Christmas Continues...

Let's see how these photos loaded...Sam called to me one evening to grab the camera...I almost missed the sunset. I've made candy several times......not to keep at home though! I need to superglue my lips together. Peanut brittle I can leave alone!
Florida Farm Girl commented on my pot. That was my grandmother's, Ruby Durham Sanford. I called her Little Mama. I have a couple of her pots, but only one this thick. This is my candy pot. I have NEVER burned candy in it. It is a thick aluminum. Of course, because of the wooden handle it is strictly hand wash. But that's okay. Even though I don't use it daily, I see it every time I open the cabinet for a pot, pan, or skillet and think of my favorite grandmother. She was such a sweetheart!

**Peanut brittle recipe is already on the blog...check the right hand side bar.

I made a mug rug for Da Judge to go along with a coffee mug I had made for her with a photo of the courthouse on it. The pattern of the square on the right is a Log Cabin variation called Courthouse Steps. I did not get a photo of the mug...but that's okay.

Sam is still working on toy boxes for the two grands. By the time he got the plans drawn, he did not have time to complete them. I took a photo of one nearing assembly completion. The above photo was printed twice and placed in cards so that the grands (and their parents) would know why they got chinchy gifts. ;-) Like the babies would even care! LOL Both sets of parents requested primer only on the bare wood. They will paint to match their decor.

Sam was going to build a regular toy box with a hinged lid. He'd commented on getting the spring loaded lid so that it wouldn't close on the kid(s). I pulled up a photo similar to the toy box my son, Jonathan, had. With the sliding doors. Sam liked it and drafted his own pattern. OH! The white sliding doors? Dry erase board!

Speaking of woodworking... ...this is the completed bed. If you remember from an earlier post, Sam built the bed at John's request...from just photos. Someone else slightly distressed it and applied the finish.

Yep. More candy. Peanut patties this time...without the red food coloring. I was going to make a double batch, but didn't have any extra sugar. THAT is unusual around here!

Christmas Eve at John and Erin's. Looks as if cousins Isabel and Colt are plotting against the parents - already! Who? US? Granny with Colt. His Papaw and Daddy finally took the bows away from me...especially after I put a pretty ribbon bow around his head and called it a "fascinator"... :-)


Isabel enjoys playing with the simple things. I untied the cord from my cell phone and handed her my "camera case"...a little something I made a few years back and initially called it a makeup bag.

Colt - Born to be WILD!!That's okay...Isabel has the new remote to the car!
Peanut Patties

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup white corn syrup
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raw peanuts
red food coloring, if desired...I don't

In a heavy pan, combine all ingredients except vanilla, peanuts, and food coloring. Bring slowly to a rolling boil. Cook about two minutes to softball stage - 238 degrees. Remove from heat immediately. Add vanilla and peanuts; and a few drops of red food coloring if desired. Cool until lukewarm. Beat until thick and creamy. Drop by spoonful on was paper.

I don't use the food coloring. It adds nothing to the candy, so why use it?

You can run some cold water in the sink and set your pan in the sink while cooling..stir please. It won't take long. IF the candy sets up before you can get it all spooned out, just reheat long enough to soften, stirring constantly.

You're NOT Going to Believe This!

Last Thursday morning when Jonathan got off work with plans to head this way as soon as everyone could get their stuff together, he walked out to the parking lot to get on his motorcycle. He found it on its side. Someone had gotten into the saddlebags hoping to find something to steal. When they/he/she found the bags to be empty, the bike was pushed over. Scratched, cracks, and it had laid on its side long enough to - I think he called it "vapor lock." Anyway...it was non-crankable. Son reports that "hydro-locked" is the correct term.

A co-worker was going to take him to Wal-Mart to see if he could get a spark plug socket...only to find that his pickup had been stolen! Poor co-worker's truck was not stolen...it was repossessed.

Jonathan and Sarah pushed it the block and a half to the motorcycle shop. He received reports on his drive up here. Back at home...nearly $200 later...

WHAT IS WITH PEOPLE?! Sorry. No account. Users and abusers! Hands out for what someone else has worked had for. Too lazy to expend energy to find a job and instead, expend more energy stealing and destroying.

Sigh.

May they/he/she someday soon face what they've done and ask for God's forgiveness. And while, most likely, will not be able to repay my son for what was done...they will help someone else.

Christmas Early

Jonathan, Sarah and her daughters came for a visit. We made fudge. I had no shortage of volunteers to lick the bowl and the spatula.

The two older girls helped make pies and cornbread. Oh. And dumplings for Friday night's turkey and dumplings!

Jonathan (aka Ducky) and Kaylee in a quiet time...she looks like, "Are you reading in English, Ducky?"We had a big dinner yesterday with Carol, Elton, and Mama. Some running around for peanuts at Traylor Farms and out to Carol and Elton's to ride the Ranger and the go-cart. Everyone but Sam went to the theatre to see "Arthur Christmas." CUTE movie...and Sam got a good dose of much needed quiet...and 100% control of the television. ;-)

Today after church we went for pizza...then to the state park.
Aren't they just so cute? Each so different in looks and personality.

Look out! Here comes trouble.

Closely followed by the rest of the gang.

My son looks so much like his dad.

They're gone now. On their way home. It is too quiet here.

Serious Laughter!

Watched Bosom Buddies today. F * U * N * N * Y**!**! Tom Hanks was so cute!!!

Then I Love Lucy. I'm getting too old to laugh that hard! Thank goodness for Depends!

Jonathan is coming this next weekend for Christmas! I am ecstatic!!! He's bringing his girlfriend and her three daughters. I've e-mailed him and asked him "what food" do I need to cook. A-waiting his answer...

Thanksgiving at Isabel's

Didn't take many photos. Sam didn't take any at all, so none with me and Isabel. BUT Isabel! Don't you love that smile?! Sunset at my house just a couple of days ago... Sam's HAM radio tower in the foreground...

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings name them one by one
Count your blessings see what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings see what God has done.

I have been blessed in so many areas of my life.

A wonderful family including two fantastic grandchildren with another on the way.

A loving husband...who WILL one day finish my cutting table for my sewing room!

The best son God could've ever given me.

Two stepchildren one of whom has told me that I'm "cool." :-D

Good health.

I am an optimist and as long as I do my part, I have faith that things will work out for good.

My mother with all her aches and pains...BUT who does not have anything seriously wrong with her stomach. Thank you God!

A great job working for a wonderful Christian woman. Fair, honest, caring. I can not use enough adjectives to describe her.

Friends. I have more friends than I can count on one hand.

Salvation. One day I will once again see my grandparents, Daddy, Ron, family and friends who started their grand adventure before me.

One Year Older

What a difference a year makes.

Colt's First Birthday

A little quiet time with Granny before leaving for the party.
What's so funny, PaPaw ? Let's get this shindig on the road! Granny's sweet Isabel was there too.
Ah, yes! The inevitable meltdown... (Colt bumped his head on the table.) But a little sweet tempered things a bit.

Don't you just love the blue eyes on these two babies?! If Isabel could just get her hands on one of those pretty fish...

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend! I would've liked more time with isabel...I will have that chance on Thanksgiving...we are going to her house.

The night before the party, Colt's parents had friends over. We ate good and visited. The guys went out to the game room to watch boxing. Colt got a bit out of sorts so his mommy put him to bed. It didn't stick and after about 15 or so minutes she got him out. I borrowed him, grabbed his favorite blanket and we walked out to sit on the deck. We listened to the neighbors' dogs. Woof-woof and yap-yap. Watched the stars...I sang...he fell asleep in my arms.

I sang to my son, Jonathan aka Ducky here, when he was little. As he got older, he and I would just about drive his daddy crazy on road trips singing. Started with the kiddie songs - Itsy Bitsy Spider...Five Little Monkeys...to Davy Crockett...to Chantilly Lace...Rain, Rain Go Away...In the Jungle. The 'don't tee-tee in your pants song' was Sing! Sing a song! Sing out loud! Sing out long!...He would sing at the top of his voice until I could get pulled over. LOL

One day, when he was about 8 or 9...maybe 10...he turned to me with an astonished look on his face. "You can't sing!" Sigh...

So sing while they are small!

Easy to See and Not So Easy to See

Fall in America = American grown apples for APPLE PIE of course! I always mix two kinds of apples in my pies. One is ALWAYS Granny Smith. I like for my apples to have some "bite" in them. This pie also had Honeycrisp, a delicious eating apple. Thank goodness I had my Grannies in this. The Honeycrisp cooked down to applesauce! But added a delicious sweetness. The Grannies are still sharp crisp slices. Just right!

The fog was really dense one morning this past week. Those are old tree stumps, normally covered but due to this year's drought, most of our area ponds are either very low or totally dried up. Many ranchers have taken the opportunity to either dig new ponds in low lying areas or clean out their existing ponds. We have had some rain, but not enough for us or any of the surrounding counties to live the summer long burn ban.

Gorgeous color showing up in pockets.How would you like to drive under this tree twice a day? I always slow down coming up to it to make as certain as possible that nothing was already cracking before I drive under it.

Every limb on the pasture side has died and fallen off. The limbs hanging over the road were green this spring, but as the summer drought and horrid heat tarried, the leaves started curling up and turning brown.

I'm hoping the owner will cut the tree down this winter. It's right beside "my" tree stump. I would love to have a better ending to this "story" than...this...

I put the first two photos on the county's brochure I put together.
http://www.co.morris.tx.us/ips/export/sites/morris/downloads/2011_Brochure_County_Government.pdf
The property owner's son stopped by to visit and the judge gave him a brochure to show his dad. I asked him to ask his dad to cut the other tree and leave it for Spring and Summer shots. I've heard nothing...

(I also took the courthouse photo. Look at those clouds!)

Facebook...

Y'all won't believe this. On Facebook, I clearly state that I'm married. My profile is set to private - anyway I thought it was...I need to check into that. Just a couple of days ago, I clicked on my Message folder. Under Messages was "Other" with a 2. Look what someone sent to me in mid-September!


**** ********
Hello

well... I am very impressed with your profile and intrigued by your beautiful eyes. Your personality of being goofy and fun loving is very attractive to me. You seem quite intelligent and have a mature perspective on life. I believe that we have much in common and that we could be a great match. My name is *********** I lost my wife and have one son.! There are so many things that I really enjoy. Here are just a few: intellectual conversation, traveling, dining our, sports, music, dancing, movies, theater, museums, art galleries, as well as cooking. I believe love and romance. I am very intelligent, energetic, loyal, respectful, positive, optimistic, romantic, caring, sensitive, compassionate, easy going,appreciative monogamous, witty, friendly, sincere, articulate, understanding, straightforward,flexible,adaptable, hardworking and easy to please. Importantly, I have a good sense of humor and like to laugh. I am a one woman man .I do not do drugs, do not abuse alcohol and do not play head games. I like to look at issues from different perspectives to achieve better understanding.like honesty and truthfulness.hate lies and cheat. looking for a descent ,caring and understanding woman who would take me for what i am. Of course, no one is perfect. There are always room to learn and to grow. To me, learning, growing, improving and maturing is a life long process. I strive to learn from my own past mistakes and shortcomings, from other people and from experts, to be a better person.Life is too short to waste.Opportunity never comes back. Let's talk, meet and get to know one another. As a matter of fact, I have much more to tell you about myself in detail. There is not enough time and space for me to elaborate here. Hopefully, we can make connection and become soul mates. If not, we can still be friends and share wisdom with each other.I believethat we have much in common and that we could be a great match. i hope u tell me a little about urself too Ok.i will looking forward to hear from you My email is **********


LOL That's it. Whaddya think? Of course everything he said about me is oh so true! He is a monogamous (spelled it correctly too) and a one-woman man. And he hits up a married woman??!! In case this is up-n-up, which I seriously doubt, I did not include his photo. From the photo, he's a good 15 and maybe 20 years younger. Hey Jonathan! You want a brother?

My Babies and...

Sam cut a small load of firewood for Brook and Cody. We delivered it last Saturday and got to play with Isabel. Cody took a work break to help Sam unload but then he had to go back to work. Brook, Isabel, Sam and I ate at "Cartwright's". They use a western theme and even had a hamburger dedicated to "Hoss" of "Bonanza" fame. I asked the waiter about the name of the restaurant...owner's last name. I told him about my tie-in with Hoss - Dan Blocker...My great grandmother, Eve Blocker Durham, was his aunt. :-D

My grandbabies are growing so big! The changes in just a few short months are incredible. Isabel was pert-near perfect at the restaurant. She found that the table height was perfect for hands-free dining. Her mom posted this on Facebook this week.

I missed seeing Colt. Sam went to visit them Monday and came home Tuesday. He's going to be building a bed and dining room table and bench for John and Erin. He went to get measurements for the bed. They finished out the 3rd floor of their A-frame for a master suite. With the sloping ceiling/walls they have to have a short headboard.

Sam got some good photos of Colt.


John sent me this one via e-mail. Not sure Colt likes walking in his Halloween lobster suit. LOL

Da Judge's husband got some bad news. He has cancer. They've been dealing with doctors and varying diagnoses for seven weeks now. He has had one radiation treatment and surgery is being scheduled.

I made a flannel quilt for him. Da Judge just looked at me so I had to amend it. I told her that it's a "comfort" quilt and could be used by whoever needs comforting. She smiled.

They covet your prayers.