancy molasses
2 ½ cups gluten free all-purpose baking flour
1 ½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp each ground cloves and cinnamon
Pinch of salt
In a large bowl, beat butter with 1 cup of the sugar, beat in egg and molasses. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon and salt.
Stir into butter mixture to form stiff dough.
Roll dough, by one level tablespoon, into balls, roll in remaining sugar.
Place 2inches apart on parchment lined baking sheet. Press to flatten slightly.
Bake in a 350 degree oven until edges are lightly browned. The center may still be a bit soft – approx. 10 minutes.
Transfer to rack and let cool.
Enjoy!!
This week, Megan gifted me with a new fall hoodie - my version of a sweater. I love it!!! I also found an amazing hoodie in Waterton Park when Lorrie, Megan and I went shopping. It is totally fall colored and very warm. I am saving it to wear at the Jingle Bell Crop. Some people get excited over shoes or jewelry - I am all about hoodies! (and new dishes) Which, by the way, I have two new sets waiting for me in Creston. Shhh! Mike only knows about one!! I will keep you posted as to how I snuck them home!
