12-2-2018 In One Door and Out the Other

Thoughts and Quotes: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.           C. S. Lewis

And therein lies my problem. I keep coming up with new things to do, but no added time to do them. And I'm trying so hard to downsize, but I take four more boxes of books to the library -

and then go to Russell Stover's to pick up candy for my kids, and right down the street is Goodwill, so I come home with this -

Six strawberry napkins for 25 cents each for the Strawberry Tea.

Hmmm.....maybe not. I like the white to show off the napkin rings.

I'll come up with a luncheon table with green tablecloth, red handled silverware, green dishes, red placemats, the new napkins and I'll get an entirely new look.

Four little tea napkins perfect for Christmas for 25 cents each

They'll be perfect with this.

Six blue glass bowls for 50 cents to use with Blue Christmas

And then realized that I already have blue bowls

But these are so pretty.

A sweet little Pilgrim for 50 cents. I love that the turkey looks as if he's thinking, "What's going on?"

I have no idea what I'll do with these chairs for $1 each, but they were so cute, I had to have them. At first I thought "picture frame", but there's no place to slide in the photo. They looks as if they came right out of a Fairy Tale.

A small pumpkin plate for 25 cents. A couple of small nicks, but I can fix them with a marker and some clear nail polish.

And a large pumpkin plate for $1.

I'll use them for serving dishes with the Pumpkin Patch table.

Spreaders for $2 to go with the Coastal Cuisine table.

Spreaders for $2 to go with the Mexican Tea.

Spreaders for $2 to go with anything. Really nice quality.

Spreaders for $1 to go with the Snowflake table. Hope the blues will blend.

So did I make any progress? Probably not, but I'm having fun.

Tasting (out): Lisa and I went to the Market Place Cafe in Ozark for bacon-mushroom quiche. She had lasagna soup, I had a salad.

Then we both had Irish Creme Cheesecake

Tasting (in): I remembered this recipe I hadn't made for a long time. It's so easy, and the pork chops and rice bake together while you prepare the salad and/or vegetable.

PORK CHOPS AND DIRTY RICE

4 thick-cut pork chops

2/3 cup uncooked rice

3 cups water

1 envelope dry onion soup mix

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 small can mushroom pieces, drained

Heat oven to 375°.

Place rice in the bottom of a 2 qt. casserole with a lid.

Brown chops and place on top of rice.

Add water to chop drippings. Add onion soup, onions, and mushrooms to water. Heat slightly and pour over chops.

Cover and bake 45 minutes; remove cover and bake 10-15 minutes more.

  

The Pepper and Pals Report: Nothing new with the kitties. Robert and Joey were here for lunch and Stormy warmed up to both of them. Pepper, the attention hound, wouldn't leave them alone.  He loves people and he loves to get pets.

Tidbits: Isn't Mother Nature a wonder? She piled all the leaves in the middle for easier removal.

Tidbits (again): Brother Danny told me about a wonderful off-season sale at Aldi. BBQ grills for 25 cents. Click HERE. For those of you who don't have an Aldi, you have to put in a quarter (25 cents) to unlock a shopping cart. After you unload your groceries, you hook your cart back up and it releases your quarter.

Tidbits (still again): I learn something new everyday. I packed up the candy I bought for my kids, and took it to UPS. They told me they couldn't ship it in that box. I was so perplexed. It was a really nice sturdy box I got at the last library book sale. Then they told me why. It originally held some kind of pale ale - it was printed right there on the side with their logo. Who knew? You can't ship in boxes which say any kind of liquor on the side. 

They put my box inside one of their boxes, taped it up, and sent it on its way. And the box cost me an additional $4.43 cents. Lesson learned.

Talented Friends: Remember Nancy, the genius cakemaker who made this -

And this -

And this -

Take a look at her newest creation. Genius.

The Most Beautiful Christmas Music: A moving youtube presentation to start the Christmas season. Those who don't celebrate Christmas can still appreciate the music and creativity.  Click HERE.

Test: I wanted to share a Jacquie Lawson card. Let's see if it works. Click HERE.

WORK ON YOUR CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST

STAY HYDRATED

EAT LOTS OF LEAFY GREENS

WRAP THE PRESENTS AS YOU BUY THEM SO YOU WON'T BE IN OVERLOAD JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS

TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS OF THE HOLIDAYS - IN THE FUTURE YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

11-26-2018 Busy, busy, busy

Thoughts and Quotes: Much of the stress people feel doesn't come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.
                                                       David Allen, Author of Getting Things Done

That's me, Folks. And just to prove it, instead of finishing something I've started, I ordered his book in from Mobius. Maybe it holds some magic formula for keeping your eye on the goal. Well, it might. I need to read it instead of organizing my closet.

I don't have much to show you this week, but I wanted to stay in touch.

Thrifting: I don't shop DAV (Red Racks) much anymore, because their prices have become too high. I was going right by, so I stopped in. I saw one item that still had the Marshalls price tag - $5.99; DAV price - $6.99. What?!

I wanted this dish because it's large, so I paid $3; and these prices are 20% off for Senior Day

A metal trivet - $3

A bowl to add to my accidental collection - 73 cents

4 placemats for $2.25. No, I don't know yet how I'll use them, but they made me happy.

Then I went to Goodwill (just down the street) and bought four pretty glass bowls for 50 cents each since it was blue tag day. This one is sitting on the flip side of the placemats. Just right for a meal salad.

Thank Yous: For my Thanksgiving cards. Since I've been sending ecards, I've received few handmade cards. Here are the two I received this year, and I'll be back to cardmaking later - just taking a break.

Thanksgiving: I ran up to the Springfield Family Restaurant and picked up two dinners so I'd have leftovers and plenty of turkey to share with Pepper and Stormy. Pepper loved it; Stormy said, "Yuck!". I finally finished the last of the turkey on Sunday by putting it on my salad. 

My finest china

I ran into Mickey while waiting for my order.

The Pepper and Pals Report: Stormy continues her yoga exercises.

While Pepper is getting caught up on his rest. He works so hard, you know.

Stormy hiding from Pepper - she thinks. Tails don't count.

Flower has taken over the heated house. Fred and Ginger sometimes go in the carrier, but never at the same time. I paid almost three times as much for a two-kitty heated house instead of a one-kitty, but Flower seems to be the only one who likes it. Or maybe he's territorial. Who knows with kitties? 

No one used the houses I made out of plastic tubs, so I put two Walmart boxes together (one inside the other), filled the space with old clothes, and put my warmest, cuddliest throw inside. So far, no takers. 

Tidying: I looked at the calendar and realized I'll never finish all my books, so I'm working on culling them and taking them to the library for the spring book sale. They might not want all of them. I like old books. Funny how your taste can change, so it didn't break my heart to part with them. Amazing how much time it takes to peruse a book to see if you can part with it. I took two boxes on Saturday, and I have three boxes in my trunk to take on Tuesday.

Time to Plan for Christmas: To save you some time, I've prepared your list.

Light a fire in the fireplace

Buy some evergreen or bayberry room spray

Make a centerpiece for your dining table with holly and red candles

Put a wreath on the door

Bake lots of Christmas cookies

Make hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows

Buy new jammies for the whole family to wear the night of Christmas eve

Decorate outside the front of your house

Put up a tree, even if it’s small

Don’t forget presents for the pets

Drink eggnog and/or hot cider

Take a present to a nursing home for someone who’s alone

Watch some Christmas movies on Hallmark channels

Send some Christmas cards

Make chili and cornbread on a cold evening

Treat yourself to a poinsettia

Look at the Christmas lights – take along a thermos of your favorite hot beverage

Go to a Christmas music concert

Splurge on a prime rib roast for Christmas dinner – make Yorkshire pudding

Wear your Christmas costume jewelry, sweaters, scarves, etc.

Play Christmas carols in the house and in the car – sing along

Go to the mall to see the decorations, even if you’re finished with your shopping

Read a Christmas book – the library has lots

Attend a candlelight service at church

Simmer cinnamon sticks and orange peel to make the house smell yummy

Smile at everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah

Start working on your 2019 goal list

 STAY WARM

AND HYDRATED

SEE HOW MANY THINGS YOU CAN FINISH FROM THE LIST ABOVE

HUG ALL YOUR LOVED ONES

PETS, TOO

11-18-2018 VECC at Mim's

Thoughts and Quotes: Let us be grateful for people who make us happy – they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

                                                                                          Marcel Proust

And so, during this Thanksgiving season, I am grateful to all of you who make me happy by reading my ramblings and sharing my life.

I know you have a turkey to cook, so I'll be brief.

Tasting: This was cooking club week, and Mim prepared a beautiful and delicious meal. Bev was suffering with a cold, and said the next day that Mim's good food made her feel much better. 

VERY EXCLUSIVE COOKING CLUB

Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Mim’s

Table

Menu

Tossed Salad

Pork Roast with Apples and Onions

Sweet Potato Casserole

Steamed Asparagus

Buttered Green Beans

Apple-Cranberry-Walnut Pie

Sister Shubert Rolls

Hot Tea

Food

Recipes

EVERYDAY SALAD

5 ounces spring greens mix (or whatever greens you have on hand)

1 English cucumber, very thinly sliced

Small red onion, peeled and very thinly sliced

1/2 cup tiny cubes of Monterey Jack, Swiss, or Havarti cheese

1/2 cup pepitas or toasted pine nuts (or whatever nuts you have on hand)

1 batch Everyday Salad Dressing

Salad Dressing

3 Tbs olive oil

1 Tbs sugar

1 Tbs freshly-squeezed lemon juice (or white wine vinegar)

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 small clove garlic, finely-minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)

1/2 tsp fine sea salt

1/4 tsp freshly-cracked black pepper

Whisk all salad ingredients together in a bowl (or shake together in a mason jar) until combined.  Use immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Combine all salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and toss until evenly combined.  Serve immediately.

PORK ROAST WITH APPLES AND ONIONS

 1 whole pork shoulder or pork butt roast

3 Tbs oil

Salt and pepper

4 cups apple juice

1 cup beef stock

3 apples, cored and cut into wedges

3 medium onions, sliced

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper the roast and then sauté it in oil over high heat to brown all sides.

Reduce heat to low and add apple juice, apples, onions, and bay leaf.

Cover and simmer for three hours.

Slice and serve with apples and onions.

Note: Can also be baked at 300°.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

5-6 medium sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

8 Tbs butter, softened

1-1/2 tsps vanilla

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

Topping

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans

4 Tbs butter, softened

1/2 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Scrub the sweet potatoes and boil or bake them until tender.

While potatoes cool, heat oven to 350°. Peel and mash the potatoes.

Add the sugar, butter, vanilla, milk, and eggs.

Mix all topping ingredients except marshmallows and spread evenly over the sweet potatoes.

Bake for 30 minutes. If using marshmallows, add them the final 10 minutes.

  

APPLE-CRANBERRY-WALNUT PIE

1 cup chopped walnut, toasted

1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

2 Tbs flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 Tbs salted butter

6 cups peeled, cored, and sliced apples

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 unbaked pie crusts

Milk

In a mixing bowl, combine nuts, cranberries, and flour. Set aside.

Caramelize the sugar and butter for about 2 minutes.

Add the apples and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Add the nut mixture and stir to combine.

Remove from heat and let cool.

Heat the oven to 400° while assembling pie.

Place one crust in the pie pan and add the apple filling. Brush the edges with milk.

Add the second crust and seal and crimp. Brush with milk.

Place pie on a baking sheet and bake on the lowest oven shelf for about 40 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack.

Serve warm or cold.

  

Party Favors

Thrifting: You knew I'd buy more dishes sooner or later. I just couldn't help myself.

Service for six plus covered casserole, cream and sugar, covered butter dish - $10

The Pepper and Pals Report: Nothing new here. Some cold days, so the kitties have been hunkered down somewhere, and only coming for meals. Flower is excluded, of course, because he's working on becoming a house kitty and hangs around in the screened patio.

No one likes the hillybilly dog houses, so I put the carrier back out and bought a new heated A-frame. It has a fleece-covered pad which plugs in and only heats up when kitty is on it; otherwise, goes to sleep. I bought the two-kitty house, but no one wants to join Flower. Ginger sleeps in the carrier sometimes, but we'll see what happens when it gets really cold. I might need to buy another heated house or two. Sometimes I find one of them snuggled in the nests I fixed on the bench. Oh, the joys of motherhood.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING

MAKE A WISH ON THE FULL FROST MOON THE NEXT NIGHT

MAYBE PUT UP THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS NEXT WEEKEND

AND FINISH THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

START THINKING ABOUT YOUR 2019 GOALS

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE