Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe ever!!! :):)

Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
1 piece pre-made pie dough
Whipped cream, for topping
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.


Or you can just drive to your local grocery store and get a Marie Callender's Pumpkin Pie...they are really good too!!! :):)

I love Austin! :):)

This is a picture of a sunset out in my backyard:):) I do love Austin!!! I am so happy we moved here! We also are in love with our church, Celebration Church in Georgetown. We started going there about a year ago and fell in love with the Pastor and the church on that first visit. First time I have ever felt really at home with a Church. Everyone is so real there and they are all focused on the right thing.... our Lord! :):)
I am so happy it is Christmas time! My favorite time of year! Jesus is the reason for the season!! :):)
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas:):):)

You reap what you sow:):)

This was in my daily bible study for today and I needed it for today! :):) So, I thought I would share

You Reap What You Sow
The basic nature of God's Justice:
GALATIANS 6: 7-9 (KJV)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.


Your actions all have consequences. Don't ever be fooled into thinking that your actions don't have consequences. Don't think you can get away with bad choices even if you don't seem to get caught. Remember verse seven tells us that God cannot be mocked. He sees it all. You reap what you sow.
Watch the way you live your life because you reap what you sow.

We sow in one season, we reap in another.

Sow a thought you reap an act. Sow an act, you reap a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a consequence.

Busy summer!

I am really bad about keeping up with my blog:(:( It has been a busy summer and I am addicted to a game on my Iphone and a game on Facebook! LOL!!!! So, when I do have free time I am playing on those instead of taking care of business! :):)
Here are some pictures of my summer so far! :):) I also just started a photography class so I will be using the site for my pictures, writing and just everyday life. :):)

My Uncle, My Shepherd

Often after we lose a loved one we tend to raise them on a pedestal, the difference with me is that I have always had my Uncle on a pedestal. To describe him in several words, he was generous, thoughtful, kind-hearted, proud and the hardest working most resilient man I have known.

My Uncle Johnny passed away on June 14, 2009. He was an extraordinary person and I’d like to share some thoughts about him with you.

Johnny was my Mom’s brother, 6 years younger than she. Not only was he her brother but he was her friend. They knew one another’s virtues, sorrows, triumphs, and purpose in life. My favorite childhood memory of my Uncle was when he drove from Texas to South Dakota with his Irish Setter and her litter of puppies. He was coming to visit us and bring me my first puppy, Charger. I loved my Charger! 

My Uncle Johnny was a wonderful man who, loved his family first and foremost, very friendly, outgoing , and loved to meet with friends for coffee . He was also known as a very hard worker and well known for his work ethic- if you have a dream in life you must strive for it and achieve it by working hard. He made a name for himself as a successful businessman in Amarillo. He loved his Kennels, he loved the training, he loved his dogs. 

My husband asked me the other day what I thought Uncle Johnny was doing in heaven that day? I thought about it and what I pictured was him sitting with Noah having coffee and asking Noah, “How did you survive 150 days with all those animals and no training?!” We both smiled and knew that could be a true scenario. 

Knowing my Uncle Johnny , I have the feeling of knowing what a shepherd was like in the Biblical times. For the biblical Shepherd and my Uncle Johnny both loved their sheep. ( Family and animals) He took care of them, protected them, and met all their needs. He was unselfish in giving of his love and his possessions. He set a golden example for us to follow. 

My Uncle Johnny was a great Grandfather. I know Courtney and Scooter love him dearly and will keep his memory alive by telling their children someday what a great grandfather they had. He was an important influence in their lives and will be missed. But I know he is an angel looking down over them and he loved them very much like he loved his daughter and wife. My Uncle had an extremely strong “will to live to see his grandchildren grow up.” But I know my cousin Laura will hold on to her Father’s love and pass it on to her children, that is the greatest gift she can give to her Father now. 

I cry because I am going to miss you and I know that is selfish because you are in a better place and happy. You were a truly amazing person in my life and my families and I can’t imagine life without you. I have so many pictures of you doing the things you loved. I will cherish all of them. I found the one where Cooper is hugging you and you are smiling and laughing. I love that picture! My Uncle Johnny had a warm smile and I loved to hear him laugh. I will think about you when my dogs are playing and when Cooper is giving me a hug. I will think about you when I see a horse running free in a field. I will think about you when I am at the Oasis spending a sunny afternoon on the patio. I will think of you often.

He died at home with his wife holding him on the couch with his daughter beside him playing some of his favorite songs on her Ipod and his brothers and sisters all in the living room surrounding him. His wife Starla was telling stories of their favorite moments with him and memories they all would cherish. He was facing the window that looked out to the barn and the corral where their horses Bailey and Adobe reside . What a peaceful and beautiful way to leave this earth to go and be with our Lord. My faith in Jesus Christ is my strength and stronghold. 

My Uncle Johnny taught us that letting go is not giving in. Losing him has had a profound effect on those he left behind, sores that won’t heal and memories not yet made. But we all have to move on and hold on to the dear memories we made while he was here. I know he had so many plans and dreams that he never got to experience or finish but the plans our Lord has for him is far more glorious then any of us can imagine. I know he is experiencing so many wonderful things that I can’t even imagine but will someday and I know he will be waiting at those pearly gates for me with his warm smile to show me the way home. 

Beginnings of a wonderful summer!

I have not been able to add any pictures to my DrueandJayne.com because there is something wrong with the site. So, I am going to start adding some pics here until it gets up and running again. I hope everyone is having a beginning of a wonderful summer. I know I am!! I love my family. We have so much fun!!!!! Did you know we move in packs? LOL!!!!

My Grandparents

This is a story I wrote about my grandparents in one of my writing classes:



My story takes place back in 1967. I remember standing with my Grandfather and Grandmother in front of their house. I am looking up at them with a smile that is radiating so much happiness that they know I am happy to be there.

Their two room house was repainted in basic white, year after year. My Dad grew up in that house and we would visit once a year, in the summer. We would drive from South Dakota to Texas, it was a long drive but a drive we all looked forward to and loved!

The front room, which also served as a bedroom and the couch pulled out for the guest bedroom, which is where I slept with my sister. There was a window in the living room that my Grandmother always left opened on cool breezy days. I can still see her beautiful yellow curtains that took flight with the summer breeze. Grandma’s dresser was in the living room too, and it was the first thing I saw when I woke in the early morning hours. There was a jewelry box, lotion, talcum powder, and her trinket box that held her hairpins always sitting in the same place on the dresser. Always there every year never moving except the lotion and talcum powder to be replaced with new ones.

The kitchen smelled like fresh baked bread and vegetables from their garden. The cabinets were old and white and the light yellow linoleum floor made the kitchen bright in the small house. Meal times were always special at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.
We were served with home made bread, fried chicken, and all the fresh vegetables you can imagine from the garden. My Grandma always made my Dad is favorite dessert when we came to visit, Southern-style banana pudding. Which contained banana pudding layered between vanilla wafers and warm bananas spread just right on top. You could smell the pudding baking all over the house. The sweet goodness danced across my mind many times. My Grandpa was an expert gardner and my Grandmother was a wonderful cook! I wish they both were alive and here today because I can see the sign, “Myrtle Mae and Clyde’s Down-Home Cooked Meals.”

Evenings at the house were filled with stories and laughter. The family would gather on the front porch in the coolness of the evening with Grandpa and Grandma sitting in their porch swing. We would tell stories and reminisce about the events of the day until bedtime.

Everyday was a new adventure. There were always new places to explore and fun things to do. We had to use our imagination! One day we would be Cowboys and Indians lost in my Grandpa’s garden and the next day we could be chasing after frogs.

My Grandparent’s were content in their simple surroundings and it makes me realize that regardless of where you live, your house is your palace

Oh Playmate!

My Grandfather on my Mom's side used to sing this song to his children when they were little. I don't know if he ever sang it to me when I was little but I wish I could remember if he did. I really wish he was here so I could ask him.
I am going to keep my Grandfather's memories alive and pass this song down to my Grandchildren. I am sure they are going to love my singing as everyone else in my family does. :):)



Oh Playmate,
Come Out and Play With Me
Words and music by Saxie Dowell, Copyright: Santly-Joy-Select Inc.


Say, say, oh playmate,
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree

Shout down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more more more more more

Say, say, oh playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly's got the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ain't got no rain barrel
Ain't got no cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forever more more more more more

Yoda

I woke up early the day I had been dreading for a week. The doorbell rang, I looked down at Yoda and whispered to him, “I’m sorry but it’s time.”

My dad was at the door to go with me to take my little companion of 13 years to the Vet to be put to sleep. Yoda was our family pug and he was going blind and had many other health issues. It was time.

“ Are you ready Jayne?” my dad asked while he was petting Yoda.

“No, I will never be ready.” I mumbled while trying not to cry.

The car ride to the vet was the worse, holding Yoda petting him for the last few minutes I had. Trying to act like everything was Ok and telling myself, ‘ this was the best thing for Yoda,’ we got out of the car and went inside the place I hated.

Her voice was cold and sharp, “ You have an appointment?”

“Yes, my name is Jayne and I am here with Yoda.” I replied with my head down not wanting to look into her eyes with fear that I will burst into hysterics.

I was in a private room with Yoda spending time with him. Holding him tightly I said, “Yoda, I am going to miss you so much and I will never love another dog as much as I have loved you!” and then I Iet go and they took him.

My dad looked over at me in the car and said, “You know Jayne, you did the best thing for Yoda. He was miserable.”

The rest of the ride home seemed like an eternity. All I could hear was my voice in my head screaming, “Jayne, you did do the right thing!”

I remember that day like it was yesterday. While the sun set that day I was lying in bed crying. Ten years later the sun is rising and I am taking my standard poodle, Juliett, for a walk. It is a beautiful morning and she listens while I talk about my old love, Yoda.

I went to Town Lake downtown Austin with my girls and grandkids today. We had a blast! What a great place to take the little ones to play in the water with no worries. :):)

Hannah Banana

I babysit Hannah today for about 2 hours. She is the happiest baby! We played and I sang songs to her. I also decided to play around with her hair. I took her to Jazzy Jayne's Hair Palace! :):) haha!

My Germaphobic Nightmare!

We all have our issues and mine is an off-the-wall one to say the least. I have a strange but common phobia that I am going to catch that dreaded stomach virus. The thought of vomiting terrifies me and I know it can't kill me but it still scares me.
I go through the winter months staying away from anyone that may have symptoms of stomach problems. I can actually have a panic attack just thinking about it (even typing about it makes me sweat and want to go wash and disinfect my hands) If my stomach feels a little sick I am scared to eat but that is usually the problem, I'm just hungry. :) Well, guess what? My fears came true we all caught the stomach virus last week. Well, by all, I mean just a lucky few of us did. The Orozco family and me! Your probably wondering why I am calling us lucky? Well, we had some major bonding together as a family, I got to spend hours with my 2 granddaughters, we had dinner made for us by my other daughter Kayle (best soup I have ever tasted!), and it wasn't the SWINE FLU! So all in all I think we were pretty lucky! So, Drue, Mom, & anyone else in the family you missed out!!
I am going to have to cut this blog short I just heard on the news the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning that highly contagious norovirus, which causes outbreaks of vomiting, can be passed from one person to another by sharing items such as computer keyboards. Yikes! Gotta run, I am going to go and check into the voice activated keyboards.

I need a vacation!

My husband came home last night and said that we need to think about where we want to go for our 20th anniversary coming up in September. I told him I would have to think about it since we have been to so many wonderful places it is hard for me to decide where to go. So, I told Drue to let me sleep on it. My favorite place though would be Paris and let me tell you why and what a wonderful trip I had there.


Looking at Paris in this light started the day out with the most graceful sunrise. There are four us roaming the streets, capturing life as we have never seen before. Taking amazing photos and meeting strangers. We started walking down the cobblestone streets and saw beautiful buildings. Walking is a wonderful way to see Paris. We decide to stop and eat and there is a beautiful street side Cafe that appeals to us with the color of it's awnings. We order croissants, crepes, and steak frites. I ask if I can keep the menu, to go along with my napkin and the picture I took of the man that sat next to us laughing and teaching us words in French. Next, is the Eiffel Tower, what a magnificent structure. We went on a boat cruise, the Seine is a lovely river, and the sights you see along the way are amazing. The day is ending and we have to start finding a place to eat dinner. I have the most exquisite dinner and I can't explain the dessert but to say it was marvelous. The alarm is buzzing, I wake up and realize the happiness I had just experienced was a dream. But I was thankful I had the dream because it made me hopeful, that someday I would be walking those cobblestone streets in Paris.


I rolled over looked at Drue and said , I've decided, lets go to Paris and let me tell you why!"