Wishing You the Best 2006 Has to Offer

We had sparkling grape juice, pizza, chips and dips, hat, horns poppers filled with streamers (which are all over my livingroom)... Happy New Year!

Sad and Happy News

2005 is ending with a death and a homecoming. My brother called tonight to tell me our Uncle Jerry (mother's brother) had passed away. He had been in hospice since the 22nd with lung cancer. He is the man with the dark jacket on in the picture. My mother, her other brother Jack and my sister Gaye are the others in the picture. They were celebrating birthdays since they all were born in November. Sadly none of them are alive today. Uncle Jerry was the baby of the large family and was only 65. He has no wife or children so his nieces and nephews were the ones he loved spending time with. He was a quiet shy man who would spend hours watching us play in the creek or outside without complaining or trying to get us to go inside. He listened to everything we had to say and never interrupted or acted like he was bored. He made us feel like what we said or did was just as important as any adult. He was very upset when mother died and filled my heart with stories of her life growing up. I know that when Jerry took his last breath that Mother was there reaching out to meet him so he wouldn't leave this life alone. Goodbye Uncle Jerry and give our loved ones hugs and kisses for me. As for the happy news. Megan got a call from Brian's unit and they are on their way home from Iraq! He will be arriving earlier than planned so she is rushing around to get things done before he gets home.They will call her 24 hours before Brian's plane lands at Ft. Stewart so she will let me know and I will take the children home. They are very excited so I haven't told them about Uncle Jerry. Our little New Years party is still on and they have everything planned for out big night. This time last year I was helping get mother moved from the hospital to a hospice center. William and I spent Christmas and New Years sitting with her. I wish I had been sitting with Jerry but he was surrounded by brothers and nieces and nephews and he knew he was in my prayers.2005 has brought a lot of sadness and pain to our family so I am praying that 2006 will bring us joy and happiness. I also pray it will bring us peace and health around the world.

Are You Ready To Party?

We are! We got our table all set to party 2005 away and horns and streamer poppers to party in 2006. We have sparkling grape juice, chips, dip, cookies,and mini chicken sandwiches. We got "Milo and Otis", "The King and I" and "Chilly Dogs" dvd's to watch til midnight. This old grandma and her 2 sidekicks are going to party the night away!!! What better way to bring in the New Year than with 2 precious blessings. So how are you celebrating the New Year?

Quiet Day at the Homestead

Quintin, Gabby and I have spent a nice quiet day doing various things. We took a trip to the post office and stopped by Rino's which was next door. I am behind the times as I didn't have any ideal what type store it was. The grandkids did though and we left there with a playstation 2 game for Quintin and a gameboy game for Gabby. They are outside now doing some chores to pay for them. We then went on to pick up a few groceries and our New Year party hats, horns etc. We plan on watching movies til right before midnight then watching the ball drop at Times Square on TV. The kids have been really good by making their beds and putting their dirty laundry in the hamper. They have kept their toys and things picked up. Quintin even washed his and Gabby's supper dishes last night! I sure am going to miss these two when they go home. But I am also going to be ready for a little rest because I am not as young as I need to be to keep up with these two! They have worn their selves out also because they went to bed at 9:30 last night and I woke them up at 10am this morning! Megan says they never sleep in with her. That's why I decided we needed a slow day today. They don't mind and look forward to relaxing with their games this evening after we take the dogs for a walk. Enjoy your day, relax a little, enjoy your family, and don't forget to have a slow day once in a while.

Goodbye Christmas

Today the trees came down and the Christmas decorations were packed away. As I took down the Christmas cards that I had hung around the doorway I stopped to read each one again. I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. Thank each of you for the beautiful cards, gifts, vintage hankies, and lovely notes. I have kept the cards and am going to make Christmas placemats later on. Christ must really have had a great birthday because the gifts of love and friendship given this year. I am sure he is happy with our gifts in his honor. The house is a little less bright without the lights from the trees, the rooms look a little empty since Christmas things are gone,but my heart is still alive with Christmas spirit and I think I have enough to carry me through till next year. Goodbye Christmas

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey

By Lillian Schlissel
I write on my lap with the wind rocking the wagon. So begins this compelling book, penned by women traveling the overland trail to Oregon and California from 1841 to 1867. One can just imagine this material being written in a covered wagon or by the light of a camp fire. It is history rarely seen through the eyes of pioneer women.
Charlotte Pengra writes she was pretty tired after she hung out what things were wet in the wagon, made griddle cakes, stewed berries, made tea for supper, made 2 loaves of bread, stewed apples, prepared potatoes and meat for breakfast, and mended a pair of pants. There was a constant search for berries and for weeds and buffalo chips for the fire. These women performed the usual household chores and more, even driving the wagons.
Traveling from mid-April to early winter emigrants found weather conditions harsh and unpredictable. Summer temps soared to 110 degrees. Elizabeth Geer describes her journey from Indiana to Oregon in November 1847: It rains and snows. We start this morning around the falls with our wagons. I carry my baby and lead and carry another child through snow, mud and water almost to my knees. Many women cite heavy rains. Velina Williams says cooking became impossible as fuel became wet. Flooding ruined roads, damaged wagons, loosened wheels, or contributed to drownings at crossings.
Children learned early to fend for themselves, fell off moving wagons and became lost in large parties of travelers and animals. The worst affliction was the dreaded cholera that could snuff out life within hours. There is scarcely a diary during the 1840's that does not cite deaths from cholera and other causes. Some wagon trains lost 2/3rds of their members. One writer stated: "The road from Independence to Laramie is a grave-yard.Cecelia Adams recorded of her family's journey daily graves from June 25 to October 17. On July 1st, one man in her company died and she passed 8 graves. Margaret Wilson, the grandmother of General George Patton wrote in 1850 that she was going with her man as there is no other alternative. This books reflects the quiet courage of the pioneer women against great and unsought odds. If you ever get a chance I hope you read it.

Who Says Kids Need Electronic Toys?

Guess you can see how we spent our morning. Now I am getting some cleaning down while my little pioneers are enjoying their cabin. They have food, games, sleeping bags so think they are all set to spend the night out there.... want to wager a bet?

By George I Think I've Got It!!

Quintin and Gabby watching Polar Express
William waiting on the bacon to cook for our Christmas Eve breakfast
William and his grandson little William watching a movie
After 3 days of installing, uninsatalling, rebooting, pulling my hair out, fussing at poor ole hubby for buying this dumb lady a camera made for smart people, I have finally got the dang thing to work! The computer finally made the folder for my pictures after the 10th time installing the software! I had to clean up and reboot my computer but now the new and the old camera's software are on the computer and both are working fine. I can now safely say that I am a proud owner of a Konica Minolta Dimage Z10. I still haven't gotten all the buttons figured out on the camera but at least I can put it on auto and it does the thinking for me. William wants me to learn on this one and then move to the newer version.... Yeah right!!!!

Busy Day

The grandkids had a busy day today. We stack wood and raked leaves all morning. Quintin cleaned the leaves off of Pop Pop's cabin cruiser while Gabby and I burnt leaves. (he is hoping pop pop will be happy and take him out in the boat in the spring). While I raked and cleaned in the backyard they decided to try and build a cabin for a clubhouse. They got a little of it built but the poles were so heavy they have decided to finish it tomorrow. Except for a short trip to Walmart so they could spend their gift cards given them at Christmas from their other grandparents we spent the day outside. It was 61 degrees and the sun was shining. They worked so hard they ate everything on their plate for supper without saying a word. After showers we are going to play Mancala and watch Polar Express for the second time and go to bed. My guess is they are so tired they won't make it thru the whole movie. Alice (or any other garden person) if you happen to know what this tree (bush) is I would love to know. We have 3 of them across the front of the deck. They only bloom in the winter and ice or freezing temps don't harm them. During the other seasons they just have lots of green leaves. Winter they are full of red blooms. Unless I plant something or its something most everyone knows I don't know flowering plants, trees etc very well. These were planted by William before I came into the picture.
Yes, I know the pictures aren't great but I am still using my old camera and the sun was so bright while I was snapping. I am going to try downloading pictures from the new one again after the grandkids are in bed so they won't see me get mad and say things a grandma isn't suppose to say!

Its way past my bedtime but its the first quiet time I have had in several days. William came home the 22nd and we spent the 23rd cutting and stacking wood and washing his semi. His daughter and grandson came Christmas Eve morning and William cooked breakfast for all of us. Then he and Lisa and Will went outside to do things while I cleaned up the kitchen (why does it always work that way when he cooks?) Lisa and I did some last minute shopping and then we all headed to MIL's for Christmas Eve dinner with Williams family. That was a 2 hour drive there and back so it was after midnight when we got home. We put Will to bed and watched Lisa set out Santa. Back up at 7am for Christmas and my traditional Christmas pancakes (red and green). Lisa and Will left to go to her other grandmothers for that family get together and William and I stayed in our jammies all day watching movies. I even cooked our Christmas dinner in my pj's! We had a nice turkey, dressing,green beans, creamed potatoes, sweet potato casserole,corn, gravy and biscuits. I also had pumpkin pie, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies and fudge whenever we wanted some dessert. It rained all day so it was a nice indoor type of day and we both needed to relax. Today I got up early and headed 3 hours away to pick up Quintin and Gabby. Megan met me halfway so I would keep the kids this week while they were out of school and she worked. We drove 3 hours back and have been going all afternoon and evening! They hadn't been to this house since they were 2 and 3 years old and I kept them while Mom and dad both in the army at the time were sent off in different places. Quintin could remember lots of things and kept running around looking at things. He made me promise not to throw away his baby toys that were still here because they were his memories and you aren't suppose to throw away memories! I even have the teddy bear he slept with then and his bathtub toys. We haven't lived in this house in over 4 years so it was fun remembering with the kids. Gabby didn't remember anything but is having fun exploring with her brother. We ate dinner and then sat down to watch a movie and play word search. William left at 11pm to go get his tanker loaded for a trip to Oregon. so I got his clothes, food, etc all packed for him. I have been working with my camera for a couple of hours and finally gave up for the night. I have downloaded, deleted and redownloaded the software for my new camera and can still not find the folder it tells me my pictures are in on my computer. I have opened every file, folder and drive and can find them nowhere!! I still have them in the camera so guess I will go to walmart and get them put on a CD disk. I am too old for a camera that does everything. It will even zoom in on the face of a flea... Now why would I want to do that??? Oh well better turn in so I can rest up for a busy kid day tomorrow.

So glad everyone had a nice Christmas. I am slowly getting things back to normal from our wonderful Christmas celebrations. Sweet William gave me a new digital camera but it has so many buttons and gadgets that I haven't gotten it all figured out yet. I have pictures on it to share but have to figure out how to get them from there to computer... Its a lot harder than my old cheap one but I am sure I will learn sooner or later. Time to start a new year and get back on course of fixing our homestead and following our dreams ..... Hope your New Year plans and dreams all come true!!

Christmas Blessings one and all

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May all of my wonderful blog neighbors have a very magical Christmas and may all your Christmas Dreams come true!

All I Want For Christmas

I posted this letter to Santa earlier in the month but thought I had better repost it so Santa won't forget what I want my friends to have. Have a Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brings everything you ask for!!



Dear Santa,
My friend Monica has already written you a letter asking for things for her friends (including me) but I have some friends I would like you to visit on Christmas Eve. They have been really really good so I hope you will give these things to them.For my friend Lea at the End of the road could you give her a nice blue ribbon? She already has a wonderful life with hubby and children so a nice blue ribbon for her blog page would be perfect.Alice has been real busy in her garden lately that a nice bottle of your finest wine and a cd of classical music would help her relax and enjoy her garden.Jeanne has been a wonderful friend Santa so I would love if you would give her a beautiful china teapot and some of the best tea you can find. While she is having her tea could you arrange a call from her family in Korea? Amy has just moved to a wonderful home in Wisconsin and her stove went on the blink. Do you have room in your sleigh for a new stove with a nice big oven for her? I know she would be very happy! Santa, Ms Robyn has spent a lot of time getting some nice swaps together for all of us so really should have something extra special. Could the elves wrap up some marshmallow soap, body souffle,body butter,bathfoam by MOR? Mrs. Darling has been extra good this year Santa. She is always doing for others and putting herself last. It would mean a lot to me if you would give her a weekend get away while someone does her chores for the whole day and takes good care of her children and husband so she won't worry.Over at Fireflys and Frogs my friend has worked hard at getting her home and life into the order she wants. I know you have friends in high places so could you get the While You Were Out crew to give her bedroom a make-over? She has been so busy with the family and rest of the house that I want a special room just that she can go to that will make her feel relaxed and appreciated.Crystal is one woman that has been so blessed in life that there isn't a lot you can give her.I know she would really be happy if you could give her son a safe trip home from Ft. Bragg and when her daughter moves to California could you send a guardian angel with her? That would make Crystals Christmas the best! My young friend Lori in Canada has been so nice to me Santa. She helped me with my blog questions while she was busy with her young children, moving and crafting so lets give her a craftroom so her hubby doesn't have to smell the glue and a years supply of the best ground coffee you can get your hands on. For Rachael Santa could you make sure my stocking package to her arrives and that she likes it? Wendy is enjoying Christmas in Australia and the beaches there so what do you think about leaving a nice picnic basket filled with special treats under her tree with a Simon and Garfunkel cd?Santa be sure and put in a Charlotte Church CD and a new cello bow for my friend Maggie.She would never ask for anything for herself. My friend Perri in Indiana is a big Duke Blue Devils baskball fan so if you could swing a couple of center court seats for her and hubby along with airline tickets (they can stay at my house that weekend) she would love you for life! For my friend just_Christine please send her husband a new 15 year plan (you know what we mean Santa) and stick the keys to a condo in Hawaii in her stocking while you are there.Gina E. has been a good girl this year Santa so lets give her a trunk filled with vintage linens. Kali has been really busy in her new craft room and her husband has even built shelves for her so how about we give her lots of beads, wire and jewerly making items?Now Santa Finn sent me a wonderful book this year and left me sweet comments on my blog so I would like for her to have all of Tony Hillerman's books and a CD by Nora Jones. She needs to rest her fingers from all that sewing. Leann is having a wonderful life in Texas and doesn't need alot but could you slip a nice new pair of running shoes in her stocking? I know she would be very greatful. Now Santa my friend Queen Dolly has up and moved to Australia where her Christmas will be very hot. Lets stick some sunscreen, a nice dilly dolly hat and a nice dolly swimsuit (fit for a queen of course) in her stocking.Amy over at Retrospective is always giving nice tips and sharing her reading list with us so would you put "The Best of Judy Garland" and "Classic Sinatra" under her tree? Lady Laura has had a really rough year Santa. They are having to rebuild their home after the hurricane while living in their RV so I would really appreciate if you would give her and her family a nice happy calm holiday and make sure the rebuilding goes fast and smooth. She never complains Santa and always makes each of us smile and feel special.Could you find something extra special in your bag for Ainslie? Give her lots of hugs from her friends and tell her we love and miss her.Could you leave a gift certificate to Waldons for Melissa? With all she does for her family I would love for her to buy herself some of her favorite books to enjoy this winter.Toni and Gina L are always sewing and making beautiful things Santa so would you put lots of packages filled with patterns,materials,and sewing notions under their trees? For my friend Carol in Germany I would love it if you would put some blank tags for her craft project and lots of collage materials in her stocking.Santa if you have a really nice set of water colors and a Simon and Garfunkel CD would you drop them by Shell's? For my friends Rosie, Northern Farmer and Oak Spring Farm would you give them an easy winter so they can rest up for the hard work facing them in the spring? As for my dear family Brandy, Megan and Sharon could you please give them the time and energy to post on their blogs??? Thank you Santa for taking care of my friends. They are very special to me and I want them to have the best Christmas ever this year. Don't worry about stopping at my house this year as my cup is overflowing with love of friends and family (not to mention all the awesome things from the swaps)! You and Mrs. Claus have a good winter Santa and thanks again!

Parsley Honey

Have been reading the "We'll Eat Again" cookbook from the war years. (I just love this book!) Found a good recipe for a different flavored honey. There are so many recipes with such little ingredients but tasty. Thought I would share this one with you today.

Cooking time: 3/4 hour Quantity: 1 pound
5 oz. parsley (including stalks) 1 lb. sugar
1 1/2 pints water 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Method: Pick parsley and wash well. Dry. Chop stalks up roughly. Put into a pan with 1 1/2 pints of boiling water and boil until it reduces to a pint. Strain Add 1 lb sugar and boil until syrupy (like honey) about 20 minutes, then add 1/2 teaspoon vinegar. Pour into pots and cover. This jells by the next day and tastes and looks like heather honey.

The Christmas Gifts

Sweet Mary leaned against the hay
Beside his manger bed
Strong Joseph kept his silent watch
And praying bent his head
The night wind ceased its sighing
But softly whispering said
PEACE
The light burst forth from heaven
And swept away the night
The startled shepherds knelt
And saw the vision burning bright
Heard the message of salvation
Knew the meaning of the light
HOPE
The angels o'er Judeah's plains
Set all the earth to singing
The weary world rejoiced to rise
And set the bells to ringing
Responding to the gift of Life
The Christ to us came bringing
JOY
These gifts from God we pray for all
As Jesus's birth draws near
May you receive His Peace, His Hope
The message of good cheer
From heaven itself, the gift sublime
That sweetly crowns the year
CHRISTMAS

by anna d lutz

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 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 people all sing
And the day is specially 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.
by Harriet Whipple

Cookbook

Here is the cookbook that my daughter gave me. She picked it up at a secondhand store. It was copyrighted in 1982. It tells you how to read your ration books and how to shop with them. Also gives you lots of ideals for substituting ingredients and still eat healthy. Everything is in ounces instead of cup, half cup etc. and it used tins of dried eggs alot. I am enjoying reading how the ladies made such good meals with next to nothing in the pantry. So Finn this is the picture of the book and I will post a few recipes along from it.Meanwhile for a couple of really great recipes check out my friend at Homemaking on the Homestead. She has some great gift recipe ideals along with a beautiful gingerbread house her daughters made.http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/quiverfull/ Everyone remember to relax and enjoy the season... Christmas is almost here. If it isn't done by now don't worry about it just sit back and enjoy the magic of Christmas!!

Are your children or grandchildren wondering how Santa is going to get into the house if you don't have a chimney? Here is something special you can make for them to ease their worry and put a smile on their face. Take an old key (skeleton keys are perfect but any key will work) and tie a pretty ribbon to it. Attach the following poem and tell the child to place it outside near the front door on Christmas Eve for Santa to find.Most likely Santa will leave it near the empty cookie plate after he is thru making his rounds so the child can leave it out next year!
The Key Poem:
Santa, this old key is a magical kind
And we're leaving it out for you to find.
Cause just for you, tonight, it will open any door,
So you won't have to slide down the chimneys anymore.

Here is a recipe for reindeer dust so the children can sprinkle it in the front yard on Christmas Eve so the reindeer will smell the oats and see the sparkle of the glitter and guide Santa to their home. Recipe: 1/2 cup oats and 1/4 cup glitter (can use smaller amounts if desired) mix together and put in baggy with this poem:
Santa, may the magic glitter catch the moonlight
And Guide you safely through the night.
May the smell of the oats delight your reindeer
And have them fly you here, bringing good cheer.

I have spent the day cleaning and baking. There are 2 loaves of sourdough bread, loaf of banana bread, and a batch of brownies. I receive a WWII cookbook from my daughter Maggie for Christmas and have enjoyed it so much! It has recipes that they used with their ration books and things they grew. I am using the recipe for keeping a stock pot. You start a pot of stock or broth cooking on the back of the stove and add whatever you have to it each day. You keep it cooking all the time. I have had mine going for 3 days and have added veg's or meats or broth to it each day and everyday it tastes even better than the day before. I have a wood heater in the dining room so the soup sits simmering on the back of it. Today I added barley, lentils, limas, green peas, beef cubes, diced green onions and celery. I have had soup for lunch each day and it smells so good I am having another bowl for supper tonight. I am really learning a lot from this cookbook on how hard my grandparents and parents had it back then. Going to try the chocolate cake recipe tomorrow.

Gumdrop Cookies
1 cup butter 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup quick oats (uncooked) 1 cup gumdrops cut up (no licorice ones)
Beat together butter, egg and vanilla until creamy. Mix and sift flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture, blending well. Stir in oats and gumdrops. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen
Whoopie Pies
Cream together:
6 tablespoons Shortening 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar 1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup milk
Blend together, then add to above mixture:
2 cups flour 5 tablespoons cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoon soda
Drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes. Put two cookies together with this filling:
3/4 cup shortening 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
6 tablespoons marshmallow fluff
Beat well.

Chili Recipe

A couple of people have asked for my chili recipe so here it is.

1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 pound Ground beef 1 16oz. can tomatoes
1/2 cup catsup 1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 16oz can kidney beans (if I have leftover pintos or other beans I use them instead)
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon flour
Combine onion, green pepper and ground beef together in crock pot and cook on high till meat is no longer pink. Add beans,tomatoes, catsup and sauce and stir well. Mix all your spices and flour together and then add to mixture. Cook on low all day or at medium for 2 hours. I like to put shredded cheese on top of each serving and William and I even like a spoon of sourcream added on top.

Quintin and Gabby's daddy got his orders but they are the good orders. He will be stateside next month. Brian may not be home for Christmas but their trees are staying up and they will be celebrating Christmas and all the other holidays he missed while in Iraq. Thank you all for the prayers and thoughts, please keep them going for Brian as he prepares to come home. Needless to say Megan is happy but not saying anything to the kids so he can surprise them. I get to make lots and lots of welcome home signs and yellow ribbons to put all over their neighborhood and yard. So thankful he will be back home with his family soon! I have had a nice quiet day, watching Christmas movies and drinking hot tea by the fire. Except for cats crying to go in or out I really haven't gotten up to do anything. I have decided that I have been spending way too much time on the computer so have started only blogging in the evenings except on the weekend. I check my emails in the morning and stay off computer to get things done around the house until evening time. This past week has worked out well doing that and I reward myself on the weekend and get on a few times during the day if at home. Today has been a good day for movies on the telly. I watched White Christmas, Christmas Miracle, Brady Christmas and Miracle on 34th street. Have also been reading my bedtime book from BrocanteHome so its been a wonderful lazy day. Hope you have had a nice one too!

Seven Seven's

I have been tagged for a meme by Judy for seven seven's. Had to think on this overnight as my mind isn't as fast as it use to be. So here are my 7's
7 Things that attracted me to my husband:
1.His moustache
2.His love of outdoors
3. His eyes
4.His ability to fix or make anything I need
5.His love of travel and adventure
6.Love of animals (though he says he only tolerates them but likes it when they sleep with him)
7. His desire to help anyone in need

7 Things to do before I die
1. Get this homestead repaired and off-grid
2.Take a vacation to the Keys with the kids and grandkids
3.Build a log cabin
4.Get property all fenced in
5.Have lunch with each of my blog friends
6.Spend a winter in Alaska or somewhere that is cold and snowy all winter
7.See all the grandkids graduate from college

7 Things I cannot do
1. Keep my opinion to myself
2. Ever have patience for anything
3.Read anything without glasses
4.Turn a stray animal away
5.Get everything done on my to do list
6.Sleep longer than 4 or 5 hours
7.Drink coffee (yuck!)

7 Things I say most often
1.You just came inside, make up your mind! (to the cats about 50 times a day)
2.Whatever!
3.Who peed in your cornflakes
4.One day I am going to smack you into next week and you can tell me about your trip when I get there ( to hubby, cats or dogs.. whichever is being annoying. Haven't yet but get tempted sometimes)
5.No Way
6.Yes, I added it to my to do list
7. No, I haven't gotten my to do list finished yet.. give me a break!

7 Books I love
1. Sue Grafton's books
2.Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl
3.The Self-reliant Homestead by Charles A. Sanders
4.Johnathan Kellerman Books
5. Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits and Nuts by Katie Letcher Lyle
6.Patrica Cornwell Books
7.Living Without Electricity by Scott and Kenneth Pellman

7 Movies I watch over and over
1. Wilderness Family
2. Wilderness Family 2
3.Education of Little Tree
3. Song Catcher
4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
5. Spitfire
6. Heidi
7. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

7 favorite Meals
!. roast beef with potatoes and carrots, green beans, homemade biscuits
2. baked ham, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, coleslaw and sourdough bread
3. Pot homemade chili with homemade cornbread and salad
4.Homemade soup, garlic crackers, salad
5. Steak, baked potato, salad, garlic bread
6.Homestead Stew, corn on the cob, baby peas, sourdough bread
7. Any dinner that is eaten in a restaurant!

7 People that are tagged to do this
1. Mary
2.Brandy
3.Kali
4.Oreo
5.Lori
6.Philip
7.Carol
If you have already done this don't worry about doing it again. If I didn't name you and you want to do it let me know so I can check it out.

I received a Christmas card from a cousin today with a poem enclosed. He and his wife knew this was my first Christmas without Mother and wanted to share a special poem with me. It made me cry but it is so beautiful that I wanted to share it. Some of my blog friends have lost a mother, father, children, brothers, sister, grandfather or grandmother. Others have lost close friends so I want to share this poem with all of you that have lost someone special in your life.

Christmas In Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights like heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular; please wipe away the tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can't compare to the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.
I see how much you miss me; I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not far away; we really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear one; you know I hold you dear,
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you a special gift from my heavenly home above:
I send you a dear memory of my true undying love.
After all "love" is the gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do,
For I can't count the blessings of the love He has for you.
So please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Thank You Ladies

I wanted to say Thank You to Kali, Laurie, Judy, Robyn, Naomi, Dixie, Jeanne, Amy Carol, Maggie, Barbara, and Cindy for the lovely cards. I have them hanging around the doorway between dining and living room. To those that sent vintage hankies I love them and will post a picture after I get them all framed and hung on the bedroom wall. Laurie I love the hot pad for my tea mug! And a special thank you to Alison for the wonderful Bedtime Book! Just the perfect thing for me to enjoy each evening. Each one of you are a very special friend and I am blessed to have you in my life! Merry Christmas.

Just To Make You Smile

It takes so little to make them happy and in the Christmas spirit!

Where Is Christmas?

Each night I enjoy going to different blogs and reading their daily posts. The past few days most of the posts are about Christmas. No Christmas spirit, can't find the right gifts,can't find the lights or decorations, not wanting to go to family or work Christmas get togethers, want to just forget Christmas this year. Stop the stressing people! Christmas isn't meant to be a stressful, rushed, or depressing time. Its not too late! You can still find that Christmas magic. Who says you have to purchase lots of expensive presents for everyone? Who says you have to send everyone Christmas cards? Who says you have to bake everything? Who says your tree, home and yard have to be the best decorated in town? Make your Christmas a nice, stressfree, fun, enjoyable one. Buy one special present for each immediate family member. Let other friends and family know that you won't be buying them gifts this year (they will be relieved they don't have to shop for your family too) Don't worry about the baking if you don't want to. There are bakeries and bake sales where you can pick up good as you bake items. Take the family and go for a ride to look at Christmas lights. Come home and put on Christmas music, drink hot chocolate and read a Christmas story with the family. Decorate the tree in any way and color you want. Who cares if its not magazine photo material. Its your tree and you are the one that will be enjoying it! Pop some popcorn and watch a Christmas movie. Take time to ask the family members what their favorite Christmas memory is and maybe try to bring some of those memories into this Christmas. Don't let your Christmas become a commercial Christmas. Unwrap the years until you unwrap the child's heart that you had stored away.To the carols you had fun singing with friends. To the ornaments you made that mom hung on the tree with pride. To the mistletoe and holly you found in the woods to help decorate the house. To the excitement you felt on Christmas Eve at bedtime waiting for Santa. To the warmth you felt in your heart and the tears in your eyes when you heard someone reading the story of Jesus birth and someone else sang Silent Night. Remember the pleasure of peppermint stick candy and the smell of oranges, apples and tangerine. Of cracking nuts by the fire while dad read the Night Before Christmas. To get that Christmas magic back, to find Christmas again all you have to do is unwrap that child you have hidden deep inside. Bit by bit your happy memories will grow and all the little things that made your Christmas magic years ago will come back one hundred fold. Christmas is a time of magic..... For everyone.... Even you.

Warm Gingerbread Pudding

Butter for greasing 1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature
20 crushed gingersnap cookies 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 14ladyfinger cookies crushed 6 large eggs
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dried currants 1/4 cup candied lemon and orange peel
Preheat the oven to 350. Bring a teakettle of water to a boil. Generously coat a pudding mold or 2 quart souffle dish with butter and coat with 1/4 cup of crushed gingersnaps. Set the mold on a kitchen towel in a deep baking pan. Mix together the remaining crushed gingersnaps and the ladyfinger crumbs. Set aside. Separate the eggs and set aside. Cream butter, confectioners sugar, lemon zest, and spices until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time and keep mixing. Add half of the crumb mixture to the butter mixture and blend until mixed. In a clean bowl whip the egg whites until frothy then gradually add granulated sugar. Whip until peaks form. Fold the remaining crumb mixture into the egg whites. Fold the egg white mixture into the butter mixture. Finally fold in the currants and candied citrus peel. Spoon batter into prepared dish. Cover with lid or aluminum foil. Place dish in a deep baking pan on a rack in oven. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the dish. Bake, checking for doneness after one hour.The pudding is done when it is puffy and the sides have begun to pull away from the dish. Serve warm garnished with whipped cream and candied citrus peel. Makes 8 servings

Christmas Weekend Pictures

This is my oldest grandson Woody with his cousins baby potbelly pig. The pigs name is Charlotte.
Julie and Gabby are eating the hotdogs they roasted over the bonfire. They were happy they got to eat their lunch in the gameroom. Think they played more than they ate.
Some of the grandkids left the game room long enough to go out in the woods and chop down trees to decorate for the birds. Gabby and Julie are holding the small one the chopped and Hope, Zack and Kristine are holding the larger one they chopped down.
Some of the grandkids making decorations for the bird trees.
Quintin, Zack and Raigun would rather play than decorate a tree.
Brannon setting the trees up in the backyard so the kids and decorate for the birds.

A Soldier's Christmas

Brian decorating his tree that Megan sent him in Iraq.


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT." Thank you Jeanne for sending this poem to me.