Every now and again I have a logical thought and it happened this week!

I was making mashed potatoes for a dinner and I doubled the amount we'd need.... because I was going to make this easy peasy potato side dish the following night.

WHOA! Thinking ahead! WHAT?????

Life is so crazy here through September and October and it's not like we don't expect it. We just realize that to run a successful business, there are sacrifices and time to cook is one of them. Pretty soon there will be plenty of time for seven months. And there will be snow. And wind. And more snow. Jan understands this quite well!

And then we start the roller coaster ride again, but that seven months is my planning time. Planning time is the joy of finding absolutely wonderful squash and pumpkin seeds to grow, ordering supplies (and a local farmer put me in connection with grower supplies in Amish country! YES!!!!)

Mum orders... and that brings me to our 9 day "Grow Pink for Lisa" breast cancer awareness celebration next September. You all know that we lost our dear and beloved friend in August. Her second journey with breast cancer foiled science and heaven won a wonderful woman so next September we're hosting a 9 day celebration of pink, of Lisa, of awareness and my job/goal is to ensure that I have pink pumpkins, white pumpkins, rose-toned pumpkins, pink , white and rose mums, and finding the kinds and the planting schedule to make sure I can pull this off. 

We'll all wear Team Tydings shirts or pink shirts and we've got breast cancer bracelets that we'll give away with a donation bucket... and we'll talk about Lisa, about life, about joy and we will not cry!

Well, I'm a sap so I might, but I'd love to see every cancer patient have the love and support that our beloved Lisa got... because in the end, while the support is wonderful, the patient walks the walk. And it's a rugged path.

Back to potatoes!

This one is simple:

3 cups or so of mashed potatoes

2/3 cup Ranch Dressing

Shredded sharp cheese

Mix the ranch dressing with the potatoes. Put in a casserole dish (I sprayed mine lightly with cooking spray). Top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 for about half an hour... Serve.

STOVE TOP PHOTO BOMB!!!!!!!!!

If you have crumbled bacon or bacon bits, add them, but these are really good even without the bacon!

Now I'm back to story writing... and wishing you all a Great Thursday!!!!

Inspirational novelist Ruth Logan Herne just released her 61st book "Finding Her Christmas Family" and she's thrilled to have a lot more in the writing pipeline! Join her weekly here in the "Cafe", visit her website ruthloganherne.com, friend her on Facebook and/or write to her at loganherne@gmail.com. She'd love to hear from you!