Autumn

Autumn. The change in colors. The cool, crisp, sunny days. Auburn football games (that was for you, Alex). Breaking out the sweaters. I just love it!

It was so nice yesterday, Madison and I had school on our deck. It became a nature study. Chas joined in as we watched birds feeding on the berries in our dogwood tree. Even a squirrel was caught breaking off a cluster of berries and scurrying away. It was hard to concentrate on studies with all the activity.

Today we picked up our favorite iced sugar cookies. We chose the pumpkin shape to nibble on this evening while we watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

The cookies were so good I will share a similar recipe.

Iced Sugar Cookies

Cookies:
Beat 1 stick of butter, 1 stick of margarine and 1 cup sugar for at least 5 minutes until foamy. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the mixture. Beat well. Sift 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Beat well into mixture. Roll out and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Icing:
Place 1 cup powdered sugar in saucepan. Combine 1/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup and add to sugar. Stir well. Place over low heat. Do not allow temperature to rise above 100 degrees F. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon almond flavor and color. Pour over top and sides of cooled cookies and allow to set.