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For the last “Fall is for…” entry, let’s talk about finals. Fitting, eh? I am specifically referring to the finals one may take in college classes. Remember the stress? The panicked math figuring how low a score you can get on the final and still earn an “A” or “B” (or “D”) in the class? All that worry, when the point of a final is to simply end the class by examining how much the student learned in the class. Isn’t that what the end of the year is? Winter is officially coming soon, and then, the holidays hit full stride and then—bam–the year ends. Just like the the next one begins with no say on anyone’s part.

Be sure to end the year well and take a few minutes to examine what you learned, did and didn’t do. And, most importantly, apply it to next year, which will be starting very soon, whether you like it or no!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

I am thankful for pumpkin donuts, hand-print turkey crafts, audio books for the commute to and from work, a smile on my son’s face, a joke told in my daughter’s little voice, and the help around the house my husband contributes.

And pie. Thanksgiving always makes me thankful for pie. Here’s a very old family recipe for chocolate pie. I remember visiting my great grandma Payne a few years ago, and she made this pie for me and my cousin. At this point, she could hardly see, but the pie turned out perfect–meringue, crust and all. The Kitchen Sync is a great place for any and every one of your (or you favorite cook or baker’s) needs. I always bake my special pies in a lovely blue ceramic pan from that shop.

Grandma Payne’s Pie Filling:

4 eggs (yolks for pie, save whites for meringue)
1 c sugar
1 t vanilla
2 c milk
2 T flour
2Tcornstarch
3-4 T cocoa (although we’ve recently played with this and added up to 1/2 C cocoa or melted in 4 oz of dark chocolate. Excellent!)
2 T butter
dash of salt

In a heavy sauce pan, mix sugar, flour, cornstarch and cocoa.

In a bowl, beat the egg yolks a little, and then add the milk. Gradually add this to the dry ingredients. Cook on med low, stiring constinually. When the mixture is thick, add 2 T of butter and vanilla and a good dash of salt.

Put this mixture into a pre-baked pie shell, then add meringue (or whipped cream, if you don’t like–as my grandpa called it–calf slobber).

This will make one pie; in our family, we make a triple batch for two full pies and a small bowl for tasting.

What are you thankful for?

One of my favorite songs, especially for a day like Veterans’ Day

Artist: Lee Greenwood
Song: Proud To Be An American

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there’s pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Time to put the flowers beds to bed if you haven’t yet. Time to winterize the house, rake the leaves, and pack away the boats, lawn mowers and RVs. Prep the snowmobiles and snow blowers. Stash the flip flops, swim suites, and beach towels and make room for skis, mittens and ice scrapers. Trade out iced tea for hot chocolate.

The physical acts is one of those processes that helps us settle in for the winter. Around here, we have a lot dark evenings–that spread into dark mornings. While it’s not my favorite thing, there isn’t much I can do about it. So we have to find things that help us cope. I haven’t yet found the perfect winter activity for me to do outside (I’m way to clumsy to ski), but I enjoy an evening with friends spent working on a puzzle, a card game or Scrabble. A book and a cup of joe is a great way to enjoy the fireplace  if you have one, but I like to snuggle down with an audio book and my knitting.

Don’t forget to check out the indoor activities at places like the WV Museum and Cultural Center, the Town Toyota Center, the WV Senior Activities Center, the PAC and even the high schools. The Wenatchee Valley Mall also hosts activities for kids.

But while fall lasts, be sure to soak up every ray of sunshine you can!

There is a special day each year that allows for everyone to act like kids. Costums strategically planned; demanding candy from strangers is accepted; and haunting is encouraged.

Halloween is a strange and spooky day: you may have a devil bag your groceries, a bumble bee cash your check, or a witch serve you coffee. Later that evening, you have two choices: dress up your kids and scour the neighborhood, begging for candy, or prepare your self for a parade of spooks trick-or-treating at your house.

All in all, it’s a lot of fun. Here in the Wenatchee Valley, there are multiple options for taking the kids out. You can find yourself at a trunk-or-treat or fall carnival at a church, head downtown to trick-or-treat in our shops or go across to Wenatchee Valley Mall for an indoor setting. If nothing else works for you and the kiddies, you can always hit the streets, going door to door.

Let the trick-or-treating begin!