Snowman tree

sitting here with a chi latte and a nice fire watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center and enjoying my little snowman tree. Have it sitting on the buffet and its covered in snowmen, snowflakes, glass icicles and white bows. A night can't be any better than this.

Queen Dolly is in San Francisco!

Queen Dolly and the royal family have made the first leg of their journey and arrived in San Francisco. They hope to be flying on to Sydney soon. I am so glad she took time to post so we could keep up with her adventures. Thanks Dolly and hope the little one is feeling much better.

Here is a picture of the tassies. This picture has chocolate across the top which you can do as decoration if you like or just leave it off. These are so goooood!

Tassies (Makes 4 Dozen)

2 cups sifted flour
2 3 ounce packages cream cheese softened
1 cup butter (softened)
Pecan filling
Cream flour, cream cheese and butter. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place each ball in an ungreased 1 3/4 inch muffin cup. Press dough onto bottom and sides of cups. Drop about 1 teaspoon Pecan filling into each pastry shell. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 25 minutes. cool and store in refrigerator.
Pecan Filling
3 tablespoons butter melted
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt.
In mixing bowl, stir together butter, eggs, brown sugar, pecans, vanilla, and salt, just until smooth. Use as directed for Tassies.

Pfeffernusse

This is a german cookie. Its a hard cookie and will keep for weeks.

8 cups flour sifted 1 1/2 cups molasses

1 cup water grated orange peel of one orange

3/4 cup shortening 1 teaspoon of cloves, allspice and cinnamon

Mix together all the ingredients but the flour and bring to a boil. Chill thoroughly, then gradually add the flour and knead into smooth dough. Let the dough stand for 2 hours. Roll very thin and cut into medium sized rounds. Bake at 350 until light brown.

Legend of the Poinsettia

Long ago a little girl wept
Beside the altar where Jesus slept
She had no jewels which she could bring
She had no Christmas bells to ring
She feel asleep, an angel came
And whispered softly her sweet name
Tomorrow pluck a weed and wait
Beside the altar until late
Then we will see what we will see
For I will walk there close to thee
Tomorrow came and the weed was placed
Upon the altar and properly graced
Before her eyes a blossom appeared
So vivid and beautiful she feared
To touch the delicate petals of red
With a humble heart she bowed her head
Then once again the angel came
And whispered softly the Poinsettia's name.
By Eunice Lewis Rice

Set up my snowman tree on the buffet and found that I had taken Dimples favorite spot to set and look at the window and nap. She doesn't seem to mind and I just have to set some of the snowmen back up. Have 4 small trees up around the house and so far the cats haven't tried to smack at the ornaments or bother the trees. Have been addressing our Christmas cards and almost halfway thru. I want to start wrapping gifts today so I can see what's left to make or purchase. Our family weekend Christmas is a week from Friday so I have lots to do. I fed my sourdough starter last night and now its time to make bread. Think I will give some bread as gifts to friends. I am making homestead stew to can for one son in law. That's all he wanted me to give him so am canning it in pint jars as his gift. Its still raining here so I have a good day to finish up projects and chores here at the homestead. Hope you are enjoying your day and having fun getting ready for the holidays.

Give Me an Old-Fashioned Christmas

Give me an old-fashioned Christmas
With the ground all covered with snow
When all those who roam, shall try to get home
No matter how far they must go.
Give me a bright cozy kitchen
With everyone busy and gay
Where it smells so nice with foods that entice
Each a favorite for Christmas day
Give me the family all together
Each one in their usual place.
Where the feasting is done
with much cheer and fun
And a smile upon each face.
Where there are children about
to laugh and to shout
And plenty of holiday bliss.
Give me a tree from the forest
That is fresh and fragrant and green.
One trimmed with delight till its festive and bright
And really quite splendid to see.
Where family tradition is followed
And loved as the holiday nears.
Every trinket and ball is cherished by all
and treasured throughout the years.
Give me a Christmas with gifts of love
Though they might be simple and small
When the folks really care and kind thoughts are there
I surely shall treasure them all.
Give me a Christmas where love abounds
And Christ is the honored guest.
Where the church bells ring and the people sing
And the day is especially blessed.
Give me a Christmas so pleasant
That it shall remain in my heart.
And in each future year when memories appear
It shall be a Christmas apart.

What a crazy day I am having. I got all my items together for my seasonal swap and had so much fun wrapping them and arranging them in this adorable box. I placed everything carefully and put that box and items inside a shipping box, taped it up tight, made a large mailing label and taped that on nice and snug.... Only to turn around and see that I left out the card! I found a special card and had written in the card why I chose the items and how special my swap partner is to me. I am mailing the card anyway and will have to explain to her why she gets a card talking about a package that hasn't arrived yet! THEN I go to send her an email to let her know what I did only to click on the wrong address and send it to another person that is wondering what the heck I am talking about cause they don't remember joining this swap! So I have sent her an email telling her I am a dunce twice today and its still early. Hopefully the card, package and last of my Christmas hankies will go out in the morning and I will have completed my swaps for now. My stocking went out last week and I am sure it went to the right person..... Um I better go check! Amy thank you so much for the cute Christmas card.. I love the puppy!

Happy Birthday Mother

Bonnie Marie-November 28,1923-January 14,2005

Her friends called her Bonnie, her 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren called her Nannie Bonnie. Her children, well we called her Mother. We never called her mommy or mom. From the time we could talk it was always Mother. It was a respect she wanted and got from her children. Mother went through so much in her lifetime. She had 3 sons and 2 daughters. She buried a son that died at 18 months old from a rattle snake bite. She had another son while her husband was on a ship during WWII. Mother moved from her mountain home and family when her husband came home from war and wanted to go to barber school. The only one in the state was in Winston Salem. She not only kept the home up and meals on the table while taking care of 2 boys she worked so her husband could go to school fulltime. They moved back to the mountains so her husband could have his barbershop and she had 2 daughters. She continued to work fulltime while teaching her children how to cook and take care of the home. All of her children grew up and left home able to cook, clean, iron, sew, garden, and everything else that was needed to take care of ones self. Mother was at church every time the doors were open. We never ask if we were going to church, we knew we were. We also knew that the allowance we received on Saturday had to have 10% taken out for tithe before we spent any of it. Mother had to bury one of her daughters after a long bout with melanoma. She also went through a divorce after being married 28 years when divorce was a hush hush subject. She held her head up and went on years later to marry a wonderful man who she had to bury 20 years later from cancer. Mother later battled colon cancer with surgery and strong treatments that made her very weak and ill. She was cancer free for 2 years and found she had liver cancer which the doctors told her was untreatable and she only had 6 months. Mothers words were no one would tell her when she was going to die and lived for almost 2 years. Not one time in anything that came mothers way did I hear her ask why. Not once did I hear her complain or cry that so much heartache had came her way. She remained strong to the very end, making sure she had everything in order and that every family member had something of hers. She got to see a grandson that she hadn't seen since he was a child and he brought his new born son with him. She was very happy and ready to go be with her love ones that were waiting to take her home. She died with a smile on her face and her hand on my cheek as I was telling her the angels were there to take her home and that we would be fine and stay strong for each other. I am so blessed to have had her as a mother. We had our ups and downs and she could really give me a hard time if she didn't like what I was doing or saying but she was always there for me, always ready to forgive me, always ready to forget and go on. She was there for me at the beginning and I am blessed I was there for her at the end. I was blessed I had the strength to talk to her about God and heaven and our loved ones there waiting. I was blessed I was able to see that smile and feel that touch and say I love you one last time and say goodbye. Today I can't feel that touch or see that smile except in my heart but I can say Happy Birthday Mother and Thank You for being my mother and making me who I am today. I love you Mother!

Homemade Gift For A Baker

Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar

"This is a great Christmas or birthday gift. Everybody loves to bake, yet no one has the time. It is a thoughtful gift for the busy person in your life. And by the way, the cookies are delicious!" Original recipe yield: 3 dozen
INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar, layer dark brown sugar, white sugar, cocoa, chopped pecans, and chocolate chips. Pack everything down firmly before you add flour mixture, it will be a snug fit.
Attach a tag with the following instructions: Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
2. Empty cookie mix into large bowl. Thoroughly blend mixture with hands. Mix in 3/4 cup softened butter or margarine, 1 egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Shape into walnut size balls, and place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.
3. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet, then move to wire racks.

Sorry I posted the recipe below without thinking some of you don't know what molasses are. Here is a link that can explain them better than I can. But take my word if you have a hot fresh biscuit out of the oven nothing tastes better on it than molasses. And I am talking a southern biscuit not a cookie. LOL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses

Moravian Molasses Cookies

This is a recipe from the Winkler Bakery in Old Salem in Winston Salem, North Carolina.They are a thin crispy cookie made from a recipe from 1800. Be warned though that this recipes makes sevn or eight POUNDS of cookies. You can cut it in half and it works great for gift giving.

1 lb. light brown sugar 6 oz. butter 6 oz. shortening

1 quart molasses 2 rounded tablespoons soda 1/2 cup boiling water

4 lbs. flour 2 tablespoons cloves 2 tablespoons ginger

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Melt shortening and butter until it bubbles and add to sugar. Stir in the molasses. Dissolve soda in boiling water and add to mixture. Sift in flour and add spices. The dough should be almost stiff to roll. Cover and let set overnight. Do not refrigerate. On floured board, roll dough as thin as possible. Cut with cookie cutters and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 275 for exactly 10 minutes. Let cookies cool before removing from pans.

This is a picture of one of the 19 trees I had last year. It was my snowman winter wonderland tree. All the decorations in this room were snowmen, snow related or just white. This year I am only putting up small trees in each room as our family Christmas weekend will be at Maggie's in Tennessee. We haven't finished the house yet so am not ready for that many people or up to that many trees. This is the mantel where I hung 21 stockings across filled to the brim with gifts and candies to only have some of them melt..... wonder why???? LOL If you see the packages underneath they are all wrapped in brown shipping paper and tied with raffata. Each year I try to wrap my presents in a different way. This year I am going simple with wrapping everything in white tissue and tied with simple string. I just love having Christmas traditions!

Remembered Christmas

It was Christmas Eve in the old homestead
With windows draped in the same rich red
That everyone present remembered well
From his first year under the Christmas spell
The Christmas tree pine-sweet and tall
Had its sparse side pressed against the wall
And its spire branch topped by a homemade star
Snipped from tin by an ancestor
Long forgotten. The gifts were trapped
In holly boxes or tautly wrapped
In tissue paper that was so thin
It couldn't keep the secrets in
Each time the hall door opened wide
To let more kin and drafts inside
The cousins gathered to kiss those seen
Only at Christmas The months between
Were so forgotten one might believe
that it was still last Christmas Eve
Or even the Christmas Eve before
Or back still further,a hundred more
Till all of the family living and dead
Was Christmasing in the old homestead.
by Julia Hurd Strong

Turn Up Your Sound.. Great Song Playing

When the girls were small they sat down in front of the fireplace to play a brand new sesame street board game. They kept fighting over the game and I kept having to referee. Finally I gave my last warning. One more fight and the game is going into the fire! Well a few minutes later there was another fight so I walked over, picked up the game and calmly threw it in the fire. I wish I had taken a picture of the faces on those 3 girls! Well 2 years ago we had childhood memory Christmas and I went on eBay and searched for a sesame street game. I wrapped it up and after all the gifts were opened I gave the 3 of them that package to open. They loved it and had a good laugh until they started arguing over who got to take it home! Their kids didn't understand what all the fuss was since it wasn't electronic.

Turn Up Your Sound For A Special Song

Each year when we have our family Christmas weekend one of the things we do is paint a Christmas ornament. Those ornaments go on a special tree. 2 years ago Megan decided to mix a few colors and her ornament turned out kinda weird looking. We gave her a hard time and she tried hiding it but I found it and hung it on the tree. The picture I have posted is of last Christmas. Some of the grandkids are painting their stain glass ornaments. We painted in shifts because there were 21 of us last year. The ornaments may not win any art awards but as I hang them on the tree I can see how special each one is to me. For each daughter, son in law and grandchild's love of Christmas magic can be seen in every ornament. So when this tree is set up with all the ornaments on I can sit back and enjoy the magic of Christmas.... The love of family.

Bon Bons

2 Boxes of powder sugar
1 stick butter (melted)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can eagle brand milk
1 cup nuts
Mix together. Roll into balls and chill. Dip into one 12oz package of semi sweet chocolate chips. place on waxpaper till chocolate dries.

Yes, I know its crooked but I am tired! This is my youngest daughter Megan with her husband Brian and their children Quintin and Gabby. This was taken last year. I just wanted to post a family picture since all of you have been keeping Brian in your prayers while he is in Iraq. He read all the comments left by everyone when I posted about him for Thanksgiving. He was really touched by each one. So thanks from him to you, and from me... Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers ...... It's going to be a rough Christmas for them being apart. I have done yardwork all afternoon and this morning I sorted Christmas decorations to give to the girls. I have decorations from our house in Lexington and from the antique shop plus the decorations I had here....... I have way too many so an trying to be a nice mom and share with the girls. But if they fight over them I am going to throw them in the fireplace and burn them. Ask them about their sesame street game . I have 3 trees up so far. I have decided not to put up the 2 large trees up this year but am putting up trees in each room and other decorations. I will do the large trees next year when we are finished redoing the house. Have a yummy pot of turkey noodle soup so think I will go have a bowl........ Have a great weekend.

Christmas Past

The memories most endearing
No matter where we roam
Are those of Christmas past
In a place we knew as home
The magic of the season
With scent of wax and pine
The aroma from the kitchen
That beckoned us to dine
The dancing lights upon the tree
That cast their Yuletide spell
The joyous song of carolers
Peace on earth Noel
The treasured scenes of yesteryear
Could prayer but make them last
Traditions of the heart live on
In dreams of Christmas past.
by David Hay

Christmas Memories

Each year I have a special tree that I set up. I call it my Memory Tree. On this tree the ornaments are different from a normal Christmas tree. Each ornament has a name of a family member that is passed away. The tree also has small antique frame pictures of those family members. My collection of angels set on each side of the tree and my nativity set is under the tree. This year I had a strange moment. As I was hanging each ornament and thinking about that family member I reach for my dads ornament and it was like a slap in the face. I would have to make an ornament for mother! Mother passed away last January and I have accepted and dealt with it but for some reason the memory tree really brought out the fact she won't be here in person. My memory tree is up and each of our precious family members that have passed have ornaments hung and lots of memories have been thought about. Their pictures are setting among the branches.... Except for mother. I will put her name on an ornament tonight and find a special picture to frame for the tree. Then I will turn all the lights off except for the Christmas trees and sit with a cup of tea and remember my Christmas pasts with mother. And I am blessed that I have so many memories of Christmas with her. The picture is of my first husband and our daughters. This is a picture of their last Christmas with their dad before he died. His ornament and picture is placed on the tree every year. Though he wasn't with them many years the girls have so many memories of their dad. Maggie loves to tell about how her daddy would go up on the roof and make footprints in the snow and shake jingle bells so she would think Santa was on the roof. We had a dairy farm so he would even leave "reindeer" poop in the yard for her to think the reindeer left it. Melody likes to tell about her daddy going to her daycare dressed up as Santa. Megan remembers the year all her daddy bought her was a glow warm but she had wanted one so bad that she didn't even think about that's all he bought her. She doesn't even remember what Santa brought or anyone else got her.. Just the glow worm. We all may feel very sad and depressed during the holidays but if we stop to enjoy all the memories that our family members have made with us we can smile and be blessed to have had them for the time given us. We can feel comfort in knowing we have special angels looking over us. I know I am very blessed to have such special angels in my life and such wonderful memories to last me a lifetime. So to honor a memory of the girls dad I have put the music "Little Drummer Boy" on my blog. That was his favorite Christmas Carol. Take time to enjoy your Christmas memories and don't forget to count your blessings with each one!

Triple Surprise Cookies

1/2 cup plus 3 TBS butter divided 1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup brown sugar packed 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 egg yolk Walnut halves

1/2 tsp almond extract 12 large marshmallows cut in half

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl cream 1/2 cup butter with sugar. Stir in the egg yolk, extract and salt. Gradually add flour. Mix well Place dough onto waxed paper and form into a roll. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until firm. Preheat oven to 350. Slice dough into 1/4 inch thick slices. Press a walnut half into the UNDERSIDE of each cookie and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until set. Remove baking sheet from oven. Place 1/2 of a marshmallow onto the top of each hot cookie. Return to oven until marshmallows have melted. Remove from oven and cool slightly. In a double boiler combine chocolate chips and 3 TBS butter. Heat and stir until melted. Spoon one teaspoon of chocolate mixture over top of each cookie. Remove cookies to wire rack to set until cooled. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

May Your Christmas Be Blessed

May your Christmas be blessed
With the joys of old
Filling the heart with gifts untold
Friends at the doorway
Bustling good cheer
Carolers singing the songs we hold dear
May your Christmas be blessed
With the homiest things
The warmth of a hearth, a kettle that sings
A snug little house with loved ones near
And a heart filled with blessings
To last through the year.
by Mildred L. Jarrell

Shopping Secret

You know how you like to go to thrift stores, Goodwills, and second hand shops? Well now you can search for those bargains without leaving your home! You can search thru Goodwill shops from all over the United States and find all kinds of treasures! It works similar to eBay but items are much less costly. In one evening I got brand new still in the box and wrappings Eight different game cube games for my grandsons, 3 1894 cast iron Wagner skillets, a three stooges doll and spent next to nothing including shipping! You can click on estimate shipping cost before you bid. They have everything from antiques to vintage linens to clothes to electronics.... check it out. I am hooked!

First Christmas Tip of the Season

Here is a great Christmas ornament recipe. These are very easy to make but they ARE NOT edible.

cinnamon Ornaments
1cup applesauce
1cup cinnamon
3TBS. Elmers glue

Mix all together and roll out like cookie dough. Use Christmas cookie cutters. Take a straw to make a hole at the top for ribbon. Place the ornaments on wax paper and let dry for a week at least. Put ribbon thru the hole and hang on tree for a wonderful smell and ornament!

Seven Blessings

On this day of giving thanks here are 7 blessing I am very thankful for. God gave us grandchildren as a reward for having children! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't forget to count your blessings!

One of the Many Things I am Thankful For

As families sit down to their Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow my son in law will be patrolling in Iraq. He won't be sitting down with his wife, son, and daughter. He won't be at his mom's table this year or watching football with his younger brother. Brian is on his second tour in Iraq and is making sure his soldiers have a Thanksgiving dinner and keeps their spirits up. If Brian sees a soldier doesn't get mail he lets Megan know and she passes the soldiers address on to members of the family. The soldier gets mail (sometimes too much). Brian makes sure they get care packages like everyone else. He shares his play station, electronic dartboard, DVD's and anything else he has there to make sure his soldiers don't get too homesick. Brian has had to see and do things that we could never imagine yet he always stay happy when talking with you. He told us funny stories of his first tour when he came home so he could ease our worry about him. He made sure he brought gifts for all of us and made each family member feel special when he thanked us for writing and sending packages. Brian loves his family very much and will be getting out of the army when he returns home this time. That doesn't stop him from giving his all while he is still in Iraq. He isn't complaining about being away from home for Thanksgiving and Christmas because he is too busy doing his job and making sure his soldiers are handling the holidays okay. So Brian when I give thanks for all God has blessed me with. I am going to put you at the top of the list. I am thankful my daughter has you for a husband. I am thankful Quintin and Gabby have you for a dad. I am thankful your soldiers have you to watch out for them. I am thankful that you are always there when I need you. I am thankful you are my son in law. Happy Thanksgiving Brian! We will celebrate again when you get home.

Take time to think
Take time to pray
Take time to laugh
It is the source of power
It is the greatest power on earth
It is the music of the soul
Take time to play
Take time to love and be loved
Take time to give
It is the secret of perpetual youth
It is God's given privilege
It is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to read
Take time to be friendly
Take time to work
It is the fountain of wisdom
It is the road to happiness
It is the price of success
Take time to do charity
It is the key to heaven

(On the wall at Sisters of Mercy Children's Home, Caleutta, India)

I read this story over on Dena's blog and just had to bring it over here so I could have some friends laughing with me! This is a hoot!
along.

DON'S MOM AND THE TURKEYIt all started in July at a grocery store promotion. "How large is this turkey?" the local grocery store asked. Guesses ran to 30 pounds or so, but actually it was 42 pounds. This was, needless to say, a "large" turkey. But in July, no one wanted the turkey, and it was put in the freezer till a more auspicious time.And so it came to pass that Mom was in the store just before the Holidays in 1994, and since she is a naturally talkative person, she struck up a conversation with the butcher at the counter. "I need a kind of big turkey for my family coming," said Mom. To which the butcher replied, "Well, if you are looking for a big turkey, I may have just the thing." And he hauled out the 42-pound bird for Mom."Nice big bird," said Mom, "but it would cost far too much for my fixed income budget.""Here's the deal," said the friendly butcher. "I can't move this bird at all at the usual price. No one wants a bird this big, so tell you what I'll do. I'll sell you this turkey for 49 cents a pound."Mom, being nobody's fool, thought that such a purchase would be entirely reasonable. After all, twenty bucks for a really BIG turkey would be a reasonable price. And besides, of such stuff are Really Neat Family Legends made. (Little did she know.)"Sold," said Mom.It took four days to thaw out.I showed up in Fargo two days before, and Mom was all a-twitter with ideas for how to put on a family dinner tour de force. We are talking "major" stuffing here. And so, off we went to the various stores to purchase dinner-making stuff.Let me point out something important here. No one makes a roasting bag to handle a 40 pound turkey. And few roasters can handle it either. So we bought one of those nifty open aluminum roasting pans, figuring to cover it with, oh, an acre or two of aluminum foil.But there were some other interesting engineering problems to deal with. Like how to lift it. "No problem," said Mom, "we'll just get some cheesecloth, wrap the bird in a kind of sling, and lift it that way." Elegant solution. Mom, methinks, has missedher true calling of engineer.And so, the Night Before, figuring we'd need a really long cooking time, we stuffed, slung, positioned, covered, vented the bird, and popped it in the oven at about 1:30 a.m. And so to bed, for a long winter's nap. Wrong.At 3:15 a.m., I heard my Mom calling my name. Now you have to understand, when things are going well, I am "Don" to everyone, including Mom. But when that is not the case, I become "Donald." And Mom has a special way of saying Donald. "Donald," she said, "oh, Donald!"I responded groggily. "What? Whatsamatter?" I know Mom, and waking folks at 3:15 a.m. is just not her style."Donald," she said, "we have a problem.""What," I responded, "problem do we have?""Our turkey is running over," said Mom. The shift from "the" turkey to "our" turkey was subtly done, in retrospect. At thetime, it was effective. This was now a joint crisis.For those who do not see such things clearly, it turns out that turkeys, in the process of cooking, release large quantities of juices, which for normal birds often later becomes gravy. For this bird, it had become a flood, and had overflowed the all-too-shallow roasting pan into the bottom of a hot oven.Smoke. Small apartment. Smoke detectors at 3:16 a.m., roughly corresponding to opening the oven door. And cleaning turkey juices from the bottom of a hot oven at 3:19 a.m. is No Easy Thing, I can assure you. Many towels, not of the paper variety. Even some other cloth materials I still do not recognize. Mom is ready for any crisis of spill, it seems.And so it got cleaned up. The towels got put in the washer at about 3:30 a.m., the fans blew the smoke out of the apartment. The smoke detectors got reset, and so to bed, for an altogether shorter winter's nap.Wrong again.The turkey overflowed again at 5:20 a.m. Same scenario, in all relevant ways. We tried to suck up some of the juices from the roaster, but the turkey baster bulb was bad, and wouldn't create a vacuum. Smoke alarms, much general good-natured grousing, and Mom standing around saying gratuitous things like "If I had knownthis would happen, I never would have bought that darned turkey."There is no way an eldest son can respond to that appropriately, other than with variations on a theme of, "Oh, it's all right, Mom. This is just Another Neat Adventure on the Road of Life, and Someday We'll All Laugh At This Together." So we each played our preordained roles in the crisis, and by that time, it was time to shower and shave and get ready for the siblings, grandchildren, etc., and just hang out.By about 11:30 a.m., the tiny kitchen was crowded with sisters, each moving in a mysterious choreography, getting in each other's way, using the Very Dish That I Needed for things like glorified rice and other holiday dishes, and the general buzz of BigHoliday Meal Preparation.And when the time came to lift the bird, out it came in Mom's cheesecloth sling, just as nice as you please, and if I do say so myself, it looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting on its platter.Much frenetic activity followed, including the required Making of the Gravy from what remained of the copious turkey juices in the bottom of the pan. Mom is not one of your cornstarch gravy people. She does a flour paste, mixing it thoroughly and putting it in a bowl, thereafter to be stirred into the gravy juices for several minutes, and it really is quite wonderful.Now I have to tell you, I was standing right there, and I don't know how it happened. But somehow, the white glass bowl with the flour/water mixture in it ended up on top of the stove. On a burner. Which was on. The bowl was opaque white glass, not Pyrex,and not made for this kind of insult.And the bowl exploded.I don't mean cracked and fell apart, I mean "exploded," with a loud bang, and the throwing waist-high of glass splinters mixed with flour and water all around the kitchen, including onto the aforementioned hot burner, which promptly gave off a cloud of smoke, setting off the aforementioned smoke alarms yet again, which caused the smallest children to panic and cry -- well, you get the idea.Rising (well, stooping actually) to the occasion, I: a. turned off the burner b. threw everyone out of the kitchen c. disconnected the smoke alarm d. opened the windows e. started to clean up the messMom had been standing there all this time, watching this happen with an air of almost mystic detachment. I was looking directly at her when she recovered her equanimity. "Darn!," said Mom, "That was my last flour. I'll have to go to the store and getsome more." And she put her coat on and out the door she went.Leaving yours truly to once again reorganize the scene. And when she got back with flour, about 15 minutes later, all was again In Order, and the day progressed more or less uneventfully.The dinner was magnificent. The quantity and quality of the leftovers were astonishing. It was, in every possible way, AnEvent of Significance.But (you may already have surmised) it was Not Yet Over.Afterwards, the sisters took over the kitchen, cleaning everything up and generally fulfilling the role of Dutiful Daughters (no sexism implied, as I had already fulfilled the role of Dutiful Son for most of the previous long winter's night),packing the dishwasher, putting stuff away, etc.And, as it turned out, Turning On the Self-Cleaning Oven.Now, for those not familiar with the technology, SCOs heat themselves up to a relatively high temperature, lock themselves (this is important) with a solenoid so that no one can open them again, then heat WAY up and literally burn the stuff off the inside, reducing it to a fine ash that can easily be wiped out oreven sucked out with a small vacuum cleaner.Remember the turkey juice that had overflowed?Well, there was still a fair amount of it left on the bottom of the oven. We had not gotten around to sponging it out, and the late-arriving sister didn't know that needed to be done.So, oven REALLY hot and locked, turkey juice on the bottom, and a vent for excess heat.Smoke.Not just a little smoke; we are talking SMOKE here -- billows of smoke, clouds of acrid smoke, really serious smoke.And the aforementioned smoke alarms, causing little children topanic and cry.Open windows, and smoke billows out. Open doors to hallway, and smoke fills the entire apartment complex. Which, of course, has its own smoke alarms and automatic fire department call relays.And we can't open the oven, which takes a while to cool down, and still pours smoke out the vents.So, smoke, alarms, neighbors, fire department folks. We gave them all some fudge, put fans in the windows, and assured everyone that The Situation is Temporary and Really Under Control. Mom moved wraith-like through it all, and kept saying "Boy, we're going to remember this one for a long time."

Well, I have been going thru withdrawal! Phone and internet have been off for the past few hours and I couldn't get my blog reading fix for the day! Called in and they had me outside opening the phone box and checking different things only to find out that the state that was mowing the sides of the road ran over the box that was there! Anyway I am back and can catch up on the blogs while my sourdough bread bakes. I have my squash and sweet potato casseroles in the fridge.2 pumpkin pies baked, green beans ready to be cooked, pan of dressing ready to be baked, turkey ready to pop in the oven, cranberry sauce all ready, creamed corn ready to cook, have my potatoes so I can peel and cook them for mashed potatoes, and stuff to make my giblet gravy. Everything is ready to go so just waiting til Turkey day so we can enjoy our meal and be thankful for all we have. Nice cold day today so I have a fire going and the house smells like baking bread. The cats are laying by the fire and I am relaxing with a mug of hot cocoa..... Life is good! Enjoy your internet, do a little baking, relax with your pets and have a great day!

Cooking Secrets

I am making my pies today and decided I would share my secret for flaky pie crust. This is the recipe my mother's mother gave me. She could make the best pies and cakes around! I am also going to pass on my secret for out of this world mash potatoes. Instead of boiling your potatoes in water, boil them in chicken broth. When you are ready to mash them, use real butter and couple tablespoons of sourcream. When you add your salt and pepper add a little pinch of garlic powder and parsley. Now for the pie crust......

3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup BOILING water
1 TBS. Milk
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. Salt
Put shortening in medium bowl and add water and milk. Break up shortening with a fork. Tilt bowl and beat with fork in quick cross the bowl strokes until mixture is smooth and thick. Sift flour and salt onto shortening. With vigorous round the strokes stir quickly forming dough that clings together and cleans the sides of the bowl. Pick up dough and work into a smooth flat round. Divide in half and form two balls. Roll out and make 2 crusts.

So now you have the family secret of great pie crusts and mash potatoes....... Have a great Thanksgiving!

Little Acts of Kindness

Little acts of kindness may
Chase somebody's blues away
A smile, a look, a fond hello
Is a gift that you can bestow
When a soul is in distress
And they send an SOS
A smile can go a long long way
When a life has gone astray
Don't be afraid to say hello
Or help someone who's felling low
For smiles will lift one's spirit up
And happiness will fill his cup
Little acts of kindness bring
A happiness awakening
So with a smile and friendly nod
Give the gift that comes from God
By Nora M. Bozeman

I Got Mail

Haven't had a chance to take a pic of the postcard and Christmas card I received. Thank you Ms. Robyn for the lovely postcard, it was a nice surprise to come home to. And Jeanne, I love the Christmas card and the holiday tea! You are truly a sweet friend. It is nice and rainy here tonight so I have been reading my mail and paying bills while drinking Chia latte. I love that tea latte and am hooked! Well I had better get up and check my fire. Everyone have a nice evening. (or day depending on where you are).

I am back! Had a very busy time but still have lots to do when I go back. You never realize how much stuff you have until you move.... Then I think it grows while you pack and move it. Wonderful weather while gone. Not too cold nor too hot to work. Brought my van packed full of Christmas decorations and that isn't even half of them. Will sort and see what I will use and what I will pass on to family. This year William and I will be having our Thanksgiving alone. It will be so nice to be able to cook together and eat our dinner and yes we are still having all the dishes I usually fix just smaller portions. Since we are having our Christmas weekend soon after Thanksgiving it was just too much traveling for one day when we will all be together right after Thanksgiving. William is on his way to Chicago and will be home Wednesday night . We have several projects we want to get done around the homestead while he is home so I am working on my honey do list and he is working on his. Haven't had a chance to check everyone's blogs yet but can't wait to see what all of you have been up to! I also haven't checked my mail but I did see a postcard and a Christmas card in the mix. When I sit down to open everything I will post pictures. We are finally getting much needed rain as our water supply was getting low all over the state. So I have a nice rainy day to catch up on the blogs and snailmail plus my email box is full. Everyone have a wonderful day, enjoy your weather, and enjoy your family!

I will be away from the computer for a few days. I am going to the old house to get some work done there and to start working on cleaning out the storage building. Everyone try to behave while I am gone and if you don't at least post about it so I can read it when I get back! Finally getting nice winter cold weather here and it is wonderful. Nothing gets you in a holiday mood like nice cold weather. So make sure you got your turkey, bake a pie, light a fire and snuggle down with a good book..... See everyone in a few days.

Its not a picture of pilgrims but close! This is a picture of a wagon train that goes thru Franklin, NC every year. The boy standing next to the wagon wheel with the hat on is the girls dad (my first husband). The wagon train always stopped and camped overnight at the farm and they let the neighborhood kids ride in the wagons before they settled down for the night. I have a picture somewhere on my girls at the wagon train when they were small... Have to dig it out. Our ancestors had to travel in wagons to get to their homes or go to town. My dads parents came across a mountain with one wagon that was loaded with everything they had so the kids and grandma had to walk every step. My grandpa who was German married grandma who was Cherokee and if that wasn't bad enough she was divorced when that was considered a terrible sin! They left the small town that had been their home and their families so they could start their life together. It was hard on them because their families wouldn't have anything to do with them after they married. They lived 15 miles out of town and back then that was a long way by horse. Grandma become the community nurse and midwife. She used lots of herbs for the sick and injured. When my dad was born premature he only weighed 2 pounds and wasn't expected to live. Grandma made a bed for him in a shoebox, put the shoebox in the warming oven of the wood cookstove and made her own incubator. Grandma used a lot of the Indian ways to treat people and she also tried to pass them on to her grandchildren. Grandma died 2 days before her 103rd birthday. So this Thanksgiving I will be thankful for my pilgrim ancestors that came to this land but I also will be thankful for my Indian ancestors for being here to greet and help the pilgrims thru the first winter.

I refuse to give in to the Christmas spirit til after Thanksgiving! I am changing the station if I hear Christmas carols on the radio. I am not going to watch any Christmas movies until after next Thursday. Yes, I am making gifts and looking in second hand stores for gifts and getting gifts ready to mail to my swap partners. Those are things I have to do in order to meet deadlines. I am not going to get out all the decorations until after Thanksgiving dinner. I am not going to start wrapping gifts and sending cards until after Thanksgiving. I always start decorating Thanksgiving night and I plan on doing that again this year. 2 of my daughters have trees up already! Have to add that Megan's tree is a support your troops tree and decorated in red white and blue with yellow ribbons and will stay up till her husband Brian comes home.I admit I would love to start decorating and putting up all the trees around the house. I love Christmas but I also love Thanksgiving. Life seems to be rushed enough without me helping rush the holidays. Secretly I really really want to start the Christmas celebration but I promised myself I would carry on the tradition of starting that holiday after we celebrate Thanksgiving. So all my blog neighbors start decorating your blogs, start posting pictures and ideals for Christmas and I can go to your sites and celebrate a little early and I won't be cheating!!! Until next Thursday I will have fall decorations and Thanksgiving pictures on my blog and in my house. Right after dinner next Thursday...... Watch out for the Flurry!!! Cause I will be a Christmas decorating speed demon!

Cranberry Salad

2 pkgs. fresh or frozen cranberries, well washed and drained
6-8 oranges (depending on size) scrubbed well
2 large cans crushed pineapple (well drained) save juice
3 pkgs. raspberry jello
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts
Using food chopper- quarter oranges and grind in chopper (skin and all) add cranberries to choper and grind on top of oranges saving all juices. Mix juice with pineapple juice and place in saucepan- put aside. Stir cranberry and orange mixture, mixing as evenly as possible and blend in pineapples. (let stand) Bring juice to slow boil and add jello. Stir until dissolved. Add sugar to juices and let cool for a few minutes. Mix all ingredients, ground ornages, cranberries, jello juices and nuts. Pour into large container and cover with saran wrap. Place in refrigerator and let set overnight. This recipe is large so cut in half if yu plan to serve only a few people. Do not dilute jello, use juices left over from grinding oranges, cranberries and pineapples.

Squash Casserole

6-8 small yellow squash
1 small onion (diced)
1 small carrot (diced)
1 stick butter
1 pkg. unseasoned cornbread stuffing mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (80z) container of sourcream
1/2 cup grated medium sharp cheese
salt and pepper
Boil squash tender, drain and cool. Melt butter, saute onions and carrots. Add stuffing mix and mix well. Cover half of baking dish with some of this mixture. Add squash and salt and pepper in layers. Mix soup and sour cream and pour over each layer. Sprinkle with cheese and top with rest of stuffing mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes