Virginia Deb

Reflecting

2011-01-09T14:18:00.003-05:00

I had a bad time with my arthritis this past week. I had to spend a lot of time just sitting or lying around. The doctor had ordered me to stay off my feet until the medicine had time to take effect.

I had a lot of time to reflect upon things. I thought about Christmas. Somehow I always think Christmas should be a problem free time. Yet if I look at that first Christmas it was anything but problem free. Mary had to ride at least 100 miles on a donkey or walk some of the way while heavily pregnant. There was no where for them to stay and the winter nights were bitterly cold. She gave birth in a barn -probably a cave and had to lay her baby in a manger! That baby was God's son! How can I expect any different for me?

What if part of the message of those circumstances is that God sends us light into our darkness. He sends us love and miracles in the midst of our chaos. No matter how many things are wrong or go wrong he is still there and still offering his gift to us.

And what a gift it is!

I thought about last year. Like any family we had our good and bad times. I like to think there were more good times than bad. I lost my mom. My husband and I lost his dad. Our oldest son lost his job last summer and has not been able to find another. His marriage is in trouble due to financial issues.

However all fourteen grand kids are healthy. Most of them are doing well in school. My daughter-in- law has a good job. My youngest son is self employed. By God's grace he has enough work to provide for his family. Husband and I both have steady jobs.

I've found a church that teaches the Bible. The members are welcoming.

Tyler visits Mom-maw every Saturday.

2010 was an okay year.

What about this new year? The new year is fraught with possibilities.

What will I change as i go forward? What will I keep?

I want to address some of my health issues. I don't make resolutions but I am going to jot down some goals. What I want to happen and what small steps I can take to ensure something happens.

I think it's better to have a few goals and be able to accomplish something than have too many and accomplish nothing.

An old Chinese proverb says a journey begins with a single step. What step are you willing to take?

Photo credit-open photo.com

Family photos

2010-12-10T14:37:00.003-05:00

This is Erica who is sitting in the tree in our front yard
They say kids need all kinds of toys with bells and whistles. She looks perfectly happy playing in the tree.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T09:29:00.005-05:00

On Thanksgiving Day my family gathered at our home to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. There are 22 of us all told plus Danny's mom, sister and aunt.
I love decorating for the holidays. The picture on the left is a little corner decorated with autumn garland and an old tableware set I've had for years.
It was a bittersweet day without my mom and my father-in-law. We lost both of them last month.
My father in law loved my cooking especially my pumpkin pie. My mom's favorite was my cranberry salad.
We made a new dish this year. The girls and I made a turkey cheese ball. I found the recipe in last weeks Woman's World Magazine. The picture on the above left shows our finished product. He's was almost too cute to eat.
I hope everyone enjoyed the day. It meant so much much to me to have all the family here.

Gratitude

2010-11-14T17:09:00.005-05:00

I'm celebrating a month of thankfulness. Even though my life is far from perfect I have been well and truly blessed. I thought it would be fun to make a list of the little or big things that strike a thankful note in my heart this month.

Here's my list:

I'm so thankful thatI can choose to believe in Jesus and attend the church of my choice

I have a wonderful husband

My children aren't perfect but they are awesome

Autumn leaves

Pumpkins and Winter Squash

Grandchildren to keep me young

Warm sweaters

Wood fires

Good friends who would be here fast anytime they're needed

Homemade soup

New Cookbooks

My local library

Pets who love us no matter who we are

a steady if not inspiring job

Hot cocoa on a cold day

To be continued........

Winter in the valley

2009-12-19T15:47:00.003-05:00

The big news is the huge snowstorm. We have received around 24 inches of snow with more falling.Currently we're accumulating an inch of snow per hour! We've not had snow like this in years!
The snow should last thru Christmas. It will be nice to have a white Christmas. I can't remember the last time we had one. And there's more snow predicted for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
I did not make it into work today. Instead I did some last minute online Christmas shopping, some cleaning and some cooking.
It's been a good day to stay in and keep warm. I'm thankful the power has stayed on. We have a heat pump and an electric range so we would be in a pickle without power.
For dinner tonight I'm cooking pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes, gravy and steamed broccoli. I'm making a lemon pound cake for dessert. Tomorrow I'll be making bean soup in the crockpot.
It'll be good with some cornbread.
I think I'll try to wrap a few presents and address some last minute cards after dinner.
I hope everyone stays warm and dry. Enjoy the snow!

Summer Doings

2009-08-12T10:40:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe it's August already. The summer has flown by.

We have canned green beans. We will continue to can as we harvest our tiny garden. Right now we are enjoying cucumbers, spinach and tomatoes. Is there anything more delicious than a vine ripened tomato?

I went back to work on August 3, 2009. There have been numerous changes and it quite a challenge to catch up.

Our son married his love in a very simple, very beautiful outdoor wedding last Saturday. What a joy to see this child settled. We welcomed two new grandchildren by love as well. That makes a total of 14 grandchildren!

I 'll try to past pictures as soon as possible. Now I'm off to water the flowers.

Friday

2009-06-26T17:47:00.003-04:00

Today the valley got a taste of the heat wave the rest of the US has been suffering under. It's 92 degrees and very muggy.
I'm still recovering from my Wednesday overdo. You would think 10 weeks out from surgery my knee would be all better. That's not the case. It still wants to be a crybaby knee.
Today I did my range of motion exercises and RICE.( R-Rest, I-Ice, C-Compression,E-Elevation) The rest of the time I tidied up a bit and read. .
I'm just starting Terri Blackstock' s Cape Refuge series from the local library. The book is about two Christian mission workers who are murdered on an island off the coast of Savannah Georgia. This work of fiction is fast paced with plenty of twists and turns. I'm usually good at figuring out who dun its but this one still has me guessing!
Sure hope my knee is improved tomorrow, It's Addison's first birthday party. Don't want to miss it!

Welcome Summer

2009-06-24T08:10:00.004-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've blogged.

As you know I had knee replacement surgery in April. The recovery period has been longer than I anticipated. I'm now getting to the point where I can set at the computer for more than five minutes.

Last week my Aunt asked if I would ever go thru the joint replacement process again. I think I would despite the swelling and the discomfort that causes. My surgeon tells me some patients just don't experience the swelling. Those folks are so lucky!

June has come and is almost gone here in the valley.
We've had a lot of rain. For a while I thought I would need to trade in my car for a boat! LOL! It's made for some beautiful lawns and gardens though.

In July, my oldest son will marry his girlfriend and her two children. He's been married before so I hope this works out for all of them. This will make fourteen grandchildren total.

I imagine our family gatherings seem large and noisy to other folks. When you get all those children in one place you just can't help it! They like to play croquet, throw horseshoes, run thru the sprinklers, catch lightening bugs and consume enormous amounts of hot dogs, corn on the cob and watermelon.

Speaking of hot dogs, my husband has started making Mr. Foods' recipe for New York Pushcart Onion Sauce. It's wonderful. It really makes a hot dog special. You can find the recipe at www.Mr.Food.com

I'll try to post again tomorrow. Enjoy your day!

Recipe- Chicken Pot Pie

2009-04-07T11:27:00.003-04:00

It's colder today here in the valley. The western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains are getting some snow but we're just feeling the cold.
It's a good day to wear my flannel pajama pants and stay in where it's warm!

I'm trying to get our home office in order. I can only work a little at a time. When I start to hurt I have to sit down. I also have to be on guard not to get distracted by the computer.
I love to Blog hop and I also like to play free cell. So I have to be very disciplined in order to get anything done.

I'm having leftover homemade chicken soup for lunch.

I'm thinking chicken pot pie for supper.
Here's how I make it:
Cut leftover chicken into cubes
Finely chop onions, celery and carrots. Saute in two tablespoons of butter until softened.Add a small bag of frozen mixed veggies and cook through Be sure to add salt and pepper. I also like to add poultry seasoning.
Make a white sauce with 4 TBSP of butter, 4 TBSP of flour. 2 cups chicken broth.
Combine the chicken, the sauteed veggies, and white sauce
Add 1/2 to 1 cup sour cream
Pour into baking dish
Top with pie crust--You can use like a Pillsbury ready made crust--I use a store brand that's $2 cheaper and works great. No one knows the difference. Of course you can always make your own pastry.
Brush the pie crust with a little egg wash so it will brown nicely. Bake at 375 for 45minutes to 1 hour or until the crust is golden brown and the inside is hot and bubbly.

Note- instead of making a sauce you can substitute a can of cream of celery and a can of cream of chicken soup. You would add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sour cream. I like to make my own so I can control the amount of salt in my cooking.

New Movie

2009-04-04T00:13:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow evening (April 4th) the Hallmark channel will air the next movie based on the series ( Love Comes Softly) written by Janette Oakes. The new movie is called " Love Takes Wing".

I really enjoy these movies even if they don't strictly follow the books. They are perfect for family viewing. There's no swearing and no sex.

The movie airs at 9 PM EDT. I'm going to settle in with DH and a bowl of popcorn. Why don't you join us?

2009-04-02T22:38:00.002-04:00

What a busy week. I have been preparing for my surgery and recovery period. It has been a lot of work!

I've dealt with the insurance company to make sure the correct benefits are in place and to nail down the amount of the co-pay.

I've scouted out a walker at the local Salvation Army thrift shop. I found one that looks new for $5.49. I also shopped GW for a robe and a conservative nightie or two. However I was unable to find anything suitable in my size.

Shopped at Marshal's for a pair of new slippers. Picked up a large jar of mixed whole peppercorns and a small container of whole nutmeg as well. I spent $18.49 after my employee discount.

I've been back to the surgeon who reviewed the results of the family doctor physical and pronounced me fit for surgery.

Went back UVA Medical center on Wednesday to have my blood typed and cross matched. The surgeon also wanted the lab to run a clotting profile. I don't do needles well but I do manage to get through these things with a minimum of fuss. I've not had an "episode" for years.
Unfortunately my veins tend to roll and constrict so I'm not the easiest person to have blood drawn. I warned the lab tech that NO ONE had ever gotten blood from the inside of my elbow. Of course she ignored me. Needless to say she got no blood. After the third stick I was hot, sweaty and nauseous. I felt like I was about to faint. I must have been pretty pale because two RNs and a resident appeared like magic with water, cold packs, peppermint and a fan. They kindly placed the trash can by my recliner just in case.
Once I get settled down they decided I would need to return to try to repeat the blood work another day. This is a real bummer. I live an hour and fifteen minutes from this hospital and gas is $1.99 a gallon! My husband will have to miss work as well.

One of the nurses gave me a CD that has a relaxation program on it. She suggested listening to it twice a day. I've been practicing the relaxation exercises. They're very calming.

Bless my husbands heart. The nurse told him they were unable to get any blood and he would have to bring me back. He just grinned and said"I reckon you can't get blood from a turnip!" He's such a sweetheart.
I'm standing there with a bandage on my arm and on my hand. A young fellow sitting near by couldn't help but over hear the conversation. He looked at me and turned white as a sheet. I hope he didn't have a similar problem.

When I removed the bandages there was not one drop of blood on them!

Today I tried to go to the DMV to get the handicapped placard Their computers were down so that chore will have to be moved to next week.

Tomorrow I 'm headed back to UVA.

On Sunday we will celebrate Sam's birthday. He'll be eight years old. I'm giving him a Speed Racer game for his DS. I also have a book of easy to read Bible Stories to give him. My daughter always has a great family party for him.I can't believe how fast time passes. It seems like yesterday I was wrapping birthday presents and making cup cakes to take to school for his mother!

It's official!

2009-03-27T11:20:00.003-04:00

It's official! I will be having total knee replacement surgery on April 16th. I am looking forward to getting my life back.
I will be able to go to work, get in and out of the car, work in my garden, clean up the house and play with my grand babies without pain.
I know the surgery will hurt. I know the recovery period is somewhat lengthy. However the doctor is saying that I should see a remarkable decrease in my pain after a month. I'm excited!

I spent yesterday getting a pre op physical with the family doctor. I also had an EKG, blood work and a chest xray.
I was given a form to take to the DMV to get a handicapped placard. I could have done this a while back but I was resistant to the idea. I felt there were people worse off than I. Now I have no choice. Obtaining a placard is a condition of the surgery.

Today I will be dealing with my insurance company. I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row.
I will need to budget for co-pays and make sure I have the care I need without breaking the bank. Since I'm off work again my income has decreased by two thirds.

Buy hey, I'll be saving on gas. There'll be NO DRIVING for 6-8 weeks after the surgery.

More Weekly Wrap-up

2009-03-20T14:40:00.010-04:00

Today is the day I look back and take stock of how we managed our frugal lifestyle and whether we are on track to meet our financial goals.

Most of us learned to do lots of little things to cut costs. It's amazing how those little things really add up. So we hung our laundry, baked bread, cooked from scratch,packed lunches and availed ourselves of the library. We used coupons and priced matched at the grocery store.

I also learned some things in Blog land:
I learned that we could deduct the cost of the replacement windows from our federal income tax as well as a portion of the real estate tax. The accountant says these are legitimate deductions. This will help us out as we don't have a lot of things we can take off. I can't remember which blog I read this on -- probably" Get Rich Slowly".
I learned how to build a space saving rack to dry plastic bags. Check out http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/ to see the directions for this.

I also sent in a $50 rebate on the new cell phone. This means the new updated phone will be free once I receive my check.
I was able to close one credit card account!! Whoo Hoo!! One down two more to go!

Check out The Weekly Wrap-up posted each Friday at Gettingaheadblog.com
You'll find more great money saving ideas.
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photo © Darren Hester for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-NonCommercial

A Beautiful Day

2009-03-18T10:53:00.007-04:00

Today is a beautiful sunny day. We are supposed to have temperatures in the 70s. Unfortunately , we'll have a cold front coming through tomorrow so we better enjoy it while we can.

I'm feeling a bit better. I still am unable to walk or stand for any length of time. Yesterday I brought the mail in and took the picture you see on yesterday's post. I had to sit and rest when I came inside.I was only up for maybe ten minutes.

I'm trying to get everything organized before the 24th of March. That's when I see the orthopedic surgeon at UVA. I believe I'll be having surgery shortly.

Today I want to take my grandson to the library if he's not practicing baseball after school. Regular trips to the library have opened his eyes to the world of books. He is more interested in non fiction books. He likes biographies and books about nature.

In the meantime I hope to empty the dishwasher and fold the clothes in the dryer. After a rest maybe I can sweep off the porch and the walk. It'd be nice to sit outside with a magazine and a cup of tea.

I'm working on crocheting some more dishcloths for gifts. These were a big hit at Christmas. I'm also looking for a sweater pattern for my little ones. I know I have one but I can't remember where I put it.

I need to check on my seedlings and water the house plants. So many families are going to put in a vegetable garden this year. I know their interest is fueled by rising food costs but gardening is a great skill to have even when times are better. It's very rewarding to see a tiny seed sprout and grow into a strong plant that yields fruit.

It's these kind of skills that get us through. If you know how to raise food you don't have to worry so much about going hungry. You don't have to worry about chemical contamination because you know exactly what fertilizers were used and what pest control measures were applied.

When you can cook with fresh ingredients from your garden you don't have to concern yourself with chemical preservatives. And if you're using what you put up from your harvest you know exactly what's in that jar or that freezer bag.

It's just my humble opinion but I think the food grown in my garden is much better than anything the supermarket has to offer. Well I'm off to enjoy my beauty gorgeous day. Hope yours is a good one!
photo © Michael Jastremski for HREF=http://11128.openphoto.net>openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike

Signs of Spring

2009-03-17T15:21:00.005-04:00

We're finally seeing some signs of spring. The crocuses are showing their happy little faces. These are under the maple tree in our front yard. I'm not a very good photographer but you can see the colors. We also had some sunshine on and off today. Whoo Hoo!
What is it about spring that energizes us and opens us to more possibilities?

Rain and more rain!

2009-03-14T22:53:00.007-04:00

It's a really rainy weekend here in the valley. We started out with snow on Friday but it changed over to rain last night. According to the National Weather Service we're in for another two to three days of gray skies.

I don't mean to complain. I know we need the rain ( we're actually 2.5 inches below normal rainfall for the year to date). I want us to have adequate moisture . I'm hoping for a good harvest.

We're looking to get our garden plowed and worked up in the next week or so. I've diagrammed what we need to plant and where we need to plant it. I want to put in some yellow onion sets and also some cabbage plants. I really like the Stone Head variety of cabbage. It's a very firm tightly compacted cabbage with light green leaves. I also want to sow some spinach.

When planting a garden it's important to plant what you like to eat. I remember when my kids were little. DH was putting in the onions and our young cousin was helping. They finished up around suppertime. When they came in to wash up, the little guy informed me he had helped plant carrots. DH said no son they were onions to which the child replied I don't like onions! You'll see , we'll have carrots there real soon!
Of course we planted a row of carrots beside the onions. LOL!

Now we grow onions, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, green beans, cantaloupe, butternut squash, a few Halloween pumpkins, zucchini, red beets, cucumbers and various herbs. This year I want to try growing leeks, fennel and garlic. DH says I've been watching The Food Network too much!

I'm working on getting my seedlings going. I have cucumbers, Brandywine tomatoes. Mr. Stripey tomatoes, Ambrosia Cantaloupe, Flat leaf Parsley and Basil. I ned to get my Jack o' Lantern pumpkins going too.

My next job will be to graph out my flower bed along the front walk. So many flowers . So little space.

..photo & copy; James Jones for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike

Another Weekly Wrap-up

2009-03-13T13:58:00.003-04:00

It"s Friday so it's time for the weekly wrap-up!
We followed thru on our everyday money saving regimen. We do the basics of scratch cooking, clothes mending, laundry hanging etc every week.
It's time for spring cleaning. I researched some recipes for homemade cleaners.I've used a homemade window cleaner for years. I'm trying the recipes I've found. All I've invested is my time and $3.69 for a box of washing soda. I had most of the other ingredients.These cleaners work very well and are environmentally friendly.The house smells beautifully clean. I'm using the recipes found on Rhonda's blog"/down---to---earth.blogspot.com/
I also signed us up for the budget plan offered by our electric company. We will pay a set amount each month instead of an up and down roller coaster ride of an energy bill.This will make it much easier to plan our spending.
lease visit Jen at her lovely blog Getting Ahead for more of the weekly wrap-up.
We can all learn for each other. Jen has inspired me to make cloth napkins to reduce my use of paper.

Saving on Credit Card Debt and Medical Costs

2009-03-01T17:06:00.007-05:00

Every week Jen hosts "The Weekly Wrap-up" on her blog Getting -Ahead .
Check it out for more great money saving ideas.
Again I'm late getting this post up. There's lots going on lately.
Every week I try to have a frugal week. I do certain things each week to stretch our dollars. This include cooking from scratch, baking bread, hanging laundry, washing plastic bags and packing lunches.
I also keep a sharp eye on our bills making sure everything gets paid on time so we avoid unnecessary late fees. One way I do this is to place them in a red file folder labeled action. I also note the mail by date on the calendar. I do use online bill pay so noting the mail by date makes sure my payments are always on time.
This week I received notification from Capitol One that they intended to raise the interest rate on my credit card 3%. They also intended to raise the default rate to 24.99%. Three late payments in a year(defined as payments made 3 days after the due date) will cause your interest rate to shoot to the default rate. The reason for the increase was losses due to the current economic climate. Interestingly enough they offered me the opportunity to close my account and pay it off under the existing terms of 7.99%.
Since I have a small balance that's what I decided to do. I could have rolled it over to another credit card. I have excellent credit but I think I made the right choice.
It fits with my goal of being out of credit card debt by the end of the year. I'm hoping any dings to our credit report will be short term. Since we do not plan on applying for any loans anytime soon I think it will be okay.
Another thing I did to save money was to ask my medical insurance to extend my physical therapy benefits. I'm facing more knee surgery. My health plan only allows for twenty visits a year. I have 10 left. I asked them to extend me twenty additional benefits. I explained in detail how the extra benefits would assist me in making a full recovery and returning to good health. If you find yourself in this situation, you can check out the back of your explanation of benefits. This should detail you right to appeal and how to go about it. The HR manager at work said that our insurance carrier(who is widely known) grants many extensions. I haven't heard back from them yet. Whether or not they grant the extension, I had nothing to lose by trying. This is an avenue I wasn't familiar with so I thought maybe others could benefit from the information.
Well that's it for this week! Remember 'A penny saved is a penny earned"-Ben Franklin.

One Big Happy Family

2009-03-01T16:52:00.003-05:00

Here is a photo of our son, his new bride and their four boys! Doesn't everybody look happy?
This was taken right after the ceremony. This room is the mezzanine of our local courthouse. There must be a lot of marriages performed there as the room boasted some decorations.
The happy couple departed for some alone time after the picture taking. My husband and I bought our sons children home with us. Our new daughter in love made arrangements for her two to spend the weekend with their dad. I would have loved to had all four for the weekend but she didn't think I could manage it.
Please join me in praying for their continued happiness.

2009-02-24T23:53:00.002-05:00

I haven't been able to blog regularly for a few weeks. There's been so much going on with our family I've had little time to sit at the computer.

On Friday our 34 year old son will marry his sweetheart. This will be his second marriage. She is a lovely young woman with two boys. My son has custody of his two boys so they will have a combined family. We adore her and her children though I do feel sorry for her being the only "girl in a houseful of guys.
They are planning a simple civil ceremony. I wanted to host a reception for them but they declined saying they wanted to start their new life together in a quiet easy way. Their honeymoon will be this weekend at a nearby hotel.
I know the boys are thrilled about the wedding. They love this woman who has been more of a mother to them in the past year than their biological mother has their whole lives. And her boys love my son.
Both of these parents want to keep life as simple and the routine as similar as possible for these children. They believe the decisions they've made will help to minimize some of the adjustments that will have to be made as they become a family.
Please join me in prayer for God's blessing and their continued health and happiness.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-02-15T19:36:00.002-05:00

Yikes! I haven't had time to blog for over a week. My DH has had pneumonia so we've been doing the doctors office, xray, coughing at night thing all week. Poor baby! he's beginning to feel a little better at long last.
Hope to get back to blogging regularly tomorrow.

Weekly Wrap up

2009-02-08T20:20:00.002-05:00

I'm late getting this post up. This has been a busy week for me with two family birthday celebrations to attend, physical therapy sessions, 8 hour work days and on and on.
We did try to have a thrifty week in spite of everything.
Both DH and I packed lunches every day.
We ate in the rest of the week: cooking from scratch and using up leftovers
Baked bread
Hung laundry to dry
Got some coupons in the mail for free items at the grocery store. I had a coupon for free diced tomatoes, free ziplock sealer, free coffee creamer. Used them babies up!
Mended clothes instead of buying replacements
Replaced light bulbs in the dining room chandelier with energy saver bulbs
Placed an order for seeds so we can start plants fir our garden
We are on track to reduce our debt this year by making sure we are saving as much as possible thru frugal living.
Every Friday Jen hosts the weekly wrap up on her blog _Getting Ahead-. Check out her blog for more great money saving ideas!

The 23rd Psalm

2009-02-02T12:16:00.009-05:00

Subject: Fw: 23RD PSALM

I received this via email from a friend.

I had not seen the 23rd Psalm in quite this manner

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life =
That's Blessing !

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

What is most valuable,

is not what we have in our lives, but

WHO we have in our lives!

'Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to move your Feet'
Peace.

Weekly Wrap-up--Living on less

2009-02-01T10:53:00.007-05:00

I decided to join the weekly wrap-up over at Getting-Ahead.Every Friday Jen hosts a weekly wrap up of money saving ideas. Check it out!
I made the decision to join in because one of my goals was to save as much money as I could to become debt free in the coming year. Participating was a way to hold myself accountable.
As I review the month of January I realize I have met my goal for the first month of the year. I did not spend any extra money in January. None!
All funds went to pay down debt. I did not feel deprived at all either. I was able to replace most of the things I enjoy with an acceptable alternative.
Here's some of the things I did:
changed to a cheaper monthly phone and internet plan $13 saving
changed to a cheaper cell phone plan-no longer paying for unused minutes $40
Colored my hair at home-$37 saving
Checked out books and DVDs from the library instead of purchasing them
Changing my generic prescriptions to a $4 prescription plan-$16 per prescription
Price matched and clipped coupons for groceries and supplies-$20-$25 each week
Canceled Direct TV-$62 a month we get 12 channels with the digital TV we owned and our old antennae.
I stayed out of stores and shopping malls. I have more than enough stuff.
Of course i did all the normal things I do to cut costs like cooking from scratch, using up leftovers,
hanging laundry, making some of my own cleaning solutions and driving less.
I'm proud of myself. I've gone back to work now so I'll have more money. Short term disability pays about a third of your gross pay. So my challenge will be to continue to live at this level.I'll not only have more money to pay down debt but I should be able to start an emergency fund. I know I'll have to buy gas every week but I want to maintain what I've started. It's been a good thing.

Winter Weather!

2009-01-28T12:12:00.002-05:00

At last we have some winter weather. Unfortunately we don't have snow we have about a quarter of an inch of ice. I wanted to take a picture to post but it never got pretty outside.

There have been several accidents and sadly a few fatalities from this storm. However we have not lost power.

I spent yesterday doing chores and cooking. I'll be doing more of the same things today. I hope I'll be able to return to work tomorrow.

I've been reading "50 Harbor Road" by Debbie Macomber. It's been very entertaining. Normally I don't read romance novels but I find her characters charming and real. It makes for nice change of pace.

Today I plan to make a meatloaf with Au gratin potatoes and chocolate pound cake. This is an old fashioned recipe my mom makes. I make it when I can get the cake mix and instant pudding on sale or with a coupon. My husband asks for this cake because it's dense and moist and travels well in his lunchbox.

Mom's Chocolate Pound Cake

Your favorite chocolate cake mix
1 small box of chocolate instant pudding
4 large eggs
1/2 cup oil-I prefer canola but I have used olive oil with good results
1 cup of water
Dump the cake and pudding mix in a mixing bowl. Add the oil and the water. mix on low until combined.
Add the eggs one at a time ( i never crack eggs directly into my cooking because then if you have a bad egg your entire dish is ruined) until incorporated. Beat on high until smooth and glossy (2 Minutes or so)
Pour into a greased bundt pan that's been dusted with flour or a bit of the cake mix or some cocoa. bake a6t 350 degrees until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean (about 35-40minutes). Cool before removing from pan. Enjoy!

2009-01-26T12:11:00.003-05:00

Today is my wedding anniversary. My DH and I have been married for 37 years.
It seems like yesterday we were starting out on this incredible journey. We were both young. Neither one of us knew what we were doing. By the grace of God and the power of love we made it.

Yesterday we celebrated with dinner out.We went to a fun little diner down in Stanley Virginia. They were serving homemade fried chicken with all the fixings. It was delicious. I did feel a little funny eating that chicken. You see on the wall behind our table was a old refinished chicken box with two very realistic hens overlooking the restaurant. Kinda like eating Wilbur in Charlotte's Web.

Tonight I'll make dinner for the two of us. We'll light candles and toast our love with our ice teas. And we'll remember the good stuff.

Looking back, we are lucky. We have had more good times than bad. While neither of us knows which way our journey will take us, we know what we need to do to make it through. We'll just keep on trusting the Lord and loving each other.

Making Stock

2009-01-23T11:16:00.004-05:00

Today is the weekly wrap up of what we did to save money and resources.Jen over at "Getting Ahead" hosts The Weekly Wrap Up. Check out her blog for great money saving ideas.
This has been a tough week for me. I had some painful problems in my knee due to overzealous physical therapy.
So I haven't been out of the house to spend any money. We did the usual things like hanging laundry, cooking from scratch and eating leftovers.
I thought I'd blog about making stock.I use a lot of chicken stock in my cooking. Of course you can buy stock at the supermarket.
It's tasty but the sodium content is high. And I think it's a bit expensive. So I make my own. It's really easy to make.
Here's the 'recipe":
Chicken carcass( I save these in the freezer until I have two or three)
2 large onions halved
4 large carrots cut into large chunks
4 cloves garlic
4 ribs of celery cut into chunks
Add 1 Tablespoon of salt
Add 1 Tablespoon of pepper
Add whatever herbs you like with chicken: I have a windowsill garden so I put in a handful of parsley, oregano and thyme. Sometimes I add rosemary. If you are using dry spices measure the amount into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to release the oils. I would use a small amount of sage( maybe two tablespoons) oregano(1 tablespoon) and thyme( 2 teaspoons). If you need more seasoning you can add it when you use the stock. It takes less dry spice/herb than it does fresh.
Throw every thing into a big pot. You will want to wash the veggies but there no need to peel them. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1-2 hours with the lid on. When finished pour the liquid through a strainer to remove the bones and veggies etc.
Homemade stock has a richer color than store bought and it makes the house smell yummy while it's cooking. I freeze mine in canning jars but you could use other containers as well. I take out 2 quarts every Saturday to thaw in the fridge.
I prefer to make stock because it cheaper and it allows me to control the amount of salt in my diet. Why not give it a try.

Weekly Wrap-up

2009-01-17T12:30:00.002-05:00

I found a great blog called "Getting Ahead". Every Friday Jen hosts the weekly wrap up where she lists all the things she's done to save money in the past week. I thought it would be fun to join in.

So here goes. This is what we did to save money and resources this week:

Shopped from a list: used coupons and paid attention to sales
Cooked all meals from scratch
Used leftovers creatively
DH packed his lunch all week
Hung two loads of laundry
Combined errands so I only had to drive to town once the day my PT was scheduled
Purchased meds on the $4 prescription plan rather than using my medical insurance $16 saving per prescription for a total of $32.
Visited the library instead of buying paperbacks
Worked on decluttering my office so I won't be buying supplies I don't need
Recycled newspapers, aluminum, metal cans and plastic.

As you can see we really did nothing spectacular but I believe every little bit helps.
Our goal is for my husband to retire in 5 years and for myself in eight to ten years. We are trying to become debt free this year and save aggressively for our retirement.

Winter Weather and The Economy

2009-01-13T11:26:00.004-05:00

Today the weather feels more like winter. We have the cold but we don't have the snow.
Despite all the inconveniences of cold weather I still want winter to be winter.

I imagine there are three hundred people in my immediate area that are feeling "winter" in more ways than the weather. Another business has laid off three hundred of their workers. This is the third business to do so in the last few months.
That brings the total to 2000. That's a lot of workers in our rural area.

My own family has not been spared the lay off process. My daughter was laid off last June. The company she worked for has since folded. She has ten years experience as an executive assistant/ office manager and cannot find a job.
My oldest son worked in the building trades. He was laid off last January and is currently working in the fast food industry for a third of his former pay.
Now my youngest son's fiancee has had her hours cut at the retail store where she's employed. her manager gave her a heads up that the parent company will probably close the store shortly so she should look for another job.

The problem is there are more workers looking for jobs than jobs to be had. It's very discouraging.

And there's the very real concern about providing for ones family. There won't be a bailout from the government. The state of Virginia has a three million dollar budget shortfall so funding to all areas including social programs like medicaid and fuel assistance will be cut.

On next Tuesday we will begin a new journey with a new president. He isn't going to be able to fix the economy quickly. I'm afraid we're going to see things worsen before they improve.

But I do have a suggestion for him and all those other dressed up bellhops in Washington who can't read a balanced sheet.
Instead of funneling billions of dollars to businesses that are falling ,why not grant each household a large sum of money. I'm thinking a million dollars would be great. We'd all have money to pay our bills, save for our retirement, pay cash for what we need. If someone had a bad sub prime mortgage that could be deducted form their million. We could buy a new car because we could pay cash. ( I wouldn't because they lose at least 2,000 dollars when you drive them off the lot)
It seems to me that would get the economy perking again.
Now THAT would be a real bailout! LOL!

2009-01-10T23:40:00.002-05:00

We are having another rain event. I hope this is not going to be a pattern for the rest of the year. While I appreciate the rain I don't want to have it every weekend.
My husband is on service call this week and he had a busy morning. Folks will wait until Monday if their air conditioner goes down but their furnace is another matter. This is especially true for older folks or families with babies or young children. They cannot do with out heat.
DH says that most of the problems he sees could be eliminated by routine maintenance. It's sad. You know the people aren't doing the maintenance because they can't afford it with the high cost of fuel. And you know they can't afford the repairs either.
I took it easy today, Wet weather makes my arthritis feel worse. I washed up our bed and cooked lunch and supper. I tidied the kitchen and swished and swiped the main bathroom.
I spent the rest of the day reading a book. I finished _Back on Blossom Street_by Debbie Macomber. I usually read mysteries so this book was a nice change of pace. It's a story of four women who are friends in a small town. The story chronicles how their relationships deepen and grow as each of the women face a personal crises. The book was easy to read and entertaining. I could identify with the characters. So I would recommend it to my friends. I borrowed this book from the local library.
Tonight I ordered some seed catalogs. I ordered four or five of them. I can hardly wait until they arrive.
I want to try starting some of my own seedlings this year. I read a really interesting post at_The Simple Green Frugal Co-op_ on this very topic.
This is new uncharted territory for me. I already have some of the equipment( shop lights, old tables, a willing husband and a desire to learn) so it's a matter of deciding what plants I want to try to start and ordering the seeds.
I know there will be work involved but it will be pleasurable work. There is such satisfaction is watching things go. It's a miracle we're privileged to experience.
I love flowers and I love fresh vegetables. We had a small garden last year. It was our first summer here in this house. I planted a few flowers along the walk and by the mailbox. We had a nice crop of green beans and tomatoes. The snap dragons, pansies and petunias did well.
I need to make a graph of the yard and plan my beds. We have a small corner lot . The main problem is the multiple pine trees. We have a lot of shade in the summer.
While there are many beautiful shade loving flowers you need sun to grow vegetables.
I'm excited about the possibilities. I can smell the honeysuckle and see the tomatoes ripening on the vine. I can hardly wait!

2009-01-09T15:35:00.002-05:00

Early this morning i went to my physical therapy session. I was amazed to see so many people there.
I enjoy talking to the other patients. We compare procedures, our pain levels, do we think the therapy is helping and who we know from their neck of the woods. It makes the ordeal more bearable.
Some of the patients are older folks who are recovering from heart attacks and strokes. I met a man who lost part of his leg to cancer and is learning to live with a prosthesis.
I am touched by their acceptance and by the courage they display. I am inspired by their ability to go ahead and make the best of what life has handed them.
It's hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are looking at folks who are worse off than you!

Living Green

2009-01-08T09:54:00.003-05:00

I'm concerned over the climate change we seem to be experiencing. It looks like the four seasons of weather are gone from us at least for this year.
We used to experience spring, summer, fall and winter. This past year we had a brief spring, a long summer, fall and more spring. We did not have the cold temperatures or the snows. Our total snowfall for last year was 8 inches( I've seen more than 8 inches of snow at Easter). This year is starting off in the same manner.
While the snow replenishes the water table, I believe the cold keeps the insect population in check, kills off some of the weeds and cleans the air.
God in His wisdom created this climate for our part of the earth. It grieves me to see it change.
Our grandchildren will never play in the deep snow. There may be water shortages due to drought conditions and an increasing population. The summers will be hotter.
I wasn't sure about global warming but I an now.
While we can't change the weather, we can reduce our impact on the earth. This would slow the rate the climate is changing.
We already recycle paper, old magazines, clear glass, plastic and aluminum. We have a rudimentary system set up however I would like to improve on it for aesthetic reasons.
We raise some of our vegetables in the summer and can the surplus for the winter. We line dry our heavier laundry even in the winter.
We don't have a good place for an outdoor clothesline. There are too many large trees in the backyard. I don't know which would reduce our impact more; taking down the trees and putting up the clothesline or leaving the trees alone.
We don't use chemical sprays and fertilizers, I make sure our laundry soap and dish soap are phosphate free. We use natural cleaners.
We've cut back on new purchases only replacing what is beyond repair or when new makes sense as in energy saving appliances.
We drive a fuel efficient compact car but it's not a hybrid.
However we need to do more. I'll be doing some research and looking into ways DH and I can lessen our impact and do our part to save our climate.

We Won't

2009-01-07T12:29:00.004-05:00

The weathermen/women missed it again. The ice storm turned into a rain event. As a matter of fact a huge rain event. It rained all day yesterday, last night and its' still raining today.
I am thankful that we were spared the power outages that accompany ice storms.
But I do want winter to be winter. This year it feels more like a chilly spring.
Of course there is nothing I can do to change the weather. We just have to take what comes.

Will We or Won't We?

2009-01-05T23:54:00.002-05:00

The weatherman is at it again. There's a winter storm warning in effect for our part of the Shenandoah Valley. We're supposed to get freezing rain tonight and all day tomorrow.
He advised us to get our oil lamps ready, our wood inside and to gather an emergency water and food supply in case the power fails.
I'm sure glad I didn't need to go to the grocery store this evening. People get a little crazy when these warnings are broadcast. It can get really tense if two parties want that last loaf of bread.
Hmmn. Seems like they've missed the forecast every time they've called for bad weather this winter.
It's about midnight as I type this but there's nothing falling yet.
Hmmn. Guess we'll have to see how they do this time.

Little Moments

2009-01-04T22:34:00.005-05:00

It seems to me some of the best times of our lives are made of those little moments. You know those small bits of everyday life that you just might miss if you're not paying attention.
Like when your baby grandson reaches out and takes hold of your husbands shirt as he walks past. Or when your youngest granddaughter snuggles against you snoring softly against your neck.
It's when an older grandson who's oh so cool takes time out of his busy school day to help the handicapped kids but doesn't tell a soul. Our family finds out when he get an award for it.
It's when your son wades into a cold creek on an early winters' morning to rescue a baby in a car that's slid off the road.
It's when you daughter walks down the aisle on her fathers arm to start her life as a married woman. It's watching her weep as she says her vows.
It's watching a little league team play baseball and seeing their faces light up when they score.
It's eating burnt toast and runny eggs because the kids love you enough to make you breakfast on mothers day.
It's when you husband works all day to pay the bills and comes home to make you soup when you're sick.
It when he's making mothers day breakfast after the kids have grown and gone. He makes bacon gravy and it"s awful but you try to eat it anyway. You wouldn't hurt his feelings for the world.
It's the dandelion bouquets, homemade snowflakes, Sunday morning church school programs.
It's I had a bad dream so can I sleep in your bed?
It's those blink your eyes and you'll miss it moments. Those extra special little moments that make life all the more worth living.
I pray the good Lord blesses me with many more little moments.

2009-01-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

Today it looks like snow. The sky is fully overcast and there's a damp feeling to the air. It's also cold.
I would love to see some big fluffy snowflakes drifting to earth. I would love to see the trees draped in a white coat and the ground blanketed in white.
We've had absolutely no snow this winter.
I'm disappointed in that on more than one level. There's is so much sickness (flu bugs and the like) this time of year. Mama always said a good snow cleans the air and helps eradicate the germs. I used to ignore folk wisdom. Now I wonder and try to keep an open mind.

2008 has come and gone. We can look back to see what we need to take with us but we need to move forward. WE can't change one second of the past year. 2009 gives us a clean slate.
Gather all the good from 2008 and put it in your "back pack". Don't forget the lessons learned. They belong with the shining achievements and the fun family memories.

Many like to welcome the new year with resolutions. I've made my share of resolutions in the past and I've failed to keep to them.
One thing I've decided to do differently is to set goals for myself this year. Instead of going at these goals full bore, I want to measure my progress one small step at a time.
Fly lady says it takes 28 days to develop a habit so I will do each small step for 28 days. I hope to chart my success and to come out on the end of the next year having accomplished at least some of my goals.

Here are my goals:
-make time for a daily "quiet time"
-develop healthy eating habits
-organize my house
-become debt free

My January baby steps are:
-Take 15-20 minutes first thing each morning for my quiet time
-Eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day
-Declutter our home office ( or another area) for 15 minutes every day
-Differentiate between needs and I wants in order to have more money to pay on debts.

I'm not perfect but I'm giving it my best. We'll see how it goes...

Last Ode to Christmas

2008-12-30T09:22:00.000-05:00

I posted some pictures taken of our family Christmas. We are so blessed!

Reevaluating

2008-12-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas is over for another year. The gifts have been opened and the meals have been eaten.
I hope all the family liked their gifts. This is the first year we gave some homemade presents and limited the number of gifts we purchased each person. No one gave any inclination that they weren't enjoying their gifts.
With ten grand kids and two extras holidays can be a bit chaotic around here. There's a lot of noise and a lot of running around. We usually do one big meal in the middle of the day.
However this year was different. because of my recent surgery I was unable to cook the meal. One son-in law wanted to start traditions within their family and the other DD and DSIL have to visit myriad relatives on his side of the family on Christmas Day. They wanted to bring Christmas supper.
My sons wanted the traditional Christmas lunch. DS and fiancee showed up with ham, mashed potatoes,gravy, green beans, corn, broccoli salad and rolls. They brought tapioca pudding for dessert. My oldest DS and his two teenage children plus his girl friend and her two young children joined us for lunch. They brought the drinks.
We had a nice meal, good conversation, lots of pictures. The children were able to go outside and play which helped. We had a fun time opening the gifts and oohing and aahing.
The girls brought turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, deviled eggs and macaroni and cheese. Again we had a lovely meal.
It was great to see the little ones all dressed up. However Christmas Day is a long day for little children. Our 4yrld GD started screaming the minute her mother tried to put her down. She proceeded to hit her 2yrold sister who also began screaming.
My poor husband cannot stand to hear children screaming.
And of course when children are exhausted they behave in a trying manner.
Traditions are very important to me. It meant so much to spend Christmas Day at my grandmas house. My grandparents had little money. They lived simply in a small three room house.
Yet our entire family gathered there for Christmas Day. We had a big meal. My grandmother set the table four times so everyone could sit down and eat. She kept the plates washed up and the food hot. For dessert there was always four kinds of pie and a big applesauce cake.
My grandparents always cut a big cedar tree. We decorated it with popcorn strings and helped hang the icicles. Granddaddy took care of the lights and Aunt Doris hung the breakables.
There was always a present or two for each of us. If the weather was nice we played outside some or we played quietly inside. We would no more think of screaming or hitting one another than we would sprouting wings and flying,
The grown ups played music some times and we would sing.
I so wanted to give my grands that same experience. But I don't think I can handle another evening like this past one. I know it's time to reevaluate the traditions and to see if something else would work better fr us.
Would it be better to go visit each of their homes on Christmas Day? We could breakfast with one, lunch with another, do an afternoon coffee and yet another for supper.
How do I reconcile this with my boys wanting to come home for Christmas? Do we have our family celebration another day and just enjoy whomever wants to drop in?
I don't know what the answer is but I hope next year we have a better handle on it.

2008-12-22T23:34:00.000-05:00

Today is the first full day of winter. It also happens to be the coldest day we've had so far. The weatherman is forecasting temperatures in the single digits tonight.
Of course this created many problems. Our son's water froze and he spent all afternoon thawing the pipes. My MIL 's furnace acted up. After working all day my DH stopped to help out. He had a really long day.
Despite it's discomforts I happen to like winter. I see a stark beauty in the landscape. The scenery is so clearly etched. You can see each tree limb against the sky.
I like the long evenings inside the warm house. I like curling up with a good book or a crochet project. I enjoy spending those long evening with family and friends maybe playing a game or working a puzzle or watching a movie.
I love winter food: the soups and stews and various comfort foods. I love hot teas and hot chocolate. And then there's coffee.
I love snuggling under warm cozy comforters.
I love my flannel pjs and my fuzzy slippers.
I love the heated car seats in my car. We don't really need them that much in this climate but they're really nice on cold mornings.Yes winter suits me fine!
No doubt y'all think I've lost my mind!

2008-12-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share a few pictures of Christmas around our house. The pictures today are of the living room mantle. Unfortunately I haven't figured out how to put the text with the appropriate picture. Heavy sigh!
You can see the Christmas Village. It's not one of the fancy ones. I got three of the little houses from flea markets for $1 each. My sister gave me one as a gift and a friend made the lighted tree. Everything else came from the local Goodwill. It was a lucky find.
Our mantle has the nativity scene my husband made when he first started woodworking. I love it's clean lines as well as the fact everything stores inside the stable. It's kind of like a puzzle. He also made the trees and the reindeer.
The blanket belongs to our son Daniel. About ten years ago his great grandmother made it for him. The top became badly worn and came apart. he wanted it repaired for his Christmas gift. I took it apart and reassembled it. All the work was done by hand. What you see is the finished product.
I hope you enjoy these photos.I'm new to blogging so this is quite an accomplish. Don't laugh until yesterday I didn't even know how to get the card out of the camera
More pictures tomorrow...

2008-12-13T18:25:00.000-05:00

Today Addison came to visit Memaw and Papaw. She wore a sweet little outfit her Memaw had gotten right after she was born. She spent the afternoon charming us with her smiles and giggles. She chewed on some Tupperware measuring spoons as she is teething.
We enjoyed her and her mommy very much.

2008-12-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

It's good to be back home. I had my surgery Wednesday . I'm glad it's over and I'm glad it went well. I thought I had prepared myself for the post operative pain but evidently not. There is quite a lot of pain, yes I do have pain medicine. However I don't care to sleep my life away.
I was able to shower this morning which makes me feel human. I'm hobbling around on my crutches trying not to overdo.
I'm so glad to see the sun this morning. Yesterday was a miserable cold wet windy day. We did get a lot of much needed rain. There was a chance we would get ice then snow then ice again as the tail end in of the storm passed through the area.
Thankfully it missed us. I was very concerned about DD driving home from work late last night. She said "Mama the Lord travels with me". And I'm sure he does!

2008-12-08T21:25:00.000-05:00

Today is another cold day. The sky is leaden with clouds. Will it be snow or rain? Will the wind blow the leaves and swirl the pine needles through the air?
My poor husband is out in the cold. This is a busy time of year for him. He is feeling some better Thank God but he's still not 100%. he worked 15 hours of OT this weekend.
I had planned on running errands today but I cannot deal with the pain in my leg. It is much worse than I had anticipated. I am actually looking forward to Wednesday. At least I'll be able to go back on my meds once they've done the surgery..
DD came to help with the Christmas tree today. She rearranged furniture. assembled the tree and strung the lights. Shae's a true Wonder Woman!
I began to hang ornaments but had to give it up.I almost fell and that's the last thing we need to happen.
The two grands were perfect little angels! I cannot tell you how much I love watching these precious gifts grow. How I wish we adults could maintain that sense of wonderment we had as little children. I think we'd all be much happier.
So we'll try to finish up the tree tomorrow, wrap some gifts and run those errands. I want to have as much done tomorrow as possible. I don't want to add any extra burdens onto my husband while I'm laid up.
One thing I'm going to try posting some photos on this blog.It would make my journal feel more like a scrapbook. We'll see. I keep telling myself "how hard can it be".

2008-12-06T20:29:00.000-05:00

We woke up early this morning to very chilly temperatures. The low last night was 15 degrees.
My husband git his first service call at 8 AM and didn't return home until 6:30 PM. I was just taking supper off the stove when he came through the door. As soon as he finished eating, the phone rang and off he went again. I hope this doesn't go on all night.
Our oldest DD and our beautiful grand babies visited me this morning. We watched "Chicken Little" and played tea party. I had gotten one of those Baby Einstein octopus toys at the thrift shop last week. Tyler (our youngest grand baby at 5 months) fell in love with it. So of course it went home with them. I love it when the grands come calling!
DD went into the attic and brought down some of our Christmas decorations. I attempted to set up the Christmas Village but I'm not really happy with the arrangement. I need to do some tweaking.
I've never been this late with the decorating. However I'm resolved not to get stressed out, I will do what i can. Christmas is not in the decorations or the gifts or the food. As the Whos in Whoville sing"As long as we have hands to clasp Christmas day is in our grasp". (From Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas")
I want peace to reign in this home whether it looks picture perfect or not.
I did get to see the Martha Stewart Christmas special. She used an extension cord with graduated outlets on her tree. I think one would also work for the little town. I wonder how expensive they are. I would love to have one for our tree too. I'll be checking out the hardware section when we do our weekly shopping.
Martha makes everything look so easy. I wish she'd air her special around the end of November so ordinary ladies like myself would have time to try some of her projects before Christmas.
I worked on Christmas cards this afternoon.They are all ready to go except for the stamps. I really cut back on mailing out the cards this year. Any card that can be hand delivered will not be mailed.
I'm having a rough time with the pain today. I had to go off my meds to prepare for surgery. I'm afraid Tylenol doesn't cut it. I hope I won't feel this miserable everyday until Wednesday.

2008-12-04T22:49:00.000-05:00

Today was a dreary old day. It would have been a great day to sleep in, curl up on the couch in my pj's and read a good book.
However it was not to be. I had fallen behind in my housekeeping.
My mom needed me to help her for a few days.
I spent today dusting, vacuuming,mopping and shampooing. I also worked on decluttering the room we use as an office.
I gathered some items for charity I'd kept in the office because I had no other place to put them.I refuse to use the attic as a generic dumping ground. It's easy to say 'if you don't use it or love it let it go." It's not so easy to do it. Why do we get so attached to material things?
Later in the afternoon, I picked up my 10 year old grandson and we went to the library. I checked out quite a few books so I'll have plenty to read while I'm recovering from surgery. My grandson is very interested in history and he was able to find some books on Jamestown and Pocahontas. He usually stays for supper but
he needed to go home early .
He has his music concert tonight at school. I love to attend the school events. The children are always so charming. It never fails to make me smile.
My DH had asked me to make spaghetti for supper yesterday . I had already fixed it when he came in from work. He seems to have picked up a nasty bug so spaghetti was really not the right dish to serve tonight. I got him all tucked in with some chicken soup, hot tea and Tylenol.
I hope he can shake this off. He gets pneumonia very easily.
Tomorrow we are looking for colder weather. I'm hoping to get some outside decorating done if it isn't too windy. Tomorrow night our son is driving the company truck in the local Christmas parade, As a surprise he has gotten permission for the boys to ride in the parade with him. They will be so surprised! What fun!

2008-12-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas. Thanksgiving/Autumn decorations have been packed away and I'm beginning to put up Christmas.
I hung an evergreen wreath on the front door and I'm placing candles in the windows.I want to set up my Christmas Village and decorate the living room mantle.
I have some Christmas books I tie with ribbon and set on the coffee table and I need to gather the Christmas CDs and DVDs into a basket for easy access.
I am purposely decorating sparingly this year.My collection of Santas and other ornaments will remain in the attic until next Christmas.
I don't know how I'll feel after my surgery next week and I don't want to burden my DH or family with having to take all those decorations down.
On a sad note, my friend Jackie lost her beloved kitty, Cleo, November 29, 2008. She has had Cleo the entire ten years I've known her.How I wish I had the words to comfort my friend. How I wish I could hug her and tell her time really does heal our wounds.
Jackie no longer lives near me in the valley. Her family relocated last year. I remember the death of our beloved pet a couple of years ago. It affects me to this day.
I'll be praying for Jackie. I know God knows of her pain and that He will comfort her.

November 29, 2008

2008-11-29T22:16:00.000-05:00

It's really been an interesting weekend.
I've heard about an employee at a Walmart in New York getting killed by a crowd of Black Friday Shoppers and a shooting at a Toys R Us in California.
My daughter who is a manager for McDonald's' told me her store set a record Friday for selling over 12,000 hamburgers.
I saw a $99,000 car. Can you imagine!
I'm so glad I opted out of the Black Friday madness years ago. I like to spend the Friday after Thanksgiving getting the house back in order.
Once errands are taken care of Saturday, I can begin to think about Christmas and what I need to do too have a meaningful holiday. I've already gotten some of my gifts. I need to get them wrapped. And I need to finish up the homemade presents.
I will do as much shopping on line as possible.
It seems as if my neighbors all have the holiday spirit. They spent most of Saturday putting up their outdoor decorations. We'll work on ours next week.
I received a survey from the Census in the mail today. I'll work on it this evening. It's like a small book!
Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. We'll read of God's promise to send a Savior. We'll sing O Come Emmanuel and light the first candle. Each night from the last Sunday of November until Christmas day we'll light the candle(s) in anticipation. The advent wreath is one of my favorite traditions.
We started keeping advent when my children were small. it's a funny thing but their friends all seemed to show up when it became time to read the Bible, sing the carol and light the candles. I often wondered what they told their parents.
DD asked me where she could buy her advent candles. I told her to look for 4 purple tapers and one white taper. Although Christian bookstores invariably sell boxed set of candles I normally buy mine whenever they're on sale wherever I can find them.
I like to use a ring of greens (usually ivy) from my yard but a silk wreath would work fine. I like to place mine in the center of my dining room table. It looks so pretty there.
The tradition is one of the small ways that keep me centered during the holiday rush. I wonder what other folks do to remember why we celebrate and how they manage during this stressful time.

We Gather Together

2008-11-28T14:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday our family gathered together to give thanks. There was a total of twenty three family members with us.
We st up two tables - a table for the youngsters and a table for the "grown ups'. There was so much food and all of it delicious. I'm happy to say no one left here empty handed. DH and I would have been eating leftovers for a month!
The guys large and small played touch football until dark. I know those boys and their fathers slept well last night. I made sure each child won a game of bingo and got a prize to take home. I know that's not real life but hey this is Memaw's house and it's Thanksgiving!
I am so thankful for God's wonderful provision for us. I am so thankful for each family member and the opportunity to share with each other. I so thankful to live in a country where i am free to celebrate and worship any way I choose.
We don't stop to think how hard life was for those early pilgrims. Half of them died that first winter in America.
These folks gave the ultimate sacrifice for their religious freedom.
They built their homes and planted their fields. The Lord sent Squanto to help them learn how to survive the bleak New England winters.
They had no modern conveniences to make their lives easier. Yer out of that hardship came a peace treaty that was honored for 50 years and a holiday that endures to this day.
As nice as Thanksgiving is , I challenge everyone to cultivate a spirit of gratitude every day. God has given us so much. We need to appreciate it!

Monday

2008-11-24T15:29:00.000-05:00

At last the outside temperature is a little warmer. It's now a balmy 46 degrees outside and rainy. Last week it never made it out of the thirties. The weatherman said that maybe the rain will turn to snow overnight.
I've spent the day doing laundry and getting the house ready for company. I'm pretty sure I have all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner. We are expecting 22 friends and relatives for dinner.
Hers whats on the menu:
Roast Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Sweet Potato Casserole
Broccoli Casserole
Green Beans
Pickled Beets
Corn
Baked Beans
Cranberry Salad
Homemade Bread
Pumpkin Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Meringue Pie
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Punch, Tea and Coffee.
Each family will contribute one of the items from our menu. My DD will be here on Wednesday to help me make the pies and cakes and prep some of the veggies.
I washed up my tablecloth and napkins today. Tonight I'll wash and dry the holiday dishes so we'll be ready to go.
I really enjoyed the Thanksgiving movie on The Hallmark Channel Saturday night. It will be rebroadcast this Thursday. If you like Louisa Mae Alcott you will love this movie.
I also made my first crocheted dishcloth today. It went very well. The cotton yarn has a different feel to it though. It is a nice quality. I'm going to tuck these into my DDS' gifts this Christmas. I hope they'll like them as much as I do. This one turned out very nicely if i do say so myself.
I'm working on making dishtowel aprons for my 4 little granddaughters. I found a tutorial at As I See It. I am also working on water bottle holders for our grandchildren.I saw these at A Number of Things.
As Thanksgiving approaches I wonder how we can help our children and grandchildren to fully appreciate all they are given. We should be thankful everyday.
Today I'm grateful for my Angel Food order we picked up Saturday, for tutorials that show how to make cool gifts,for clean laundry and for good books!

Leftovers

2008-11-21T09:14:00.001-05:00

What do we do with all the leftovers from the Thanksgiving feast?
First I try to send as much home with the guests as possible. It's only my husband and myself and we'd get tired of eating the same old dinner for days at a time.
I do make soup with some of the leftover turkey. This recipe is from "Country Home Cooking in the Shenandoah Valley." by Marjorie Roher. It's very similar to what I make except it has the measurements.I tend to not measure unless I'm baking.

Thanksgiving Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass
2 medium onions
2 stalks celery diced
1/2 stick butter
2 large carrots
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp marjoram
1 Tbsp chicken base 1 cup flour 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
2 cups half and half

Put turkey bones in a large kettle and cover with water. Simmer over medium heat for an hour. Remove carcass and set aside.
Boil broth down to approximately 3 quarts.
Saute onions and celery in butter
Add to large kettle and bring to a boil
Add carrots, seasoning and rice
While your soup simmers pick any meat from the turkey carcass.Add into soup.
Shake the cream and flour together ;stir into soup when rice is tender. cook several minutes mere' Adjust seasoning to taste and serve. Makes 1 gallon

Notes:
If you don't want to pick up the bones just add in some leftover turkey you've diced up.
I use chicken stock instead of water.
You could add peas and potatoes and omit the cream sauce if you like. I have done this.
I have also used barley instead of rice. Again no cream sauce when i use the barley.

Thanksgiving Traditions

2008-11-21T08:38:00.000-05:00

I'm posting this a day late. Yesterday I was so busy working on Christmas I forgot to blog!
I think traditions are a wonderful way to celebrate special days.I also believe it's important to review your traditions yearly. This ensures you will be able to keep the ones that still work for your family and delete the ones that no longer fit.
It is a tradition for our immediate family to gather at my house. I make the turkey and a few sides. Everyone brings a side dish. however
Sometimes the in laws show up and sometimes they don't.
My gran kids gather in my office to make place card holders for our table.We also have the Macy"s Thanksgiving day parade on the TV in the living room.
One of the grandchildren ask the blessing (says grace).When our kids were growing up one of them led the prayer.. It was a huge honor. We've done this since the oldest could talk.
We like to go around the table and express our gratitude for the good things in life.
This is important as it fosters an attitude of thankfulness.
We all pitch in to help with the clean up after the meal. I try to send most of the leftovers home with the guests.
After we've cleaned up we play Bingo. It sounds corny but this is a simple game even a young child can play with a bit of help. Bingo prizes are usually candy bars or homemade coupons for a special treat( like cleaning out someone's car or baking cookies with gram ma).
If the weathers warm we have a game of touch football. This is plan A.
I also get a movie from the library. One for the guys and one for the kids. This year I have "The Quick and the Dead " which is a western for the men and "The Bee Movie " for the kids. This is plan B in case it's too cold or rainy.
We also take "family pictures" of each of our children and their spouse and kids before they go home.I upload these to my computer and make them available to our family.
I'm wish everyone a happy blessed day with family and friends!
.

Thanksgiving Decorations

2008-11-19T09:45:00.000-05:00

I have very little money in my budget for Thanksgiving decorations.
I believe in using what I have to make things pretty and seasonal.
I gather the leaves from the trees in my yard. I put them in a copper bowl I got for a wedding present This goes on the small table in the entry area. If I have potpourri I might put it in an old cake tin and place a pretty candle in the center. I like cinnamon or pumpkin spice candles for this. I will place this on my table in the entry way and move the bowl of leaves to the coffee table. I think lighted candles are very welcoming.
I line up small pumpkins on my mantle. We gather pine cones from our yard. I dip them in melted wax that I infused with essential oil. I use cinnamon. They small great.I put these in a flea market basket I place on our fireplace hearth.
I have small clear glass vases that look like jars of various sizes. I arrange them on the table with small tea lights inside. I circle them with ivy from my yard.
If cranberries are inexpensive in your area you could fill a vase or clear glass bowl with them , fill with water and float a small candle on top.
I place miniature pine cones and acorns on the table. I also place miniature pumpkins at intervals along the table. I grew my tiny pumpkins and gourds in my garden but they can also be purchased at a very reasonable price.
We use an off white table cloth. I made some Thanksgiving ribbon from some fabric I had with a harvest theme. I cut the fabric into strips hemmed the edges and ironed them with spray starch. I tie these into big bows on the back of my dining room chairs. We also put tiny white twinkle lights on the tall plants I have near the patio doors.
Years ago I made large linen napkins that I stamped with a potato and some acrylic paint. I stamped one pretty maple leaf in one corner of the napkin.
If I have ribbons that work I tie it around the napkins. In the past my kids have made napkin holders out of toilet paper tubes they covered with colored paper or wrapping paper. We have inserted silk flowers in certain colors or pretty leaves we've had into the holders on top of the napkins. I've even used springs of rosemary. It's surprising how pretty something this simple can look.
My grand kids like to make place card holders while they're waiting on dinner. They use small to medium size pine cones. They cut feathers out of construction paper and glue to make a turkey. They like to glue glitter in these "feathers" and on the body of the turkey. These look better than they sound. I use a desk top publishing program to make the place cards. My oldest granddaughter uses a Sharpie to write the names on the cards. She then places them at each place.
To keep the mess corralled I set up a card table in our office.
The only person in our family who has a set place at Thanksgiving is Papaw!
I only buy grapevine wreaths. They can be changed easily. I lucked into some nice autumn colored silk flowers at the Goodwill.I cut them apart and stuck the stems in between the vines. I made sure to arrange the flowers closely. I tied a big raffia bow at the top and hung it on my front door.
I imagine everyone knows these simple decorating ideas. If not give them a try. I'm anxious to see what other folks post in this category.

2008-11-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

I've been participating in the Thanksgiving fun over at Frugal Upstate and my regular posts have fallen by the wayside.
On Monday, I didn't get a lot accomplished. My DD came over with her two beautiful children. I spent the day drinking pretend tea with Cara-Mia. We also ate real cookies and banana slices. I rocked and sang her to sleep because she is only two years old after all. She curled up in my "magic blanket" and was off to sleep in no time at all.
Her baby brother came to visit as well. I talked and rocked and sang to him. He has such a sweet disposition. He's always smiling! If he catches your eye he's ready to engage you with that smile and those sweet baby coo words.And of course there's that soft skin , those tiny hands and that sweet smell.
Definitely a fun day!
Today was not so much fun. We awoke to a light powdering of overnight snow. I fretted over DH and my children and their families having to travel this morning.I heard the bridges were slick early this morning. However everyone made it to work and back home safe and sound.
I spent today blessing my house. I also washed up my bedroom curtains, rearranged some baskets and organized my bakers rack.
We had baked chicken, baked potatoes, California mix and corn for supper.I made chocolate pudding for dessert.
My DMIL and DSIL have asked us to agree not to exchange gifts this year for Christmas. My MIL is ill and unable to shop or wrap. My SIL is experiencing the same financial squeeze as the rest of us.I am more than happy to agree to do this , I have more than enough stuff.
We will still have our holiday meal with all the extended family. We will still sing carols and go to church. We will light our candles and remember a Babe born in a manger with a lot less than we have today. That Babe ending up saving us all or at least all of us who ask Him to do so.
I want this Christmas to be a blessing to us all.I accept the challenge that Christmas can be just as wonderful without all the excess (believe me I've done plenty of excess in the past).
Speaking of blessings,I didn't want too many days to pass by with out journaling my blessings. I'm so grateful for the safety of my family, for pretend tea parties, for sweet baby smiles and for that ultimate gift from so long ago the Babe born in the manger.

2008-11-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

Today I'm posting 2 recipes for a desserts we love to eat on Thanksgiving.

Lush Dessert

Crust:
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cheese Layer
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup cool whip ( I always make homemade whipped cream for this)

Pudding Layer
2 3.4 oz packages instant pudding
3 cups cold milk

Topping
2-3 cups cool whip or whipped cream

Garnishes- I like to sprinkle mini chocolate chips on chocolate lush or coconut on coconut lush; you get the idea

Mix flour, butter, pecans until crumbly. Press into a 9x13 inch baking pan or you can use 2 9 inch pie plates bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
While the crust is baking mix together cream cheese, sugar and whipped topping.
Spread over the cooled crumb layer
Beat pudding and milk for 2 minutes pour over the cheese layer
Refrigerate until set
Top with the rest of the whipped topping and add your garnish.
This dessert never fails to disappear!

Homemade Whipped Cream
1 pt of heavy whipping cream
Powdered or superfine sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

It's very important that the mixing bowl and beaters are clean and chilled.
Pour the cream into the mixing bowl
Beat at high speed until desired consistency.
During the beating add the sugar to taste.
Add vanilla at the end. Enjoy!

Cranberry Salad
This is a sneaky way to get some fruit into the Thanksgiving meal

2 small boxes of jello (either raspberry or orange)
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce smashed ( you can use a potato masher or clean hands)
1 tart apple peeled and diced up fine
1 orange sectioned ( I have used well drained mandarin oranges as well)
1 can of crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Make the jello and chill til it begins to thicken
Add the cranberries, the pineapple and the juice, the apple, orange and nuts
Chill until firm
I set this out with the meal and it never fails to disappear.

2008-11-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

Frugal Upstate has asked for favorite family side dish recipes for Thanksgiving. I've done done the Mr. Linky thing before but here we go;

Broccoli Casserole
1 12 oz container of frozen broccoli or 1 and 1/2 cups of steamed fresh broccoli
1 small onion chopped
1/2 cup celery chopped fine
1 tablespoon butter 8 oz cheese ( my mm likes Velveeta but my husband prefers sharp)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
5oz can of evaporated milk ( NOT SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK)
3 cups of cooked rice
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute celery, onion and broccoli in the butter for 3-5 minutes
Stir in the cheese milk and soup until smooth
Place the rice in a greased casserole (an 8 inch square casserole dish works perfectly)
Pour the cheese mixture over the rice. Do not stir.
Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Note--I triple this recipe for my family. I some times substitute sour cream for the evaporated milk,

Monday Morning!

2008-11-17T09:59:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful Monday Morning. The sun is shining brightly, Right now the temperature is 32 degrees. Tomorrow it is supposed to be colder.
There is snow forecasted for the Potomac Highlands and the higher elevations.This is lake snow and they are calling for up to seven inches of snow in those areas.
There's not much chance of this snow affecting us folks here in the valley. We may get a few flurries. However it will bring significantly lower temperatures. Tomorrow morning the temperature will be in the teens when I wake up.
Today I will be doing the mundane tasks that keep our home a pleasant place to live. I like the idea of blessing my family with these acts of love. Whoever would have thought to call laundry, dusting, vacuuming, picking up , cooking etc an act of love? The Bible says "A wise woman builds her house"The house is symbolic of the family.These little acts of love help to make home a calm peaceful retreat. These little acts of love helps the family to feel card for and loved.
I also have a few extra tasks DH asked me to do for him.These will be my top priority. I have a great husband and I try to treat him well. I know there are lots of women who would adore my husband but every night he comes home to me.
I plan to make spaghetti, green beans and garlic bread for supper.
This afternoon I will continue to work on my handmade holiday.I found some neat ideas on the web. Gumbo Lily showcased some adorable cloth baby shoes, Rhonda at down -to -earth posted a recipe for Lemon Butter and I saw a link for water bottle holders. I need to look those up.
This brings me to my gratitude list for today. I'm thankful that I received my first short term disability check from work, that gas prices are dropping and that my son is hanging in at his new job even though he doesn't like it very much.

Big Friday

2008-11-14T15:10:00.000-05:00

Here in the valley we call Thursday little Friday so that makes today Big Friday.
I awoke to dense fog this morning. When DH left for work visibility was less than a quarter mile.
I have puttered around today doing a bit of this and a bit of that. I shined up my mirrors and I washed the insides of the living room windows.
This is the kind of job I tend to put off. It only takes a few minutes to accomplish and once it's done it makes a huge difference in how the house looks. I really need to stop procrastinating.
DH was working in the area so he came home for lunch. We had homemade vegetable soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and applesauce cake. He got a call during lunch to go work on a heat pump at a local church.I hope he can get their heat going. We have a cold front headed our way. Below normal temperatures will make for a very uncomfortable worship service on Sunday.
After he left I went to the local branch of the library. I was able to find some books that look interesting. I got a copy of a craft book showcasing easy to make seasonal gifts. I also checked out a book on simple living. I treated myself to a copy of the DVD Sense and Sensibility.
I'll enjoy watching this sometime over the weekend.
Many years ago I read the Stllmeadow books by Gladys Taber I asked the librarian to reserve them for me. These books are like old friends. I know I'll enjoy reading them again.
This brings me to my daily gratitude listings. Today I am thankful for the nearby library, for the antics of the gray squirrel that runs around our yard collecting nuts for the winter and for hot soup on a damp day.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

2008-11-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

I slept late this morning. I can't believe I did that!
I did get a lot accomplished yesterday. I guess I wore myself out.
The quilt I'm redoing came apart a lot more easily than I thought. DH cleaned and oiled my sewing machine so I'm ready to get started sewing the top. I can't believe I put this project off so long. I reckon I thought it would be a lot harder than it turned out to be.
I want to bless my guest bedroom today. I also want to make a cake. I am working on decluttering kitchen cupboards one at a time.
I need to find a place to set up my sewing machine so i can continue to work on our handmade Christmas.
My momma used to say 'idle hands are the devil's workshop". I reckon I don't have that problem! LOL!
How in the world did I ever have time to work a full time job?
I'm thankful today that we are still getting some much needed rain, that I have some fabric and yarn on hand I can use to make gifts and that my short term disability claim has been approved
This means I'll have a little money coming in to help on the bills. God is good and I am so Blessed.

2008-11-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

It looks like we're finally going to get some rain. Praise the Lord! I've been waiting on some measurable rain so I can plant a Hydrangea I grew in a pot on our deck last summer.
Do you ever wonder why those potted Hydrangeas or Azaleas you get a Walmart or the local supermarket just don't survive transplanting? It's because their root systems are weak.
If you transplant them into a large container and baby them along a bit over the summer they will develop a stronger root system. Then when you do put them into the ground they grow into a beautiful shrub. I recommend getting them transplanted before the end of November. You want them to have a couple of months of dormancy.
I also want to plant a few tulips for next spring. Here in the valley we have until the end of November to plant spring flowering bulbs
It's been drier than I like lately. My aunt had given me a couple of cuttings from her mums. I've been watering them trying to keep them alive. However no amount of water has the benefits of a good rain.
I had noticed some little green plants had come up in our little garden bed. DH and I pulled one up. Guess what? We have beautiful little volunteer radishes. We gathered some in-they will make a nice addition to our salad.
I'm working on repairing my son's comforter. This is what he asked for Christmas. His late great grandmother made it about ten years ago. He used it on his bed and it's become very worn. I plan to take it apart and replace the top. Then I'll add new batting and tie it together.
I'm enjoying the needlework. I think of Grandmother Lillian as I snip and stitch it back together.
Today I'm thankful for the rain,good memories, projects to work on and phone calls from friends. They make my day!

2008-11-11T09:42:00.000-05:00

Baby it's cold outside! The temperature dropped to 21 degrees last night and we awoke to a heavy frost. We are supposed to have below normal temps today.
This is a good day to make soup. I'm thinking homemade vegetable soup, hot bread and apple crisp for supper. I like to make Ina Gartens' pear apple crisp. It's really easy and you can do any combination of fruit you like. I don't have any pears today so I'll throw in some dried cranberries. The crisp is especially good with tart apples. However all I have are some Gala apples so that's what I'll use. My husband loves this served warm with cream.
Plus the house will smell fantastic!
Yesterday I planned our Thanksgiving meal. We will have Roast Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry salad , green beans, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, pickled beets and corn. We will also have dip with fancy crackers and a tray of fresh cut up veggies. For dessert we will have red velvet cake, pumpkin pie, chocolate meringue pie and pumpkin trifle. There will be iced tea, coffee and a fruit punch to drink as well as cold water. I'll probably make the turkey and fixings . The rest of the family will bring the sides.
I need to purchase a paper table cloth for the kids' table. I want to have coloring pages for them also. And I need to find a prayer.
During the meal we go round the table and each of us will tell what we're thankful for. Afterward we'll probably talk a bit about Christmas.
Today I want to say I'm thankful for good friends, adorable grand kids and our servicemen and woman who sacrifice so much to keep us free. May Gog bless them!

2008-11-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

Good Monday morning! The sun is shining so brightly you'd almost think it's a spring day. Until you walk outside that is!
My husband came home from work sick Friday evening. I spent most of the evening and Saturday taking care of him. He seemed better by Sunday but he still has coughing spells. I'm encouraging him to go to the doctor but he really doesn't want to.
I did get to do some decorating for Thanksgiving yesterday. I had some silk flowers I had gotten a while back so I made a fall arrangement. It's rather tall so I set it to one side of the fireplace in the living room. I love the reds and yellows of autumn. I will try to post a picture but I'm new to blogging so we'll have to see what happens there.
I also made some cookies yesterday.
Today I will do my Monday morning house blessing. Then I'll continue to work on making some Christmas gifts.
Since we formally give thanks in November I thought it might be nice to list three(3) things I'm grateful for daily. Today I'm grateful for bright sunshine, a good husband and hot tea.

I visited Coffee Tea Books and Me this morning. Brenda talks about favorite books. she likes to revisit. So I thought I would list some of mine as well.

5 Non Fiction books I Reread:

More Hours in My Day by Emilie Barnes
The Tightwad Gazette By Amy Dacyczyn
Frugal Luxuries by Tracy McBride
What Happens When Women Care by Emilie Barnes
In the Kitchen with Heloise

5 Fiction Books I read over and over:

Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott
The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
The Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oakes
The Grapes of Wrath By John Steinbeck
This Present Darkness By Frank Peretti

I hope anyone reading this blog will give these books a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

2008-11-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

We must be having a bit of Indian summer. It's 72 degrees outside! Unfortunately this weather won't last. It's supposed to be in the fifties tomorrow. I having a bad time with my leg today. So I know there's a change on the way.
Arthritis helps you to be a fine weatherman. LOL!
I planned to paint the front door today but that's not going to happen.Instead I ran an errand after I tidied the house. I still need to water my houseplants and i need to re pot a begonia I want to winter over.
I made a contact list for my referral business. Next week I'll make some calls. I also made a Christmas list of family members and now I'm working on finding little or no cost frugal presents.
Even if by some miracle i get back to work this month, I still think a low cost more meaningful Christmas is the way to go.
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. I love when the family comes together to share a meal and make memories. I love hearing each of us name something we are grateful for.
I saw a recipe for pumpkin trifle.It's layers of pumpkin bread, vanilla pudding and whipped cream sprinkled with finely crushed ginger snaps. YUM!! I think I'll add that to my menu this
year. I also found a recipe for a broccoli casserole thats easy and tasty. I think I'll add that too,

2008-11-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

Today the valley is bathed in autumn sunlight. Most of the leaves have fallen from our maple tree.
It looks like it will be a beautiful day. I think I will spend a little time outdoors enjoying the nice weather.I want to save some seeds from the black eyed susans that grow along the front walk. I can't believe the wave petunias survived the frost and are still blooming.
I want to finish my baby grandson' blanket today and begin a blanket for my new granddaughter.
Of course I'm still working on organizing that closet.
My friend lost her beloved Great Dane Tuesday morning. She has no children and this dog was like a child to her. I wish I had the words to comfort her. I hope she knows she is in my prayers.
On a lighter note, my ten year old grandson went to the library with me. On the way back we chatted about this n that. I always enjoy his company as he tends to become philosophical during our time together.He said when "when I'm President I'm going to turn this world around!" I said I thought you wanted to be a firefighter. Well I do and I want to be like Indiana Jones. Maybe I can be President after that! he responded. Well I reckon that having to get out of the predicaments Dr. Jones gets into is pretty good experience in life. It's a good thing to have to use your brain to figure things out.
He was disappointed that Senator McCain lost the election. HE said"McCain looks like a good man."
This is a child who voted for Abe Lincoln in a mock election when he was six. I remember to this day he said "I voted for Abraham Lincoln because he's on the money!"
Out of the mouths of babes!

2008-11-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

We have a new president elect. The people have spoken. It will be exciting to see what happens now. One thing is for certain Obama sure has his work cut out for him.
Yesterday I went to the surgeon at UVA. I'm having knee surgery on December11,2008.. This was the first opening the doctor had available.This will be the first year I won't be able to fix Christmas dinner for my family. That breaks my heart.
We were planning on cutting down on the number of gifts and the amount we spend on Christmas anyway so the fact that I'm off work doesn't bother me that much. We'll be okay as long as the bills are paid.
I have lots of time to make presents. Today when I go to the library I will see if i can find some needlework books to give me some ideas.
I plan on doing some cleaning, some crochet and a little reading. My closet is my project for the day.
Tonight I'm thinking we'll have the rest of the steak, scalloped potatoes and broccoli. There's apple pie for desert.
The sun has come out so I need to get busy. Hope everyone has a great day!

2008-11-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. So much has happened. It's autumn now here in the valley. The trees on the mountain look like a bright puffy patchwork quilt bathed in autumn's golden glow.
I have two new beautiful grand babies and it is so amazing to watch them grow and develop their personalities.
Due to my knee injury I am off work indefinitely. This is going to make things tough around here. It's tax time and it's Christmas time. It's so hard not to worry.
Tomorrow I have to see the orthopedist at UVA. Hopefully they will have a diagnosis for me and I 'll have a timetable to work with.
Tomorrow I will go cast my vote for our next president.No matter who wins this election, they have their work cut out for them. We have so many challenges facing us as a country.
Tomorrow I plan on taking my two older grandsons to the library. The we'll watch The Spiderwick Chronicles. We'll have some lunch and then I'll take them home before I go to the doctor.
Tonight we are having mixed bean soup, cornbread and iced tea for supper. The soup has been simmering in th crock pot all day. It smells wonderful! Hope y'all have a peaceful evening!

Spring!

2008-03-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's the 6th of March! Hopefully the worst of the winter is now behind us. My daffodils and tulips are up and the crocuses are blooming. The seed catalogs are stacked by my chair and I'm thinking fresh spinach, vine ripened tomatoes, Black eyed Susans and pink cone flowers turning their faces to the sun. I see hummingbirds hovering over the roses and the trumpet vine every time I close my eyes.
I've spent this week off from work. Somehow I injured my knee. On Tuesday the doctor recommended a week of rest and prescribed medication to decrease the inflammation. So I'm not amounting to much. I'm not spring cleaning nor getting any of the garden cleaned up.
This weekend we had a casual supper to celebrate the twins 17th birthday. We had a picnic menu-hamburgers, hot dogs,baked beans, mac-n-cheese, cake and ice cream.
I remember the day these two entered this world, They were so tiny and sweet.I remember rocking them nestled against my chest. I remember their sweet smell and soft skin. I will never forget the love and pride on my son's face.
I can't believe how time flies. When I was child the time passed so slowly.
In my last post I wrote about saving money on food. I was reading Meredith's' blog where she was experimenting with a 50s menu. Much to her surprise she could save money and lose weight by planning her meals and cooking from scratch. However it's a lot more work. Funny that Ive been cooking this way since 1972.
I agree we feel more content and crave less sugar when we eat less processed food. High fructose corn syrup is a particularly bad ingredient that causes the body to crave sugar. You would be surprised to how many foods contain this ingredient. It's found in flavored yogurt, cereals, ready to eat frozen foods, cakes, cookies, puddings etc. I believe it's a major contributer to the obesity epidemic in our country.
So for today I'll pay some bills on line, catch up on my email, do some sewing, maybe some crocheting. I have a book I'm reading. Tonight we'll have chicken salads for supper.
I think I will have a great day!

February 1st

2008-02-02T17:17:00.000-05:00

There's a lot of bad news and dire warnings circulating about the economy. No one knows for sure what the future holds. The uncertainty can be frightening.
For many years when my children were small and we had only Danny's one small income, I trusted in the Lord to provide for our needs. The Lord never let me down. No matter what the future holds He is still in charge and He will be with us through it all.
During those years I learned many things from the "teachers" I encountered along the way. I learned how to stretch our grocery budget, how to garden and can the food we raised. I learned how to sew , how to crochet, how to clip and apply coupons for maximum savings, how to shop second hand and how to save. I also learned how to give and how to share.
If you are interested in saving money on food here are some of the little economies I still practice:
Make a list of what you need and stick to it.
Shop for what's in season-example don't buy lettuce in the winter instead buy sweet potatoes cabbage and beets.
Make a price book so you can spot a super deal and know when to stock up
Bake from scratch- I work during the week so I try to bake on the weekends. Sometimes I can squeeze in some cornbread or cobbler in the middle of the week.
Use up what you have. We do "Rubber Chicken"here a couple of times a month. You know first it's roasted chicken, then chicken sandwiches or maybe fajitas, then chicken pot pie then chicken soup if there's any meat left. I always use the carcass to make stock which I keep in the freezer. This same idea can be applied to beef or pork.( I don't make pork stock)
Always no matter how tight your budget have something your husband and babies like to snack on. I always buy Danny a bag of M&Ms. When the kids were home I let them choose 1 treat a piece each week.
You can cut your milk budget in half if you will mix your store bought milk with dry milk. My kids never complained even when the mixture was mostly reconstituted dry milk.
I like to give kids whole fruits rather than juice. I think it's better for them ( more fiber, less sugar) and the bank account. I always limited the juice. I like to get my fruit from the local farmers when I can.
Only use coupons for things you will eat or use. I keep an eagle eye out for coffee, cereal, shampoo-you get the idea.
I hope any one reading this blog will find these ideas helpful. More tips later

Frigid Sunday

2008-01-20T20:48:00.002-05:00

As I write this entry the temperature is hovering at 14 degrees. The high today was 23 degrees.We stayed in and kept warm. I made a big pot of homemade potato soup for lunch. We also enjoyed grill cheese sandwiches and homemade apple pie for dessert.
I am really glad we got our errands done yesterday. We got the car serviced and picked up our groceries.
A few brave souls ventured out to see us. Aunt Kathryn and Hope dropped by.
Daniels' water froze last night and he struggled with that all day.
The weather is supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow and then we should have rain on Tuesday. We'll see. I know for sure I'm going to hate getting out in the cold tomorrow morning to go to work.
I'm reading " Why French Women Don't Get Fat". I must say the book is based on living in moderation. It advocates eating healthy good food in small portions. It also recommends eating at home so as to control both the quality and ingredients. The author also suggests staying away from processed foods. Healthy habits like moderate exercise and drinking water are part of the program. All sounds like good old common sense to me.
I've tried lots of diets and exercise programs. Maybe it's time to try a bit of common sense.

Frigid Sunday

2008-01-20T20:48:00.001-05:00

As I write this entry the temperature is hovering at 14 degrees. The high today was 23 degrees.We stayed in and kept warm. I made a big pot of homemade potato soup for lunch. We also enjoyed grill cheese sandwiches and homemade apple pie for dessert.
I am really glad we got our errands ran yesterday. We got the card serviced and picked up our groceries.
A few brave souls ventured out to see us. Aunt Kathryn and Hope dropped by.
Daniels' water froze last night and he struggled with that all day.
The weather is supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow and then we should have rain on Tuesday. We'll see. I know for sure I'm going to hate getting out in the cold tomorrow morning to go to work.
I'm reading " Why French Women Don't Get Fat". I must say the book is based on living in moderation. It advocates eating healthy good food in small portions. It also recommends eating at home so as to control both the quality and ingredients. The author also suggests staying away from processed foods. Healthy habits like moderate exercise and drinking water are part of the program.
I've tried lots of diets and exercise programs. Maybe it's time to try a bit of common sense.

Monday

2008-01-15T10:39:00.000-05:00

Today as I drove into work I noticed a few snow flakes. I guess we'll have a few flurries today. The snow storm missed us and hit in New England instead.
There were very few people at the plant today.Management gave VTO and neglected to call me. I ended up working on my paperwork and organizing my files today.
My boss came by and offered me VTO for tomorrow so I took it to help him out.
I made a brief stop at the grocery store before heading home. I need to stop for gas but I really hate to pay that price. We try to make as few trips as possible due to the high cost. I live in a small country town so I travel a good distance back and forth to work.
We got a seed savers catalog in the mail today. I can't wait to look at the pictures and check out all the varieties of heirloom seeds. I'm a huge fan of heirloom tomatoes!

Sunday

2008-01-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

No snow! We are disappointed but I reckon we'll survive. The weatherman says there's a good chance of snow tonight.
I hope Dan can rest today . He ended up working a full 8 hours yesterday. Being out in the cold really zaps his energy.
So it's rest and movies and good food today. In addition to the movie I bought yesterday I have "A Night with the King" and "Next" from Netflix. I'm looking forward to watching them.

Saturday

2008-01-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

It's the weekend and it's calling for snow.Dan and I decided to go grocery shopping just in case.
Seems like everyone else had the same idea. The store was packed. I wonder why we all get the urge to stock up when we hear bad weathers coming. Does it go back to our caveman ancestors and their survival instincts?
I picked up the movie 3:10 to Yuma while we were out. Dan loves western movies and I had a gift card i needed to use. We'll probably watch it tomorrow.
When we got home Dan had to go to work.I did some cleaning an organizing while he was gone. I decided to make taco soup for supper. It is easy as well as warm and filling on a cold day.
To make the soup I brown lean ground turkey with diced onions and celery that I cooked in a tablespoon of olive oil. Sometimes i throw in a half of green pepper if I have it. When it's nicely cooked I add a packet of taco seasoning. Then I pour 2 cans of rinsed kidney beans, 2 cans of tomatoes with green chilies and a can of diced tomatoes.into a large pot. I can my own tomatoes and I use a pint jar of diced tomatoes. I also add a cup of corn. I use frozen because that's what I have but canned would work as well. I add the meat and simmer for about 30 minutes. I also add a handful of chili powder and cumin. I serve with taco chips and grated Cheese on top. Dan likes to add a few red pepper flakes to his bowl. He really likes it spicy.

january 11, 2008

2008-01-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a wonderful day! The rain is over and the sun is shining. It feels like a spring day. I really can't believe this weather.
I am still under the weather so I've been puttering around the house today
I did clean out the fridge. I probably hate that particular chore most of all. I really feel great when I get it done.
I got two new netflix movies in the mail today. We'll be watching "A Night with the King" and "Next" this weekend.
Also i need to get to work on my ripple afghan. I want to get it finished. We have two new grand babies on the way and I want to get busy making them some blankies. Our youngest daughter is due to deliver the latter partof June and our oldest daughter is due to deliver the first part of August. One is hoping for a girl and the other is hoping for a boy but I know deep down we all are praying for a healthy baby.
I joke that soon I'll have my own baseball team.
We want to start thinking about planting a small garden. Both of us love fresh vegetables. I'm thinking lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pumpkins, green beans and spinach. I want to make a sunny perennial bed on the bank facing south. We don't have a large yard so we will need to plan carefully. I guess I need to go drool over the seed catalogs !

January 10, 2008

2008-01-10T12:11:00.000-05:00

I'm home from work today. I seem to have picked up a stomach bug i didn't want to pass on to anyone else.
It's quiet today . The weather is rather dreary. I did pick up and put away a bit so the house won't become a disaster.
Danny cooked beef in the crock pot yesterday so dinner will be an easy fix. I hope I feel better soon.

January 3

2008-01-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

Well it's back to work and back to normal. We've taken down the tree and put away the presents. We've eaten most of the leftovers.
Now i need to pack away the Santas and the Christmas village. I can't wait to display my new pictures of the grand kids. I may be a bit biased but i think i have the most beautiful grand babies in the world!
I am also cleaning out and purging a bit as i go.I don't like to wait until spring to do everything. I mopped the kitchen floor after I got home today and did some laundry. We had herbed crock pot chicken, noodles and beets for dinner.
Last night I started reading through Jan Karon's Mitford Reader and Kitchen companion.The Mitford series is definitely one of my favorite reads. This book is special because it has the recipes mentioned through out the series inside. I can't wait to try the orange marmalade cake. Maybe I'll be famous.

Sunday December 30

2007-12-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

Today is a very gloomy rainy day. It's a good day to stay in and keep warm. Very early this morning DH went to Walmart to pick up a few groceries.
After breakfast I cleaned our new cabinet and arranged my good dishes inside. Then I made a chicken stew. I got the recipe from watching Ina Garten today. She did hers in a pot pie but I made mine as a stew.
DH and I watched some movies, ate popcorn and spent the rest of the day relaxing. Tomorrow he will go into work and I hope the weather holds so I can take Mom to the DMV.

Saturday December 29

2007-12-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

`Today is a beautiful almost spring like day here in the valley.It's hard to believe this is the end if December. This morning Danny went to have breakfast with his mom and dad.This is something he does every Saturday weather permitting.
Aunt Kathryn came up to get a recipe from the food network site. She wants to make pecan bars. I was able to get her a Barefoot Contessa recipe.
Dan and I have been looking for a corner cabinet for several months now. We have been to second hand and retail outlets. We have been to several flea markets trying to find a cabinet we could afford.
Today we went to the Edinburgh Flea market and guess what? We found a pine corner cabinet painted white with glass paned upper doors. They were asking $325 but we were able to buy it for $275 plus tax.
Our son came up and helped to carry it into the house. Tomorrow I plan to wash it up really well and then place my Wedgwood crystal and my green ware inside.

Friday December 28

2007-12-30T22:20:00.000-05:00

Today Danny and I went to visit my mom and my sister,. They didn't get to visit us for Christmas and I wanted to take them their presents.
Donna (my sister) really loved her fleece jacket. I gave my mom a fleece jacket and a foot pampering gift set. Sammy (my nephew) got picture frames and a DVD. I gave his new wife Alva a soft crimson scarf and matching gloves.
They gave us two new DVDs and some candy. i also got new pj's and a sweater. We were all very spoiled!

The Day after Christmas

2007-12-26T15:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas. Our entire family came home for Christmas except for Joy. She was busy doing the in-law thing.
What a time we had! We enjoyed delicious food and fun memories. We opened our gifts to one another . I will never forget 5yo Sam holding up his gift card and exclaiming "I got a credit card! I got a credit card!"We all laughed at that one.
Among other great things my favorite presents are the card Daniel gave me, the book Jeremy gave me and my most favorite present of all is the beautiful journey necklace my sweetie gave me.
We still have to go to moms and joy's family will share this evening with us.
Today I'm resting, doing a few chores and counting my blessings! We will have leftovers for dinner. This is an easy day almost anticlimactic after yesterday.
I love the peace and quiet. I wish it would snow.

Christmas Eve

2007-12-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

Today I made the final preparations for our family Christmas. I blessed the house early this morning. Also put the final touches on the decorating.
I made three pies and baked a Smithfield ham. The house smells wonderful. I also want to prep the sweet potatoes for tomorrow, Theres dip and jello salad and cole slaw. We are supposed to be at Pats at 5 Pm for dinner and to exchange presents.
Danny is not home yet. I hope we can make it on time. I need to fix up their Christmas cards. I didn't mail any cards this year due to the high cost of postage.

2007-12-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

Today is the winter solstice. This is the longest day of the year, It's a damp gloomy day in the valley. I'm busy wrapping presents and trying to keep up with the laundry and the daily tasks. I'm off from work on VTO until the first of the year.
Danny's Aunt Kathryn came by and left a some gifts for the kids. She is such a sweetie. I showed her the pretty doll I bought Kathleen for Christmas and the dress I pocked up at goodwill.
I thought I was going to have issues with the doll. last Sunday I found out I had the wrong one. I called American Girl and they shipped me another one fast!
I want to make some cookies and just relax and enjoy the unspeakable beauty that is Christmas.I want to try in my small mind to imagine a love that would change the world, a miracle come to save us from ourselves.
I want to forget the hustle and bustle of the world and bask in the light of Gods wondrous gracThank you Lord for this gift we call Christmas.

December 14,2007

2007-12-14T20:45:00.000-05:00

Today Danny and I went out to lunch . Then we did a lot of Christmas shopping. We went to Target, K mart and Penney.
I was able to wipe out a lot of my Christmas list Now I need to get the wrapping done. Every year Danny wants me to wrap presents in newspaper with red ribbons. This is the year he gets his wish!
There is a great radio station playing nice Christmas music. We're supposed to get some snow tomorrow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Tomorrow night at 9 PM the new Love Comes Softly movie premieres. I can't wait!

December 10, 2007

2007-12-14T20:39:00.000-05:00

Tonight we went to the boys school Christmas program. It was so cute. Chris kept time to the music by nodding his head and really singing out. When it came time for Tristin's solo with Emily his face was red as a beet! He sang the English Wassail carol.

October day

2007-10-11T15:34:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful Fall day! The heat here in the valley has lessened. There's a little nip in the air It's a nice change.
Today I caught up with the laundry. I also got my hair done and did part of my house blessing. I still have to water the outside plants and make dinner.
Tomorrow DH has a procedure at the hospital so I want to have a light supper this evening. Then I want to work on the afghan I'm making our DD for Christmas
DS came by this morning and left me some pictures of our two grandsons. How time flies! It seems like only yesterday I was holding them in my arms singing lullabies.
We are so blessed with our families. Yet so much of the time we take them for granted. When the children are small we have to take time to care for them and our home. Time spent just being with them is so limited. We think we'll catch up but you can't. Once that day is gone you can never get it back
Now I have learned to treasure every minute! I guess we get wisdom with age.