Changing gears

When I started blogging, I was employed, my husband was working and our chicken were all young adults, some were students and we had no grandchildren.  

We also had to be very careful with our finances.  

A lot has changed since then.  

I left my job almost 9 years ago.  

For 9 years, we had at least 1 grandchild here most every week day while their parents worked but now all the local grands are in full time preschool and school. 

My parents have moved to our town. 

And my husband has been retired almost 4 years.  

And we have fewer financial obligations.  

Many days now, it just my husband and myself and we enjoy spending time together and doing tasks together.  

When I started blogging,  I was very busy with homemaking, careful shopping, crafting, budget cooking and decorating.  

I still live somewhat  “if you do stuff, stuff gets done” but I’m also enjoying some slower days and more relaxing hobbies like jigsaw puzzles and reading and just being Un-busy is suiting me these days.

I haven’t blogged in awhile because life is good here but it’s different.  

I want to blog but my focus will be slightly different.  I’m still homemaking but on a smaller, slower scale. 

Some of you may still follow me but I expect others won’t be interested.  

Enough chatter- here is what’s been going on here 

Breakfast this morning was New York Crumb cake.  It’s a Martha Stewart recipe and I’ve been baking it for more than a decade.  I have no idea why it doesn’t have better ratings on her site as it’s so good.  I’ve made it for lots of people and everyone likes it.  

I like the recipe because it’s uses only basic  ingredients and fast to mix up.  

https://www.marthastewart.com/355763/new-york-crumb-cake

We enjoyed it very much at breakfast and I took part of it to my parents.  

A hobby I’ve rediscovered is jigsaw puzzles. 

They are a fun group activity and  when I work on one alone,  I find them very relaxing,  

The only problem I have with puzzles is our dog, Ducky, thinks the pieces are yummy.  I have to be vigilant in picking up pieces that fall on the floor as he will destroy a puzzle piece in no time.  


Our daughter’s front door was barely hanging on so I helped my husband fix it this morning, 

The builder used those short screws 😱to install the door to the doorframe. 

My husband replaced all the short screws with the longer screws. 

That door should stay in place now.  

I’ve mentioned our youngest son many times in my posts.  

He recently married an amazing partner.

We are happy to have both of them in our family.  

pumpkins and pumpkin spice cookies

Good morning 

Below are some cloth pumpkins that I made yesterday, for my daughter at her request.  

They are circles, with a running stitch pulled up, then stuffed with polyfill. 

The stems are made from strips of brown fleece, tightly rolled and hot glued.  

If you want to make pumpkins but don’t want to sew or can’t sew, I found this really cute and simple method to make pumpkins from old clothing items. 

No Sew pumpkins by Fresh Vintage 


Below is our front porch, decorated for fall.  

The mum has lots of buds but they aren’t opening.  If they don’t open soon,  I’ll take them back to Lowe’s.  

Here is the recipe I used for Pumpkin Spice cookies, if you’re wanting to do some fall baking.   It’s a cookie recipe I’ve baked many times.  They are great made with just vanilla and they taste like fall when the DIY Pumpkin Spice is added.  

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

1 C butter, softened (I use real salted butter, not margarine or spread for baking)

2 C brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 t vanilla (I omit this when adding pumpkin spice) 

2 1/4 C flour 

1/2 salt

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

3 cups of oats- rolled or quick- both work fine 

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric  mixer until smooth.  

Add eggs, one at a time and beat to combine. 

Add vanilla and/or pumpkin spice as desired and beat about a minute. 

Add flour, salt, baking soda and powder. Beat at low speed until combined. 

Add oatmeal and stir until combined. 

Now preheat the oven to 350.  

Line your cookie sheets with parchment. 

Make large balls with dough, I use a 2 ounce cookie scoop. 

Put dough balls on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  Slightly flatten each ball, use your fingers or the bottom of a glass. 

Bake about 12 minutes, or just until set.  

With a 2 ounce scoop, one recipe makes 3 dozen good size cookies. 

DIY Pumpkin Spice 

3 T cinnamon

2 t ginger 

2 t nutmeg ( I left this out because my nutmeg didn’t smell right)

1 t cloves

1 t allspice 

Mix together and keep in a tightly closed container.

I added a little more than 1 T to the oatmeal cookie recipe.  Yes, I know eating raw eggs in cookie dough is a No-No but I tasted the dough before I baked it and after adding more spice,  I think a slightly rounded T of spice mix is just right.  

Happy Fall Y’all 

🍁🍂🐿🍂🍁