Pumpkin-Nut Cookies

You'll need:

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 15oz can pumpkin

2 tsp baking powder

2tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground allspice

2 eggs

1tbsp vanilla

4 cups flour

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing *

1. Grease a cookies sheet; set aside. In a large bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. add sugar, pumpkin, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, and allspice. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl.

2. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour and stir in pecans.

3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 1 inch apart onto cookie sheet. Bake in 350F/180C oven for 12 to 15 min. They don't spread much, but more "puff" up a bit.

4. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Cover with icing.

*Powdered Sugar Icing: combine 4 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix to spreading consistency, adding more milk if needed. The recipe considers this icing as optional. I disagree - it totally make the cookies. Yum.

Ooooo, breakfast!

I am so totally making this and this over the weekend - who's with me??

Winter dresses

I'm working on a few more winter things for the girls, since things at the stores seem to be geared towards private school uniforms or "working girls" (if you get me). Since my daughters are neither (ahem), I've started with some more cross back dresses for Ellie.

Nice and warm, being two thicker layers, it's also a two-fer, being reversible with the pink and denim. And as Toby pointed out, I know that the strawberries are upside down, but I prefer to think of it as "headed toward her sweet little mouth".

Works for me.

More dresses and a recipe for some mighty fine Pumpkin-Nut Cookies to come.

Playing some tunes

First up is Abigail, playing something in the children's book about floating in a boat.

Next is Anna, playing one of her own compositions.

I can assure you, it'll be a long time before I'll feel brave enough to share a video of my own playing...

From scootin' to walkin'

Because you need to see it to believe it...

What do you do on a rainy wet day?

This is some of what we do:

We make some soup - awesome Corn Chowder

We play the piano (had some great video of the girls, but it'll have to wait - Blogger is being weird)

We root through Mommy's cupboards

We turn on the heat (for the first time this season)

Work on a few knitting projects (because one is never enough)

A bit of schoolwork (loving Our Island Story for history)

Later, we'll do some baking (I'm seriously thinking about some chocolate cake, among other things), sewing, and coloring in some of these do-dads.

So, what do you do?

FYI

Most who know me, by now know that I've begun a little business venture. Phoenix Trading is a greeting card company that sells through independant "traders" (like moi), rather than retailers. They are beautiful cards that I first started buying when we lived in Birmingham, and was really excited to find I could get them here in the States.

So if anyone would like any info on what's on offer, feel free to contact me or visit the website!

A New Baby and a Good Friend

The day after my birthday, Arthur James Schofield entered the world. We are very glad to welcome him, and as a congrats to the new Mom and Dad, we'll be sending off a couple of things to make their lives as new parents a bit easier.

First, a soft and snuggly nursing cover. Lovely and warm for those Chicago winds!

Next, a baby blanket. For obvious reasons.
And finally, Chocolate Hobnobs. If you don't know what these are, get thyself to the British foods section of your local supermarket. They are essential for nourishment following the birth of a new person. Truly.

Now, Danielle has not made anyone new lately, but there are a couple of boys that she 'prepared earlier' (very efficiently). I've been wanting to make her one of the Amy Butler bags for a while now, but struggled to find just the right fabric. Until now.
I think she likes it. Goes well with her hair (and I wondered why she didn't like pink...)