Author Archives: ~~Rhonda

Living in a small town, I share my life with my husband Russell (married in 1977), five children (one still at home), and six cats (one indoors, the others outside).

I teach an online class called “The Christmas Notebook” which is about all things holiday prep. The many facets of celebrating Christmas comprises one of my favorite hobbies. Other favorite things include gardening, reading, cooking, and scrapbooking.

chocolate chip pumpkin cheesecake and a birthday

Our daughter-in-law celebrated a birthday this week and asked for a chocolate chip pumpkin cheesecake for her birthday cake. I used the Hershey’s recipe. The recipe calls for a chocolate crust, but I used a graham cracker crust instead. DDIL thought the chocolate crust might have overpowered the pumpkin flavor. I think she’s right. The […]

menu plan monday ~ october 17, 2011

I tried a new biscotti recipe this week. This Cinnamon Biscotti with Pistachios was a big hit at the ladies’ luncheon I hosted today. The recipe calls for cinnamon baking chips. I’ve never seen those, so used 3/4 c. milk chocolate Ghirardelli chips and 1/4 c. Nestle semi-sweet mini chocolate chips. And instead of cloves, […]

easy Christmas tags

I made a stack of Christmas tags this afternoon, using a large tag punch and some old Christmas cards. Choose cards that are light colored so they are easy to read. Cards with a slick finish are shiny and pretty, but don’t work well with ink pens and some felt markers. Cards may need trimming […]

recanning apple butter

Our church family makes apple butter each fall. The canned apple butter is sold to raise money for mission projects. DH brought home four quart jars, like this one. I decided to recan it in 8-oz. jelly jars. A better size for us. The only issue with recanning is to be sure the apple butter […]

menu plan monday ~ october 10, 2011

Two more Christmas trees went up this weekend. The Nativity Tree and the Three Kings Tree. Both are in the library. As we decorate, the kittens are having a good time with the bits and pieces. We’re counting down…thirteen more days and the grands will be here! The three girls are coming back with Pa, […]

kittens and Christmas trees…not sure this is going to work

We put the nativity tree up in the library this weekend. We have had a lot of cats over the years and none have ever bothered any of the many trees we have. Things are changing. Several times this weekend, we had to chase Cedar and Amy out of the tree! They seem to think […]

country drive

I love the changing countryside in autumn. DH and I took a ride the other day. Getting out is difficult for me, with the pain in my knees and other problems, but it’s worth the effort to get out of the house occasionally. Even thistles look pretty with a little back lighting. Roadside scofflaws. We […]

menu plan monday ~ october 3, 2011

With the onset of October, I start the annual cookie/candy production for our Christmas open house. Sunday afternoon, I made Date Balls (thanks again, Mellanie, for this great recipe!). These are one of my favorite holiday treats. And they freeze beautifully, even with the powdered sugar on them. This week, I’ll make another batch of […]

autumn color

Yesterday I was able to spend a little time outside. The weather was beautiful. Autumn is changing the look of the garden. Things are winding down, the trees are beginning to turn, the grasses are yellowing. We saw quite a few Monarchs drifting through on their way south. Amazing that they can make a trip […]

menu plan monday ~ september 26, 2011

Our church’s annual apple butter day was Saturday. They made 150 quarts of apple butter, which will be sold to raise money for the mission fund. Good work, everyone! DH brought some quarts home and it looks delicious! We’ll be including that in some of our meals this week. Goes great with fresh-from-the-oven bread! Monday […]