Sunday, January 1, 2017

Week 54, 1-1-2017

Thoughts and Quotes: I posted this last year, but I love it so much, I'm sharing it again.


This is the year that your dreams come true!
This is the year that your ships come in;
This is the year you find Christ within.
This is the year you are glad to live;
This is the year you have much to give.
This is the year when you know the Truth;
This is the year when you find new youth.
This is the year that brings happiness;
This is the year you will live to bless.
Wonderful, wonderful, fortunate you,
This is the year that your dreams come true!

                                                Russell A. Kemp

I really liked this also. Oh, if they could see us now!

Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities.
                                                         Woman’s Home Companion, December 1935

Time for Others: I made a few New Year's cards. Here are some samples. They're really blingy. The photos don't do them justice. I'm very slow. I spent two days making sixteen cards.



The Pepper Report: He has such a rough life. He's getting to be a little pudge.


His wounds are much better. He isn't scratching them now, and I'm putting emu oil on his left eye injury, hoping that the scar tissue will soften and let his eye and ear move back toward normal.


And his left leg hair is filling in.


Time to Play: My week was spent on making cards, going to Cracker Barrel for lunch will Martha and Bill, thrifting with Bill, and a little jaunt to the casino with Steg, where I came home with $150 of their money (Oh, wait - that was probably my money which I let them borrow on my past trips).  

Thrifting: Guess people were busy with the holidays instead of buying housewares, so some treasures had been there long enough to make the 50% discount status. All housewares with yellow tags were 1/2 price.

Not my greatest bargain. Not on sale, so $3


Only $1


The pattern goes all the way around. I bought six for 25 cents each.


Teabag holders for 50 cents total


Salt and pepper shakers - $1 for the pair


Plastic spoons with lime slices on top - 50 cents for four


I always need another white rabbit - 50 cents


Salad size plates which I'll use for serving at teas - $1 each


Not on sale, but still a bargain at $4


This one was on sale - $2.50


Handpainted in Italy - $3


A little smaller but only $1.50


Trains at the Botanical Center: While we were out, we dropped by the Botanical Center to see the Christmas trains, as this was our last chance. They're different each year, and so cute.


















When I think of all the work which went into this display, I hang my head in shame for complaining about how long it took to put lights out front of my house.

Tip: Check your smoke alarms to make they're working properly. I'll remind you again in July.

Tablescapes: My New Year's Day table won't win any awards, but it was more about eating black-eyed peas for Good Luck in the New Year; rice for Health; collard greens for Money; ham and cornbread because they go well with the other things. Sweet Potato Pie just for fun. We toasted the New Year with sparkling cider.





SWEET POTATO PIE
Cut from a newspaper - submitted by Rose Watson

2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 butter, softened
2 eggs, separated
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 unbaked pie shell

Heat oven to 400°.

Combine sweet potatoes, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, and spices.

Stir in milk – mix well.

Beat egg whites one minute, and then add sugar gradually until stiff peaks form.

Fold whites gently into sweet potato mixture.

Spoon into pie shell.

Bake at 400° for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350° and bake 45 minutes more.

Note: Use a deep dish or 10” pie plate.

It will puff up, but then settle in as it cools.



CORNBREAD – SOUTHERN
Clabber Girl Baking Powder

1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups white (or yellow) cornmeal
2 Tbs flour
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
1 egg

Heat oven to 450°.

Melt shortening in a 9” iron skillet or 9” baking pan in the oven, brushing sides of pan with hot shortening.

Sift dry ingredients together in mixing bowl.

Combine egg and buttermilk and stir into dry ingredients, along with melted shortening.

Pour batter into hot pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until browned.


Thank You to Sweet Niece Sarah: For this fun gift for serving chilled dips.


Taking Care of My Health: Okay, fresh start. We'll work into it slowly. Every day, eat apples. They can be raw, cooked, in salads, apple juice, and for those who aren't watching their weight: cookies, cakes, pies.

The schedule: As I promised last week, this is what I'm planning for the week ahead.

Muffin Tin Monday: Make Ahead Breakfast Muffins

Tidy Up Tuesday: I'll work on that mess in my garage.

Where Shall We Go Wednesday?: The Grotto (West Coast Grill). If you live in the Springfield, Missouri, area, join me. Sorry, you have to pay for your own lunch. The Grotto is in the Food For Less shopping center on the Big Lots side, but closer to the street. Be at my house at 11:10 if you're riding with me, or be at the restaurant at 11:30. Bring your husbands, mothers, daughters, neighbors, friends, anyone who doesn't get out enough. See you there.

Try Something Thursday: I'm going to make something in the Air Fryer I bought weeks ago, and haven't even opened the box.

Friends Over Friday: The Blue Belles are coming for Reuben sandwiches and girl talk.

Sayonara Saturday: I'll clear out my files and put the ones my heirs will need to settle my estate all in one place.

Tip: If you couldn't find the Rose Parade today, it's because they never have it on a Sunday because it interferes with church. However, they will have it on Monday, the 2nd, and it's shown at 10:00 a.m. in the Central Time Zone. And I hope you watched or taped New Year's Eve in Vienna. Sorry I didn't finish my blog post in time to remind you.

LET'S MAKE 2017 OUR BEST YEAR EVER

EAT YOUR APPLES

WORK ON YOUR GOALS

THINK ABOUT GOING ON A BUDGET

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE







16 comments:

  1. Wow, such cute train sceneries, I could look hours...
    Get well soon for Mr. Pepper - I know, that cat wound can take a very long time.
    We dont malke big plans, but we want to try every tuesday go for a swim and, of course, eat our apples. And every Friday is reserved for Friday Five (not, that I don't blogging on monday, tuesday and everyday - ).
    Happy healthy sunny year for you :-)

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    1. And I'm so happy that you take time for Five on Friday. I love seeing all the news, photos, customs, etc from people around the world. It's my Friday night-weekend treat. Sometimes I don't get a chance to finish until Monday.

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  2. I am totally impressed with your thrifty finds great bargains. I love the tradition of eating black eyed peas and such I have come across this custom before, one of the many reasons I like to blog. Wishing you a wonderful 2017.

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    1. Peter Longley (from the UK) is the horticultural interpreter at our local Botanical Center (where the trains are located), and he writes a newsletter twice a week. I've asked if I could share his great explanation of why we have black-eyed peas on my blog next week. Stay tuned.

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  3. Hello Lovie!!!! Happiest of New Years from afar!! Sending my best wishes and prayers - from my heart to yours - and hoping this is your best year yet dear Friend. I LOVE that poem! So inspiring! ;)

    Next, thank you so much for the lovely New Years card. You are such a shining gem amongst gems! Beyond thoughtful to boot. I'm going to use it in the belated Xmas/New years luncheon I'm doing with my Aunt and Mumsy, as part of the centerpiece - thank you very much. :)

    Dear Pepper - loving that kitty from afar. He's so blessed to have you. I think he's looking better every time I see him.

    More wonderful treasures too I see. Those teapots - be still my heart what great deals!!

    I think your New Years celebration looks like it was lovely. Yay for 2017 and all the joy it will bring!! At least we're going to focus on all the joy, right?

    And thank you so much for sharing the train!! It was magical and I poured over each photo. I love miniatures like that - still the kiddo in me I guess. Lol

    I'm off to eat lunch - including apple - I promise! Thanks for the reminder and taking care of us. This is the year we definitely are clinking cheers to our health!!

    Blessings Patsy. xoxo

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    1. Your comments are always a gift. What more can I say? So happy I found you.

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  4. Hi Patsy, Happy, Happy New Year! Love the New Year's quotes and how amazing that the Woman's Home Companion quote is still relevant today. The more things change, the more they stay the same.....Love all your thrifty finds, especially those sweet little teabag holders. So fun to see the train villages! Love your New Year's table and menu - thank you for the recipes, too. Sending hugs your way xx Karen

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    1. If you want to make black-eyed peas and collard greens next year, I put some good recipes on Year 1 - Week 2.

      I must curb my thrift shopping FOR SURE. I'm totally out of room. My goal is to dispose of anything for my tables which I haven't used in two years (except for my basics like plain pink, yellow, green, blue, orange, white, ivory, etc.). Just don't think it makes sense to go rent a storage unit for things I bought at thrift stores, and that's where I am right now.

      Will be happy to see Five on Friday back this week.

      Happy New Year - hope 2017 is perfect for you.

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  5. Your new year cards are fantastic and we love the Christmas trains, if there was something like that around here little Logan would be impossible to remove from the place, he's a bit of a train fanatic!

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    1. The cards all had faux stones and were metallic gold or silver. The camera doesn't do them justice. Perhaps I need some photography lessons.

      If Logan hasn't seen the miniature trains (and airport) in Hamburg, just Google "Miniatur Wunderland". Some great videos on YouTube.

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  6. Your golden table setting is so festive. Wishing you & the little cat all the best in 2017!

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    1. I'm doing a table for a friend's Supper 8 dinner on the 20th. I'll use the same table, but change the centerpiece. Haven't decided what, but too late in January for New Year's decorations. Stay tuned.

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  7. That train set up is amazing. You are way more organized in your thinking and planning than I'll ever be. I pretty much just take one day at a time. :) Love me some blackeyed peas, cabbage and cornbread. Happy New Year!

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    1. Planning is one thing - doing is another, as you will see on this week's post. Best laid plans, etc.

      And if you want to see a train set up you won't believe, Google "miniatur wunderland".

      Black-eyed peas are all gone - hope they bring the good luck as promised. If you want some southern recipes for New Year (2018), go to Year 1, Week 2.

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  8. Your New Year's Day dinner sounds yummy! I made sweet potato pie once and enjoyed it, but it can't replace pumpkin pie for me. The trains are cute, and I bet a lot of kids enjoyed it too. Love your thrifted items, looks like you cleaned out the store ;) Happy New Year!
    Wendy

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    1. Before I discovered the right way to cook the peas and the collards for New Year's, my dinner was so-so. Now they're pretty good, thanks to Southern Living and Miz Helen's Country Kitchen. The recipes are on Year 1, Week 2.

      I found the sweet potato pie recipe in the newspaper. It had a photo of the lady who submitted it, and she's African-American. I knew it had to be good. They know how to cook Southern and that includes sweet potato pie. I think it's separating the eggs and folding in the egg whites that makes the difference.

      Love those sales when the housegoods or linens are half off. Yes, I had two boxes full. Thankfully, my brother was along to do the lifting. Bless you, Bill.

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