Sunday, November 20, 2016

Week 48, 11-20-2016

Thoughts and Quotes: This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.                                                                               Psalm 118:24

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, being grateful is on my mind; however, all days should be reminders to be thankful, because we have a limited number of them. Each day is a blessing, and we should indeed, rejoice and be glad in it.

Tasting: My friend John's birthday was this week, so he and his wife Katie, my brother Bill and I went to Famous Dave's for the Feast for Two. A more apt name would be The Feast for Two, or Three, or Four. I took a photo of John and Katie's feast. They had brisket and Bill and I had pulled pork. You always get ribs, half a chicken, and either brisket, pulled pork, or smoked sausage.


This is the poster in the window - their photography is better than mine.


They've won lots of trophies. If you have a Famous Dave's in your area, give it a try. I think you'll like it.


I made John a no-frills birthday cake.


I used Hershey's cocoa recipe for Deep Dark Chocolate Cake. If you don't have it, here goes:

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
From Hershey’s Cocoa
1-3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/2 tsps baking soda
1-1/2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 tsps vanilla
1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour a 13 X 9 baking dish.

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixer bowl.

Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Beat 2 minutes on medium.

Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).

Pour into baking dish.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until done.

Note:  Cake can also be made in a Bundt pan, tube pan or layers. Adjust bake time.

I used Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3-3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Blend cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer.

Beat in the vanilla.

Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.

Time for Others: Katie is a card-making machine. Just look at all the Christmas cards she's finished already.









While I, on the other hand, just finished mailing my Thanksgiving cards. I'm so happy I'm not entering them in a contest, because they'd be in last place. For some reason, Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. Fortunately, I had eight cards left over from last year (sorry, I forgot to take photos) which I mailed to my out-of-state people. Then I whipped out two each of these and mailed them on Saturday.



and these three for friends who are coming for lunch tomorrow.



Things that Grow: We've had such weird weather this year, 70's part of this week, even 78 one day. Look what I found blooming in my backyard. They think it's spring.




Thank you: Brother Bill found these for me at the flea market (Thrifting runs in our family).  You'll see the goose candle holder very soon.


I might redo the Cabbage Patch table so I can use the bunny napkin rings. I've also added more cabbage dishes since I took these photos. 





Tips: Pepper's cone collar is fastened with two black plastic pieces which looked uncomfortable, so I came up with an idea. Katie said that I should send this tip to Heloise. We got such a good laugh out of it, I thought you might like to see my solution. Yes, it's a panty liner.




Temptations: Joey and I went to the open house at Scrapbooks Forever in Branson. The store is rather small, but jammed with all kinds of goodies. There were lots of half-price items, so easy to get carried away and indulge. We also had Christmas yummies for munching, and I hope my Walmart doesn't carry those white chocolate-covered star pretzels, because I'd probably eat the entire package during one episode of Chopped. We did a make-and-take. It's supposed to be a package tag, but mine will be a bookmark. The photo doesn't show it, but his hat trim, beard and mustache are glittered. I'll show you the glue.



I'd never heard of this (that's why we go to open houses, right?), and it stays tacky forever until you add the glitter. So, if you glitter your card and the phone rings, you can come back and the glue will still work. You can also use it for bonding as well. For permanent bonding, use while wet - for temporary bonding, let dry. 


I also bought a tool for picking up tiny things like pearls, gemstones, dots, etc. It's sticky on the end, and I think it's probably magic.


I bought some stamps. Hate wooden stamps now, but at half-price, I couldn't resist.


The circles and branches were also half-price.


Only one punch, half-price


Dies, swan was half-off



Half-off


Joey found these. They're $2.99 each. The colored part shows the words. You can't see it in the photo, but the Thank You has a little flower, Let it Snow has a snowflake, Jingle Bells has a bell (of course), Happy New Year has champagne glasses, and Merry and Bright has a Christmas star. The little extras are separate so you can use them without the words if you wish.


Embossing folders, half-off



Embellishments, all but the doilies half-off.



3-D Paper


I won this by finding a blue star (I had a hint from one of the ladies) and the one on the left also has another sheet of stickers on the back side.




If you're a crafter, this store is a must when you're in Branson. The ladies are so knowledgeable and so sweet. I was asking for a metal shim plate because some of my dies don't cut properly. They told me not to buy one - just put my dies from that certain company face up instead of face down, and it would probably do the trick. Who knew? Saved me some bucks.

I sent out invitations for a Quack, Quack lunch tomorrow, but change of plans. We're having a routine lunch with my standard ham menu, so maybe the week after Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned.


I didn't have enough paper to make them all the same, so two of each. 



HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING

EAT HEARTY, FOR JANUARY 1 WE DIET

INCLUDE A RELISH TRAY FOR SOME CRUNCH

SENDING LOVE YOUR WAY

THANK YOU SHARING MY LIFE



10 comments:

  1. Katie's cards are beautiful! And I love chicken and ribs. And you got a great deal at half-off on those items. I hope you have had a great weekend, Patsy, and hope your week will be even better. :)

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    1. You help make my weeks better with your reminders of how blessed we are, and the heartwarming videos.

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  2. What a haul with all those marked down prices. Loved the cabbage setting and all those cards were a delight. Take care.

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    1. Katie was here for lunch today and she was going home to make more cards. She makes them for shut-ins, nursing homes, and also her son is a high school teacher and she makes cards for him to give the other teachers - and each one is different. Imagine!

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  3. Hi Sweetie!

    Happy belated to your Bro! I love Famous Dave's too. Definitely don't go hungry there. ;)

    Holy cards Batman! You weren't kidding she's a card making machine. I'm beyond impressed!! I think your cards were darling too dear Patsy. You're so thoughtful.

    You and I would be DANGEROUS together with our crafting goodies! Between shopping and pooling our resources...well just dangerous. It may be a good thing you don't live close by. Lol!!

    And I think I may have actually snorted for laughing at poor Pepper and your "creative" solution for him. Hahaha!! Hey, whatever works, right?

    Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving dear Friend!! xoxo

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  4. Actually, it was Friend John's 84th birthday, and he just cut down a gigantic tree in his yard, hauled away the small limbs, cut up the trunk and large limbs and gave them to neighbors for fire wood - three pickup loads. Hooray for John.

    Carrie, Carrie, Carrie. Just because we don't live close to each other doesn't mean you're off the hook. I realize that you live (like Quill in the Cat Who books) 500 miles north of everywhere, but I assume that UPS delivers to you. I'm getting ready to clean out my garage and you, my dear, might get a box of goodies soon. Do you do mostly scrapbooking or making cards?

    Pepper says I've added insult to injury, but his wound is looking so much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hooray for John indeed!

      Now don't be getting naughty you! I already received your beautiful card yesterday!! You big Sweetie! Thank you so much!! Although, I can't wait to send you my sugared pecans soon to see what you think. (hee hee). I just love the holidays! ;)

      Tell Pepper I'm very proud of him - he's a real trooper. xoxo

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  5. Poor Pepper! Get well soon.
    My own is just going out of the door, he's black too, maybe you have seen him at my blog, but I rare show photos of him, he don't like the shootings...

    So many nice things, my absolute favorite is the green pottery at the table with the rabbits.
    And: I should write more cards...
    Have a great advent-time :-)

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    1. PS: Have subscribed your posts per email now.

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    2. So happy to have you. I'm missing the Five on Friday postings. I'll be happy when they start again.

      Pepper is still a happy kitty, even though he has to put up with his collar. He likes to sit on a footstool in the screened-in patio and watch his sister and her baby when they come to the Kitty-Cat Cafe for dinner about 3:00 or 4:00 each day. Getting a little nippy, but he seems to like it anyway.

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