Pies, pies and more pies!

In preparation for our annual Turkey Feast, Eryn, Brad and I baked some pies today. I hope they taste as good as they look!

Trick-or-treaters

Friends came over last night for Papa Murphy's Jack-O-Lantern pizza, pumpkin carving and "The Office". I opened the door, and these super-cute trick-or-treaters greeted me:
It was a really nice surprise! Good thing I had candy at the ready :)

Oatmeal-caramel bars

Another good find on BHG.com (and I stole the pic from there, too!).

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces(I had white chocolate chips)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 30 vanilla caramels (8 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar. Beat until well combined. Add eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat mixture until combined. Beat or stir in the flour. Stir in the oats.

2. Press two-thirds (about 3 1/3 cups) of the oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces and nuts.

3. In a medium saucepan combine caramels and milk. Cook over low heat until caramels are melted. Drizzle caramel mixture over chocolate and nuts. Drop remaining one-third of the oat mixture by teaspoons over the top.

4. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until top is light brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 60 bars

:)

Extraction party '09

Sunday was the annual Rathkey/Goodfellow extraction party... where we extract cider from apples and honey from combs. It was a great time with good friends, good food and good fun! Some highlights:

Cutting off the wax plugs before the frames go into the centrifuge:

Inside, some decorated sugar cookies:

Of course, we had to take a break to eat!!!

After laboring, feasting, chatting and laughing, we came home with 6 pints of fresh honey and 6 quarts of fresh apple cider. YUM! I can't wait for next year :)

Mini family reunion

Brad's Uncle Stan is visiting from North Carolina, so we all gathered in Newberg to catch up and to celebrate Grandpa Gene's birthday. We had some gifts and cards in Barb and Gene's apartment before heading downstairs to eat. Gene's sporting a spiffy new birthday ensemble from Aunt Lou:
We met up with more family in the lobby. Can you tell Steve (left) and Stan (right) are brothers?!? Their mannerisms are SO similar that it's truly creepy. They were goofing off - notice the same sideways smirk?
What a nice picture with cousin Deborah!
Me taking a picture of Stan taking a picture of me taking a picture :)
That's one big pumpkin!
Met another cousin, Elena...
Cousin Phil made the trip up from Eugene...
Friendsview has REALLY GOOD food. I enjoyed a big plate of mashed potatoes and gravy...
:)

Holiday tunes

I have personal rules about listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.... but I have no problem playing it! Last night, Mauri handed out the first piece of music for our Dec. 8 and Christmas Eve handbell performances. I was so excited! Soon, we'll have folders full of fun songs. YAY!

:)

Think pink

KOIN covered the story too and sent a reporter to Friday's game. You should see all the pink! And Eryn, Mom, Brad and I all made a brief appearance in the story :) Check it out!