Pumpkins......

here, there and everywhere this time of year!

 Now I'm not one of those who tip over backwards when they announce that the Pumpkin Spice in every way shape or form has been spotted as the season approaches, and just to be clear, I don't tip over frontwards or sidewards either!  I do however love the real thing scattered around, or quite precisely placed around in the home, indoor and out, decor.  After all, what would autumn be like without a display of pumpkins.  It surely wouldn't get my vote.  

That brings me to the foodie part of the pumpkin, my favorite part.....  pumpkin pie, a special pumpkin dessert, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting, oh.... and pumpkin cake with the same.  Makes my mouth water just typing it all out!  I love the breads of fall, zucchini, apple, pear and yes pumpkin!  I found an easy pumpkin bread recipe on Pinterest but I wasn't crazy about the fact that it had 3 cups of sugar and a cup of oil in the ingredients list, sooooo, I changed it up a bit and this is what popped out...      

Let's just say, oh so good!  It turned out super moist and is tasty with our without butter or a frosting to sweeten it.  You can of course add either if you like and it would be more perfect!   Here is our version of the recipe~ 

"Easy Pumpkin Bread" 

Gather your ingredients, preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease two bread pans.

INGREDIENTS

3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 cup applesauce

4 eggs

2/3 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, applesauce, eggs and water, mix well.  Add each dry ingredient to wet mix, mixing in between.  When nicely mixed, spoon mix into your two bread pans.  The mix will be quite thick so the easiest way to smooth the top of your loaf a bit is to jiggle your pans a bit.  Pop them in the oven and set your timer for 60 minutes.  Check for doneness with your toothpick in the center trick and it's good to see the sides of the bread pulling away from your pans a pinch.  When done, let cool for about ten minutes and flip to pop them out of the pans.  Be absolutely sure to test the first piece while it's still warm from the oven.  You surely wouldn't want to offer someone a piece and not know it was good!

Just a couple little footnotes ~ I'm going to try the next batch using Cinnamon Applesauce and I also think I'll use 1 cup sugar and 1 cup brown sugar.  I'll be sure to let you know how it tastes!

Now this is totally off the subject of pumpkins and food but wanted to share as well.

I know I've said before that I will be sharing more here on my Blog, and I am also well aware I haven't been very diligent about doing that.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in the FaceBook game and shamefully I have to admit, that's where I've been sharing, reading and as of late becoming very disheartened by all of it, so.....  here it will be.  This is where I'll share photos, stories, offerings from the Lane and well.... all the newsy stuff from life as it is, here on the Lane!  

I am in hopes that you'll choose to follow along as we share and also that you will comment and interact with us here.  I've made some changes to the format and I will continue to make a few more in the coming days.  I am toying with going to a private format where you will be able to see our page by invite only.  You would just have to let me know via email to add you, I would follow through and your would receive all of our posts directly to your inbox.  You could of course unsubscribe at anytime.  My thinking is it might make it seem like a better place for you to want to visit and comment, more like a personal visit right here in our Keeping Room with a bunch of good friends.  Please let me know your thoughts.  

Now, I will bid my good day to you with one last photo.....

Stay safe, stay well and enjoy this beautiful season of Autumn.

From the Lane,

Sharon

Brown Sugar Peach Cake, Fireflies and.....

Good Trouble. 

I baked the Brown Sugar Peach Cake today.  Yes, it was nearly 90 degrees and and very humid and still I fired up the oven and forged ahead.  An easy recipe with the best brown sugar butter frosting you can imagine..... just the right amount of sweetness.  Just like the Girl I baked if for.  

A bit of a belated Happy Birthday to You Cake for our Jen.  

The best part was getting to sit around our little table and share it together.  

Happy to share the recipe if you'd like.  Leave me your request and email in the comments and I'll send it along to you.  If you like peaches, brown sugar and butter...... just sayin'

Oh my the Fireflies..... 

we had the very best show from them last night, and you know I have a song for them....

Fireflies, Fireflies, glimmer glimmer.  Fireflies, Fireflies, glow....

Light up the night with your pretty glow, give us a the very best show!

I only wish I had a photo to share with you.... of the Fireflies and also of Ivy and how mesmerized she is with the show.  She is like a bobble head watching them but she doesn't move a pinch otherwise!

Lola, she just watches the two of us and wonders what the fuss is about.

God gives us such simple things in life to make us smile, lighten our hearts and even if for just a little bit, a chance to throw our worry and troubles aside.  

Good Trouble....

When I was much younger a special person in my life use to say, 

"if you're gonna make trouble, be sure and make it good trouble"

I remember the first time hearing it that I had to ponder the meaning and I'm really 

not sure if I ever grasped the real meaning of those words for some time, but when I did, I couldn't believe I didn't know right away what was meant.

Good trouble.  Stand up for what's right, even if it's not popular.  Be good to that person that everyone else might be shunning.  If you're going to rob someones pumpkin patch, be sure to leave the pumpkins on the porch of someone who has none.  When the world is dark and full of controversy, hate and sorrow, keep a light in your heart and stand up for what is right.  

Fond memories revisited at the news of the loss of a Good Man.

Rest in Peace, John Lewis.  Make some good trouble way up in the sky.

Stay safe, stay well.....

Sharon

Sophie Lee......

It's impossible to forget a Dog that gave you so much to remember 

She gave us unconditional love and loyalty

She left us with wonderful memories to ease the ache of our goodbye

Gone two years today

Forever in our hearts

We loved you more, Sweet Sophie Lee

Nine years ago, today......

and this is one of the things I look back on.  

After the devastating fire that stole Saltbox Farm from us, and many others who loved it,

this picture found hanging in place, on an inside wall where all else was destroyed.

The frame heavily charred, the glass broken but the quote on paper, fully intact.  

I remember so well, walking in among the ruins, seeing this, looking around me,

and breaking down into tears.

I remember that for many weeks I felt that I had lost my purpose.  I had lived and breathed 

Saltbox Farm for twelve years.  We had met so many people, made so many friends and I was doing something I loved, something I felt made many others happy as well.

We muddled through the days and then years, trying to bring it back.  Our hearts just weren't in it.

Our building was gone, and it wasn't just a building....there was a story behind it.  A beginning that a new building would never have.  So we made the decision to move past it all, and now, here we are nine years later and we realize that the important things really haven't changed

We have the wonderful memories of all the happenings at SBF, we are still able to dabble in buying and selling antiques and most importantly, we still have so, so many of the wonderful friends that we met in our days at the Farm.  Some of them are like family and many we are in touch with often.  We did lose that special building and it's contents but we didn't lose what's most important.....

the love and friendships that were built because of it.

I have been absent here as of late, since March actually.....our world here and across our country was turned upside-down with the Coronavirus Pandemic.  I haven't felt like writing, and then this morning

as I looked back at our memory of this day and read the words in this charred photo, I decided that I need to write.  Write to tell you of the happy and good things going on.  Of life day to day and also of our everyday strifes.  Not doom and gloom.  Most definitely not politics.  

I need a purpose, just like I did nine years ago and I found it then by having faith that everything would work out and things would be good again.

I will be striving to write a time or two a week.  You can read or not.  I will be stepping away from the pages of FB posting.  It really isn't a good place to be in my eyes, especially now.

I hope you will follow along here, and if not I'm sure I will pop in now and then to social media.

For now, remember when it looks like the bad surrounding us will never end.....

think of my charred photo and the words written.

Keep your faith, tuck your worries away.  Good will come of this.

From the Lane.....

Sharon

Spring Offerings Sale.....

Monday March 2, 7pm

Visit us at

www.picturetrail.com/yellowdoglane

Our album of Offerings will open promptly at 7 pm EST and is 

filled with hand mades, spring florals and more!

You will be able to purchase directly from the pages.

This will be our first time using the PayPal cart and check out at the time of sale.

Here's hoping there will be no glitches and all will go smoothly!

We hope you'll have some time to stop in and take a peek!

Happy March from the Lane!

Sharon

Forgot, not really.....

just busy finding,

Okay, so I have missed a few or two weeks of a word and I'm late on it this week but it's here and I may keep it for a bit.  Do you realize how hard it is to find your balance, keep your balance, share your balance?  And I don't mean the staying upright on your feet kind of balance.....

although that's pretty important too, and sometimes a thing I have trouble with!

Then there's the balance you find in the check book or accounting and all that kind of mind boggling stuff.  That's really not what I'm working on either now that my taxes are done.  

I'm really just talking about keeping things going smoothly, on an even keel and free 

from drama.  Now that might just make you stop and think about how hard it is to find that type of balance, right?  Well believe me, it is...for me anyway.  

I've found it to be a bit easier if I get up, stay in my pj's and don't leave the drive way.  I also realize that this method isn't very realistic for too many days in a row.  I can only send Big Pops to the grocery so many times on his own before all we have in the house to eat are Little Debbie's, Sour Cream and Onion Chips, Honey Nut Cheerio's, PBJ and Captain Morgan and A&W Root beer.  The latter, mixed together, making me lose a different kind of balance.

I think finding the kind of balance I desire is to start by choosing your battles.  Make a list of them and cross off the ones that really aren't worth it and then go with the worthy ones.

Finding balance with my time is a struggle but worth the battle so that's where I'm at first.

Unfortunately some of that time has to be spent going to the grocery so we can have real food in the house to actually cook and eat.  To balance the unpleasantness of this task I try to 

dance down at least one full aisle, or two if possible.  

I smile at people, help them find items.....sometimes their cars in the parking lot.  

Find a good magazine I can look forward to looking at when I'm home and most importantly, buying enough stuff so that I can relish in the thought on my ride home that I won't have to do this for 

at least another couple of weeks!

It's really eyeopening at how much meaning each little word I look to choose has and how different each of these meanings can be.  

Heck, I bet I might even be smarter by the time I'm done with all this word stuff.....

and better yet, I might be able to balance on one foot while putting my sock on with one hand behind my back.  Talk about balance!

Watch for a Spring Offerings update coming next week.....

we've been busy with more than just finding balance here on the Lane.

Remember, if you can be anything....

Be kind.

Sharon 

Impact......

make your impact on others and all around you, good, not bad

positive instead of negative.  Kind, no meanness.  

It won't only make life better for everyone you contact with but it will make your life a whole 

lot happier and full, too!  Make your impact count in a good way.

My word coming up.....

don't have one!

Don't worry, I have many more for the year....and that might make some worry, so remember the rule,

you don't have to read my ramblings, but.....you just never know what you might miss!

I've been busy this past week gathering tax info and it seems that mostly brought the bad 

words to mind.  I vowed not to share swears so it kinda ruled all those tax words out.  

Today I almost wrote "migraine" on by board and then decided that wouldn't be a very fun word 

to explore and it would most likely cause most of you to suffer one yourself, so.....

no word it is.  

Big Pops will be taking Adam to the airport in the big city to the south one morning this week.  I'm toying with going along for the ride as I'm sure it will provide good fodder for a funny life story.

Remember BP and the big city.  The fact that they'll be leaving at 3 am or so is holding me back

on deciding to go....we shall see.  

Working on spring and Easter offerings that I hope to be sharing with you soon.

Will give you a heads up as to when that will be.

How are you all doing on your "word(s)" for the year, month, week, day?

Share if you care to!

From the Lane,

Sharon

Start.....

my word for the past week.  

Had to wrap my head around this little five letter word several time during the week.  Several have asked, "start what".  I decided my answer was/is,

"just start", "start something....anything", "start something big....small, or in between"

"start a project, start to simplify.... a diet, a book, hugging more, complaining less"

"start to make it a priority to treat others with kindness, always"

Believe me, I wrapped my head around this little word so many times that I could write the first chapter of that book I want to start with just that word and how I've tried to bring meaning to it!

Just because my week is past and I'm on to a new word, doesn't mean I will leave this first word of 2020 behind.  In fact, my plan is to carry it with me, tucked in my watch pocket all the way to 2021!

I will journal along the way with more "starts" of the year and quite possibly share with you.... that is if you're interested.  And I guess if you aren't, you don't have to read.  Just pass on by or unfollow.

Start your year with what brings you and others in your life enjoyment, and if it's ditching my ramblings, so be it.  Although it will sadden me to see you go..... but START!

My new word.....

and yes, gonna have to wrap this old brain around this one too, but this quote I came across has given me many places to start :) my thoughts.  

We have family coming to watch the big game and that means our night will be filled with lots of fun and laughter.

We wish for your night to be the same.

Have you got a word for the year, month, week?  

Please share if you do.  I will be sharing some of your words along the way, but only with your permission.  Some have shared some great ones already!

Now, off to make some memories.....

From the Lane,

Sharon

My word......

Need to start somewhere every day....every single day!

Where will you start?

Word(s)......

I am only hoping none of you have been holding your breath in anticipation of my revealing my 

"word" for the year.  Or for that matter for a post from me at all.  

I am embarrassed to say that I checked back on my 2019 posts and sadly there were only five,

and two of those were in January.  

Time, circumstance.....life, I guess is all I can offer as an excuse, along with the lack of much to inspire me enough to find the words to write.  

I seem to be having the same problem with choosing my "word" for 2020.

Thought I had it and then it just kind of fizzled on me.  I'm not sure why, but it did.  

I tossed around many over the past few weeks, more forced than fun, in desperation of choosing.

I even went so far as it close my eyes, open the dictionary, put my finger on a page and.....

well, believe me, it just wasn't a word that I even want to share!

So.....getting to the point, I don't have a "word".  

Too many choices, too much indecision.  I just couldn't settle on a "word"

I have solved the dilemma.  I'm not going to choose a word.  Nope.  

Not just one anyway.....I'm going to choose a new word each week!  

So many words with so much meaning and I don't want to choose just one.  

I'm in charge here so a word each week it will be!

This sweet little black board is where I write my special word.  Seeing it each morning as I prepare for my day it makes me pause to ponder.

As you can see, the board is blank.  I have given myself a 7pm deadline each Sunday for my new word choice.  I have awhile yet......

stay tuned!

My hope is that 2020 has started out in a good way for all of you and that it will continue in an even better way.  We have had sad happenings for our start and take each day as it comes with faith that 

good things will be on the agenda from here on out.  

Tossing around some ideas for a bit later in the year and will keep you in the loop 

as they come to realization.  

Thank you all for your friendship and continued interest in our life,

here on the Lane.  

Did you pick a "word".....please do share!

Sharon

Night out.......

and no, not on the town.

On the town really isn't our thing quite frankly.  

You might say our idea of "on the town" would likely be traveling the dirt roads, checking out the countryside, looking for deer....and this time of year, checking out the lights the country folk put up.  

Now I don't want to brag or anything but...... we did head to the bit bigger town/city to the north of us, heck they even have a University.  We didn't go to the University, although the FSU Bulldogs were playing the NCAA semi final game at the home field and would've been something down our alley had we thought ahead.  But, we didn't.  

We waltzed our way right on through town to the Dollar Tree......I know right, talk about hob knobbin' and we had the most fun!  First off I headed right for the Holiday Headband section.  I mean the Girls and me have to have our holiday bling.  I tried my best to get Big Pops to pick one out but he just grinned and said, "nah, I'll pass"  I told him he'd be sorry later when he seen how cute ours looked.  He grinned some more.  

I needed some cheater glasses, we needed some cards.  We found all we went after and left the DT as happy campers and off to dinner we went.  

Now.....I use the term "dinner" very loosely.  We didn't go where you go in and sit down and be waited on.  We didn't even go where you go in, place your order at a counter and then sit down and eat.  Nope, not us.  Not tonight anyway.....we went to McDonald's and went through the drive thru!!  

Big Pops has seen the limited time sandwich they were offering, 

the Bacon BBQ Double Meat Burger.  Only like 950 calories each....and a large order of fries to boot.

I will gain 5 lbs from the measly little cheeseburger I ate and he will lose 5 because of the energy it took to eat the monstrosity he had.  Go figure that.

We were very happy at the window though......

We found an empty spot in the lot and back in so we could people watch.....another favorite of ours!

You just never know what you might see, it really can be an adventure.  

Our next destination was the wonderful light show we had heard about not to far from us at 

The Castle in the Canadian Lakes district.  Of course we hit all the back roads to reach our destination and seen so many beautiful light displays along the way.  

We weren't quite sure what to expect when we reached The Castle but we were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of what greeted us......

We were able to park and take a stroll around the complex and it was beautiful!  

The show can be viewed on Friday & Saturday evening through I believe the first weekend in January

We finished our stroll, loaded back up in the Silverado and made our way over the river and down the back roads to YellowDog Lane..... filled with the joy of seeing the lights of Christmas and the contentment of a night together, out on the town.  

May you all be as blessed.

From the Lane,

Sharon and Big Pops

p.s.  I did try to get BP to join me in a bit of a two step in the Dollar Tree and he turned so red I thought he might burst into flames so I told him we could wait until we got to The Castle.  

You might just hear about it...... :)