Grandmother’s Apron

I have been eagerly waiting to become a grandmother; however, since I do not have any married children, I should be rejoicing that I am not yet a grandmother.

My sister and I were talking last week, about how wonderful it is to have grandchildren. She has them; I do not. Yes, she tells me it is indeed a joy – you get to enjoy them, without all the responsibilities. The only sad thing is that they do not love you the most. As it very well should be, they love their mother the most.

We reminisced about the excitement we felt in going to our grandmother’s house. Only, we did not get to see her much, because she lived too far away.

Then she told me how her grandchildren do not get very excited about seeing her. They seldom run into her arms to be kissed and loved. So, she has resorted to bribing them – they kiss her and she gives them a bit of money. The littlest, who does not speak clearly hugs her and says, “where’s my dowher?”

What! I cannot believe it! Oh, she assures me that it is true.

Well, I decided if it ever comes to that, my grandchildren would have to give me more than a hug and a kiss! I shall have myself an apron that I wear when they visit. As long as Grandmother has her apron on, we will play a little game of “Happy Times at Grandmother’s House”. Only after I remove my apron will the performance be over, and they shall receive their actor’s allowance.

Yes, I can see it now…happy grandchildren around my kitchen table as I pass out the milk and cookies and collect the hugs and kisses.

Christmas at Grandmother's House

Enjoy the grandchildren!

~~~♥~~~

Diamond Eggnog ~ Just Right for the Holidays

 Everyone loves this eggnog!

Diamond Eggnog Ingredients
4 + 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs, separated
1 (125g/ 5 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
30ml (or approx 1 oz) rum
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or cinnamon, ground

Diamond Eggnog Directions
Using a mixer, beat the egg yolks in a large bowl for 5 - 10 minutes; they need to be thick and resemble the colour of butter.
A little bit at a time, add in the milk, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla essence.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.
Slowly fold the egg whites into the rest of the mixture.
Add rum.
Stir gently.
Serve in cups and garnish with ground nutmeg or cinnamon.
Serves: 6. 

{Recipe Source}

http://artschilipepper.blogspot.com/2009/12/thats-not-so-bad-afterall.html

Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Popcorn

• 1 c. butter
• 2 c. brown sugar
• ½ c. corn syrup
• 1 teasp. salt
• ½ teasp. baking soda
• 1 teasp. vanilla
• 5 quarts popped popcorn

Preheat oven to 250°. Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil without stirring for 4 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir baking soda and vanilla.
Pour over popcorn, stir to coat.
Place in two large baking dishes and bake for an hour (or less, depending on how chewy you want it) stirring every 15 minutes.
Remove from oven; cool.

Holiday Greetings

Hello dear blog Friends,

I will be away for the holidays and will not be back until around the last week in January.

I hope you all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

♥Hope

The Gingerbread House

On Friday evening, my daughter wanted to go out and purchase a gingerbread house kit so that the two of us could make it that night.

This was a first time experience of me.

We applied the frosting and set up the sides. Next, we frosted the roof into place and began by decorating the ridge top.

After decorating the roof, the front, and the back, we realized the sidewall was slanting inward. I suggested just leaving it, but my daughter argued against that. I lifted the house, and she made the adjustment.

We set it back into place, but then the roof separated and the candies along the ridge began sinking. No soon than we had shoved the roof piece back together, then the wall fell in.

My daughter exclaimed, “Mother, this is ALL your fault!”

“Oh yes,” I said laughing, “how very convenient.” Then we both burst into laughter.

In a desperate attempt to salvage our project, we disassembled the house and rebuilt the sides. After giving the frosting sufficient time to set, we frosted the roof into place again.

Finishing our project, we sat back and basked in the wonder of our achievement. My daughter said, “It really was not your fault, Mother. I was my fault. I should have listened to you at the beginning when you said to wait before putting the roof on.” I knew she never really blamed me.

What fun it was to spend this time together. It was nearly midnight when we went to bed.

Overall, I think it turned out looking pretty good - for a near disaster.

24 hours later… the children ate the gingerbread house.

Heavenly Masterpieces

52 Weeks of Art

This is a favorite of mine.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/697283954788696187/ on Pinterest

I just had news of an old friend expecting her 9th child. Congratulations!

I am not jealous about what anyone else has except when it comes to having lots of children; I cannot help being jealous about that. I am thankful for my five wonderful blessings. Children are the greatest treasures, and the only treasures that are eternal. My mother had 15, and she always referred to us as her masterpieces.

I am happy for those who get to continue having children, but at the same time, I feel great sorrow piercing my heart. How I long to be in such a joyous state!

Much as I feel sad that I am not also the recipient of such a glorious gift, I am full of joy for those who are and am thankful that there are mothers who desire large families. Bless you!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

We put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving Day. It was an all-day affair. First, we assembled our new tree (a replacement of our beloved 17-year-old tree, which we bought the year our second son was born). Next, I decorated it with 5 or 6 strands each of white and colored lights.

We watched White Christmas while applying the lights.

Lizzy and I spent the afternoon stringing popcorn, first while watching While You were Sleeping, and finishing while listening to Christmas music.

Bill went out to buy the all-necessary traditional eggnog and can of flavored popcorn for our family evening of decorating the tree.

Happy Holidays!

Cheese Balls

It's the holiday season!

I got this delicious recipe from a dear friend.

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard or dijon mustard
• pinch of salt
• green olives with pimentos, drained and spread on paper towels to dry while you mix dough

Mix all together in kitchenaid using the flatbeater (or you can use your hands). Scoop up a small amount of the dough and flatten in the palm of your hand. Place an olive on top and close your palm to shape dough around it. Roll between your hands to form into a ball. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 20-25 minutes until just starting to brown.

 Easy "How-To-Make" Photos

 ~~~♥~~~

http://artschilipepper.blogspot.com/2009/12/grams-cheese-balls.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

~My girls~

Source: flickr.com via Darla on Pinterest

 

Wishing you the happiest Thanksgiving Day!

There is No Place Like Home for the Holidays

My Thanksgiving Day Menu

Thanksgiving Morning:
It is just after 2:00 A.M. – I am having my first cup of coffee and spending a minute to visit you before I start my day. Here is a quick photo I snapped when I got up, to share with you.

I was so excited about today that last night I could hardly fall to sleep. I woke moments before 12:00 A.M. not feeling sleepy at all. I told myself that the next time I woke up I would get up, knowing that by that time I was sure to be waking from a deep sleep, which I did. Nevertheless, promises are promises, and now that I am up, I am delighted to be starting my day.

~ My Thanksgiving Day Menu ~

Turkey
Gravy made with heavy cream ~ (A special treat for the holiday)
Sausage Stuffing ~ (My recipe)
Mashed Potatoes
Elegant Scalloped Corn
Cranberry Sauce ~ (See Jessica’s Post)
Yams
Fresh Homemade Rolls
Fruit Salad
Served with: Sparkling Cider

~ Desserts ~

Date Nut Bread ~ (My recipe)
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pies
Pecan Pie
Key Lime Pie

Served with: Coffee and Cream

~~~♥~~~

S’uthun Supreme Pecan Pie

On Thanksgiving Eve (which I like to call Thankfuleve as in - Thankfuleve I have a daughter to bake with me.), I always spend the day baking. Today, my daughter and I baked two loaves of date-nut bread, two pumpkin pies, a pecan pie, and an apple pie.

~~~♥~~~

I am trying a new pecan recipe: S’uthun Supreme Pecan Pie

“Ya’ll might have a hard time keeping this pie around. Best to double it!”

3 eggs
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoon flour
½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
1 ½ cups maple syrup
               (I chose this recipe because of the maple syrup.)
1 ½ cups broken pecan pieces
1 cup halved pecans

Beat eggs until light. Blend in the melted butter, flour vanilla, salt, sugar, and maple syrup. Sprinkle the broken pecans over the bottom of the pie shell. Gently pour the mixture in, and then make rings of pecan halves, starting from the middle and working out until the surface is covered/ Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue baking for about 40 minutes. Let cool before serving.
Makes one 9” pie

~~~♥~~~

I am also trying a new piecrust: Alan Carter’s Pie Pastry – from Better Homes and Gardens.

Mix:
3 ¾ Cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
½ - 1 Tablespoon salt
½ Teaspoon baking powder

Cut in:
1 ¾ Cups unsalted butter, leaving chunks the size of peas

Combine:
2/3 Cups ice-cold water
2 Tablespoons sour cream
1 Teaspoon vinegar

Add liquid all at once to the flour mixture (This step is the reason that I Like this recipe.). Quickly stir to distribute. Do no overmix. The dough should be slightly crumbly. Let rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. The finished dough should break, not stretch. Divide into three portions; shape into disks. Use at once or wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days. Or freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Makes 3 single-crust pastries.

~~~♥~~~

California Foggy Morning

~~~♥~~~

This Is the Way We Wash Our Clothes

53 Weeks of Art

Week 4

George Dunlop Leslie - This Is the Way We Wash Our Clothes

Source: goldenagepaintings.blogspot.com via Sandy @ Hob Nobbers on Pinterest

While visiting Sandy's blog HOB NOBBERS, I came across her Pinterest link, where I saw her Art board (she has some very interesting boards). I found this precious painting there. Thanks, Sandy!

Busy Making Christmas Cards

Celebrate the winter holidays and warm the hearts of those you love.

~~~♥~~~

Well, I have not had a chance to blog this week. With Thanksgiving around the corner, next week will even be busier than this week. Just wanted to let you know what I am up to. I am having fun making cards and other stuff.

"Reading the News"

52 Weeks of Art Week 3   James Tissot ~ 1874

Source: Pinterest

I spent Friday evening making cards for my Etsy shop, just made my first sale this weekend!

Today is my son's penultimate game of soccer for the season! It is going to be chilly and perhaps even a bit wet.

It's an early game, so we'll stop at McDonald's for breakfast on the way. After the game, we'll return home and enjoy a cozy afternoon fire.

Vintage 1940's Car

Hello everyone,

These photos were taken around 1984. Knowing how much I loved old cars, One day my sister came into the house and saying, “Hey, Hope, there is an old car parked in front of our house.”

Grabbing my camera, and a couple siblings and a nephew to serve as models, I rushed out to take a few photos before the car was gone.

Later I found out that the fellow who owned this beauty had parked it there and had gone off with my father.

Our families became friends, and my sisters and I had the pleasure of riding in the awesome car with the mother and girls.

~~~♥~~~

So Many Reasons

Source: Pinterest

Many of us have abundant reasons to give the Lord thanks. I am thankful for warmth and food; the very basics are true blessings, indeed. I am thankful for the wealth of little blessing I enjoy each day, such as, a variety of breakfast choices, plenty of clean towels and linens, cheerful holiday lights adorning my windows, and pleasant company.

I pray that I am always thankful, even if I have no earthly reason to give thanks.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

~~~♥~~~
I saw this catchy little linkup at

life with joys.
I have to admit that the vintage typewriter piqued my interest.

Linking up with:

Update

You might recall my post Big Holiday Expectations ~ in which I announced my goal of losing 10 pounds in 5 weeks.

Did I accomplish it? No. However, it is not all bad. Last week of October, I stepped on the scale and was 7 pounds down. I gave a bounce, just in case that scale wanted to change its mind. No change. I stepped off and stepped on again. No change. Another few bounces. No change. So, I guess it’s official.

I still have more to lose, but with the holidays and all the yummy temptations before me, my immediate, realistic goal is for a slow and steady decline in weight, but more importantly, a plan of not gaining any weight.

This week, I purchased the above 1950s Butterick Sewing Pattern (8321). I hope to make it during the holidays. I won't look like the slender woman on the pattern, but I think it should look nice. I have not received the pattern yet; I am trusting it was cut neatly, for I an not am expert seamstress.

~~~♥~~~

Cozy Autumn Morning

~ Every Morning is a time for tea. ~

~ A cheerful breakfast in good company ~

Weekday breakfast in our home is a simple affair. When the weather is cool outside, my children prefer to have something from the oven ~ usually muffins. Our simple breakfast include fruit and yogurt...served with tea (and coffee for me).

~~~♥~~~ 

Doughnuts ~ Quick and Easy

A Year with Grandmother ~ 365 Days at Grandmother’s House

Day 35 of 365 
~~~♥~~~ 

Source: Doughnuts via Erica Goss on Pinterest

Do you remember your grandmother making donuts?

Homemade doughnuts have always been a tradition in our family. Only, I have never made them. I have always wanted to, but have been too afraid to try. I keep saving doughnut recipes. These doughnut look like they would be quick and easy. I am going to have to try this idea. Do you have a favorite doughnut recipe?

Video and Recipe Here
~~~♥~~~

Dear Friends, please fill free to share comments of your memories with your grandparents, or your thoughts on being a grandparent.

~~~♥~~~

(An Imaginary Journey Back to Grandmother's House)

Please Note: Many of the photos in my posts I create of my make-believe journey back to my grandmother's house are taken from Pinterest . I search for photos on Pinterest which look and feel like the perfect image of the grandmother's house any child would love and remember.

~~~♥~~~

Lady With Red Roses

52 Weeks of Art 

Week ~ 2

Source:  Pinterest

There is so much to love about this paining,

the colors,

the impression of quite tranquility,

the soft gentleness of the woman.

I don't know anything about art. All that matters to me is that it is beautiful

A Time of Thanksgiving ~

Sandy @ HOB NOBBERS has a wonderful idea. She calls it ~

Thanksliving.

Sandy writes:

"Thanksliving this month! Instead of thanking God for our many blessings ON ONE DAY this month, let's thank Him EVERY DAY for all those things we receive, including those we often take for granted. Let's make this month a month of  THANKS-LIVING! Of living our lives in a moment to moment awareness of gratitude. It can change your life!

I'm going to post daily through the month of November expressing gratitude to God. Won't you join me?"

 ~~~♥~~~

I certainly look forward to hopping over to see her daily notes of thanksgiving and share my own reasons to be thankful.

Leaf Garland and Holiday Lights

Every year on November 1st I hang white lights in my front windows in celebration of the Holiday Season. For our family, the holiday season is from the week of Thanksgiving Day, to New Years Day, but we like to start getting in the holiday mood beginning today.

~~~♥~~~

The Garage

Please, do NOT take a picture of that mess! 

I will give you this kinder, and gentler photo instead.

Life Archives

There are certain areas of my home that I just cannot seem to keep in order.

I read Nan’s post today “Ladies, It's Time to Stop Beating Ourselves Up” which lead to me writing this post.

She writes, “Stop talking to yourself as if you're the enemy. You're not. You're in this together, both of you: the you who you WANT to be and the you who you ARE now.”

The other day, my new neighbor came over asking to borrow our ladder. I went to the garage, which was open because it was our weekly workday, telling my neighbor to wait at the doorway because I did not want her to trip over the mess of boxes and laundry. My laundry was strewn across the garage floor because I was in the process of my main washing day.

It takes quite a bit of work to maneuver the 20 ft. extendable ladder. I knocked over several things in the process and tripped over several, as well. I was slightly embarrassed about the mess, but I did not apologize to my neighbor for it.

In the past, I would have been humiliated and would have apologized for the mess, explaining why the garage looked the way it did. I have grown beyond that. Praise the Lord!

I try to clean that garage weekly, and no matter how much I try, it always seems to be a disaster. It is my laundry room, the computer room, the playroom, my husband’s workshop, and the only storage area for this family of seven in our 1248 sq. ft. home.

Formerly, the garage door being left open, exposing my mess to the world (neighborhood), would have upset me, provoking me to express to my husband how distraught it made me. I finally stopped comparing my life to everyone else’s. I KNOW how much I try. Everyone else probably does not. It does not matter anymore. I have stopped beating myself up over it, which makes me a happier person and a more pleasant wife and mother.

If we work in the spirit of love (including loving ourselves), everyone is blessed even when things are not so perfect.

~~~♥~~~