{Bye Bye Birdies}

Guess what BIG changes have happened in our house?

Yep, you guessed it…BOTH of our babies flew the coop and left for college. TWO days apart mind you…so, to say I have been suffering from “Empty Nest Syndrome” is an understatement!! 

I have to admit, I am doing a little better than I originally thought I would…but it is still very hard. It’s only been a few weeks and I am down to crying only once a day…HA!!

Are any of you empty nesters? And if so, how are you (or did you) handle the change?

Fall Favorites

 I don’t know about all of you, but I am so ready for Fall. Of course, the main reason is it is my favorite season.

I l♥ve EVERYTHING about it …the crisp air, the  beautiful changing leaves, going to our local pumpkin patch and cooking all of my family’s favorite comfort foods.

So, I thought that I would share a YUMMY Fall dessert.

FRENCH APPLE CAKE

• 1 1/2 cup(s) of Sugar
• 4 tsp. of Water
• 1/2 Lemon
• 6 Apples
• 3 Eggs
• 1 cup(s) of Flour
• 8 ounce(s) of Melted Butter
• 4 ounce(s) of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 3 Optional Ingredients
• 8 ounce(s) of Nuts and Honey Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 1 cup(s) of Whipping Cream
• 1/4 cup(s) of Powdered Sugar

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Prepare a caramel: heat 3/4 cup sugar with 4 teaspoons water. when the sugar becomes light brown add the juice of 1/2 lemon and remove from heat
3. Coat the bottom and sides of a spring form pan with the caramel.
4. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples and arrange in an attractive circular overlapping overlaping pattern on the caramel.
5. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with 3/4 cup sugar.
6. Add the flour, butter and Philadelphia Cream Cheese and continue beating until you have a creamy batter.
7. Pour over apples and caramel and bake for 35 minutes
8. Let cool slightly prior to turning over onto a decorative cake plate.
9. Optional: While cake is baking beat Nuts and Honey Philadelphia Cream Cheese until fluffy. Beat whipping cream until fluffy and then add 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Gently fold the whipped Philadelphia Cream Cheese into the Whipped Cream and chill well using the freezer if necessary. Top the warm cake slices with a spoonfull of Philadelphia Cream Cheese/whipped Cream mixture and enjoy!

{Simplicity Is The Nature Of Great Souls}

Simplicity Is The Nature Of Great Souls!!

Isn’t it funny how sometimes the simpliest of things are so appealing to us. This morning as I was just flippin’ thru my current issue of ‘Country Sampler’ I came acrossed this picture.

Not only am I loving the simplicity of this country kitchen but immediately when I saw the cabinet full of sweet canned goodness, I immediately had a warm flashback of my Grandma’s kitchen and the sudden urge to learn how to can.

You see, canning is one of those things that I wish I would of taken the time to have my sweet Grandma teach me how to do before she passed away. I remember being a little girl sitting on the counter being Grandma’s ‘special helper’.

Granted, I am sure I was probably more in the way than anything else…but did my Grandma ever make me feel that way. HECK NO!! I think she enjoyed having me in the kitchen with her as much as I enjoyed being there!!

As my title states…my Grandma was the simplest woman I have ever had the privilege of knowing but yet the GREATEST soul.

♥ Miss and Love you Grandma!! ♥

So, how about all of you…do any of you can!?!?!? If so, what re some of your favorite canning recipes?

It’s the ‘little’ things…

Isn’t it funny how it is the ‘little’ things in life that make us the happiest, sometimes. Well, for Christmas my parents generally try to throw in a few ‘little’ gifts amongst our larger ones…and this year one of those ‘little’ gifts in particular made me SUPER excited. And I can’t wait to use it.

I can already see all of the bright and colorful cupcakes I can fill this baby up with at Easter time…

or birthdays…

or our Son’s High School Graduation party…

see the possibilities are endless.

Awww…like I said, it is the ‘little’ things.

So, what is something ‘little’ that made you a little happier today!?!?!?

Til Next Time…BIG Hugs!! Carrie♥

{Are You Up For A Dare!?!?!?}

Do you have a tendency to procrastinate? Well, as much as I hate to admit it…I DO!!! 

So, you can only imagine what I was thinking when I saw the “Dare” that Stephanie over @ The Whispering Creek House (please clink to link up)was challenging.

Maybe I need to go back a couple of weeks…you see “Papa Bear” and I are beginning a new season of our lives. In the Fall, both of our kids are going to be leaving to go away to college. So, to help prepare us…I thought I would purchase this book to help.

But being the procrastinator that I am, I read the first couple of pages was full of excitement to get started, threw it in my nightstand drawer and it has been in there ever since.

Fast forward to tonight…when I came across Stephanie’s post. I knew that it was meant to be…so, starting Monday, January 10th I will joining Stephanie and others in her 40 DAY {until Valentine’s Day} “Love Dare” challenge.

So, if you feel like you may be up for a CHALLENGE…please visit Stephanie and join us. I DOUBLE DOG DARE YA!! ♥

Until next time…

Big Hugs!! Carrie

Thank You Donna @ One Simple Country Girl

Thank you Donna @ One Simple Country Girl for your recommendation for our Gatlinburg trip!! It is funny that you had mentioned The Eight Gable Inn…that was one of the spots that I was contemplating. I have ALWAYS wanted to stay at a B and B. But “Papa Bear” really wanted to stay in a cabin. So, we opted for that route. But next time…The Eight Gable Inn, it is!! HA!!

I do admit, I am a little nervous to be going in the Winter for the fear that there will not be a lot to do. Or that some of the attractions will be shut down due to it being the “off-season”. But the receptionist that we booked our cabin with assured us that there will be plenty of things to do and see. I sure hope so!!

Have any of you been to the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area during the Winter months? And if so, what tourist attractions would you recommend?

Like “Papa Bear” told me the other night…I am really over thinking this one. Like that is anything new for me…HA!! And I know that I am…but I guess I am feeling a little guilty.

You see, this trip is supposed to be for our 20th Wedding Anniversary…so, a pretty BIG one!! But since I have a fear of flying, we are kind of limited to where we can go.

So, I think in my mind, I am just really worried that this trip isn’t going to be as memorable as it could be if we could go anywhere we wanted. Does that make sense!?!?!?

Ok, I am just rambling now, and I really need to leave for work…it is 6:34am and I should of left at 6:30…OOPPPSSSS!!

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL day!! And until next time!!

Big hugs!! Carrie  

Need Your Help ASAP

Evening Ladies (and Gents), I was just hoping that I could get your help. “Papa Bear” and I are getting ready to take a Romantic Get-A-Way for our upcoming Anniversary. And one of the places we were thinking about going was  Gatlinburg, TN.

Have any of you visited here? And if so, where did you stay? We were hoping to rent a luxury cabin…any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!

I have looked at so many already…and I am starting to drive “Papa Bear” (and myself, I might add) absolutely CRAZY with my OCD tendencies. HA!!

I really like the Elk Springs Resort…but UGGHHH, I JUST DON’T KNOW!! See, what I mean…LOL!!

BIG Hugs!! Carrie