Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies (3 ingredients)

To some Fall means pumpkin flavored everything.  I am not a big pumpkin lover.  But there is one pumpkin dessert/cookie that Grandma taught me how to make and it is a family favorite.  My kids request these cookies more than any other flavor available to them.  I actually enjoy making them because they are the simpliest, easiest most fuss-free cookie ever.  And every loves them!

Pumpkin chocolate cookies (3 ingredient recipe)

1 box spice cake mix
1/2 bag milk chocolate chips
1 15oz can of pumpkin puree

1- Preheat oven to 375
2- In a bowl mix cake mix and pumpkin puree.  It doesn't look like it will blend nicely but it will.  I have been known to sift the cake mix into the bowl if it looks like it needs it.
3- Add chocolate chips.
4- Drop onto cookie sheet.  One cookie sheet makes between 12-15 cookies.  These cookies don't spread.  They rise. 
5- Bake for 12-17 minutes. 

Enjoy.


I have also used this same method to make breakfast muffins.  Just drop some batter into a lined muffin tin and bake 15-20 minutes.  Delicious!

Ideas

Kellie and I had a great conversation yesterday. Her and Dustin were talking about this book and had a great idea.

Sometimes it's hard to just write what you are thinking/feeling/remembering. So, what if, for a little while  (until we get this ball rolling at least!) - we post some prompts to inspire your writing about Grandma and Grandpa? Things like - Post a memory, recipe, or thought about Grandma and Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday's, color's, etc. Each week, we would put up a post with a theme. If something comes to mind, or you feel inspired by it, you write. If it doesn't feel like something you want to write about, you dont have to. And also, on that note, this book is completely voluntary! You are absolutely not obligated to participate in this, but we obviously hope that you do.

I have loved reading all of the posts so far, and I cant wait to read more. For me, this is something important because in 20 years, I would love to be able for Addison (or another grandchild) to be able to pull out this book and find a great family recipe to make for her family. Or to be able to read stories about her Great Grandma. I think that preserving Bob and Virgie's memory is very important. Also, a thought I had, would be to interview Grandpa. I think it would be great if everyone could come up with a question to ask him. We would collect the questions and when they are all in, we would send it to Grandpa and let him write out his answers and return it. Just a thought. :)

Also, if you want to be an admin on this blog so that you can edit and what not, I'd love to have some help with it. And I would love to have any input with this as well. Feel free to shoot me a line or call me if you have any suggestions. Also, if you haven't sent me your email address so that I can add you as an author, please do so! We cant do this book if we dont have people involved. I know that lives are super super busy! (At least ours feels that way!) We initially wanted to do this by Christmas but that wont be possible, and then moved it to Grandma's birthday of next year. I feel like that might be a stretch as well. So, we will not put a date or deadline on yet. But, at the very least, please let me, Katie, or Kellie know if you are wanting to participate in this. <3

-Jord

Where I get most nostaligic...

If there is one thing that will transport me to another place and time it is smells.  Scents.  And while there are many that can make me think lovingly about Grandma, there is but one tried and true scent.  The smell of Palmolive dish soap.  The green bottle.  Nothing fancy, just green Palmolive dish soap.  And while this may have been a choice for Grandpa to purchase (as I think he probably did most of the dishes), it makes me think of Grandma. 

I was told not to long ago that the best grease removal technique for your laundry was to use a small amount of green Palmolive and a tooth brush.  Careful rub it into the grease spot and then wash normally and it comes out.  I tried the method and it works wonders.  I have purchase many a bottle of dish soap just to keep next to my washing machine. Brian teases that it is because it works and because it smells like Grandma's house.  Both are true.  It helps to lighten my ever growing load of never ending laundry to be reminded of great times, usually unassuming times, with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Just last night as I was folding a load of laundry, one that was treated with Palmolive, I was reminded of Grandma's candle warmer.  Do you remember it?  Did it look similar to this?  I think it was just like this only instead of white shade, it was a flower.  Pink, if memory serves me.  Is this accurate?  Or have I lost my mind completely.  All the same.  Pleasant thoughts of My Virgie invaded my laundry folding chore, and as always, it was very welcome and brought a smile to my face. 

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Julie's thoughts (via Katie)

My mom sent me an email with lots of information and memories.  These are some of the fun ones.  

 

Easter

When you kids were little we were invited to mom and dad's for Easter.  Now, mom made the best ham, potato salad, and baked beans.  Usually we had this every Easter  One particular year she decided to for go  the usual and ground up the ham into sandwich spread.  Like "deviled ham" you can buy in the can.  (I assume you can still buy it, I don't like it so I've never looked for it.) We were to spread it on hamburger buns and toast it in the oven.  I really can't remember what else she served but the "deviled ham" will always stand out in my memories.  We gave her a very bad time and she never tried to serve that again.  

She would hide Easter eggs in the back yard for you to find.

Illinois is a big producer of corn.  Paxton (town we lived in) had a corn festival and we went to the town park to eat corn.   There were huge pots of corn cooking.  We ate lots of corn picnic style.  

We eventually moved on base.  Lakenheath AFB.  I was excited because we could walk to school. I was in the third grade.  Mom became my Brownie Girl Scout leader.    Up until this time I assume we went to church but I don't recall it.  I remember  at this time because  mom was my brownie leader, primary teacher and I think she was the primary president.  We had primary during the week. She would run us  from primary to brownies.  While in primary mom taught me to make rice krispie squares. It was for a primary competition, I think I won because mom had me put chocolate frosting on them.

Mom organized a Daddy/Daughter date for those in our primary class. There was just 3 of us.  She cooked the meal.  

One of the other moms made all of us  girls red jumpers  to wear.  

We made friends with some of the English people, the Dawdry's.  We would go to their house in Ipswich and they would come to our house.  One time mom served corn with dinner and was informed that corn was for cows,  not humans.  They did not eat the corn and mom never served it again when we had company.

Journaling and list

I have been thinking for some time about what to write.  I have found myself both overwhelmed and underwhelmed.  I want to write beautiful prose, like Kellie, but that has never been my strong suit.  I want to write so that everyone can be transported back to a time of great memories with Grandma, but there are so many.  How does one chose just one?  And then I started to be concerned that maybe I couldn't remember that much.  Maybe I had lost all my "Virgie-isms."  But then I remember my notes from when I spoke at the funeral.  

I have chosen to share it here because would there ever be a better place?  Also, and I hope this is true, I pray that "my list"  will help spark some touching memories and thoughts about Grandma.  I hope that they can then be written down and shared.  I plan on elaborating on some of these things, but please feel free to do so as well.  

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of both my childhood and adulthood with her.  This is truly a blessing for me.  Some of you aren't able to say that.  Distance, life, and time it all plays a part.  But please feel free to share anything.  It doesn't matter how small or inconsequential it may seem or how big and grand.  Share it.  If anything, so you don't lose it later in life. 

This is what I wrote both as a journal type entry and as a helper for my talk.

 My heart breaks tonight. It has been breaking all week, but today has been the worst. Let's be honest. The last 7 days have been some of the hardest of my life. Virgie was taken to the hospital on Sunday. She was bad. She fell and couldn't get up, no strength. Apparently she hadn't been eating again. At the hospital they told Suzie to rally the troops; it didn't look good. That was last Monday. Having mom and dad call and tell me that, made everything feel sudden. I knew she was in the hospital, I had talked with Suzie that day. But nothing was made to sound so disconcerting. For the next week, she would seems better, then worse. Then on Friday, Stephanie called to tell me that Aunt Satsuki was struck by a car while crossing the street in Hawaii and died. Numb. Shock. Tears. Scared now for the trifecta effect. Death comes in threes. Someone told me that once and I have found it to be accurate. It must be. I later found out that day that Grandpa Bob's sister Evelyn also passed on Friday. Two. That's two thirds of the trifecta. I struggled to come to terms with Grandma's condition. I struggled to fight feelings of sadness, loss, disappointment, anger, and most of all understanding. Grandma hadn't had the best year. Thankfully we got to see her in April. She got to meet and play with the triplets. I have some great pictures. I was able to allow myself to think, seriously about losing her.

Grandma passed away today, October 29, 2012 at around 10:45AM Est. She was 79. I had been telling myself all weekend that she needed to return home. I did this to prepare my heart. But guess what? When a person only counts four individuals as their confidant and best friends and a grandma being one of them, you heart is never truly prepared. EVER. I have cried off and on for a week. I thought my tears were done. I was so wrong. Lying in bed tonight, watching coverage of the hurricane (Sandy) that is upon us in VA, so much flooded my mind.

Who can I call just to say hi? Who will call me randomly and say hi?

Aidan won't be getting anymore random packages of silly trinkets from his great grandma.

My pink lady is gone.

Boggle. Stupid boggle. Now this ridiculous game will forever hold a place in my heart.

Tea pots.

Pink lipstick.

Beautiful smile.

The way she tickles my arm/hand/neck.

Her beautiful skin.

I will have to shop for my own clothes.

Hearing stories of a bygone time. Memories. Lovely stories.

Updates on family members.

Classic black and white movies.

Lunches.

Scrabble. “Virgie house rules”

Bickering between her and grandpa

Fibber McGee and Molly and other radio classics

Sleepovers.

Sunday dinners

Breakfasts

Mounds chocolate bars.

Mincemeat cookies.

Christmas casserole

Game shows and QVC and british comedies

Drives

Jude Deveraux and Debbie Macomber

Her cane.

Chantilly Lace

Pink Carnations

Palmolive

Star/Rambling Roads

Aidan's best buddy

Bananas

Word searches

Goolash

Day trips to Preston for lotto tickets

Cornish Game hens

Valentines day cards with dollies

Run to Grandma's house for the weekend during teenage years

Sweet smile

Complimenting strangers

Road trips (Oregon, Oregon/California, St. George, Lots to Idaho)

Always finding an old friend on trips

Going to restuarants and seemingly difficult orders, but people loved her

Always available for rides for doctors appts, babysitting or visiting

She loved Club and getting her hair done

Always had random weird food items in her home

My go to person for advice on family, diabetes,

Always seemed to be willing to give you the answer you want :-)

Drawing pictures and painting

Sacrament meeting when I was younger

Necco treats

Eucalyptus candies

Aidan and his noise makers

Buying fun groceries just for me and Aidan

Used book stores

First bears for all the kids, grand kids

Never happy with her church outfit

 Grandma and Grandpa celebrating 

their 60th wedding anniversary in 

Preston, ID

Now its your turn.  What do you remember?  What do you miss?  What is your "Virgie-ism?"
Katie

Hands Of Silk

      I am so grateful for the idea of doing this. If for no other reason than to share in the beautiful memories of the life of such an amazing woman with people who love her the way I do.

     It is interesting. I have lost people I love dearly, but none the way I love grandma. And I have missed people I have lost, but none the way I miss grandma. Feeling the loss of her is something I still feel everyday and it is a strange and still new sensation. It is like I know everyday I am going to wake up with a load of grief. I feel like I start getting used to the weight and then suddenly its so much more than it was the day before.. I asked Dustin one day a few months after losing grandma if it ever gets any easier. He lost his grandfather some years ago and was very close to him as well. He told me no. He said the pain of losing someone you love and are close to never really goes away. That years later you wake up missing them so much, and you are surprised it feels like it just happened. I have learned over the past 3 years that he was so right.

     Today I woke up thinking about her hands. My mind is not the best thing to rely on these days. It is lost in the land of mommy brain, but as I think back to a day I sat in grandmas room in the Hillfield house, I remember talking about her hands. I had noticed a little girl in my class at school with beautiful fingers. I was jealous, I didn't feel like I had very pretty fingers. They have always been weak nails and grow sort of strangely. And my knuckles have kind of always been large. I felt like they were more masculine. Especially compared to this little girl who's fingers were so lovely and feminine. I remember grandma telling me that I had her hands. Hers were just like mine. She may have even apologized for me ending up with a curse filled gene.

    But that isn't what I woke up thinking about. That thought came latter.

    I woke up and immediately remembered the silky soft pads of her fingers. I have always loved grandmas hands. I even remember thinking how pretty and soft her hands were the day we talked about our hands.

         When I was little, certainly smaller than the complainy girl mentioned above, I would run into grandmas, everytime, sprawl myself across her lap on my tummy and she would tickle my back for what felt like hours. To this day, a good back tickle is something I crave. It doesn't matter if I just got one. I immediately want more. Grandma was a masterful back tickler. She had the softest hands. Hands of silk and she knew how to lull me into a relaxed state of bliss. Even as I got older, I would run in and sit in front of her- usually I fought with Katie to see who would get to grandma first- and she would softly run her hands around my neck, down the collar of my shirt, up into my hair. It was such an easy thing for her to do, but it was filled with so much love. Which is probably why I woke up thinking about it. Every time she did it, I knew how much she loved me. More so now that I have a little lady who is constantly begging for tickles of her own- sometimes back, sometimes feet (I don't know why.. She gets that from her dad). I was always on the receiving end. Now I fully understand how tired your arm gets while being the tickler!

     I miss grandma so much. She lived a life worthy of trying to live up to. I am honored to have hands like grandma and hope one day mine can be silky soft- hands of an angel, and that my own kids and grandkids remember me with as much love and fondness. I am so grateful for the endless supply of happy memories I have to get me through until I see her again.

  Miss you grandma!

I hope I'm doing this correctly.  :)
First off, I want to give my heartfelt gratitude for the two of you creating this blog to honor my mom, your grandma, and my dad and your grandpa.  As you all are aware the 29th of this month will mark the 2 year anniversary of Our Lady In Pink's passing.  I know how we all miss her ever so much.  She was my rock, my confidant, my beloved.  She was/is my guide, my example of unconditional love, my teacher, my best friend.  The bond we share is so very strong.  I'm so thankful for and to her for being who she is.  She endured life's tragedies and hurts but never lost her sense of humor, her finding good in people, in life and in her family.  She loves all of us dearly.  I, for one, would not be who I am today if not for her.  I miss her dearly, I talk to her daily, she is still the one I think of when I go to sleep at night and the one I think of when I awake in the morning.  There is a bit of her in each and every one of us.  She brings us together in death as she did in life.  I honor my mom this day and every day.  I look forward to being with her again.
I love you my Gigi girl.....

Loves, Suzie

In honor of our lady in pink.

Welcome!! Welcome!! Welcome!!

Last year, Katie and I, talked about creating a recipe book of Grandma's recipes. Well, as you know, life happens, especially with kids, and we are just getting around to starting this project. 

The idea is to have a book printed/published filled with Grandma and Grandpa's recipes, her children and grandchildren's recipes, favorite stories of her, pictures, poems you know she loved, lyrics from her favorite songs, quotes she used to say to you, or anything that reminds you of her and things that you know she loved. 

I would like everyone of Bob and Virgie's posterity to be in on this. EVERY.ONE. and their spouses. 

This blog will be private so, it will be safe for you to post these things, as only family members will be able to read this blog, and post. We've tossed around ideas of just Virgie's recipes and female family, and also of the whole family. I am going to be putting in a lot of time and energy into this, so personally, I would like to include everyone. Including the little kids. If your kids dont have memories of Grandma, let them color a picture. If you dont have a picture of your kids with Grandma, post one of them with Grandpa, or with their Grandma and Grandpa. (Like, Myka and Brandy or Myka and Danny, or Myka and Bob (just using her as an example...) Or let them draw a picture for Grandma and Grandpa. Just so long as everyone is included. 

I also want personal recipes. If you make it for your family and they love it, post it. Even it is as simple as "Mummy Dogs made with crescent rolls and hotdogs", Or if you have a go to recipe for cookies, salads, dinners, whatever... post it! We area all going to be blog authors. Post recipes, stories, lyrics, pictures, everything. Post it all. Then when everyone has their things added to the blog, Katie and I will work on the editing, and we will print the blog in to a book! We are going to try to keep the cost as low as possible, but within reason. You obviously aren't going to get a hardbound, color paged book for $5. We will give everyone enough time and notice to get the money in for the books. 

This is going to be a great way to honor Grandma and Grandpa and their love story. This is something that you will be able to use, and enjoy. This is going to be something that you can save for your kids and grandkids. (ie. Harrison and I will be ordering 3 or 4 books so that we can save one for each of our kids to enjoy later on.)

<3 

Get to posting! We would like to have this book completed by Grandma's birthday 2015. If you have any questions, feel free to call me, text me, or shoot me an email.