Thirty Six Years Ago

I just tucked in some little grandson toes this morning at 4 AM so they would be warm again. Conner will wake up warm and cozy in a few hours. He’s an unexpected overnight guest which tells me we need to keep a pair of pajamas and a change of clothes or two here for him. That way we can decide at any time to keep him for some extra time if the timing works out. Now that he’s in school, that’s harder to arrange. Gwendolyn and her daddy are also here for a visit over the New Year's holiday. Our daughter Kristine came down from the mountain (she lives an hour away) last night with Conner and baby Katelyn. We celebrated our thirty sixth anniversary last night with our immediate core family, and it was perfect.

We had planned to head to Reno for a couple of nights to celebrate the occasion. Then those plans got changed when our son called to say he was coming up sooner than expected. Our reservations were canceled with a bit of disappointment as we had looked forward to seeing 'Peter Pan'. But compare that to a visit from our son and daughter and hands down ~ our family comes first,

 of course.

Turns out it was also a good call to cancel, as I ended up with a virus on what would have been a travel day. It knocked me out for an entire day and through the night as well. Rick kept watch and brought a glass full of Seven-Up when ever needed. It’s a remedy from childhood that does work for upset systems… and we’ll leave that topic now.

Rick is on vacation this week. It’s a case of use it or loose it as he’s over the maximum hours saved for vacation time.

I’m so glad that he has time off this week. Everything is working out as it should.

So anyway ~ yesterday was our Anniversary and we got to thinking about our wedding day and everything that was ‘wrong’ with that day. Would we have chosen to change a thing if we could?

We had quite a bit of help getting our wedding put together on little if actually no budget for it.

Rick was stationed in Great Lakes (Illinois) for Navy schools right out of boot camp. I hadn’t seen him for six months. He was only going to be home for two weeks at Christmas time and then gone again for another two months before I would see him again. The goodbye at the airport

was tough, but it was just one of many

goodbye's during our Navy life.

Let’s see would we have changed…

Our minister who was someone we didn’t know from the funeral home chapel?

 Or how about our piano player?  He was a family members friend from Doc’s, an ‘upscale’ nightclub bar restaurant lounge.  'Moon River' was absolutely perfect. 

 That song has been in my heart forever.

The location for our wedding was the recreation hall of a mobile home park, where another friend of the family lived.  It held our entire family who

were there to bless our new start.

I had to go to the Crystal Creek Prison/Work Program Camp to ask my future husband’s cousin to come and be our best man… um yeah. He was due to be released in time…

 There were some  other personal family issues involved that I won't discuss here. 

Enough said eh?

We had a delayed start of the wedding, because there was a spot on the dress uniform cap that was bothersome. Then a soak in the sink, left another spot… a fresh rust stain. I had no clue at the time  as to why he was late to the wedding,

but it caused some  anxiety on my part

and frustration on his side. 

There was another hold up during the wedding as someone needed to go purchase film or batteries for their camera.  

We didn't have a professional photographer.

The wedding afternoon/evening continued with other ‘problems’. A trip through the car wash was a must.   Our honeymoon suite at the local hotel for one night was a  wonderful gift. Unfortunately it was a room that left a lot to be desired… It was at this point we thought we should have taken matters into our own hands and skipped town. We should have just headed over to the coast as was his/our plan. Um yeah.  Instead we wasted some time in the early evening and saw ‘Smile’ at the local theater. I fell asleep during the movie. Ha! It was such a rotten movie. We’ll never forget it. Our options for celebrating the evening were limited at the time because I wasn’t yet twenty one.

The next day we headed over to Eureka on the coast. We drove through the mountain passes with the top down and the snow flying. It was wonderful. We were bundled up, and yes

it was so very cold

in spite of my denials to the contrary.

We finally did stop to put the top back on

with cold frozen fingers.

On the coast, away from family, we had the best time; sea food ~ a rare treat back then, beach walks, Redwood tours, and peaceful bliss. That is until the car key broke off inside the door lock. We got chewed out for being gone too long (two nights) with the borrowed little red Fiat Spider convertible car even though I left a perfectly acceptable ‘get you where you need to go’ ugly car in exchange. Thanks Bro in love,

 Family Members! ~~~ Still love them to pieces. The car actually was their Mom’s car which was on loan to brother in law who then totaled the car two months later. Aye aye aye Karma. Back then he had a habit of doing that. Now  brother in law drives a black slick corvette that he absolutely loves and keeps getting speeding tickets with. He’s sixty something. 

  Anyway, we thought it over and there isn’t much that we would change if we could do so. The memories of that day bring smiles and through all the ups and downs, we’re still together. We’re here with love and hope for our kids and their kids, and so it goes.

It's Raining Snowmen ~~~ Hallelujah!

Hey there.

 Want a very quick crafty gift

that's not too expensive?

Get to Kohl's (or where ever)

and purchase some nice winter

gloves that happen to be on sale

right now, and be sure to use

your discount coupons.

Then stop by the nearest

grocery store to purchase

some regular sized bags of

microwave popcorn, not the mini size.

Try not to add your two cents into

a conversation a young couple are

having about purchasing popcorn.

He: I want it to taste good.

She:  I want this 'natural' type.

He:  I guess we can add salt and butter at home.

She:  Looks it's whole grain!

He:  This one looks good ~~~ butter!

She: I want this one, it's healthy and it's

whole grain...

Me:  In my head ~~

ALL popcorn is whole grain.

Go purchase a popcorn popper,

and a Costco sized container of

Orville Redenbacher, some oil

and a shaker of popcorn salt.

You'll be miles ahead in taste

and it's much less expensive in the long

run.  Plus you are taking way

too long to make a decision....

and I've got to get home to make

these cute little popcorn snowmen

that was  a last minute decision

because I found these cute gloves

at Kohl's and would you mind

moving out of the way.

I just want to buy that box of

10 popcorn bags because I just

purchased 10  pairs of gloves....

The designer of this popcorn

wrapper offers them for free

and you can download them

from her site here:



http://lauriefurnell.blogspot.com/2008/11/snowman-freebie.html

In order to save yourself

a couple hours of frustration

trying to get them to print,

just go to the following link

 where the wrapper design

 is ready to to print...  

http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q302/oddie3/?action=view&current=snowmanwrapperforpopcorn-1.jpg

Use card stock if you can,

but regular paper would also work.

Be sure to print in landscape format,

otherwise you'll be wishing you had

an extra set of hands to manage

to get the edges to meet in the middle

of the backside of your snowman. 

See there, I'm saving you

all the headaches and time.

 I know this idea

 has been around  for quite awhile,

but my group of friends

 were thrilled yesterday.

I folded and taped up the bottom

(like a gift box)

so the popcorn wouldn't slip out.

Use up some fabric scraps in your

stash for a scarf and a bit of ribbon

to tie the glove fingers together for a topknot.

There you have it.

A sweet little snowman gift

made with a pair of gloves

 and a bag of popcorn.

  Perhaps you could add a package of

cocoa and marshmallows

in a cute little snowman mug.

Katelyn's First Christmas

I purchased this ornament six

years ago for our granddaughter Katelyn.

~~~

But it wasn't for our new little Katelyn 

who will be celebrating her first

Christmas this year.

~~~

It was for the Katelyn we thought

was coming and she was due

to arrive at Christmas time six years ago.

~~~

 The due date came and went.

December turned to January.

New tests

were ordered which

revealed that we

were actually waiting for  

  our grandson Conner.

Surprise!

That's certainly an understatement.

He's now a terrific big

brother to to this little

one who is celebrating

her first Christmas. 

Photo source:  I love this photo from our daughter Kristine.

Merry first Christmas

Katelyn.

Coconut Meringue Cookies

I accidently won third

place in a baking contest

(at Rick's work place)

with these coconut meringue cookies.

Yep, I can hear your

congrats now....

(insert  delusions of grandeur here)

but wait.

There were only four entrys,

two cakes, my cookies

and a bowl of pudding with

graham crackers mixed in.

Woo Hoo!

I beat the pudding!

~

I wasn't trying to enter a contest.

I sent the cookies in for my

husband's Christmas potluck

contribution. 

( I did get up at 4AM to get them baked and packaged for him to take into work.) 

Everyone there

knows that Rick claims not to know

how to cook.... ahem.....

So, he usually supplies

paper plates and plastic utensils

for their lunch time potlucks.

I kind of feel bad

winning a bit of money

from the "Sunshine Committee",

since I don't work there....

and I wasn't even trying to win.

But wait until next year.

Rick is going to bake.. ahem...

  

OK then,

Here's the recipe

for these prize winning cookies. (laughing here)

Coconut Meringue Cookies

Dough:

3/4 cup butter ~ softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups all~purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

dash of allspice

Topping:

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup sugar

Coconut

In a medium mixer bowl,

 beat the butter and sugar

until light and fluffy. 

 Beat in the egg, vanilla,

and salt until blended. 

 At low speed of electric mixer

 gradually blend in the flour,

 cinnamon, and allspice, mix well.

  Cover bowl; chill dough

 for 30 minutes or till firm enough to handle.  Shape into a 12-inch log.

  Wrap in clear plastic wrap or waxed paper.

  Chill several hours or overnight.  

When you're ready to bake:

 Make the topping.  

For meringue:  In a small mixer bowl,

beat egg whites, vanilla,

 and cream of tartar

 till soft peaks form(tips curl). 

 Gradually add sugar,

 beating till stiff peaks form

(tips stand straight). 

 Cut dough into 1/4~inch thick slices. 

 Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

  Put egg white mixture

 in a decorating bag fitted

 with a 1/2~inch round or star tip. 

 Pipe egg white mixture

 atop each cookie slice. 

 Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon coconut

 atop meringue on each cookie. 

 Bake in a 325*F. oven for 15 to 20 minutes

or till done.  Cool. 

 Makes about 48 cookies.

Recipe source:

Holiday Cooking magazine ~~~ 1987

P.S.  The star and snowflake

shaped cookies are a cardamon

spiced shortbread Martha Stewart recipe.

Looks pretty, but not a keeper...

Just For Fun ~ Casual Christmas Table

We invited our cousins over

for a family dinner Sunday.

It was a great excuse

to play around with a table setting

for the holiday.

Cuttings from our redwood tree

and a dozen candy canes were

quickly arranged in small pitchers.

I didn't fill the pitchers with water

for the redwood greenery.

They still look fresh,

and it's been a couple of days already. 

I made a braised pot roast

in the crock pot

using this recipe from here:

http://stonegable.blogspot.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-braised-short-ribs-comfort.html

Instead of the short ribs though,

 I took Stonegable's suggestion

and used a chuck roast.

When did beef get to be so expensive?

For a chuck roast???

We hardly ever buy beef,

so the price was a shock to me.

It was worth it though.

I told our cousins to come over

and be my guinea pigs as I was

trying a new recipe for a pot roast.

They liked it,

and claimed the recipe to be a keeper.

  

 I broke one of my

 (never used) white Fiesta ware

coffee cups, so I mixed in a couple of

the red cup and saucers.   

 

Now for some good news:

We're excited and happy for

our daughter in law.

She spent years preparing

for yesterday.

It was her dissertation day, 

and now she is Dr. Andi,

with a PhD in epidemiology.

We're so proud of her.

Christmas Canister

Remember the Christmas

trees  I was working on

a while ago.

Some  are nestled in

an Epsom salts snow bank

within this glass canister

with a couple of sparkly snowmen.

I'm still on borrowed

bandwidth, but in just

a couple of days the mailman

will deliver a wireless connection

of my very own. 

Thanks Santa!

All's Quiet on the Home Front

.

We're in the middle of switching

Internet service providers...

and ending up right back

where we started...

 in a round about way.

Because in our neck of the woods,

there seems to be only one service provider

that has a clear signal to our property..

We thought perhaps our new

cell phone provider's Internet

service would work upstairs in our offices

using my new phone as a Wi-Fi hot spot.

We ordered a 'dongle' to

make my computer accept

wireless and  anxiously waited for it's delivery.

Well ~~~, the signal strength

is too weak to load a web page,

let alone upload photos.

The dongle wireless thingy

 does work with Rick's wireless modem.

So for now,

I'm here on borrowed modem bandwidth,

and will get my own asap.

  Because I love seeing

what you are all up.

Last year we struggled to

welcome Christmas into our home

after Rick's dad passed away at the

beginning of December.

I didn't even get around to putting up 

our Christmas tree.

~

This year though,

 I'm doing my best.

~

The anniversary date

has passed and it weighed

heavy on our hearts.

~

We pushed aside the sadness

and got busy with welcoming

this colorful season into our home.

The tree is up

and decorated!

Christmas lights, garland, and

red bows are swagged on the deck,

and plugged in at dusk.

  

The totes are emptied of

their treasures and the Christmas totes

are back in the storage closet.

(Now really ~ that one is a huge accomplishment.)

I have one tote full of

holiday decor to donate

as I'm trying to pare down

and only keep what I love.

 I hope to get some sewing

and crafting done next week.

~

The galvanized tub display above

took me all of five minutes to

throw together.  It's perfect

for our cabin/home in the woods. 

OK then,  I'm off to go

build a fire in the wood stove,

 start making dinner,

switch on the Christmas lights,

and turn on some music...

and turn it up

 because I'm feeling happy

and grateful.

   

Christmas Trees ~~~ Work in Progress

Here's what I've been working on lately.

  They're not finished yet.

 I'm sure you can find 

 complete and informative online

tutorials for making bottle brush

Christmas trees.  So, I'll leave

that explanation to the experts out there.

But I did have a hint or two

that might help if you want to

add some glass pearls to your

bleached and glittered trees.

      

1.  The thicker glitter glue from

Martha Stewart's craft line

works better than

 the thin clear permanent

glue for getting the pearls

to stick where you want them.

~

It took me awhile to figure that out...

2.  Laying the Christmas trees on their

sides helps the pearls to stay put

while the glue dries. 

~~~

The ping of pearls dropping off

the Christmas trees onto a cookie sheet,

sounds very much like 

canning jar lids pinging after

coming out of a hot water bath.

  

 It's not nearly as satisfying though...  

Catching Up ~ and Waiting for the Bandwidth Limit to Reset

Hey there it's me...

it's been awhile eh?

   We woke up Sunday morning

to a wonderful day.  Our son

and granddaughter Gwendolyn

had arrived during the night while

we were asleep.  They slipped

quietly into the guest house (fifth wheel)

and came upstairs first thing in the morning.

They live in southern CA and we don't get

to see them nearly enough.

We had a late breakfast and then

headed north to crash a birthday

party in Weed.  Um, yeah that is

the name of a town...

  We met up with our daughters

family to celebrate a birthday boys

special day.  We watched our grand kids

have fun bowling and high fiving each other.

 It was Gwen's first time to bowl

and she had a blast.

 It was so much fun to see how

excited the little ones were,

and that was before cake and ice cream.

 Christmas progress:

  I dragged the totes

out of the closet, and that was Friday.

Oh, and I did bleach a package

of Christmas trees, and purchased

glitter and three sizes of pearl beads

at Michael's sales on Saturday.

I'm going to be glittering trees later

today, I hope.

  

Rick started setting up the Christmas

village on top of the entertainment

center, and that's it ~ so far.

I am nearly out of my bandwidth limit

for this months billing cycle, which

doesn't reset until the 4th.  I may

be able to post once more before then.

But that's the reason this blog will

be on a bit of an enforced break.

5000 MB isn't enough for a month

of blogging, photo uploads, and visiting

all of my favorite blogs.

(Especially after posting all of those tea tablescapes.)

We're doing something about the

bandwidth limit problem though.

We have moved from dumb phones

to smart phones with unlimited internet

access.  OMGoodness!  I'll be able

to visit and leave comments while

using the phone, and that will free up some of

the usage on my limited computer account.

There is a small problem though  ~

getting aquainted with my smart phone

is making me feel dumb... 

and so it goes.