…those three little crack pots on the right (Daney boy, cousin Tim and the Bald kid) were truly, madly deeply in love with Cub Scouts and…Pony Beads.
Every time I turned around, someone had left another Pony Bead Gekko in some unsuspected place as a surprise gift from the little boy heart. Seriously, I could have made a skirt—a very heavy, beaded gecko skirt, but you get my point.
Well, the other day, while the Bald Kid and I were cleaning closets and sorting boxes we came across the coveted “Box O Beads.”
I said, “Hey. You should make me a Pony Bead Gecko–for old time’s sake.”
He said, “I don’t think so.”
So I snagged those beads and messed with them for a while. They were surprisingly fun to play with.
Look what happened…
I call it the “Indian Corn Pony Bead Thing.” I was going to put a pin on the back and wear it around but I was afraid people would ask me if I was supporting some kind of “save the corn” cause. Plus it made me feel old…er. So I’ve decided to put a cord on it and hang it from my car mirror.
It’s cute. It’s easy to make. It’s Thanksgiving-y.
And just think…if I get really good at these–I can make you a skirt!
If you’re inclined to say–“What?! More pumpkin?” here’s the thing. This pumpkin stuff is self-perpetuating–I swear. See, you open a can and use half of it for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake, and you have a bit left. So to use that bit for Pumpkin Crisp–so you aren’t wasting food, you open another can to add to it. Then you have a bit left–but not quite enough for Pumpkin Pie Dip…so you open another can…
It goes on, and on, and on. And still there is a Ziploc bag in the fridge right this minute, with a cup of pumpkin leftovers in it.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin, sour cream, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and ginger until blended. Serve with gingersnaps or Snickerdoodles or Molasses cookies or fruit or if you’re really adventurous–try it on banana bread. Do you get the idea that the possibilities are truly endless? All I can say about that is Yee Haw!
Be sure to store the leftovers in the refrigerator.
The tradition at our house has always been that the day after Halloween, we can pull out the Christmas music. Not the movies or the decorations–none of that–but the music is on! We are quite faithful in our focus of the Thanksgiving holiday because it is so lovely to spend so much time thinking of how greatly we are blessed. It’s just that at our house we prepare for Thanksgiving—while listening to Christmas music.
The first year I was married we had no Christmas music at all. Nothing.
Then my sweet childhood friend Mary Jo asked if we would store a few things for her–as she was moving back to California. In the things to store that she generously said we could use, was her stereo system and a pile of LPs–record albums–in case you didn’t know. One of them–to my utter joy, was called “Merry Christmas–36 Great Favorite Songs-36 Great Artists.” Silly name. Fabulous music.
But finding out that my time with this set up was about to end and that a friend was coming to pick up all her things way before Christmastime, I devised a plan. Scurrying around, I found an old cassette recorder and a blank tape and decided to record whatever songs I could before the friend pulled up in the driveway. Now please realize that this was long before the “plug in this and that and push a couple of buttons and now it’s all perfect,” days. I had to play the music and put the tiny little microphone right up against the stereo speakers to get the best sound. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t even know some of the songs that I was recording–but it would be something for our Christmas atmosphere anyway. It ended up taping the last song filling one side of that cassette before the guys knocked on the door. I felt pretty pleased with myself.
Little did we know at the time that that silly little bootlegged tape would become the family favorite for all my children and the very first thing they want to hear when they wake on November 1st. One year they each received their own copy of the tape in their Christmas stocking. They love it.
So, as silly as it may seem to play a little Christmas music for you–I’d really like to share the sound that has thrilled my family for over 30 years now–and quite frankly, still does. Oh, and if anyone knows the secret to getting a cassette tape–in this case, a priceless one–transferred to a cd–would you kindly share the info with me? Tapes don’t last forever and we want to keep this one.
I hope you’ll humor me and listen–just this once. Thanks–and here it is…
Yes. You heard me right. I truly did say Pumpkin Pie. Playdough. I really think you’re going to love this…
If you’ve ever made your own playdough, you’ll recognize the recipe—except that we’ve added some lovely spices that might just make you want to play with this stuff right alongside your kids. I first saw this on Dresses ‘n Messes. Be warned though, this recipe makes a lot–all that you see here–7 portions the size of large oranges. With any luck, you’ll have enough to share with all the neighbors–or to use as Christmas presents. Oh, and by the way–it was so easy–I was stunned.
Fun, yummy smelling stuff.
Pumpkin Pie Playdough
5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 small container pumpkin pie spice
orange food coloring–if you want–2 parts yellow, 1 part red
4 cups water
Directions
Mix all ingredients together. Cook and stir constantly over medium heat until lumps disappear. Knead the dough on floured surface until smooth.
Seal in clean, decorated frosting tubs, labeled “Playdough.” Snap on the lid and there you have it. You could even add some playful cookie cutters to a ribbon tied on top.
“The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!”
