Week 101, 11-26-2017

Thoughts and Quotes: It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
                                                      Thomas Jefferson

Good advice, which I shall endeavor to follow. I've been a real slug since I had my cold. Just can't get motivated. I've heard there's a time to ebb and a time to flow. I know what it means, but I don't know which is which. I think I've been ebbing and I need to flow. Not sure if that's right, but I do know that I need to get off my big fat rear-end and get to work.

I'm struggling with book formatting, so decided to put that aside for a little while. I ironed the red tablecloth today, so next week you shall see the December Holly Tea. I have a bit of a problem. I should have completed the teas in order because this is January - Winter Flowers.

And this is February - Cardinals

Since there was so much time between them, I didn't realize how alike they were; red, same teapot, cardinals. Now I'm getting ready to do December with a red tablecloth, too. I believe I'll scratch January and redo it with white and silver. Or should I leave January and scratch February? Anyway, one or the other has to go. 

The Pepper and Pals Report: Veronica got her shots on Monday and her new mommy picked her up on Wednesday evening. Of course, I cried when she left. I love that little baby girl. Nancy says that she's adjusting, exploring the new home, and wants to sleep with her, but she has to be careful that the little boy kitty doesn't get jealous.

Her last evening here, asleep in the chair in my office while I was on the computer.

Midnight's babies are growing up to be real cuties. The cage goes back into operation this week. I believe they're big enough to spay and neuter. A bonus would be if I caught BJ.

And Pepper Houdini wiggled his way out of his cone collar and scratched his eye bloody again, so tomorrow I'm taking him in to get his back paws declawed. I don't know what else to try. It's not like the old days where they surgically removed them. Now they use laser or whatever our Dr. uses which is some kind of radio waves but I forgot the name. It's not like he needs to be able to defend himself, as he never goes out further than the patio or the front walk when I'm there with him.

On the other hand, this is my Wild Child Stormy who wants to spend time outside, and needs to keep her claws. 

I had an appointment on December 5 to take Veronica to the Humane Society to see if they could find her a family. Now I'm taking Stormy instead. She only knows me and they might not accept her, but she definitely needs a family to play with and keep her occupied. She searched the entire house for Veronica the night she left. They loved playing together. Pepper wants to be left alone. He's never going to be a good playmate for Stormy. I'll keep you posted.

Tax Time Is Not The Same Now: Our county seat is in Ozark, one of the few remaining small towns with a square which is still an active shopping area instead of flea market stores. It looks exactly as I remember it in the 1940's.

The red storefront is the Market House Cafe, owned by Pepper's vet's wife

In the middle of the square is the court house, complete with bandstand.

I loved paying my taxes every year because the ladies who work there have been there forever, they're really sweet, they know what they're doing, and if I went in November the office was decorated for fall, and if I went in December, it was decorated for Christmas.

Time has finally caught up with us. This is what I found this year.

When I went in, I was in a small vestibule with a window like the box office at the theater. I could have gone in on the other side and gone through security, but as the sign says, they would have confiscated my camera. I'm so grateful that I was born early enough to remember the days when we didn't keep track of our house key (if we had one) and never locked our cars, but late enough to see the cyber world and have a blog. 

Thank you: To Martha who knew that I'd be alone on Thanksgiving and brought over this: Turkey (my favorite dark meat), stuffing, dumplings, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole.

Yum! And then surprised me the next day with this: Pork chop, butter beans, squash casserole, and sweet potatoes. How spoiled can one girl be?!

Thinning Out: My weekly seven discards. No acquisitions, so I only needed my one per day.

Ratty old pj's to the rag bag.

Some help from my girls.

Photo-bomber Stormy. This is a Tevana canister. In the future, someone will say, "She should have kept that. They went out of business and it's worth a lot of money."

Odds and ends.

I'm actually starting to have fun with this.

Tasting: Brother Dan wanted my recipe for cornbread dressing, and I don't have one. I had to make the dressing in order to create a recipe.

CORNBREAD DRESSING

1 recipe Southern Cornbread - it's in the drop down menu above

1 can (10) cheap biscuits from the refrigerated case

3 Tbs butter

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1-1/2 cups chicken broth

1-1/2 tsps ground sage

2 eggs and 3 Tbs melted butter, optional

Bake cornbread. 

Bake biscuits following directions for time and temperature on can, but on an ungreased baking sheet, with sides not touching.

Melt butter and sauté onion and celery until tender, but not brown.

Tear biscuits into pieces about the size of the first knuckle of your thumb and put in large mixing bowl. Rough crumble cornbread and add to bowl. Add onions and celery.

Moisten with chicken broth and stir in sage.

Put in 2-1/2 qt. casserole.  Cover and microwave on high for 8 minutes. OR bake 20-30 minutes at 325°. Not sure of time, so keep checking.

Without broth, broth and sage added, cooked.

Things That Make My Heart Sing: Phyllis Hoffman is a media genius. If you're not familiar with the Hoffman magazines, take a look. My favorites are Victoria, Southern Lady, and Tea Time. In honor of the tenth anniversary of the revival of Victoria, they created this room. When I win the BIG lottery, I'm going to build a house with a room like this, and invite all of you to dinner. Ready? You'll catch your breath. Click HERE.

The Bucket List for Christmas: Here's your Christmas assignment - now get out there and celebrate.

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 2018 goal list

Monday - Cyber Monday; buy yourself an early Christmas present.

Tuesday - National French Toast Day - yeah!

Wednesday - Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Day

Thursday - Mason Jar Day - a good time to gather up and return jars to the people who gave them to you filled with jams, jellies, salsas, etc. Or better yet, make something in a Mason jar for your friends.

Friday - Eat a red apple day. 

Saturday - National Fritters Day

Sunday - National Roof Over Your Head Day; Celebrate by being grateful for the roof over your head, along with all your other blessings. Do something for someone less fortunate. 

WORK ON THE CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST

MAKE A WISH ON THE FULL COLD MOON NEXT SUNDAY

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN DURING COLD SEASON

EAT PLENTY OF SALADS

SOME TEA EVERY DAY

TURN OFF THE TV - PUT ON SOME MUSIC

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

NOTE TO SELF: HEED JEFFERSON'S WORDS