Crunchy Topped Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients:

First part:

1 cups flour

1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cups quick oatmeal

1/2 cups butter

Second part:

2 cups pumpkin

1 13 1/2 oz can evaporated milk

2 eggs

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

Third part:

1/2 cups brown sugar

2 Tbsp butter

1/2 cups chopped nuts

Instructions:

Combine first 4 ingredients until crumbly. Press into a 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Combine next 8 ingredients and pour over crust. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Combine the last 3 ingredients and sprinkle over dessert; bake an additional 20 minutes.

Cool, cut in squares and serve with whipped cream.

Wrestling

I've really been wrestling with a matter for several months. The more I want to do something, the more obstacles get thrown in the way. I'm struggling to know if the obstacles are God's way of telling me to let it go...or Satan's way of making it harder and I need to perservere; fight the good fight.

In the last few days I think I have come to know the answer. But I don't like the answer because it means I will be letting people down.

It's funny how it's easier to let God down than it is people. Okay, it's not funny...but then that's really the point, isn't it?

Divine?

Yesterday my daughter told me that she had read a book by Karen Kingsbury called Divine and that it was really good. Since I didn't have time to get down to the library I checked it on audio book and started to listen to it last night.
Maybe it was because it was close to bedtime and I didn't want that book the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep, or maybe it was because it was audio and more personal than reading a page...I don't know. But as it got into the heart of the story and I could tell it was going to be about a young girl being sexually abused....I just had to stop.
I know that Karen Kingsbury writes good Christian novels. Even this book started out saying that the story was about how God redeems us and I'm sure this book has touched the lives of many people who needed to hear this message. But I did not want these thought bouncing around in my brain late at night when I couldn't sleep.
So instead I chose to meditate on Philippians 4:8:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

State Fair- Quilt Edition

This is the county where I was born. Notice my beloved windmill? And there are prairie points on the side of the block too!

This is the county where I grew up, where the home ranch is, where hubby and I still call home. They had the quilt block mounted high enough I couldn't see the detail but I thought it was a pretty block.

Loved this pattern

This quilt was the best of show and this picture does not do it justice. It was exquisite!

There were over 700 quilts in the display. I wish I could have found a way to go back alone and just spend time looking. For some reason 5 and 6 year old boys don't want to spend hours looking at quilts.

State Fair Part 2

According to Preston this was the best ride.

State Fair Part 1

On Monday we were able to go the State Fair in Grand Island. I was especially excited that not only did we get to go see the new fairgrounds, but it was also the first time I had ever been to the state fair. I remember as a kid crying because all of my friends would go and I never did. Oh the injustice~but finally, I got to go! And it was so fun, despite the heat and the terrible wind...it was just a great day.

I don't usually like snakes but in the sunlight they were a beautiful copper color.

New piglets in the birthing pavillion

Taking a peek at the dairy cow judging. This arena is huge and beautiful. I wish I'd taken a picture of the giant ceiling fans in these buildings.

Gorgeous Holsteins

Baby Holsteins

Budweiser wagon- we never did see the horses pulling it.

The Case-IH dealership had a maze of straw bales and the kids could ride pedal tractors around.

Windmill- my very favorite instrument of agriculture. The windmill changed the very face of agriculture and they are gorgeous to see out in a pasture.

The center pivot-not quite as neat as a windmill but much more advanced.