Little Family in the Big Woods

  We always made Gerome Bars at Christmas time when I was growing up. I have never eaten one of these bars any where else. I am not even sure why they are called "Gerome" bars, but that is what we always called them. This is the first time I have made them in several years, but it probably won't be the last. My family really liked them.     You will need: 1 box whole graham crackers 1 1/2 sticks margarine 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup crushed graham crackers 1 cup coconut   Icing: 1 box powder sugar 1 stick margarine melted 3 T. milk 1 t. vanilla   First, line a 9x13 pan with whole graham crackers. Melt 1 1/2 stick margarine in a saucepan. Add the 1 cup sugar. In a separate bowl beat the egg and add the 1 1/2 cups milk. Mix well. Add this mixture to the butter and sugar. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the graham crackers... ...

Thank you Trisha Yearwood, the Pioneer Woman, and my husband for my early Christmas present. A candy thermometer, a cake icing spatula, and a very nice set of measuring cups that I desperately needed.  A special thank you to my husband who was listening as I was wishfully thinking out loud while watching my favorite shows last Saturday morning.  Thanks also to my daughter for hinting about the measuring cups, and to my son for making the trip with my husband to the Williams-Sonoma store.  I can't wait to get started on the Christmas baking!!!

  Christmas is coming; Christmas trash has been made.  This year we used the following ingredients:   Frosted Cheerios Rice Chex m&m's Pretzel Sticks Dry Roasted Peanuts White candy quick   Trash is made with whatever ingredients you have that sound good.  Just mix everything together and cover with melted candy quick.  Spread on a sheet of wax paper to cool.  Then, store in a covered container.    This makes great Christmas gifts.  It usually does not stay around our house long enough to give away.    

  After a day of Black Friday shopping, it becomes time to decorate for Christmas. We spent all day Friday cleaning and getting our home ready for Christmas.   I took several pictures, but these are the only ones that came out good enough to post.  My daughter loves decorating for the holidays. Our home takes on a completely different "feel" once we finish our decorating. Enjoy@@@

  My husband's business has been very busy this fall. We went out a couple of weekends ago to take these pictures of a farm that he cleared.   It still amazes me what his land clearing machine can do.  This was previously an area that a human could barely walk through. It looked something like this....      ... and this.    And now, it looks like this.       I especially like how the machine is small enough to fit around trees, so that some can be left. It looks like a park. See the deer watching us in the background.

Say hello to the newest addition to my garden. This is Jack. Jack was made from the same hypertufa as my garden pots. I am hoping he will last for several Autumns in my garden. You can purchase a Hypertufa Jack-o-lantern of your own at the "Spotty Cow"  shop just off the square in Lawrenceburg, TN.

The Big Woods has received more than its fair share of rain this summer. One good part of the extra moisture is the abundance of fungi that made their appearance this week.   Enjoy the pictures.