A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Bigfoot?

A sigh of relief is always breathed November 1st. I am so glad that the entire end of October scene has finished for another year. I am happily moving on to the next big holiday (not Veterans Day). We'll chat about that toward the end of this post, yet let's tidy up on the big day just past—

She arrived on her grandmother's hip wide-eyed and a little breathless. "I scare-t of Bigfoot." I look at my sister questioning this comment and am told that the children saw Bigfoot at my house last week as they were leaving. What? Who knew?! For a moment I think that I have gone down the rabbit hole and landed in Brenda's world.

Big Foot Country


I say, "There is no such thing as Bigfoot." At which point, Anneke's brother, who is playing with the rotary phone, run on imagination alone, says, "Bigfoot? Is that you? Ackkkk! It's Bigfoot!" Anneke's eyes grow even wider and she clings a little tighter to Grammie. 



I may have dialed Bigfoot


So I have no idea how this story ultimately unfolded. My sister agrees with me and says that they will ask their mommy and daddy because parents tell the truth. I am hoping that mommy and daddy didn't decide instead to crank Anneke's chain. One of them can be a bit of a prankster. I just happen to know that for.a.fact. ッ

Peach and Mario

Aren't they cute? Peach and Mario...aka Anneke and Emmanuel.

Now I do have news about my own grandchildren. Sam received his driver's license last week. Doesn't he look happy? So proud of him! 



Jake got his first deer on Saturday. I'll be careful with that picture because I'd not like to offend those who might keel over. I am thrilled that there will be extra food in the freezer and that Jake is happy too.



A few weeks ago, when sickness hit, we had to postpone plans to see Laurel for her birthday. She graciously joined us a couple of weeks later at a local restaurant where my family made plans for Thanksgiving. I saw a bit of eye-rolling, heard some comments. It boils down to this: I have messed up Thanksgiving dinner one too many times. Instead, we shall celebrate at Laurel's. She's in for the roller coaster ride that is Thanksgiving preparations. Should be fun! 

To my American brethren and sistren, have your plans for Thanksgiving firmed up? 

I want a nice sweet ending so I am sharing what I am making this week. I had to check for ingredients and found that I have them all. Yippee! 





Now I found this recipe somewhere in the last week or so. I have not named that source because my mind is a sieve. If it was yours or you know whose, let me know so I can include it.

It was *here* with a nice photo of what it should look like, too. My mind really is a sieve.
🤦🏻‍♀️

 

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (the original recipe called for 1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup butter, melted

*Heat oven to 350° F. 

*Grease bottom of 9 x 13″ pan.  

*Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 

*Pour mixture into greased pan. 

*Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans.

*Drizzle melted butter over pecans.

*Bake 50-55 minutes.

Source: https://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/




Thank you for reading. You're good sports.
 


Love,
Vee

27 comments:

  1. Anneke and Emmanuel are cuties for sure. I hope the Bigfoot issue has been resolved. Childhood fears are real. Your handsome grandson does look pleased as he should for getting that license. Congratulations to Jake for his first deer! That's always an exciting achievement. Thanksgiving plans haven't been solidified yet. That will be the next conversation. We have our DIL Laura's grandmother's funeral on Thursday and after that we'll move on to Thanksgiving. Halloween was canceled since Addy and JJ were both sick so things were very quiet here last night. So...was that cake worth making?

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  2. Oh, the grin on Sam's face! Getting those licenses is a rite of passage.

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  3. Love the cute little ones, but what really had my jaw drop was Sam! Driver's license? I remember him as a little cutie, too. And Jake - hunting! Wow.
    The Bigfoot mystery would be funny if Anneke wasn't so frightened.
    Having done and dusted Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, I'm thinking about Christmas gifts and projects.

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  4. Rites of passage for your grands for sure. "Our" Sam -- we have a grandson Sam too, as I'm sure you remember -- also got his driver's license last week. That's fun! And congrats to Jake on the deer, too.

    Our Thanksgiving plans are still in progress, but it'll be at Carrie's, we do have that nailed down. As to who is coming and who is bringing what, we have yet to sort that out.

    Kim's grands are adorable. Imagine that boy thinking to dial Bigfoot!

    Such a nice post today, Vee! Hope your pumpkin crunch cake comes out well.

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  5. I know it's not really funny, but your telling of that Bigfoot story had me giggling. I hope the truthful parents were able to alleviate the fear in little Anneke. She and her brother look adorable in their costumes.
    Sam is driving now and looking very grown up. Wow, when did that happen. I, too, remember both of the boys as little guys.
    As I turned the calendar page this morning it occurred to me that I should have some idea about Thanksgiving plans by now. Nope, not the case. ;/

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    1. Oh I thought it was funny...very funny...not her fear, but her seeming enjoyment of it. Her brother is a hoot. Hope you get those Thanksgiving plans to gel soon. 🦃

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  6. Those costumes are great! Your cake sounds wonderful too. I will be spending Thanksgiving with my sisters, their husbands and some nieces and nephews.

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  7. Enjoyed seeing this post of the family members and especially the Bigfoot tale. Both children looked so cute in their costumes. Your grandsons each had major accomplishments so yeah to them. Glad you posted the recipe for that pumpkin crunch cake because i will definitely be making it for our dominoes group before the holiday!

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  8. I have gained 3 pounds (maybe 4) from reading your recipe for the Pumpkin Crunch Cake. But tis the season, right? I enjoyed the telling of the Big Foot adventure. What fun!
    At our house we are going to do something very different (for me) for Thanksgiving. I'll tell about it later, after the fact.

    Last year I hosted all 18 of us (prior to dating Gary) and IT. WORE. ME. OUT. I just don't plan to do that again. Ever. This girl has done that many times over the years but now I'm done.

    Love and hugs to you, Vee.

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  9. Wow hasn't Sam grown up. I remember he is the same age as my youngest grandson Japhy. He too just got his license!!
    David will be joining us for Thanksgiving. Liz too if she doesn't go to Florida to be with her kids.
    The little ones look so cute in their costumes.

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  10. Loved the Bigfoot story, Vee, and the little ones are adorable!! Congratulations on the deer, the drivers license and you In not having to make Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve made that pumpkin crunch cake (it has various names) and it is good!! Happy November!

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  11. First off your handsome grandsons are all grown-up! How did that happen to us? Nice to see them again. The little one's Bigfoot tale is a hoot! And the costumes are cute.
    I'm sure I'll be helping our daughter as she hosts Thanksgiving this year. Just hope snow doesn't delay our arrival.

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  12. Bless her little heart!! This will be a story for the telling as she grows up!
    That recipe sounds good! I am going to copy it! I love a good dump cake!
    Way to go JAKE!!! Fresh meat!! And good for SAM getting his license! Lots going on up your way!! Happy November!

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  13. Hi Vee! Oh my, Bigfoot!! I think every family should have a good, Bigfoot story! Your sis's grands are so darling! We are a hunting family, in fact I have two of my grands going out this week...elk hunting...I love elk! The deer looks like a nice fat one and will make some yummy meals this winter. Congrats to them! Now, I can't believe that, Sam is old enough to drive! I remember seeing cute pictures of him sledding down the hill by your house...he's very handsome. The cake looks so good and I will be saving the recipe. I love all things pumpkin in November! Have a great week. Hugs, Barb

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  14. I make this pumpkin dessert many times during the Autumn. It's so good!

    Bigfoot! That's funny. What did her parents tell her?

    Congrats to Sam!

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    1. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don't know. Kim doesn't know. Kids don't know. 😵‍💫

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  15. I can tell we've been friends a long time....you know how? Look at how BIG Sam is! I remember when he was just a little guy and now he's driving! Oh my! How time flies! I am looking for a Keto pumpkin bread recipe. That's about all I've done to think about the holidays ahead! Hugs, your 'old' friend, Diane

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  16. Vee, aren't grandchildren grand? So much easier than children! 😁 That dessert sounds good, but I would cut the sugar in half. The cake mix has a lot of sugar, and the pumpkin base is basically pumpkin pie ingredients but with double the sugar, so ... Just sayin'.

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    1. I baked it two days ago. There's none left. I cut the sugar to 1 cup. I didn't find it too sweet. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  17. Oh, this was so much fun. I am sorry sweet Anneke was frightened, but I love that her brother was calling Bigfoot on the phone. That is hilarious. Oh, about Thanksgiving...I don't know yet...we will have new floors by then, so that's a plus. We usually have the family dinner here, but I haven't actually discussed it with anyone yet. Seems like I always have to be the first to bring it up...we shall see what develops...but that cake sure sounds delicious! May have to borrow that recipe! Oh, your grandson is so handsome, and I know you are proud of him getting his license...and that deer! Wow! That's great! That's a big deal up there, I know. Well, this was grand. I am headed to bed now after a day of packing. I am pooped. Good night dear friend in Maine.

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  18. OH MY GOODNESS!!! Look how much those boys (your grandkids) have grown! WOWOWOWOWOW! ANYWAYS, back to Bigfoot, let those kids be, (shaking my finger at those who want to say otherwise, LOL)---as for Thanksgiving, not sure. It will be our first without our son, and not to sound like a bratty repeat parrot, I will leave it at--the good Lord needed him more than we do, I better leave it at that for fear of breaking down, just keeping it real. SO MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR!---anyways,- we have been invited here and there--we shall see.

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  19. The grans are adorable, Vee, and have grown up so much! I would also like to believe in bigfoot. Why not?
    Amalia
    xo

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  20. Nothing like *Big Brothers*, to keep *Little Sisters* scared to death!!!!

    Congratulations to your two Grands!!! Accomplishments for both!

    🍁🌰💛🌰🍁
    "Miss B.B."

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  21. I just love the imagination of youngsters, what fun! And that is so awesome your grandson has put meat on the table, what a blessing! No worries about that here :) Hard to believe how fast they grow! Our family will be traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving. Seems I've been doing a lot of flying of late!

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  22. Smiling at the 'big foot' excitement over there. It seems that in my corner of the world, it's not just the kids that have over-active imaginations. Harrison Hot Springs (a nearby community) is Canada's Bigfoot Capital...with grown men and women travelling from near and far to search for Sasquatch.

    Thankful that you can just sit back and relax during the prep for Thanksgiving dinner 2022! I did just that this year as well. I brought the turkey and trimmings but that seemed like a 'piece of cake' compared to hosting the crowd of 18. Speaking of cake...how did it turn out? Looks yummy.

    How did your grands get to be drivers and hunters...just like that? Happy for both of them in their success!

    (I tried commenting here from my phone some time ago with no success. My PC is much more reliable.)

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  23. giving Day!
    A very Happy ThanksgivI must have been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle while Sam and Jake grew up into two fine young men! Love this post and your no comment one, sorry for not obeying the rule! Thanks for the recipe, Like you we have had illness, after family visiting,which slowed us down a bit! We will be eating at my Mom's this Sunday, and brunch with Susan and Chad on Thanksing to you, too, my Dear Vee

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