My prayer for you this new year - May God continue to pour his blessings on all of you and your families.
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
American Girl Dolls
Since I don't have any grandchildren, I never dreamed that I'd be making doll clothes any time soon! We had a 'sew-in' today. Elton and Sam had a road trip planned so Carol came over with her two grand-daughters, Katy (9) and Maddie (7), who are spending the rest of Christmas break with them.
Saturday when they were over and ate supper with us, 
Maddie fell in love with my fabric stash and wanted to sew. So ;o) we set it up. I found authentic American Girl patterns online:
Maddie fell in love with my fabric stash and wanted to sew. So ;o) we set it up. I found authentic American Girl patterns online: I printed a pajama pattern. The girls chose their favorite fabric (with my approval - fabric not set aside for quilts) along with matching lace. We started late morning...broke for lunch...got back to it. Finished about 3:30. That's a long time for 
two little girls, but they did real good...not fussing while they were sewing, just while they were waiting on us for directions. One part of the shirt pattern was a booger to figure out. The girls probably did 90% of the sewing. Even setting in the sleeves! I was impressed. They've been sewing with their mother and grandmother (Carol). But they are still only 9 and 7 years old!
two little girls, but they did real good...not fussing while they were sewing, just while they were waiting on us for directions. One part of the shirt pattern was a booger to figure out. The girls probably did 90% of the sewing. Even setting in the sleeves! I was impressed. They've been sewing with their mother and grandmother (Carol). But they are still only 9 and 7 years old!A washable glue stick and quilt basting spray turned out to be
the best notions. We tacked the pockets and lace down on the fabric for no pin sewing. When the pjs were completed, Maddie washed the glue out in the bathroom sink. Katy rinsed them. Into the dryer went the pjs. Outside went the girls to play. Carol and I sat down with a glass of wine. After the wine took affect, we decided we would do this again. However, the next time will be a one-piece garment!
the best notions. We tacked the pockets and lace down on the fabric for no pin sewing. When the pjs were completed, Maddie washed the glue out in the bathroom sink. Katy rinsed them. Into the dryer went the pjs. Outside went the girls to play. Carol and I sat down with a glass of wine. After the wine took affect, we decided we would do this again. However, the next time will be a one-piece garment!When I get a photo of the dolls ready for bed, I'll post the photo.
Remember the plate with the truffles? This is it.
Oh! I finished a pair of socks last night! Ain't they snazzy?! 
Friday, December 26, 2008
Happy 25th Birthday, Jonathan!
Twenty-five years ago our area of the world was locked in an ice storm. For nearly the whole month of December the temperatures barely rose above freezing. At night, everything that had tried to thaw, iced over again. The roads were covered with 'black' ice. This - in northeast Texas.
During the previous night, I got out of bed and walked the floors, laying down on the couch between the widely spaced contractions. At 6 a.m. we headed to Longview, 45 miles away. Three hours later, his daddy and I pulled up to the ER entrance.
December 27, 1983
2:45 p.m.
6 pounds, 11 ounces
During the previous night, I got out of bed and walked the floors, laying down on the couch between the widely spaced contractions. At 6 a.m. we headed to Longview, 45 miles away. Three hours later, his daddy and I pulled up to the ER entrance.
December 27, 1983
2:45 p.m.
6 pounds, 11 ounces
A Surprise and a Skull Cap
I saw my mother today. In my mirror. Staring back at me. 
This surprised me. She was not in my house. It has happened. I have become my mother.
Wait a minute. FINALLY! I FINALLY look like my mother! I have always thought she was a beautful woman. I've never thought that I was beautiful though. Don't go psycho-analyzing me yet. I was overweight as a teenager. Of all the times to be overweight - those dreaded teenage years. I knew that I was not beautiful. BUT I also knew that I was NOT dog ugly. Okay. I'm from northeast Texas and that's a Texism...well, I think the real term is "butt ugly," but I wasn't that either. I also knew that I was not beat with an ugly stick. My mama did not have to tie a bone around my neck when I was a kid so that the dog would play with me.
I just wasn't beautiful. Then I went on a diet. Married. Lost more weight. Tanned to a beautiful bronze. Dark brown straight hair hanging down to my waist. At a horse auction, I was at the concession stand getting a coke - you know, a Dr. Pepper - when I overheard in men's voices... "I think she's pretty." "Yeah. I do too." I never looked around. But on my way back to the building, I didn't see a single woman. Just me. Two men thought I was pretty. Well, three counting my husband but he's supposed to think that. Oh, wait. Four. Daddy.
I'm still not Raquel Welch gorgeous. Or Sophia Loren drop-dead gorgeous. My eyelids are droopy and are getting more so each and every year. My teeth are
discolored from fluorosis and are crooked. But I am pretty. My hair is still dark brown and now that it is shorter I find that it is a tiny bit wavy. As long as I stay away from the sunroof in a car, the few gray hairs that I have do not look like a fiber-optic lamp. I am an optimist - my glass is always at least half full - and I almost always smile. I think and hope and pray that I am a nice person.
What led up to this...I knitted my first skull cap and was trying to get a photo of it. If you haven't tried turning the camera on yourself or attempted to take your picture in the mirror. GO TRY IT. It ain't easy! I took a pic...laughed...took another...laughed...took another...oh, there's Mama! I bet I took eight or ten photos. The pattern came from a very talented young lady: http://kodymayknits.blogspot.com/2006/11/bead-my-skull-cap.html
Finally decided to hang the cap on a lamp.
Oh, and here's the lamp. Isn't it a pretty?! The first Christmas after Jonathan's daddy died, that 12-year old boy (he turned 13 two days after Christmas) spent ALL of his Christmas and birthday money on me. I cried.
I collect Fenton Burmese. My mother was a Fenton dealer - hence the reason I could afford it to start with. I fussed at Mama for letting Jonathan spend all of his money. She said that she tried to talk him out of it - but, "He wanted to."
This surprised me. She was not in my house. It has happened. I have become my mother. Wait a minute. FINALLY! I FINALLY look like my mother! I have always thought she was a beautful woman. I've never thought that I was beautiful though. Don't go psycho-analyzing me yet. I was overweight as a teenager. Of all the times to be overweight - those dreaded teenage years. I knew that I was not beautiful. BUT I also knew that I was NOT dog ugly. Okay. I'm from northeast Texas and that's a Texism...well, I think the real term is "butt ugly," but I wasn't that either. I also knew that I was not beat with an ugly stick. My mama did not have to tie a bone around my neck when I was a kid so that the dog would play with me.
I just wasn't beautiful. Then I went on a diet. Married. Lost more weight. Tanned to a beautiful bronze. Dark brown straight hair hanging down to my waist. At a horse auction, I was at the concession stand getting a coke - you know, a Dr. Pepper - when I overheard in men's voices... "I think she's pretty." "Yeah. I do too." I never looked around. But on my way back to the building, I didn't see a single woman. Just me. Two men thought I was pretty. Well, three counting my husband but he's supposed to think that. Oh, wait. Four. Daddy.
I'm still not Raquel Welch gorgeous. Or Sophia Loren drop-dead gorgeous. My eyelids are droopy and are getting more so each and every year. My teeth are
discolored from fluorosis and are crooked. But I am pretty. My hair is still dark brown and now that it is shorter I find that it is a tiny bit wavy. As long as I stay away from the sunroof in a car, the few gray hairs that I have do not look like a fiber-optic lamp. I am an optimist - my glass is always at least half full - and I almost always smile. I think and hope and pray that I am a nice person.What led up to this...I knitted my first skull cap and was trying to get a photo of it. If you haven't tried turning the camera on yourself or attempted to take your picture in the mirror. GO TRY IT. It ain't easy! I took a pic...laughed...took another...laughed...took another...oh, there's Mama! I bet I took eight or ten photos. The pattern came from a very talented young lady: http://kodymayknits.blogspot.com/2006/11/bead-my-skull-cap.html
Finally decided to hang the cap on a lamp.
Oh, and here's the lamp. Isn't it a pretty?! The first Christmas after Jonathan's daddy died, that 12-year old boy (he turned 13 two days after Christmas) spent ALL of his Christmas and birthday money on me. I cried.
I collect Fenton Burmese. My mother was a Fenton dealer - hence the reason I could afford it to start with. I fussed at Mama for letting Jonathan spend all of his money. She said that she tried to talk him out of it - but, "He wanted to."
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
We are having an extremely quiet day. Just Sam and me until tomorrow. We shared our presents and have played with the goodies in our stockings - CDs. ;o)
In my home, it wouldn't be Christmas without fruitcake.
Yep! I typed f r u i t c a k e. But, puleeze don't give me a store bought fruitcake with citron and candied orange peel. I don't even want the candied fruit that grocery stores stock for so-called fruitcakes. Yuck.
Mama tried for years to find a fruitcake like her mother made. She even purchased fruitcakes from Collin Street Bakery - reputed to have the best fruitcakes ever. After trying two or three years in a row, purchasing different fruitcakes from them, she gave up. The only person who would eat them - any of them - was Ron, my first husband. Shoot! He'd even eat the $1 fruitcakes I purchased (for him only) at Wal-Mart. That just proved he'd eat anything! Oh, except celery...until later when he discovered he liked it smeared with peanut butter...???!!!
One day Mama stumbled across her mother's f
ruitcake recipe in a stash of papers. Excitedly she gave it to me. "See what you can do with this." My grandmother used fruits she canned or fermented or whatever she did along with fresh fruit. Since I don't remember her fruitcake, I have no idea what it tasted like and just couldn't get close to what Mama remembered. So, I took my grandmother's recipe and made it mine.
It turned out soooo good! I researched how to patent a recipe. Well. You can not patent the list of ingredients. The only thing you can patent is the description of how to make that specific recipe. So...I have shared my Not Your Ordinary Fruitcake with several friends. Nora in Conroe Texas has entered it several times in a baking contest...she wins every year she enters it! (I entered it in Daingerfield Days this last October...did not even place!) It is also in the cookbook the Friends of the Daingerfield Public Libray compiled. To order your copy of Cooking With Friends, just look to the sidebar to the right of this post and click on the cookbook.
Not Your Ordinary Fruitcake
Inspired by Ruby Durham Sanford
1 large jar red Maraschino cherries, drained
1 medium jar green Maraschino cherries, drained
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small package orange slice candy, chopped
1 (1 lb.) package white raisins
1 (1 lb.) package dates
4 cups pecans, chopped
1 package Craisins
1 (14 oz.) package coconut
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pound butter
2 cups sugar
10 eggs
You are going to need a BIG container to mix this…I use a jelly kettle. Chop all fruit and nuts and mix together. Combine flour, baking powder, and soda; add to fruit and mix well. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add first mixture and mix well. Bake in two greased tube cake pans at 250 degrees for 2 hour and 45 minutes to 3 hours. You can also bake this in four loaf pans.
The good thing about this recipe is that you can add something else! The Craisins are a recent addition. A short while back, Mama gave me a bag of dried tart cherries. And, man were they ever tart! We ate a few before I decided that I better seal them and put them in the freezer or they would be gone. When Mama handed me a bag of pecans (they are costly this year and I had decided not to spend that much money for nuts therefore not making the fruitcakes) I chopped the dried cherries and into the mix they went. I didn't put as many Maraschino cherries in this time but still worried about adding the Craisins and the dried cherries...concerned that the batter might be too dry. It's not. Especially if you sprinkle a bit of rum over the fruitcake and put the dome back over the cakeplate. ;o)
Look at this cutie! This photo is through the screen so it is not clear. I tried sneaking through the garage, but as soon as I eased my head around the corner, the whole lot of birds "flew the coop." The Mister was on the bird feeder while the Mrs. and some other little birds were on the ground.
In my home, it wouldn't be Christmas without fruitcake.
Yep! I typed f r u i t c a k e. But, puleeze don't give me a store bought fruitcake with citron and candied orange peel. I don't even want the candied fruit that grocery stores stock for so-called fruitcakes. Yuck. Mama tried for years to find a fruitcake like her mother made. She even purchased fruitcakes from Collin Street Bakery - reputed to have the best fruitcakes ever. After trying two or three years in a row, purchasing different fruitcakes from them, she gave up. The only person who would eat them - any of them - was Ron, my first husband. Shoot! He'd even eat the $1 fruitcakes I purchased (for him only) at Wal-Mart. That just proved he'd eat anything! Oh, except celery...until later when he discovered he liked it smeared with peanut butter...???!!!
One day Mama stumbled across her mother's f
ruitcake recipe in a stash of papers. Excitedly she gave it to me. "See what you can do with this." My grandmother used fruits she canned or fermented or whatever she did along with fresh fruit. Since I don't remember her fruitcake, I have no idea what it tasted like and just couldn't get close to what Mama remembered. So, I took my grandmother's recipe and made it mine.It turned out soooo good! I researched how to patent a recipe. Well. You can not patent the list of ingredients. The only thing you can patent is the description of how to make that specific recipe. So...I have shared my Not Your Ordinary Fruitcake with several friends. Nora in Conroe Texas has entered it several times in a baking contest...she wins every year she enters it! (I entered it in Daingerfield Days this last October...did not even place!) It is also in the cookbook the Friends of the Daingerfield Public Libray compiled. To order your copy of Cooking With Friends, just look to the sidebar to the right of this post and click on the cookbook.
Not Your Ordinary Fruitcake
Inspired by Ruby Durham Sanford
1 large jar red Maraschino cherries, drained
1 medium jar green Maraschino cherries, drained
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small package orange slice candy, chopped
1 (1 lb.) package white raisins
1 (1 lb.) package dates
4 cups pecans, chopped
1 package Craisins
1 (14 oz.) package coconut
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pound butter
2 cups sugar
10 eggs
You are going to need a BIG container to mix this…I use a jelly kettle. Chop all fruit and nuts and mix together. Combine flour, baking powder, and soda; add to fruit and mix well. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add first mixture and mix well. Bake in two greased tube cake pans at 250 degrees for 2 hour and 45 minutes to 3 hours. You can also bake this in four loaf pans.
The good thing about this recipe is that you can add something else! The Craisins are a recent addition. A short while back, Mama gave me a bag of dried tart cherries. And, man were they ever tart! We ate a few before I decided that I better seal them and put them in the freezer or they would be gone. When Mama handed me a bag of pecans (they are costly this year and I had decided not to spend that much money for nuts therefore not making the fruitcakes) I chopped the dried cherries and into the mix they went. I didn't put as many Maraschino cherries in this time but still worried about adding the Craisins and the dried cherries...concerned that the batter might be too dry. It's not. Especially if you sprinkle a bit of rum over the fruitcake and put the dome back over the cakeplate. ;o)
Look at this cutie! This photo is through the screen so it is not clear. I tried sneaking through the garage, but as soon as I eased my head around the corner, the whole lot of birds "flew the coop." The Mister was on the bird feeder while the Mrs. and some other little birds were on the ground.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Scrubs and Chocolate
Oops! Jonathan noticed that
I didn't sew a chest pocket on his top. So it didn't get in the mail today. I did get the pocket and the also requested (and forgotten) loop for his name tag to clip on sewn on the top this afternoon. I made a note on the pattern directions to include both elements on the next top.
I made some truffles late this afternoon. I was still dipping when Jeopardy came on so didn't get to devote my full attention to the show. Oh, man! I'm nearly sick from licking the bowls when I got through. Yum!
I got the recipe with a printout at the grocery store.
Baker's Simply Sensational Truffles
2 1/2 pkgs (20 squares) Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
Chopped nuts or colored sprinkles
Melt 8 chocolate squares. Beat cream
cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until firm.
Shape into 36 balls. (I got 33 with my little cookie scooper.) Place on waxed paper covered baking sheet. Melt remaining chocolate. Use fork to dip truffles, return to baking sheet. Decorate then refrigerate 1 hour.
I dropped them on silicon sheets on top of my granite kitchen island. For topping, I decided to top half with chopped almonds and the other half with chopped cashews. I didn't worry with refrigeration. The granite was cool enough that after we returned from supper, the candies were ready to plate.
Speaking of plate, don't you just love my serving dish?! It is English and was a gift from Mama a few years ago.
The Baker's chocolate package gives instructions for melting the chocolate in a microwave. Basically after the first minute, I checked it every 10 seconds stirring each time.
The recipe states that prep time is 15 minutes. LOL Maybe if you have two or three people doing this assembly line.
I purposefully did not get a photo of me lick
ing my fingers to get every lucious drop of chocolate.
I made the paper pieced tablerunner a couple of years ago and nearly lost my religion in the process. If you were to look at the intersections, very few of them match. I do not like paper piecing and every time I attempt it, I swear I'll never do it again. On the other hand, don't you love the napkins?! The snowflakes designs were free from http://www.annthegran.com/ . I have never been disappointed with any of the designs from that website.
I got carried away with the gusset on my sock and made too many decrease rounds. Therefore, I had to frog-it. rippet rippet - about four or so rows. Sigh. Unknitting is not near as much fun as knitting.
In the meantime: Merry Christmas and may God bless each of you and your families.
I didn't sew a chest pocket on his top. So it didn't get in the mail today. I did get the pocket and the also requested (and forgotten) loop for his name tag to clip on sewn on the top this afternoon. I made a note on the pattern directions to include both elements on the next top.I made some truffles late this afternoon. I was still dipping when Jeopardy came on so didn't get to devote my full attention to the show. Oh, man! I'm nearly sick from licking the bowls when I got through. Yum!
I got the recipe with a printout at the grocery store.
Baker's Simply Sensational Truffles
2 1/2 pkgs (20 squares) Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
Chopped nuts or colored sprinkles
Melt 8 chocolate squares. Beat cream
cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until firm.Shape into 36 balls. (I got 33 with my little cookie scooper.) Place on waxed paper covered baking sheet. Melt remaining chocolate. Use fork to dip truffles, return to baking sheet. Decorate then refrigerate 1 hour.
I dropped them on silicon sheets on top of my granite kitchen island. For topping, I decided to top half with chopped almonds and the other half with chopped cashews. I didn't worry with refrigeration. The granite was cool enough that after we returned from supper, the candies were ready to plate.
Speaking of plate, don't you just love my serving dish?! It is English and was a gift from Mama a few years ago.
The Baker's chocolate package gives instructions for melting the chocolate in a microwave. Basically after the first minute, I checked it every 10 seconds stirring each time.
The recipe states that prep time is 15 minutes. LOL Maybe if you have two or three people doing this assembly line.
I purposefully did not get a photo of me lick
ing my fingers to get every lucious drop of chocolate.I made the paper pieced tablerunner a couple of years ago and nearly lost my religion in the process. If you were to look at the intersections, very few of them match. I do not like paper piecing and every time I attempt it, I swear I'll never do it again. On the other hand, don't you love the napkins?! The snowflakes designs were free from http://www.annthegran.com/ . I have never been disappointed with any of the designs from that website.
I got carried away with the gusset on my sock and made too many decrease rounds. Therefore, I had to frog-it. rippet rippet - about four or so rows. Sigh. Unknitting is not near as much fun as knitting.
In the meantime: Merry Christmas and may God bless each of you and your families.
Monday, December 22, 2008
I'm Sewing!
Surprise! It seems so long since I've even wanted to do much of anything in the sewing, quilting, even knitting areas. I am working on a second sock, but it is taking so long. I make one or two rounds and that's about all that I can handle at that time. I haven't made much headway since that beautiful heel turn (see a few posts below). The gusset is coming along...barely. I don't think I've touched it in two days now. Tomorrow...
...Today I made a scrub top for Jonathan. When I was quizzing him about fabrics, he said, "Classic cars." How about Route 66?!
Hopefully I can get it in the mail tomorrow. It may be a bit big...that can be handled...as long as it is not too small. Jonathan, let me know how it fits and be sure to send me the measurements on a pair of your best fitting scrub pants.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Harley Days Toy Delivery
What a Blast! Today we went to Longview to participate in delivering toys to the office of the women's shelter.
This morning Sam asked if I was going to ride with him. At that time the temperature was 35 degrees. Brrrrr. I asked what the high was going to be. He didn't know. If I had to give an answer then, No. I turned the television on and found out that the high was going to be around 43. My final answer was, No. Sam put on his leathers and climbed astride his Harley. I put on my jacket, wrapped a scarf around my neck and followed him...in the 4-Runner. My mama didn't raise no fool...at least not this little girl! (I have three brothers - that's a totally different story.)
We stopped at the Harley Shop which was still closed. Sam wears H-D FXRG leathers and is a walking testimony. He said that he was warm enough except for his fingers...he has been trying to find the FXRG gloves...looks like he is going to have to order them. After storing his leathers in the back of the 4-Runner, he climbed in with me and we went to Jason's Deli for lunch. When we got back, the lot was slowly filling up.
The bed of a pickup truck was filled level with toys.
35 bikes left the Harley Shop with a police escort. At the office, everyone lined up bucket brigade style and unloaded toys. Um...look at the guys eyeballing the toys!
Over 50 members of the Longview H.O.G. and Longview CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association) participated today.
$$$ worth of bikes...remember - 35 of them!
This morning Sam asked if I was going to ride with him. At that time the temperature was 35 degrees. Brrrrr. I asked what the high was going to be. He didn't know. If I had to give an answer then, No. I turned the television on and found out that the high was going to be around 43. My final answer was, No. Sam put on his leathers and climbed astride his Harley. I put on my jacket, wrapped a scarf around my neck and followed him...in the 4-Runner. My mama didn't raise no fool...at least not this little girl! (I have three brothers - that's a totally different story.)
We stopped at the Harley Shop which was still closed. Sam wears H-D FXRG leathers and is a walking testimony. He said that he was warm enough except for his fingers...he has been trying to find the FXRG gloves...looks like he is going to have to order them. After storing his leathers in the back of the 4-Runner, he climbed in with me and we went to Jason's Deli for lunch. When we got back, the lot was slowly filling up.The bed of a pickup truck was filled level with toys.
35 bikes left the Harley Shop with a police escort. At the office, everyone lined up bucket brigade style and unloaded toys. Um...look at the guys eyeballing the toys! Over 50 members of the Longview H.O.G. and Longview CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association) participated today.$$$ worth of bikes...remember - 35 of them!
Busy Day...
...with double great results! The 2008 Tigers played their final game today at 3 p.m. against Cisco in the Waco ISD stadium. The Tigers are the new Texas State 2-A winners beating Cisco 26 - 8. Cisco scored in the last 10 second of the game...and in my opinion only because the coach sent in his second string so that all the boys could have a chance to brag about playing in the state championship game.
Read all about it here: http://www.news-journal.com/prep/content/sports/stories/2008/12/21/12212008_daingerside.html
A few of us met at the library to watch the game via the internet. We had trouble getting sound - couldn't get anything through the speakers so had to plug in the earphones...which meant only one person per computer. Three of us sat in the 'office' area and listened to a radio broadcast over the internet. And we worked. LOL Earlene entering in the computer. Margie checking books in and putting them on the shelf. While I covered jackets with the clear cover, taped them back on the books, then put the books on the shelf.
This evening Sam and I headed to Longview - in the Toyota...not on the Harley's. We stopped at the mall for one more Christmas present then went to Hallsville to the Longview H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Christmas party. Admission is one toy each. Tomorrow the toys will be delivered to the women's shelter. There will be a ride for that...don't know if we are going yet.
Read all about it here: http://www.news-journal.com/prep/content/sports/stories/2008/12/21/12212008_daingerside.html
A few of us met at the library to watch the game via the internet. We had trouble getting sound - couldn't get anything through the speakers so had to plug in the earphones...which meant only one person per computer. Three of us sat in the 'office' area and listened to a radio broadcast over the internet. And we worked. LOL Earlene entering in the computer. Margie checking books in and putting them on the shelf. While I covered jackets with the clear cover, taped them back on the books, then put the books on the shelf.
This evening Sam and I headed to Longview - in the Toyota...not on the Harley's. We stopped at the mall for one more Christmas present then went to Hallsville to the Longview H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Christmas party. Admission is one toy each. Tomorrow the toys will be delivered to the women's shelter. There will be a ride for that...don't know if we are going yet.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Beautiful Day
We had a gorgeous day today! After freezing temperatures earlier this week and mizzling weather, this was a wonderful reprieve. It will not last long...more freezing weather is in store for us early next week with a possibility of sleet on Monday night. Honestly, I don't mind cold weather. We have so little of it to start with. I just make certain that the pantry is well-stocked, and that I have a book, knitting, and/or quilting close at hand. I'm a happy camper! Oh, mizzling is a term a dear friend of Sam's coined - it is a cross between mist and drizzle. ;o)
We had water on the pool cover. I dipped leaves and started a hose suctioning off the water. FINALLY found a low point for the opposite end of the hose so that it didn't just trickle out. Once I had the hose situated, the water drained off the cover very quickly.
I should've walked in the woods with my pruners today. I haven't been in the decorating mood so we don't have a wreath on our front door yet. Tomorrow...tomorrow is going to be nice too. I'll have to stroll through the field and the woods gathering cedar limbs, pinecones, sweetgum balls, and other natural items for a Christmas wreath. I generally make my wreath in the fall. After Thanksgiving, I then add more items to make it Christmasy.
I guess I have found out that the blahs can last longer than just one year.
I'm working on a second sock. Take a gander at this heel turn. Isn't it just the prettiest thing you've ever seen?! It is the best that I've ever knitted. I am so proud of myself.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Baking Cookies...
...again. Sam requested Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Yep, same recipe as before. I made all of them with raisins since I was out of chocolate chips. I confess. I am a chocoholic. I have a small plastic cup that probably holds 1/4 cup. I raid the chocolate chips. No small children live in my home. Jonathan moved out years ago. Sam tolerates chocolate, but it is not his favorite...see Note below. With no one else in the house...I am the only one I can blame when the chocolate runs out.
Once again, the cookies lasted only a couple of days! I shared them with my mother. Elton and Carol had a few. Alas, Sam and I devoured the majority. He normally doesn't eat that many sweets, but I swear that he has been inhaling them!
Note: Before Sam and I married, I asked him if he liked chocolate. He said, "Not really." I seriously considered calling the marriage off. I fully believe that you can not fully trust someone who says that they do not care for chocolate. He said, "I'll stay out of yours."
Okay! Sounds like a great relationship.
Except - He LIED!!!
The year after our marriage Sam, Jonathan, and I hooked up to the camper and went to Colorado for vacation. Did you know that Montrose Colorado is the home of a Russell Stover candy factory? And that out front, they have a factory store? With candy, candy, candy! The majority of which is C H O C O L A T E???!!! I spend $40 - $50 every time we visit which is about once a year. That first visit I purchased bags and bags of Pecan Delights...pecans, caramel, and - yep, you guessed it - C H O C O L A T E!!! Whenever we would eat a meal in the camper, I would be nice and polite and offer ONE of my Pecan Delights to Sam and Jonathan. I thought I would be losing only ONE with each offer...Jonathan likes chocolate too. To my absolute horror Sam held his hand out. Not for ONE, but he wanted TWO! TWO of MY Pecan Delights with pecans, caramel, and C H O C O L A T E!!! I was dumb-founded.
I was right. You absolutely can NOT trust someone who says that they don't care for chocolate much.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Happy Birthday Sam!
My husband celebrated his 73rd birthday today! We went to Red Lobster and invited Elton and Carol to go with us. I did the inviting and Elton paid! I didn't expect that.
I didn't notice until we were seated that the table beside us had a toddler and an infant. Normally...y'all are going to think I'm terrible...but normally I ask to sit someplace else...like all the way across the restaurant from the children. However, when that little blonde looked at me and smiled. Well, you had to use your imagination because she had a stopper (pacifier) in her mouth, but she smiled...and I sat down. She was so cute. Started to fuss only one time and I caught her eye and smiled at her and wiggle my eyebrows. That child sat there and waited for her food like a big girl. Music was playing in the background and she would 'dance' sitting in her chair. For dessert, mom and dad shared a chocolate goodie with a scoop of ice cream. Mom would head toward the little girl with a spoon of ice cream and the little birdie's mouth would pop open. She'd take the ice cream then put her hands over her ears. Carol and I finally realized that she was pressing on her ears...cold ice cream...press on ears. Bite of cold ice cream...press ears. She was trying to take care of brain freeze! LOL She was such a cutie!
RE: Ill- that's 'ill' - mannered children in restaurants. Many times adults set kids up to be a pain in the behind. For some unknown reason, the parent(s) decide to bring a child into an restaurant after a morning (or day) of shopping and plop an already tired child into a high chair, pull them up to the table, and expect them to act like adults. HELLO! At home you don't put a child in their high chair until food is on the table. Sit down...eat...no waiting. Then in a restaurant you want them to be civil when they are hungry and tired because their naptime was an hour ago?!
Then there are those little darlin's that it just doesn't matter. You can't do a thing to please them. This phase is called the 'terrible twos,' but unfortunately can continue into the 'trantrum threes' an on occasion become the 'formidable fours.' Shudder. I remember only too well never going into a store with sweet - ahem - little Jonathan. I lived for Mother's Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Sarah was complaining about her littlest one's tantrums. I recalled a time when I was trying to get Jonathan stripped and into the bathtub. He did not want to go. In the middle of the tantrum, I looked at the sock that I'd just pulled off his foot...I was holding it in my hot little hand. I looked him in the eyes and said, "Open your mouth." He looked at me quizzically. "I said open your mouth." He did. I stuck the sock in it. He had this startled look on his face. I laughed...then so did he.
Changing gears - I just remembered something about our trip. In Mercedes, after Claraine and I hugged our greeting, she turned to me. "I didn't remember your accents being so thick." (Claraine and Harold are from Atikokan, Canada.)
WHAT?! What accent? I don't have an accent. I don't know why she said that. ;o) And I told her so! I do not have an accent.
While we were sitting in her living room visiting, she turned to Harold and said something which she followed with, "Eh?" I looked at her and said, "Eh? Eh?" She pointed her finger at me and said, "And we'll have no more of that."
I didn't notice until we were seated that the table beside us had a toddler and an infant. Normally...y'all are going to think I'm terrible...but normally I ask to sit someplace else...like all the way across the restaurant from the children. However, when that little blonde looked at me and smiled. Well, you had to use your imagination because she had a stopper (pacifier) in her mouth, but she smiled...and I sat down. She was so cute. Started to fuss only one time and I caught her eye and smiled at her and wiggle my eyebrows. That child sat there and waited for her food like a big girl. Music was playing in the background and she would 'dance' sitting in her chair. For dessert, mom and dad shared a chocolate goodie with a scoop of ice cream. Mom would head toward the little girl with a spoon of ice cream and the little birdie's mouth would pop open. She'd take the ice cream then put her hands over her ears. Carol and I finally realized that she was pressing on her ears...cold ice cream...press on ears. Bite of cold ice cream...press ears. She was trying to take care of brain freeze! LOL She was such a cutie!
RE: Ill- that's 'ill' - mannered children in restaurants. Many times adults set kids up to be a pain in the behind. For some unknown reason, the parent(s) decide to bring a child into an restaurant after a morning (or day) of shopping and plop an already tired child into a high chair, pull them up to the table, and expect them to act like adults. HELLO! At home you don't put a child in their high chair until food is on the table. Sit down...eat...no waiting. Then in a restaurant you want them to be civil when they are hungry and tired because their naptime was an hour ago?!
Then there are those little darlin's that it just doesn't matter. You can't do a thing to please them. This phase is called the 'terrible twos,' but unfortunately can continue into the 'trantrum threes' an on occasion become the 'formidable fours.' Shudder. I remember only too well never going into a store with sweet - ahem - little Jonathan. I lived for Mother's Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Sarah was complaining about her littlest one's tantrums. I recalled a time when I was trying to get Jonathan stripped and into the bathtub. He did not want to go. In the middle of the tantrum, I looked at the sock that I'd just pulled off his foot...I was holding it in my hot little hand. I looked him in the eyes and said, "Open your mouth." He looked at me quizzically. "I said open your mouth." He did. I stuck the sock in it. He had this startled look on his face. I laughed...then so did he.
Changing gears - I just remembered something about our trip. In Mercedes, after Claraine and I hugged our greeting, she turned to me. "I didn't remember your accents being so thick." (Claraine and Harold are from Atikokan, Canada.)
WHAT?! What accent? I don't have an accent. I don't know why she said that. ;o) And I told her so! I do not have an accent.
While we were sitting in her living room visiting, she turned to Harold and said something which she followed with, "Eh?" I looked at her and said, "Eh? Eh?" She pointed her finger at me and said, "And we'll have no more of that."
Sunday, December 7, 2008
He's a Good Man
I've been on the phone with my son for a while this evening. He's recently become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in a nursing home. After a year, if he wants, the nursing home will pay his schooling to become a nurse.
When we visited him last week, he seemed to really like his job and discussed a few of the patients. One he wanted Sam to meet...a graduate of Texas A&M, but the gentleman died earlier in the week...the man never had any visitors.
This evening he told me about a lady who is 98 or 99. She reads her Bible every evening. Unfortunately, it is coming apart. When she drops it, pages fall out. Someone will pick it up for her, shove the pages back in, and hand it to her. Jonathan said that he sat down with her one evening and put the pages in order before he went to work.
He and another CNA, Sarah, who is married to Jonathan's best friend James... MOF, he lives with them and their children. Anyway, Jonathan and Sarah went to the Bible book store and purchased the lady a new large print Bible. Jonathan gave it to her before work the other day, handed it to her and told her that Santa came early.
I'm very proud of him.
When we visited him last week, he seemed to really like his job and discussed a few of the patients. One he wanted Sam to meet...a graduate of Texas A&M, but the gentleman died earlier in the week...the man never had any visitors.
This evening he told me about a lady who is 98 or 99. She reads her Bible every evening. Unfortunately, it is coming apart. When she drops it, pages fall out. Someone will pick it up for her, shove the pages back in, and hand it to her. Jonathan said that he sat down with her one evening and put the pages in order before he went to work.
He and another CNA, Sarah, who is married to Jonathan's best friend James... MOF, he lives with them and their children. Anyway, Jonathan and Sarah went to the Bible book store and purchased the lady a new large print Bible. Jonathan gave it to her before work the other day, handed it to her and told her that Santa came early.
I'm very proud of him.
1892
What a great time! Sam and I went traveling. We stopped in Lake Jackson and took my son out to dinner. He picked a Mexican restaurant that Sam and I had never tried. I ate their chicken stuffed avocado...deep fried of course. It was very good. Oops. Forgot to get a photo of it. But Sam did take this one...(Jonathan was fully rested and ready for work. I had been traveling since 9 a.m. This photo was taken around 7 or 8 p.m.)
Isn't it different from this one?!
The next day we helped Sam's family celebrate their mom's 95th birthday. Unfortunately she has Alzheimer's. Even though Sam wanted photos of her, I want to respect who she was and not post them here.
On to South Padre Island. A friend of mine, a Canadian who winters in Mercedes, was told that the devastation from the hurricane was widespread and that the sand dunes were gone. We didn't see it. We saw only one place on the northern part of the island where the dunes were breached and then they didn't wash completely across the island...the surge evidently just washed down the road.
We also saw new construction everywhere we looked in the densely populated southern part of the island.
Sam took this one of me. I really like it...except for my camera bag sticking out of the back of my neck. Argghh!
Next we traveled on to Mercedes to visit with Claraine and Harold from Atikokan, Ontario. They purchased a place in Mercedes in the early 1990s and have wintered in Texas ever since. I wanted to go to Mexico - since I've never been. We all went in Harold's car across the border at Nuevo Progresso. I purchased a red blouse for myself and some vanilla for a couple of friends. See that camera around my neck in the above photo. I forgot to take it out.
Also, no photos of Fredericksburg. Sigh. What good is a camera if you don't use it. We didn't spend much time in Fredericksburg outside of eating a delicious German meal on night and going through the Nimitz and WWII museums.
But, we did go to Luckenbach!
Next stop was Glen Rose. I'd give anything if we'd taken Jonathan there when he was a little boy and just "eat up" with dinosaurs. The best tracks were underwater and the water was way too cold to wade in. ;o) Another time...maybe...
We finished up in north Texas where we had dinner with Sam's brother and son. His daughter got tied up at school...she teaches at the Culinary Institute...wine. The next day we went to Corith to American Eagle Harley. Sam doesn't take notes when I mention something I'd like to have but won't spend that amount of money on...so I specifically pointed out a couple of items. ;o) Nothing was purchased so I'm assuming he will be heading to The Harley Shop in Longview between now and Christmas.
Sam just stuck his head in and reported that we traveled 1892 miles.
Isn't it different from this one?!The next day we helped Sam's family celebrate their mom's 95th birthday. Unfortunately she has Alzheimer's. Even though Sam wanted photos of her, I want to respect who she was and not post them here.On to South Padre Island. A friend of mine, a Canadian who winters in Mercedes, was told that the devastation from the hurricane was widespread and that the sand dunes were gone. We didn't see it. We saw only one place on the northern part of the island where the dunes were breached and then they didn't wash completely across the island...the surge evidently just washed down the road.
We also saw new construction everywhere we looked in the densely populated southern part of the island. Sam took this one of me. I really like it...except for my camera bag sticking out of the back of my neck. Argghh! Next we traveled on to Mercedes to visit with Claraine and Harold from Atikokan, Ontario. They purchased a place in Mercedes in the early 1990s and have wintered in Texas ever since. I wanted to go to Mexico - since I've never been. We all went in Harold's car across the border at Nuevo Progresso. I purchased a red blouse for myself and some vanilla for a couple of friends. See that camera around my neck in the above photo. I forgot to take it out.Also, no photos of Fredericksburg. Sigh. What good is a camera if you don't use it. We didn't spend much time in Fredericksburg outside of eating a delicious German meal on night and going through the Nimitz and WWII museums.
But, we did go to Luckenbach!
Next stop was Glen Rose. I'd give anything if we'd taken Jonathan there when he was a little boy and just "eat up" with dinosaurs. The best tracks were underwater and the water was way too cold to wade in. ;o) Another time...maybe... We finished up in north Texas where we had dinner with Sam's brother and son. His daughter got tied up at school...she teaches at the Culinary Institute...wine. The next day we went to Corith to American Eagle Harley. Sam doesn't take notes when I mention something I'd like to have but won't spend that amount of money on...so I specifically pointed out a couple of items. ;o) Nothing was purchased so I'm assuming he will be heading to The Harley Shop in Longview between now and Christmas.Sam just stuck his head in and reported that we traveled 1892 miles.
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