Tuesday Ponderings . . .

Today is the beginning of the ‘expected’ big snowfall: 5-8 inches from Tues. morning to Wednesday afternoon, with high winds which could cause drifting to 10 inches – oh, joy.  Hey, we’re in Michigan – land of the WINTER WONDERLAND (or at least that’s what they USED to call it). It’s now almost noon and there’s a powdered-sugar dusting of snow falling; not too fast but it IS sticking to my car. (had to brush it off twice while I was ‘out’).

Speaking of being “out”, I learned something NEW today! (Maybe not new to you, but I’m slow to ‘get on the bandwagon’ when it comes to doing things in a more ‘modern’ fashion.) I went for an appointment with our local banker who showed me how easy it is to pay all my bills ON LINE! For as long as I’ve been paying bills (that would be from around 1966 upwards), I’ve always felt most comfortable paying them by check. It is only because the costs of ordering checks, added to the costs involved in buying stamps and driving to the Post Office to mail them that I decided it was time for a change.  The very kind and patient banker I dealt with said that he was just the same as me – very possessive when it comes to doing bills – all by checks until lately. (Perhaps he was just trying to make me feel comfortable, but it didn’t seem that way.) As I’ve said, I’m slow to ‘update’ to more  modern methods of doing things – I also set up my bank card to be a credit payment with rewards; before this I only did “debit” (no rewards). We’ll see how this all plays out in the future, but for now I’m feeling kind of happy that I’m learning new things!

Knowing that this big snowstorm is supposed to come today, I re-checked our household grocery supplies. We’re doing fine in the food department but one thing was lacking that ‘could’ make being house-bound/snow-bound rather difficult. . . toilet paper! That bastion of decency, the lowly toilet paper – needed by millions and, without it, greatly missed. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home – we are now ‘good to go’ (sorry for the pun!).

At the store I kept noticing two items: corn muffin mix and canned chili with beans. This brought to mind a tasty, filling/hearty casserole which I plan on making very soon:

============

Stove Top Tamale Pie 

1 pound ground beef
1  packet Taco Seasoning
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can  (14 ounces)  kidney beans, undrained
3/4 cup water
1 box (8 ounces)  corn muffin mix
1/4 cup green onion
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

 Brown ground beef; drain grease. Stir in taco
seasoning mix,tomato sauce, beans and water;
bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer.
Meanwhile, prepare corn muffin mix according to box
directions. Drop small spoonfuls of muffin batter
over meat; cover and cook on Low 15-17 minutes
or until corn bread is done. Top with cheese
and green onion; cover and cook over low heat
until cheese melts.
=============
Note:  This is not the exact recipe I was looking
for; if I recall, the original was made with
canned chili with beans and baked in a casserole
dish. Nonetheless, this one came close;I think
I might add a bit more spices to it,perhaps cumin,
a little chili powder and lots of garlic powder.
===============
That's what's going on around here, am 3/4ths
done with afghan #229 and if it keeps snowing
looks like I might be doing a LOT
of afghan work in the near future.
OH! One more 'recipe' for you, just in case
you find yourself wondering what to cook for
dinner:
===========
Crockpot Water Buffalo

Ingredients:

1 Medium Water Buffalo
1 Large Rock

Place Water Buffalo and Rock in large
crock-pot. Cook on high until rock melts.
Meat will be done.
==============
Have a great day! Remember to smile a little,
keep warm & cozy and treat yourself to something
you like: a good book,a cup of hot tea/cocoa/coffee,
a good movie,some nice music,something sweet
(cookie, M & M's, cappuccino?.
Hugs;Pammie
(for some weird reason, WordPress wants
to be goofy today on the sentence spacing-
hope this comes out ledgible!)

When it’s cold . . .

we cook! I love my crockpot and lately am adding more recipes to my collection. They are such amazing creations, these crockpots; you can throw the ingredients in and then not bother with it again for 4-6 HOURS! When you DO go back – VOILA! Dinner is ready! In the past I’ve shared my favorite recipe for Triple Chocolate Mess, a wickedly good concoction that is almost heart-stoppingly wicked. You can see in the above photo, my dear grandson deep into perfecting his burger-flipping (Love the sucked in cheeks!). I figured that since his dad and brothers used to love to play cooking, he would too (especially since his dad is the Executive Chef). Grandson’s claim to fame in the “kid-concoction/recipes” is ‘hangaburgers’ and ‘chocolate spaghetti’ (“You add chocolate milk to the spaghetti, Gramma…it’s really good that way!”) O….K…., think I’ll pass on that one (wink).

Our weather report is telling us to be ready for 4-6 inches of the white stuff, starting tomorrow through Wednesday . . . oh, goodie. Knowing that this week is (hopefully) going to be very busy with doctor visits, appointments, knit group, my special needs group, a baby shower, an orthodontist appointment and our special needs group’s annual basketball game, I’m REALLY hoping that the weather predictions are not as severe as they’re telling us (but who am I to doubt the weather people?).

Since it’s winter AND cold out, here are a few good-sounding recipes for your crockpots: (these were donated by Sandy at Mary’s Recipe Exchange):

Zippy Beef Tips (crockpot)

2 lbs stewing beef
2 c. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 can 7-up (or other lemon lime carbonated drink)

Place meat and mushrooms in slow cooker.  Combine mushroom soup, soup mix, and soda, pour over meat.  Cover, cook on low for 8 hours.
Serve with rice or noodles

================

Tamale Pie (crockpot)

3/4 cup Cornmeal
1 1/2 cups Milk
1 Egg, beaten
1 pound Ground beef, browned and drained
1 Envelope dry chili seasoning mix
1 16 oz Can diced tomatoes
1 16 oz Can corn (or 16 oz frozen corn)
1 cup Grated cheddar cheese
Combine cornmeal, milk, and egg.  Stir in meat, chili seasoning mix, tomatoes and corn until well blended. Pour into slow cooker.  Cover. Cook in slow cooker on High 1 hour and then on Low 3 hours.  Sprinkle with cheese. Cook another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

=================

Crockpot Smothered Steak Strips

2 lb. chuck roast, cut into 1″ strips
2 oz. flour
1/2 tsp. each salt, pepper
1 large onion
2 large green peppers, julienned

1/2 cup each (4 oz.) catsup, water, canned mushrooms
1 cup (8 oz.) barbecue sauce
1 tbsp. each molasses, soy sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar

Place steak strips, flour, salt and pepper in slow cooker. Stir well to coat steak. Slice onions and peppers very thin. Add rest of ingredients. Cover, cook on High for 1 hour, Low for 8 hours.

===============

Creamy Chicken and Peas Pasta Dinner

4 or 5 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 (16 oz.) jar of alfredo sauce
1 lb. of frozen peas (thawed)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
6-8 cups cooked pasta (buttered)

Cut chicken into strips in place in greased crockpot.  Combine alfredo sauce, peas and cheese; mix well.  Spoon mixture over chicken.  Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Serve over noodles.

============

Those ought to warm your tummies!

Try to stay inside and warm, hopefully snuggled up with a nice warm blankie, something tasty to drink (maybe even a cookie thrown in for good measure!).

Enjoy your day!

Hugs;

Pammie

By the Numbers . . .

Today is Saturday; it’s 12:36 p.m. and I feel like I’ve already accomplished a great deal. My husband is considering retirement and we just returned from a visit with our local banker to start setting up our finances for the future. It was a pleasant experience and we both felt confident that this will be a good thing. As the banker told us, it’s a good thing we are doing this now, as there are lots of people our age who have just coasted by, spending and spending and never looking to that day when the monies are not rolling in. Then they are faced with bills they can’t pay and money that isn’t there, to cover the monthly expenses.  As I said, it was an interesting time spent as we learn the ‘Ins & Outs’ of retirement investing and saving.

I’m also happy at this moment because I’m sitting here sipping my very favorite beverage: Tim Horton’s coffee AND partaking of an absolutely excellent slice of my very favorite pizza from Shield’s in Southfield (MI). Last night my dear husband treated the family to dinner from Shields: a large deep dish “Meat Lovers” pizza (for the guys) and a large deep dish “Veggie” pizza (mostly for me), plus a large Greek salad! I can easily see where we will have to ‘factor in’ an occasional trip to Shields in the retirement budget and, of course, those trips to “Tim Horton’s” for coffee! (I’ve taught my husband to love Tim’s, now he’s a bigger fan than I am!)

Today is one of those “Face it…you’ve stalled long enough!” days. I absolutely HAVE to take the time to count and photograph the three large bags of donated knit squares I received last week. I’ve put it off long enough! (I have a cartoon on my cupboard that says: “Do it tomorrow-you’ve already screwed up enough today!”) I’m guessing there are, easily, over 100 squares (think I blogged on that last week). It’s not that I’m not grateful, I AM! It’s just the effort taken in getting them all out of the bags, arranging them in piles on my dining room table, then standing on a chair to photograph them, then spending the time to count them and enter them on my “Ghana Project” blog. Yes, I know . . . I don’t HAVE to do this, but it’s my way of acknowledging the donors who have spent the time to make them. (I also thank them, either in person or by note).

Today is also “Crochet the border on the baby afghan” day. Finally located the peach colored yarn I wanted to use (I’d buried it in a large container of pink yarns). Now that I look at it, I’m double-thinking using that particular shade and might change to a more subtle shade of peach. (Don’t know why, but I seem to have LOTS of peach colored yarns!). On the afghan project subject, am now working on #229.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl; no, I probably won’t be watching (even the commercials). After the Janet Jackson fiasco, I have NO interest in any of that. Middle son is working today at Gordon Foods; we swung into their parking lot on our travels today, in hopes of grabbing some chips. The parking lot was JAMMED; husband asked “Why?” I reminded him that the Super Bowl is tomorrow and today is one of their busiest days.  Gordon Foods, for those of you who aren’t familiar with this company, is a store which sells lots of ‘large-sized grocery’ items. Sort of like a Sam’s Club or Costco, but you don’t need to pay a membership fee to shop there. They have excellent products and great prices but if you’re only shopping for a few people, their products might be a bit too large for you. I buy their hot dogs (40 to a package) and re-package them into smaller amounts and freeze them. Their already made pizza crusts are very good (2 large for $3.??); saves me trying to make my own. Anyway, lots of people shop there, especially before big events like graduation parties, holidays AND the Super Bowl parties, hence the full parking lot. We decided to wait for another day for our chips. (See? Wasn’t that informative? Didn’t you just feel that sigh of relief knowing that we could manage to wait another day for our chips? Isn’t BlogLand a great place to learn USELESS information?!)  . . . grin!

Anyway, on that note we move on to recipes. I don’t really have any great party recipes today. (are you glad?). In the past I learned about the standard “Meatballs in the crockpot recipe” but that’s almost too simple to even post about. (Frozen meatballs, a jar of grape jelly and a can of chili sauce.) Dinner tonight is Enchiladas, a family favorite. The thing I like about enchiladas is: the batch I make feeds us for two days. Oh! Don’t know if I’ve blogged about this before or not: in our beginning exploration into the “Wonderful World of Retirement” I felt it was necessary to make a complete log of all of the monthly expenses. One of those expenses is Groceries. I believe I actually surprised my husband when I told him that our average cost, per month, to feed four people is $500. At first he seemed a bit alarmed at the number until I showed him on a calculator that it averages out to $4.16 per person PER DAY! That’s the benefit of frugal grocery shopping!

On the subject of frugality, yesterday I went to J.C. Penney’s store in our area simply because that particular store is going out of business and is having a 60% off sale on fine jewelry. I have a cross pendant necklace that I wear constantly. It is suspended from a rather old chain and said chain has developed some kinks which I fear will eventually lead to the chain breaking and my losing the pendant. At the “Fine Jewelry” counter I picked out a chain which I thought would be to my liking and asked the price (they were behind a counter and prices were hidden). After the clerk figured out the 60% Sale (plus an additional 10% that particular day – figuring out to a 70% mark DOWN) she pleasantly replied: “$129.00; you could have knocked me down with a toothpick! Can you imagine the ORIGINAL price, if 70% OFF came to that? I nicely told her that was out of my budget and sauntered off to another part of the store. In my sauntering I discovered a “Less than Fine Jewelry” (my name for it) department that had very nice chains for MUCH less! I located (and bought) a 22″ gold overlay chain for (with a 30% mark down) $21.50 (tax included). I’m happy, my pocketbook is very happy and my frugal Scots heritage is pleasantly beaming! THAT’S what I’m talking about . . . frugality!!!

The sun is shining, it’s around 20-something degrees outside; the snow accumulation here is mostly gone . . . it’s a great day! Hope you enjoy your day YOUR way!

Hugs;

Pammie

ps:  Got it all done! The afghan border took me 2 hours (wasn’t expecting that!) The total of all knitted squares photo’d today (all knit by the same person) was 224! Took me 2 photos to be able to include them all! Thought I’d include a photo of the completed afghan, 2 hats, 2 sets of booties (1 newborn/1 4-6 mo. size); there is also a large baby information book to go with the present.

Closeup of the Cluster Rib pattern with scalloped border

(I forgot to ‘edit’ the photo to make it lighter…sorry)

—————————-

Tonight’s dinner: Enchiladas! (Made 11 of them; enough for tonight and tomorrow also)

Doing What’s Needed

Last night found me attending our church’s “Ladies Fellowship”. This is a pleasant event with dinner and a speaker, except last night was more than that. The dinner was filling: baked potatoes, salad and various desserts. The speaker was a friend who is going through chemotherapy after having breast cancer and surgery.  She carefully explained each step in her battle with this dreaded disease; she still has one more chemo to go, then 6 or 8 (don’t remember which) radiation treatments and then the waiting to see if ‘all is well’.  She was uplifting, amusing, inspiring and motivated me to “Do What’s Needed” . . . ie: get my mammogram scheduled (that was due in December).  After calling to make that appointment I decided it’s time I do more than that – time to make that appointment to the gynecologist (2 yrs behind) and also schedule my regular every three month doctor checkup.  I don’t know if you’re like me or not, but I tend to think of others before I decide it’s time to take care of me, hence the doctors and teeth check ups tend to get pushed to the background until I’ve forgotten them. I know that they’re needed, it’s just that I don’t want to take the time to get them done. On my calendar now are three appointments within the next few weeks to ‘get what’s needed done.”

In my rooting around in a drawer the other day I came across a really decadent-sounding recipe (haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds easy & yummy). See what you think:

———————

Chocolate Peanut Butter Nirvana Cake

1 (18.25 oz.) box devils food cake mix

1 1/4 C. water

1/2 C. vegetable oil

4 large eggs

1 (3.9 oz.) pkg. instant chocolate pudding & pie filling

1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 Cups)

Frosting:

1/2 C. Pillsbury Whipped Supreme vanilla frosting

1/2 C. creamy peanut butter

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1/2 C. milk

chocolate curls or shavings for garnish, if desired

——–

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease & flour a Bundt pan. Combine cake mix, water, oil, eggs and pudding mix in large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed, then stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pan 20 minutes; invert onto serving plate and cool completely.

Beat frosting, peanut butter, almond extract and milk in medium bowl until well combined. Spoon icing over cooled cake and garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

TIP:  Use a potato peeler to shave curls off of a chocolate bar.

====================

Our weather is a little gloomy today with light ‘dust-like’ snow falling, no accumulation. Temps in the mid 20’s (not bad).

Remember: if you haven’t already had your mammogram or gynecological check up…NOW is the time to do it! Better now than later; I know… I’m finally “Doing What’s Needed!”

Hugs;

Pammie

It’s Friday!

Yes, we’ve reached the ‘end of the week’ (for those of you who work a Mon-Fri. job). For me, it’s a kind of ‘catch-up and get ready for the weekend’ day. Catch-up/clean up is more like the way it’s going today; middle son is away for the weekend, youngest has a half day of school (end of exam week) and, to my amazement… my husband is home – again. I say ‘to my amazement’ because I didn’t even know he was here until I happened upon him at his computer in the back bedroom a good hour after I got up! (He was very quietly, happily playing one of his on-line games and chuckled pleasantly when seeing my amazement. “I KNEW you’d figure it out – eventually!” During this time of year his work load is lighter and he was able to take another ‘paid’ day off, which is nice for him. I just read in our local newspaper that this coming February is supposed to rival two other Februarys in history as ‘the coldest on record’ . . . oh, goodie.

Babysat my young grandson yesterday and, of course, he wore me out. He’s one busy bundle of energy and lately his one, constant word is: “Why?” Yes, I remember my early childhood development college classes (back when I was going for a degree in that area and running my own infant/toddler daycare) WHY is the one word they love to wear out.  I’ve taken to doing what I did with my boys when they went through that stage: simply repeat the request that I made to them, ignoring the ‘why’. That totally confused him.  For example, one of the dissertations yesterday went like this: “Kaden, let’s pick up these toys on the floor.” . . . “WHY?”  (repeat request), repeat “Why?” “What did I just ask you to do?” (long pause then answer) “Pick up the toys” . . . they got picked up. I’m getting a little old for trying to remember all the little ‘tricks’ I used to know ‘back in the days of toddlers’… sigh.

Tonight is my Special Needs group’s “Gym Night”. That finds me rushing to church to begin cooking 80 hot dogs, then stuffing the buns before everyone arrives. It’s a fun night, it goes by really quickly (at least to me) from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. We usually have around 30 ‘kids’ and some caregivers; dinner is hot dogs and corn chips & cheese sauce. (probably some raw veggies and maybe cookies for dessert . . . I didn’t plan the menu.) Our kids love getting together for these; we have dinner first, then a short devotion time, then they are free to either play basketball, play a bean bag toss game or (our new) plastic horseshoe toss game, color coloring pages, work simple jigsaw puzzles or just sit and chat. We hold these once a month during the winter.

Recently saw two ’simple looking’ cookie recipes on several of my ‘recipe lists’ which take advantage of a pre-made or ‘mix’ item:

————-

Fancy Sugar Cookie Bars

1 tube (16 1/2 ozs.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. flaked coconut
1/4 C. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften.  Press into an ungreased 13 x 9 inch baking pan.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Sprinkle with the chocolate chips, coconut and pecans.  Bake for 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Cool on  wire rack.  Makes 2 dozen bars

==========

Brownie Crackles

1 pkg. fudge brownie mix
(13 x 9 inch pan size)
1 cup flour
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup (6 oz.) semisweet
chocolate chips
Confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, flour, egg, water, and oil.  Mix well; stir in chocolate chips.  Place confectioners’ sugar in a shallow dish and drop dough by tablespoonfuls into the sugar then roll to coat.  Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.  Bake  8-10 minutes or until set.  Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes 4 1/2 dozen

———————–

It’s another lovely, sunny day outside (albeit very cold). Even with the cold, as long as I can see some sunshine, I’m happy; it lifts my spirits! Enjoy your day as best you can; try to remember to smile and find something that makes YOU happy!

Hugs;

Pammie

ps: Am almost to the end of the first ‘huge’ skein of yarn (1,020 yards) on the baby afghan. Managed to get another ‘Ghana Project/Key of Hope” afghan finished yesterday – that makes #226 done and began another one (just so I don’t feel totally guilty because I’m working on the baby afghan instead…gotta ‘psych’ myself out sometimes!)

Knitting & Cooking

So far this week I don’t have a lot to write about; been working on the baby afghan for a week now and have about 3 feet done (my index finger is getting sore just from the way I shove the tip of the needle when knitting). (I hear ya . . . poor baby!) In the midst of all that, I decided that it’s time I learn how to knit baby booties to go with the afghan. Found several great/easy patterns and now have two pairs of booties: 1 ‘newborn’ size and one ‘4-6 month’ size (will post a photo when the whole gift is done: afghan, 2 sets booties and a few baby hats). The bootie pattern was fun to knit and went quickly; I’d guess I knit a pair in about an hour and a half, total. (Love learning new things!)

Our weather has still been cooperating (to my way of thinking): it’s been in the 30’s, a tiny bit of snow on the ground (the really fine kind) and the roads are clear (YAY!). Today is a bit gloomy so I’m trying to come up with things that cheer me up, like listening to music I enjoy.

On the cooking end of things, found a few yummy-sounding recipes (no, I haven’t tried them yet, but they sound good/easy/filling…those are my requirements for a new dish).

————————-

Cheesy Broccoli Bake

1 (8 oz.) pkg. fuselli pasta (think corkscrew noodles)

1 T. olive oil

2 tsp. salt

2 (14 oz.) pkgs. frozen broccoli florets

1/3 C. butter or margarine

1/3 C. flour

3 C. milk

2 C. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground garlic

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. dried thyme

3/4 C. shredded Swiss cheese

—————

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the 1 T olive oil. Add 2 tsp. salt and pasta; wait for re-boil. Stirring frequently, cook approximately until al dente; drain. Cook broccoli in microwave 5 minutes and drain any water. In large saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour and milk and whisk until mixture boils and thickens. Add 1 1/2 C. Cheddar cheese, 3/4 C. Swiss cheese, 1 tsp. salt, garlic, nutmeg, and thyme; stir until well blended. Add cooked broccoli and drained pasta to cheese sauce; mix well. Spoon into a greased 9 X 13 baking dish. Cover with remaining shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6.

(recipe: Kroger Co.)

———————–

Inside-Out Stuffed Peppers

1 pound ground beef
1/2 C. onion,  chopped
1 (16 oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 large green pepper,  chopped
1/2 C.  long-grain rice — uncooked
1/2 C.  water
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 C. shredded  Cheddar cheese

———-
In a skillet, brown beef; drain. Transfer to a greased 2 quart casserole. Add the next 8 ingredients. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until rice is tender. Uncover and sprinkle with the cheese; return to the oven until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

(recipe: Sandy, Marys Recipe Exchange)

======================

On the “Ghana Project/Key of Hope” end of things, a lady who has knit squares for me in the past brought three huge bags of squares today. This is the same lady who delivered over 100 squares just before Christmas! I’m overwhelmed at the speed at which she can knit squares! As soon as the baby afghan is done, I’m back to sewing squares together;  at this rate, she’s out-pacing me by tons of squares! (not complaining, just amazed.) I need to either send her a thank you card or call her as I’m not sure just how she took my reaction to her ‘gifts’ … upon seeing her coming up the walkway with those three huge bags, I burst into gales of laughter! (and almost couldn’t stop!) I told her I certainly didn’t expect that huge amount; hopefully she understood (I’ll have to perfect my ‘Gracious Accepting” … haven’t quite got that yet).! Yes, I can see I definitely have my work cut out for me in the future!

Have a great day, whatever the weather is doing outside. Remember the little saying: “Everything will be OK in the end; if it’s not OK . . . it’s not the end!”

Hugs;

Pammie

Like Mother, Like Son

Yesterday found my youngest son and me ‘working with beads’ again. His young girl….friend is having her 14th birthday soon and he wanted to make her a bracelet to match the earrings he gave her for Christmas. (sorry, I forgot to photo them, but they were very nice: small blue bead on bottom, medium sized pink bead in the middle, followed by a matching small blue bead on top … hanging earrings, very dainty). In the photo you see the end result of his matching bracelet – on the left.

Over a year ago I admired a black and clear crystal bead bracelet worn by a friend  at church and decided to try to copy it. I ventured out, bought the needed beads, then promptly put them away . . . for over a year! When son came up with this idea, I thought perhaps I might be able to complete the aforementioned bracelet – you see it on the right. The beads are clear (although they photographed multi-colored). I’m happy with the results and it’s been so long since I’ve seen the original bracelet, it doesn’t matter if mine is an exact copy or not … no one else would know – including me!

I’m currently working on another baby blanket for a friend in our church choir who is due with a baby girl in March. I just learned of her baby shower this past Sunday so I’ve been frantically knitting my little fingers off, attempting to get it done in time. Originally I thought I’d just do another of the same pattern as the last two (see an earlier blog for a photo) but after attempting and ripping out 125 stitches THREE times, I gave up and put it away for the night. This was Monday. Tuesday found me searching my stack of knitting patterns for something simple that would look nice for a baby blanket – found it! The pattern is called “Cluster Ribbing” and it’s a two-row, simple pattern which works up to look fancy (when, actually, it’s not). I have about a foot completed at this time and am planning on continuing to knit some on it every day, as I counted on the calendar, I have 20 days until the shower (counting today!). I’ve already made a peach colored baby hat to go with this blanket and plan on doing a peach ruffle edging on the blanket.  (Will probably make up another baby hat as well, perhaps all white?).

Our weather has been just wonderful (at least in my mind!): daily between 25 – 30 degrees F., mostly sunny most days and NO SNOW/ICE/SLEET/FREEZING RAIN, ETC.! Today the sun in brightly shining in my windows and that ALWAYS makes me really happy! (I even asked my doctor if I might have that ‘Seasonal ??? Disorder’ where you tend to get really depressed in the winter when there’s no sunshine. He recommended getting 10 minutes of sun every day in the summer & fall to replenish the Vitamin C in your system . . . I didn’t exactly DO that (I told him I tend to avoid the sun at all cost, since I’m very fair skinned, freckled, red-haired, etc.  and have almost all the markings for skin cancer. “TEN MINUTES is not a lot of time”, he said and I had to agree. Anyway, I say all that to get to my point: It’s SUNNY today and I’m really happy!!!  (Now, didn’t you just sit on the edge of your seat to find out my ‘end point’? hehehehe)

Have a GREAT day, do something YOU enjoy doing, relax a little and take a deep breath; remember, YOU’RE ALIVE!!! Thank the Lord for this day and your health (in what EVER state it is); if you can read my message, REJOICE! (Not in my message, in the fact that you can SEE!) God has given each of us great blessings EACH DAY; we just need to be aware of them! Just breathing, seeing, hearing are things to rejoice over! Being able to walk (even with pain) is a great thing. Each day we’re alive is a blessing; each day I ask the Lord for the wisdom and strength to make it through THIS DAY. I don’t ask for my future, for I know it’s in the Lord’s hands; only THIS DAY and whatever it holds. Sometimes it means that I have to make it a few minutes at a time because it’s been a very difficult day, but even then He helps me to endure whatever I’m facing. If you don’t know the Lord, He’s not far away. He loves you and wants the very best for you.  All it takes is asking Him for His help and forgiveness for your past sins;  He’ll take it from there. If you’ve ever read the poem: “Footprints” it’s a testimony from all of us and it reminds us that when we’ve gone through difficult times it is the LORD who carried us when we were too frightened and weak to make it on our own. This coming Sunday our choir is singing a song that makes me cry every time I hear or sing it: “Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled” by Lloyd Larson. The words are simple and speak deeply to my heart (I don’t have the exact words, will try to write them as I remember them)

——————-

“Do not let your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid. You believe in God, trust in me - you are mine; do not be afraid.“

In my Father’s house are many rooms, His promises are true; I will go to prepare a place, prepare a place for you and I’ll come again! I will come again; Yes, I’ll come again – come for you.

Do not let your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid. Simply trust in God, believe in me – you are MINE, DO NOT BE AFRAID. Do not let your heart be afraid.”

———————

Beautiful words, beautiful music that truly speaks to my heart;  I hope that they speak to you, also. They are taken from John 14:1 where Jesus comforted His disciples:

¹“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  (NIV version)

We are all facing troubles/fears/sickness, etc. and we all having things that worry us; let the Lord help you this day to get through this day and the future. He loves you and longs for you to know Him.

Have a wonderful day;

Hugs;

Pammie

You’re Never Too Old…

for your Momma to worry about you!  Our middle son is now 21 and ‘grown up’ (or so HE thinks!).  I remember well when my oldest (who is now 26) went through this phase in his life – the phase where you go out with your friends and don’t come home until morning.  I’ve been through that with him, so I understand. Today kind of put that in a ‘new ballgame’, so to speak. Middle son went to ‘hang out’ with his friends last night and didn’t return home …  for many hours. Now, that might not bother you, but his previous pattern of behavior ran something like this: hang out with friends overnight, return home between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. the next day. By 3 p.m. I was beginning to be concerned, by 4 p.m. getting more so. My husband placed 2 calls to his cell phone and left a message: “Hi, son – just wondering how you are; give us a call back”. I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t matter to me HOW old you are, I’m gonna worry a bit. (To my Christian friends who read here: YES! I KNOW I’m not supposed to worry…and YES, I prayed LOTS!). That doesn’t stop all the goofy thoughts that run through my brain! Finally, at around 4:45 p.m. he called home saying he was on his way with this extra comment: “MOM! Are you going to do this EVERY time I don’t come home right away?”  You bet your behind I am . . . I’m a MOM!!!

On another note, attempted (and ripped out twice) the baby afghan pattern I did last year. For some reason (read that “worry”) I couldn’t seem to make the stitch count come out right! When you’ve cast on 125 stitches, it gets a bit ‘dicey’ having to continue the pattern and hope that by the end of that row you’ll come out even! Finally gave up, put it aside and finished the baby hat that was to go with that afghan. A friend at church is due in March with a baby girl; I just learned the baby shower date yesterday (have approximately 3 weeks!) so I need to get my ‘act in gear’ and start knitting! Checked out my other simple knit patterns and am going to ‘attempt’ to start a baby afghan using the “Honeycomb Slip Stitch” pattern . . . we’ll see how it goes.

Hope you’re having a good day; remember to call your Momma some times – it doesn’t matter how old you are, SHE STILL LOVES YOU!!!

Hugs;

Pammie

It’s Not Often . . .

in life that one gets to witness JOY. We were the happy recipients of that very thing this evening at the wedding of a dear friend and his bride. I have known this friend since 1982 and shared many family moments together, including the trial of his wife’s cancer, chemo therapy and final death over two years ago. His children are like younger sisters to me, his sons-in-law and grandchildren like members of my family. This afternoon was his marriage to a lady in our church and a grand and glorious wedding it was. Formal? Yes.  Lots of people? Yes.  Biggest thing I remember? The overflowing, beaming joy that radiated from both the groom and bride’s glowing faces!  These are not your young wedded ‘kids’;  we’re talking bride in her late 50’s and groom in his upper- mid 60’s! Their children were the attendants; their grandchildren the flower girl and ring bearer!  It is a rare and almost magical thing to see a ‘late-in-life’ wedding between two people who have gone through so much in their individual lives. Both of them had spouses who died of cancer after a long struggle;  both of them had children who also suffered from the ravages of seeing their parents fight that disease.  To see that, finally, they both came out ‘on top’, smiling . . . no, BEAMING;  radiantly happy to almost bursting was truly a wonderful sight to behold.  Both have stated that they want to make it their lives goal to minister to other people who are hurting after losing a spouse to disease; I truly believe that these two people would be the ones to do just that – they know what it’s like (she has been a widow now for over 8 years;  he’s been a widower for over 2).  I wish them all the best in their new life together – joy overflowing;  it’s a wonderful thing to behold!

Best Wishes, Jim & Pat, in your new life together!

Hugs;

Pammie

Geysers, Flowing Rivers & Food

Hello!  Hope you are having a great day; today is one of those “lots of various things to get done” days. Managed to get down on my hands & knees and scrub-clean the 5′ x 7′ cream-colored rug in front of the couch – that was a task! (I seem to be in one of those ‘gotta clean’ moods) Noticing that the two quilts which drape over the recliner & back of the couch might need a wash, I threw them in the washer.  While rinsing off some dishes in the kitchen sink I thought I heard a strange “Shhhhhhhhh” sound coming from the basement, so I went down to check.  (I should inject here that earlier I’d noticed that there was about 2 inches of standing water in our laundry tub and wondered just how that got there – this is the ‘dry’ tub which I don’t use, so it should have been dry).  Upon descending the basement steps I discovered not only what that ‘Shhhhh’ sound was, but where the water had come from. The flow-valve which is attached to the drain pipe which drains into the sump pump was spraying water everywhere at a great rate (hence the sound) as well as the sump pump overflowing all over the floor, making me feel like I was either (a) under a geyser and/or (b) standing in a rushing river!  I quickly shut off the washer and the waters slowed – I don’t look forward to telling my dear husband when he gets home that he has to somehow fix the flow valve (AGAIN).  I vaguely remember this happening years ago and know that he knows how to fix it (Thank Heavens!) but I’m positive that it won’t make him thrilled to come home to such a problem. (I’m guessing he’ll decide to get to it tomorrow, in the morning!). All I could think of while trying to mop up some of the water was: “Ah, the fun of being a homeowner!”  It’s not a major problem, just a minor inconvenience (at this time…hoping it can be fixed relatively easily) so I’m not terribly upset over it.

On the other end of the ‘cleaning thoughts’, when I get off here I’m planning on cleaning the refrigerator. Not a big task, just tedious but much needed after all the many food stuffs that resided there over the holidays.

Ran across a really tasty recipe that I’d highly recommend you trying:

Della’s Spice Cake

1 C. butter, softened

1  1/2 C. brown sugar

5 egg yolks, beaten

1 C. milk

3 C. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

———

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream together brown sugar and butter. Slowly incorporate egg yolks and other ingredients; mix thoroughly and pour into greased loaf pan. Bake 45 min-1 hour, testing for doneness with a toothpick. When tip of toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, loaf is done. Let cool then frost.

NOTE: This cake is excellent by itself, but also great with icing.

—-

Orange Powdered Sugar Icing

1 C. powdered sugar

1  1/2 T. orange juice

—

Mix together powdered sugar and orange juice to achieve pouring consistency (might have to add a bit more orange juice). Pour over baked cake and let dry before serving.

===================

Tonight’s dinner was going to be the potato soup I had hoped to make yesterday but didn’t get around to (ended up babysitting grandson for 4 hours, which made dinner something simple: hamburgers!). Tonight is the ‘cleaning fridge’ dinner using the leftover pork roast, some frozen vegs (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower mix) and a orange juice glaze served over cooked rice. (Can you tell orange flavor seems to be calling me today?). Found the recipe on another site:

Orange Juice Glaze for Stir-Fry

1 C. orange juice

2 T. honey

1 T. cornstarch

—

Mix ingredients together then add to stir fry; mix until thickened.

=================

That about wraps it up for me today; just hoping my energy holds up for all my ‘adventurous thinking’ – do you ever do that? Sit and think up all sorts of things you ’should’ be doing, then have to struggle to come up with enough energy to actually get those things done which seemed so easy and effortless when you were just sitting and thinking about them? (Boy was THAT a long sentence!) Anyway, I’m off here and about to embark on cleaning the fridge! Oh, JOY!!!

Hugs;

Pammie

ps: Ah, the fun of finding hidden things when cleaning out the fridge! For example, not only did I have to deal with the ‘water situation’ mentioned earlier, but discovered just what a lovely MESS Hershey’s chocolate syrup can make when a bottle of it tips over and pours down the back of the bottom shelf! Who knows just how long this sat before I found it, but I can tell you – it was FIRMLY stuck to every surface! At first I started using my trusty kitchen knife to try to carve it off (it was in pretty thick puddles!), but that only made a slight dent. Finally, in utter desperation I used hot water to soften it THEN carve it off like thick fudge ropes. Ya just never know what you’re going to find … sigh.