Hi, I'm Dawn...

Hi, I'm Dawn... and I'm a bad blogger! (Everyone answers: "Hi, Dawn!")

We've had all kinds of parties and sumpthin' around here lately. The parties are fun. It's the sumpthin's that will kill you. And a stomach virus. And sore throats. And an upper respiratory infection. (Updated to add: These illnesses infected me - not the kids. Not Bud. Just me. All of them - just me!)

The worst of it? I completely lost my voice for two, whole days. Completely. Not even a squeak! That's pure torture for a lover of conversation like me.

But don't worry, I'm up to a husky whisper today. Tomorrow, I plan to be BACK. Back in the real world and back to blogging. You won't want to miss it - I have two weeks of catching up to do!

Happy 13th Birthday, Kat!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy birthday with all my love to my amazing, teenage daughter!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT)

It's like we're havin' a party, or sumpthin!

When Bud and I were first married, we lived near his sister in Virginia and we would borrow her preschool-age son as often as we could. We liked to pretend he was ours. He's all grown up now and graduating from college this year!

During one of his overnight visits with us, we loaded him up in our car at an hour well-past his bedtime, in his jammies, and took him for ice cream. He thought this late-night adventure was terribly exciting. He sat in the backseat of the car, grinning from ear to ear, and licking his ice cream cone with sprinkles on top. Between licks, he exclaimed, "It's like we're... we're... we're havin' a party, or sumpthin!" Just thinking about that memory makes me laugh out loud!

To this day, whenever we have some fun events happening, one of us is sure to say, "It's like we're havin' a party, or sumpthin!"

Starting tonight and continuing through the weekend we have homecoming celebrations, the football game, a sleepover, a band competition and a birthday. A very special birthday! (Details about that on Sunday.)

People, it's like we're havin' a party, or sumpthin!

Works For Me Wednesday: Crustless Pumpkin Pie

According to Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer, today's post for "Works For Me Wednesday" should be on the topic of kitchen organization. That's a topic right up my alley. Or, right up my kitchen, so to speak.

However, I've had several requests for my crustless pumpkin pie recipe that I've been wanting to post. The recipe is so simple, only dirties one bowl and is really yummy. So, follow my thinking here...

Crustless pie = not making crust = no kitchen mess from making pie crust = organized kitchen.

Therefore, this post totally fits the subject requirement, right? (That's a rheutorical question... you didn't need to answer.)

Crustless Pumpkin Pie
(Makes 6 servings)

1 (15 oz.) can solid-pack pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup milk
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites (Note: I've used 2 large eggs, total, and skipped the whites and it works fine.)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray. (Or, I like to use six 1/2 cup ramekins for individual servings.)

With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat all the ingredients until smooth. Pour the mixture into the dish(es). Bake, uncovered, until the filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes for the 8-inch square baking dish, about 30 minutes for the individual ramekins. Cool completely on a rack. Refrigerate, covered, at least 3 hours before serving.

Serve topped with whipped cream.

Want more recipes that use pumpkin? Visit Steph for her Pumpkin Dip recipe. Then go see Prairie Chick for her homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.

And that Works For Me this Wednesday!

My God is Mighty to Save!

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Blessings upon your Sabbath!

Want to help?

Many of you have asked me for ideas of how you can help with relief efforts for people on the Texas coast. I'm assuming you mean monetary donations - not that you are wanting to load up the minivan and head for our coast with your tool belt and shovel in hand.

In times of trial, Texans are known to drop everything, roll up their sleeves and do what it takes to help their neighbors. In that spirit, Texas Governor Rick Perry established the Texas Disaster Relief Fund, A Non-Profit Corporation, to provide a rapid conduit between donors and communities in need.

Through the Texas Disaster Relief Fund, you can help, too! If you would like to make a donation by mail, please make your check payable to Texas Disaster Relief Fund and mail to:

Office of the Governor

Texas Disaster Relief Fund

P.O. Box 12878

Austin, TX 78711-2878

To donate online by credit card visit: https://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/tolapp/disasterfund/home.do

For more information, please call 1-866-292-5357.

The federal employer’s identification number (EIN) for the Texas Disaster Relief Fund, a Nonprofit Corporation is 20-3875068. The corporation is a 501(c)(3) corporation, managed by the Office of the Governor.

On behalf of all Texans - thank you!

Open Windows

We've been sleeping with our windows open at night - and loving it. I swear, there must be something in the cool night air that is deep-sleep inducing. Last night was no exception.

So, we overslept a few minutes this morning. Bud and I both were awakened at the same instant.

Snooze alarm? No.

Phone call? Nope.

One of our children? Not at that hour.

What then? Stench. Stink. Bad odor. Really bad odor.

From this little visitor.

A "stunk." (That's what both our kiddos called them when they were little.) Apparently, very nearby.

This isn't the one who visited us. I've had skunk spray on me once before and I certainly wasn't going to risk that fiasco again. I hit the internet in search of a good skunk picture and found many from which to choose.

I found pictures of skunk cabbage, too. I'm thinking it doesn't smell like roses.

I also received some additional illegal drug education. Am I the only one who didn't know that "skunk" also refers to marijuana? Sheesh. So, if your kiddo needs to do a report on skunks, you might want to assist with their internet research.

Between the wild pigs and skunks, our neighborhood is going to pot. Yep... pun intended!