Green Thumb Sunday

Green Thumb Sunday



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My photo this week for Green Thumb Sunday is a photo of the lavender that grows in my side flower garden. My oldest grandson, Brandon, who has the green thumb in the family, planted it about four years ago. It did well the first year and the second year it tried taking over my garden. The next spring I pulled most of it out and by fall, it had spread to take over the entire end of the flower bed. It continues to grow there and every spring I cut it back and remove more than half of it.

Each year it spreads to take over that end of the garden. Each fall I gather the lavender and dry it. I place it around my house and in my drawers to keep the house smelling nice. It is a lovely plant and one that I cherish. My grandson was only eight when he planted it. He's always had a green thumb since he was old enough to help in the garden. He seems to have a natural ability for making things grow.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Free Candle Giveaway

Heather at Home and Garden Party is giving away a free candle. Heather does this Once a Month. The contest begins on the first of the month and closes on the last Monday of the month, so you still have time to get your name in for this month's draw. Just follow the link, read the rules and get in on the fun.

Let's Have Some Fun

First of all, before we have a bit of fun with some October Trivia and I share one of Grandma's recipes with all of you, I would like to say thank you to each of you who visits and uplifts me each day. I love each and every one of you.






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I have always been interested in facts about October. I'm not sure why, except that I love autumn and October is also the month my birthday falls in. On top of those things, the end of October brings a fun day for kids around the globe - Halloween.

October Trivia

*Christopher Columbus discovered America on October 12, which is my birthday.

* October 24th is United Nations Day.

* The Cosmos is October's flower.

* John Keats was born on October 31st.

* Houdini died on October 31st, which is now known as National Magic Day in his honor.

* October was the eighth month of the ancient Roman calendar.

* Columbus Day was officially celebrated for the first time in New York City in October 1792.

* Noah Webster of Webster's Dictionary fame celebrated his birthday on October 16th.

* October was Winmonath or wine month in ancient England.

* Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. Canadian pioneers celebrated when the harvest was in and, at that time, it was much earlier than it is today.

* The American flag was first raised over Alaska on October 18, 1867, the same year that Canada officially became a country.

* The full moon in October is known as the Hunter's Moon. In 2007, we also had a Blue Moon. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same month.

* The United Nations charter was signed on October 24, 1945. * October was the birthday month of seven US Presidents - President Jimmy Carter, President Dwight Eisenhower, John Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Teddy Roosevelt and Chester Arthur.

* In the US, October is Children's Safety Internet Month among others. Please monitor your child's activity when he/she is online no matter where you live.

* Canada celebrated National School Safety week from October 17th to the 23rd in 2007.

Grandma's Cake Doughnut Recipe

Ingredients:

* 1 cup white sugar

* 1/4 cup butter.

* 2 eggs.

* 2 cups flour.

* 3/4 cup milk.

* pinch of salt.

* 4 teaspoons baking powder.

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

* 1 lb. shortening for frying. (Can be substitued with 1 quart of cooking oil)

Method

* Place baking powder, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl and set aside for later use.

* Cream butter in a large mixing bowl and add sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.

* Add vanilla and milk. Stir until well mixed.

* Slowly add flour mixture, stirring constantly until dough is thick and pasty.

* Use hands to form ball.

* Cover with tea towel ( plastic wrap or waxed paper can be used today) and chill for an hour.

* Flour pastry board lightly and roll dough with rolling pin to 1/4 inch thick.

* Cut with doughnut cutter.

* Heat shortening or oil in large pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until oil sizzles when a drop of cold water is dropped into it.

* Drop doughnuts carefully into oil.

* Cook until golden brown and then turn with a fork.

* When doughnuts are completely golden, remove from grease and drain well.

* Roll in confectioner's sugar (icing sugar) or white sugar is desired. White sugar may be colored using food coloring for special holidays and events.

A Great Giveaway: Win a Wiggy's Sleeping Bag

There's a great giveaway going on over a Patriot's blog, Made in the USA. Wiggy's, the only sleeping bag manufacturer in the US is giving away a Super Light Sleeping Bag worth $175. Stop by Patriot's blog, read the rules and enter to win. Just click on Patriot's name for easy access.

Show and Tell Friday

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home is hosting Show and Tell Friday. If you would like to participate, just click on the name of her website for instructions.

Today I would like to show you some of my postcard collection. I started this collection way back in 1979. Though I haven't added to it for many years, I still enjoy looking through the cards every once in a while

I have hundreds of others but chose these because they are some are my favorites and because some are autumn and Halloween, which is the current season. I may share some of the Christmas postcards with you another time.

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If you want to save money this Halloween, here is Grandma's recipe for lollipops. She most often made butterscotch, but you can make any flavor you wish.

Ingredients:

* White sugar.

* Cream of tartar.

* Flavoring of your choice.

* Vegetable dye. (Today you would use food coloring)

* Water.

Method

* Mix 2 cups white sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar together in a saucepan.

* Add 2/3 cup of water.

* Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

* Boil mixture until a drop of the candy hardens when put into cold water.

* Remove saucepan from heat.

* Add dye and flavoring.

* Pour mixture into buttered lollipop molds.

* When mixture is partially cool, push wooden sticks into the center of the candy.

Note: Lollipop molds can be purchased at any store that sells candy making supplies. Orange or black lollipops are great for Halloween.

When candy has cooled overnight, wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon or a bit of raffia. Enjoy!