Sunday, December 27, 2009

A Break!

Just thought I would let you all know that our Christmas was great.  It was just Bill and I, so it was very quiet and definately not the norm.  It's the first year I have ever been completely away from my family and my kids.  Luckily, we picked up my two kids yesterday (Dec 26th) and had Christmas with them last night. 

They are here as long as the weather holds out, until next Saturday.  For that reason, I will be taking a break from the bloggy world and will not be posting anything until after the New Year. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone a Happy New Year! 

TTFN!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

To all my bloggy friends.....


Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my blog.  They brighten my days. 

I have enjoyed getting to know you all a little more with every post or blog I read.

Thank you for allowing me to share in your live's just a little bit. 

I am so blessed to be able to call you my friend.

May you all feel our Saviors love during this Christmas Season and throughout the New year! 


May your days be happy, your heart be light, your Christmas merry and the New Year bright! 



Monday, December 21, 2009

An Adventure with Grandma

     I went to visit Grandma on the day my big sister dropped the bomb:  "There is not Santa Claus," she jeered.  "Even dummies know that!"  I fled to Grandma that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.  I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so.  It had to be true. 



     Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm.  Between bites, I told her everything.

     She was ready for me.  "No Santa Claus!" she snorted.  "Ridiculous!  Don't believe it.  That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad.  Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

     "Go where, Grandma?" I asked, wanting to finish my second world-famous, cinnamon bun.

    'Where' turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just aobut everything.  As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.  That was a bundle in those days.

     "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it.  I'll wait for you in the car."  Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. 

     I  was only eight years old.  I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.  The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.  For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.  I thought of everybody I knew:  my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school and the people who went to my church. 

     I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.  He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.  Bobby Decker didn't have a coat.  I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter.  His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough and he didn't have a coat.  I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.  I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

     I settled on a red, corduroy coat that had a hood attached to it.  It looked really warm, and he would like that.  "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. 

    "Yes," I replied shyly.  "It's.... for Bobby."

     The nice lady smiled at me.  I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.  That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her bible).  We wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it - Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.  Then she drove me over to Bobby's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. 

     Grandma parked down the street from Bobby Decker's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.  Then Grandma gave me a nudge.  "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

     I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.  Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.  Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. 

     Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.  That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous.  Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.  I still have Grandma's Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95. 

                                                                   By:  Anonymous


For us at our house, Santa is very definately alive and well, and we are on his team.   Are you? 



Thursday, December 17, 2009

Group Blog Thursday - Christmas Recipe Swap

This weeks topic for Group Blog Thursday is a Christmas Recipe Swap.  Either for the Christmas Dinner you prepare, or for the candy making or all that baking you do to prepare for Christmas.  If your interested in joining in or just wanting to get some good recipe's that others have posted, head on over to Stephanie's Blog

During the Christmas Season I enjoy making lots of candy to give as gifts for friends, family and neighbors.  So I thought I would share the most yummiest, easiest, Caramel recipe ever.  And its all done in the microwave


Microwave Caramel

1/2 cup white butter
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

1.  Using microwave safe dish or large measuring cup, melt butter.
2.  Add syrup, sugars and milk, stir well and microwave 6-8 minutes (depends on microwave and how chewy you like your caramels. I cook mine 6 min.)
3.  Pour into sprayed 9x9 dish and refridgerate for 30 min.
4.  Cut into pieces.  If too firm, set dish in warm water until desired consistency or you can microwave 30 seconds at a time.
5.  I like to wrap mine in waxed paper

I also enjoy baking cookies like snickerdoodles, sugar cookies and Scottish Shortbread.  With Scottish heritage in our family baking this yummy treat is a must.  So I will share this recipe with you also. 



Scottish Shortbread

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 Degrees C)
2.  Blend all ingredients well.  Dough will be stiff.
3.  Press into a 9x9 inch buttered dish.  P rick top with fork.
4.  Bake until pale golden brown on the edges (mine takes approx 20-25 min).
5.  Cool and cut into squares.

Mmmm Yummy!  This is light and very buttery.  Does not make a large batch, but is simple enough to make many batches.  Does not double well. 

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Legend of the Christmas Candle



     Long ago, in a small Austrian village, lived a poor cobbler and his wife.  They were very kind and generous - always sharing their few possessions with others.
     Every Christmas Eve, they placed a lighted candle in their window to welcome those less fortunate, a symbol of their warmth, love and generosity.
     When war, famine and destruction had fallen upon their village, the cobbler and his wife seemed to suffer far less than the other villagers.  Thinking perhaps the lighted candle was the reason for this, everyone placed a lighted candle in the window on Christmas Eve.
     The very next morning, a messenger rode into the village with the wonderful news - peace had come!
     When they had given thanks to God for this blessing of peace, the villagers vowed to place a candle in their windows on each Christmas Eve thereafter.
     Since then the custom has spread all over the world, conveying a message of love, hope and peace.


May your days be happy, your heart be light, your Christmas merry, and the New Year bright!


From Our Home to Yours!




Monday, December 14, 2009

"Not Me" Monday! - A week of mishaps



Folks it's that time again!  A time to be honest and share with all everything we did "not" do this past week.  This blog carnival was created by Mckmama.  So head on over to her blog to read about everyone else's "Not Me" moments or to create your own.  I dare you!  :)

It seems this past week for me was filled with mishaps, one right after the other.  So here I go admitting to you all my "Not Me" moments I would rather forget! 

To start things off, as I was getting into my car early last week, it was "Not Me" who opened the car door right into my forehead, practically knocking me out, leaving me with a goose egg, a headache and a bruise.  Nope that was "not me".  That must have been some other careless woman who did that.  Unfortunately, I still feel the pain!

It was also "not me" who, that same day and in that same car, did not leave the car lights on which completely drained the battery which made it so the car had to be jumped before I could go anywhere.  No... that was definately "Not Me".  I would never do something so stupid! 

It was also "not me" who in that same car but on a different day accidently pushed the window control lever down in -29 degree weather, and in doing so with unfortunate luck the window regulator happened to just break at that moment leaving the window down about 4 inches.  I guarantee that it was "not me" who happened to be there having to drive back home in the freezing temperatures with the window down. Absolutely Not!  I tell you it was "Not Me"! 

And lastly it was "not me" who had to keep dealing with the lense of her glasses popping out.  Nope!  I just love wearing my glasses with only one lense in place.   You know...it gives me that "nerdy" or "redneck" look which I just love! 

It's definately "not me" who is very glad this week is over and it's "not me" who hopes that this week will be a much better week.  I love dealing with mishap after mishap!  I live for it!  NOT!!!!!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house.  The decorations are up, the tree is decorated and candy and cookies are being made all in preparation for my favorite time of year. 

Mmmmm..... I just love the Christmas feeling and the delicious sweet smell of my home at Christmas time.

We moved into a smaller home this year and so I wasn't able to use all of my decorations and we had to make space for the Christmas tree.  But it sure feels comfortable and cozy... just how I like it. 



Just a few of my Nutcrackers



I Love Snowmen



Table Setting


Centerpiece




Homemade Peanut Brittle



My mmm mmm yummy Caramels











Only room for one tree this year


Didn't do a theme tree this year because I have so many
other ornaments that I love and wanted to use.



Thomas Kinkade Tree Decorations



A few of my favorite



Angel Tree Topper


My two Christmas Sheep.... cute huh?
I had to throw this in here. I thought it was so cute how
Abby crawled right up to lay down next to my Christmas sheep.








My sister, Valerie, painted this for me a few years ago.  I love it!



My favorite saying

DO YOU BELIEVE? 


I hope you all take time to enjoy the Christmas Season by taking time to enjoy the spirit of Christmas that is in your home.




There are many homes on tour for the Holidays. Just click on the button to head on over and check them out or you link up your own post. 

HP Touchsmart Computer Giveaway!

Who wants to win an HP Touchsmart Computer?  I know I would.  Mckmama is giving one away!  I repeat.... she is giving one away before Christmas.  So head on over to her blog and enter the giveaway!


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS



WREATH
Eternal love, no beginning, no end.  Love comes full circle.



CANDLE
The light of Christ, our own inner light.




GIFTS
Giving, sharing, thinking of others.




BOW
Tied in the bonds of brotherly love




BELL
Rings to bring lost sheep home.




TREE
The evergreen of everlasting life, pointing heavenward.




CANDY CANE
Shepherd's crook for bringing lambs back to the fold.




RED
The Savior's sacrifice for all.




STAR
The Bethlehem star, a sign of prophecy, the light of the world.




SANTA CLAUSE
The spirit of Christmas, giving and receiving love,
caring, sharing, kindness, cheefulness, happiness, peace,
good will to all, Christlike living.



WORDLESS WEDNESDAY