A scrumptious sugar free pumpkin pie

This photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post but I just love it.
It is going to be around 105 today so it really doesn't feel like Fall.
This photo makes me feel like Fall is already here.

Many years ago when my son was just a pup, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
At that time I realized that every Holiday really is associated with food, lots of food.
I knew things would be different but I still wanted to be able to make desserts that he could enjoy.
This pumpkin pie is one of our favorite desserts.
No picture however, but I know you can all visualize-hehe.

***Amazing pumpkin pie recipe***

16- ounce can of pumpkin

2 large eggs

Dry brown sugar substitute (1/2 cup)

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

12- ounce can of evaporated skim milk

1/2 cup buttermilk biscuit mix


Combine all the ingredients and mix at medium speed until smooth.
Pour into a 9" pie pan (glass, stone, or ceramic works best) that has been greased.
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean from the center of the pie.
Remove to a wire rack.

Let cool and serve.

Food exchanges per serving : 1 bread and 1/2 fat.
Calories: 117

I have been making this pie for 17 years and we all love it.
O.K, hubby prefers the real deal but he came to this party much later than the rest of us.

Hubby comes home from Co. today and I can't wait to pick him up.
I guess I still am a newlywed after almost 6 years.

Have a beautiful weekend.

A little update

I wanted to thank you for your comments and emails regarding my MIL and SIL.
What a week this has been- emotions all over the place.
There are many decisions that have to be made.
I was hoping to join hubby in CO. but this was not to be the case.
Have you ever noticed how one simple appointment, leads to another?
Of course the dates are never negotiable.

Now moving onto the identity theft......
I'm thinking it is the guy above.
He has been very busy.
We know he can't keep a job but has had many.
He has purchased a car, and opened up credit cards.
He can run but he can't hide forever.
Well, it is out of our hands and I trust he will be found.

I thought I would show you some of the little projects I have been working on as well.

A girl has to keep busy-hehe.

Do you realize that 3 months from today is Christmas Eve?
Where has the time gone?

I'm off to my son's place but hope to visit everyone soon.
I miss all of my favorite blogs.

hugs and more hugs to each of you.

P.S. I just realized I am coming up on my 200th post.
A true milestone for me.
If you haven't signed up for my monthly giveaway, you might want to take a moment and do so.
October is just around the corner.

Keeping the faith

What a week this has been.
Blessings and complications.

I dropped hubby off at the airport this morning for CO.
Many of you know that his mother has been fighting ovarian cancer for some time.
We try to get up there as often as possible to visit.
He took some vacation time and this visit had been planned for a while.

His younger sister has had some health problems for a while as well.
She fell and broke her wrist and ended up in the hospital.
The broken wrist was a blessing in disguise!
She has been seeing doctors for several years and they really could not find out what the problem was.
Well, they discovered she has progressive MS.
Talk about a shock!

I am holding down the fort (my son has appointments that could not be rescheduled).
I hope to fly up later this week. Time will tell.

The moral of my post......if you think there is something wrong, and a Dr can't figure it out,
Keep going, if you can. Keep going until you find the one Doctor that can put it all together.

Have a blessed Sunday.
I love you all!

Who has your identity?

Could it be this guy?

Or someone here?

Arizona (so I've heard) has the highest rate of identity theft.
It is one of those things you hear about all the time but never think it will happen to you or a loved one.

Last week, we found out that my son has been a victim of identity theft and it has gone on for years.
We're not sure how or where it happened. Might have been during his many hospitalizations, just don't know.
What is interesting is the fact that social security didn't discover it (he has been disabled his entire life).

What a nightmare but one day at a time. I just think it is so sad that someone is so desperate
that they feel the need to use another persons identity. Our identity is the one thing that truly belongs to us (I think).

I was told yesterday that occasionally they will find someone with a long work history, actually using a child's social security number.

I really never thought the need to check on my sons info since he has never worked.
I'm here to tell you that you need to check.
You may be surprised at what you find!

Paul speaking French- worth a listen

It's Labor Day Weekend...

and I'm longing for Fall weather.

A mountain top in Switzerland sounds good right about now.
Doesn't it?

Labor Day weekend in AZ is HOT, HOT, HOT.
With Jeff, Dorothy, and the ladies in Monterey, it will be QUIET, QUIET, QUIET, and HOT.

No big plans here, but I am hoping to visit all of you over the weekend.
Slowly but surely.

Have a fabulous Labor Day weekend.

Some European postcards to share

I love old postcards!
I love to
read the messages and try to picture the writer as well as the recipient.
Since I'm feeling a little under the weather (must have been too many roosters-hehe),
I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.
They range from the 1920's up to the 1970's. Wait, the 1970's is not OLD!

Please feel free to use them in any of your projects.
I hope to visit everyone soon.

Enjoy!

Aren't the messages just wonderful?

See you soon.

Cock-a doodle dooooooo!

Merci, merci to Barb at Bella Vista for hosting The 1st annual SHOW US YOUR ROOSTERS PARTY. There are many participants and I am looking forward to visiting them all.
May take quite some time, but I am determined to visit everyone.

The picture above is what I think a proud French rooster would look like after spending a summer in Arizona. He is not pecking for food, he has heat exhaustion.

I just love the colors on this rooster. Isn't he marvelous?
I have had a "thing" for roosters for a long time.

This is Jeff's first Halloween, and I dressed him up as a rooster.
My version of a rooster anyway. The only feathers I could find were yellow.
Look's more like a chicken but I am calling it a rooster.

I thought he looked adorable (I knew as he got older, I would have no say in the matter).
A mom has to do what a mom has to do!

I collected many roosters over the years. My poor boys were surrounded by roosters.
When I remarried, I knew it was time to pass most of the roosters to new homes.
My friends now have the majority of my rooster collection.
Compromise, not a bad thing at all.

I kept 3 roosters that have special meaning to me.
I will never part with them.

The rooster above is made of glass and was a Mother's day gift from the boys years ago.
Every time I look at it, I can see their sweet faces as I opened the box.

This rooster was painted by my youngest son's class.
It was a thank you gift.
The teacher asked my son what I liked, and of course, he said "roosters".
They put so much work into it. It means the world to me.
When I am in the kitchen and I look up, there he is.

The 2 pictures above show the big boy.
This was a birthday gift from the boys and I adore it.
I feel like he watches over me when I am in the kitchen.
Good memories.

Well, I don't collect roosters anymore but I do make them.

The rooster above is a flour sack towel.
Hot pink!

The orange rooster pillow, was part of a giveaway I had last week.
It is on it's way to Judy in Denver.
I think she is a rooster gal too!

The rooster on this pillow is hot pink.

Last but not least, The petit coq pillow.

That's it folks. Not many roosters at this time but just the right roosters for me.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Santa and cherries

I have been working on a few little projects (and you thought I was visiting a fab chateau)
that I thought you might like to see.
I had a request come in for "days of the week" flour sack towels.
She only wanted Saturday and Sunday.
She is planning on cutting them down a bit and framing them as kitchen art.
If I can get a picture, I'll post it.
Love the idea.

Well, I enjoyed working on Saturday and Sunday so I thought I would do a complete set.

By the time you read this, I hope to be done with Wed, Thursday, and Friday.
These towels have a vintage feel. They remind me of a favorite Aunt.
When I close my eyes, I can see her towels hanging on the clothesline.

Well, you know I love Santa.
I am working on making this jolly fellow into a pillow.
I think the photo looks distorted but Santa is tres chic.

I am loving this guy. This is the third pillow that I have done with
the Parisian Santa. I don't think I will ever get tired of it.
It makes me smile.

Well, that's all folks. I am hoping to add these to my site.
Is that a shameless plug or what?

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Where I am heading after the giveaway

Provided of course, that a sizable fortune drops into my lap.

Check this out- AMAZING.

Antiques are included.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

The past several days, I have been over at Jeff and Dorothy's with the packers and the moving crew.
As I turned the corner onto their street yesterday, this is what I saw.
A huge moving van.
Oh my, big sigh!

I don't know how everything is going to fit into their new home on base.
They left a 2 story, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, with a garage and a gigantic back yard.
They are now in a 3 bedroom, 1200 square foot house (no garage).
This could be very interesting.
I know once the van arrives, (sometime between Aug. 24th -27th)
Dorothy will have her work cut out for her.

It was so strange to be over there. The house was very quiet but boy could you feel the good vibe.

This is Pokey. She belongs to the driver and his wife and travels with them.
This is one spoiled dog. Doesn't it look like she is smiling?
What a sweetheart!

If you haven't entered The French Elements giveaway, there is still time.
For those of you that have entered and put a link on your blog, many, many thanks.
A winner will be drawn on Sunday August 23rd.
I'd love for you to take a moment and enter.

I am hoping to do another one before the Holidays begin.
That's the perfect way to start the season.

Happy Thursday.

The passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver- Special Olympics

AP file photo


If you have visited my blog, you know that Special Olympics is near and dear to my heart.

As the mother of a child (now 26) that has both physical and intellectual disabilities,
Mrs Shriver made it O.K to be different.

She gave a voice to those that needed someone to speak on their behalf.
She gave them HOPE and I can tell you that this was desperately needed.

She made a difference in this world.
I am eternally grateful for all her hard work over the years.

I just wanted to say "thank you for helping to give our children the dignity and hope they deserve".

Everyone deserves those basic rights.

God Bless you.

Three years ago today..

this little lady (not so little) came into our lives and things have never been the same.

Happy birthday Miss Annika!
I can't believe you are already three.

Birthday #1, she was more interested in the gift wrap and boxes.
The typical 1 year old.
Jeff and Dorothy had gift wrap everywhere.
But we all had so much fun.

Princess mode for birthday #2.
She loves to dress up and loves sparkly things.

And now, here we are at 3.
Can you tell she truly enjoys having her picture taken?

At that age, daddy loved the camera also.
He was just a little bit older than Annika when he was signed by an agent in L.A. (but that is a whole other post).

Today was the day that Dorothy, the ladies, my 70 lb granddog and the guinea pig were to leave for Monterey. I can't imagine that drive! God bless them.

A cracked radiator, put it on hold until tomorrow. That's the plan anyway.
The radiator is ordered and 2 of her neighbors (mechanics) will be installing it tonight after work.
After picking up 2 radiators that should have fit, I'm hoping the 3rd time is the charm.
This certainly was a CRAZY weekend.

The Army movers pack next Tuesday and load on Wednesday.
Grandma will be hanging out at their house making sure all is done.
That will be one quiet house.

But back to Annika....
Sweet Pea, you have a wonderful spirit.
There is so much joy and love (and singing).
I pray as you get older, that sweet spirit stays just as sweet.
It has been such a thrill to watch you grow.

I am so proud to be your Grandma.
I love you bunches!

Happy 10 years ( a day early)

I am posting a day early because tomorrow I will be celebrating Jeff and Dorothy's 10th Anniversary with Dorothy and the ladies. I am filling in for Jeff (I'm about as close to looking like Jeff as you can get-hehe).

Part of this post is taken from one I did last year.

Here goes........

I have to be quite honest with you here. When the kids started talking about getting
married, I thought they were too young.
Give it a little more time, how about 6 more months?
We discussed it in detail.

I decided if they were going to get married, it was their business, not mine
and I could totally be on board or not.
Well, guess what?

I jumped on the bandwagon and never looked back!
Tomorrow will be their 10th Anniversary and I couldn't be happier for them.
The years have flown by and produced many blessings.

Jayde and Hailey (still my dancing Queens), are just 2 of those blessings.
Any woman who is a grandma, knows what I am talking about.

Annika came on board almost 3 years ago (August 10th).
Three precious little girls. What could be better than that?

I am so glad that Jeff and Dorothy did not listen to me and went ahead to start their
life together.

Mother always doesn't know best.

Well, here we are 1 year later..........
A lot of changes are going on.
And yes, I have been a little weepy (o.k, very weepy).

Dorothy and the girls will be heading out to Monterey most likely on Monday to begin their new Army life.

I am so excited for them to be able to start a new life and share this amazing journey.

I have been blessed (here come the tears) to have them so close over the years.
I know families are spread out all over the place. I truly know how fortunate I have
been to have them living close by. I don't take anything for granted.

While I am somewhat sad (really sad) for myself, I am so happy that they will be together sharing Jeff's dream.

I am extremely proud of all of them. Dorothy, for all the hard work you have been doing especially since Jeff has been gone. Girl, you have moved mountains (the GARAGE)
and done it with grace. I am so proud to call you my "daughter".
I know your mother would be so proud of you, honey.

My precious little ladies.....you are amazing and don't ever forget how special you are.

Jeff, I am in awe of you. I know this is not easy and you are working at top speed.
I am so proud to call you my son. You have been a blessing to me.

Thank you for the sacrifices you are making to serve this country.
I want you to know that I am in awe of the 5 of you.
I love you to pieces!

This is where my family will be starting their new life. DLI in Monterey, Ca.

Happy Anniversary and God Bless you.

Sweet Sunday

Say to them, may the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.

Numbers 6:23-26

This is a verse that I keep coming back to.
I think we could all use a little more of those blessings.

Happy Sunday.