A year older, wiser and slightly heavier, but not of heart! Thank you Chocolate!

7000 visitors as of this moment in time, Monday night!  Wow, I was so excited to see 100 visitors back when I started!  Thanks to all of my visiting friends and especially to my followers!  It is so rewarding to have the support!  THANK YOU!

Quick news bit, you might have noticed the "Reap What You Sew" Badge, on the right for a linky party I am hoping to start soon, that will end on Sundays.  I will be kicking this off in time for my blog anniversary on September 12th. (Can't believe it is 2 years that I have been toiling away at this, though loving every minute)!  I will be having a giveway and details are coming soon.  I am still trying to figure out this linky stuff, but shouldn't be too long before you can participate.  Feel free to leave comments with advice!

I aged  another year since my last post.  I am having trouble remembering what age I am each year.  But now I have Facebook to remind me and others!  What did we do before this?  Well hubby made me a lucious surf and turf meal and bought me, (gasp) a chocolate torte from the big grocery nearby.  I requested a fudge on fudge confection, but even I couldn't finish it, it was just too much chocolate! It sure was pretty with a buttercream rose in the middle!

To help me celebrate, the day before my day, I called my gal friend up, and we drove across town to the mall that has my favorite store, J. Jill.  I had picked out the comfy sweater and was told by hubby that rather than order it, why not go and try it on, and buy it!  The pic doesn't show how comfy it is, but it is very shear and has a nice hand to it, especially made for menopausal chics like myself!  My actual bday had my friend and I working on a kitchen shelf piece that we sanded, white washed and repainted the tiles on top. Barely had it cleaned up and my dad, surprised me by stopping by with a brightly colored flower bouquet.

  

My besty friend, Max, shown here changing the tile color from blue to black to match her newly painted bistro style kitchen!

Well here goes a treat to try, it is semi-healthy, but nice and yummy and easy! 

Chocolate Oatmeal Squares Mrs. D. Tietsma, “Eet Smakelijk” cookbook

 The ingredients for this bar cookie, wholesome and straightforward, try making some today!

 

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

½ cup butter

½ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups flour

1 ½ cups oatmeal

Filling:


1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips


1 (14 oz) can sweetned condensed milk


1 T. butter


¼ tsp salt


¼ tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. Use an ungreased 9”x13” pan. Combine brown sugar, egg, margarine, salt, vanilla, flour and oatmeal. Reserving ¼ of mixture for topping, pat remainder into pan. Combine chocolate chips, milk, butter, salt and vanilla and cook over low heat until chocolate is melted. Pour chocolate mixture over crust. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes.

I neglected to take a final pic, but please refer to the pic at the top of the recipe.  These bars travel well, and freeze well too!  Choose a chocolate that you like, I also use semi-sweet Hersheys or Nestles, but I have been on a Ghiradelli kick!

School for my daughter and myself begins next week.  It is a bittersweet weekend and a rainy one, that is causing us to begin organizing for the hectic days ahead.  I have been boning up with my sewing books, in case I am called in to cover as a long term sub for the Home Ec teacher at one of my schools.  Along with my prep, I borrowed a book, from the library and then liked what I saw so much that I wrote the author, (and a fav blogger) for a signed copy.  I have it here as of yesterday, and already have cut out the pattern for the cute little a-line skirt.  I am making it in a collage format with leftover calicos from other projects.  I will blog my results as soon as I get sewing on it, perhaps tonight!  Here is the book pic, Sew Serendipity check out Kay's blog and order yourself one.  Stay tuned to see what I do with her patterns!

Thank you Kay, hope I do it justice!