Happy New Year

May the New Year be good to you!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

This little video says it very well. Have a great and safe day with family and friends.

Thanksgiving 2010

The Living Room crowd

We hard a marvelous day yesterday and sure we had plenty to eat.  We decided to do Thanksgiving here at my house instead of my Sister-in-Law, Judy's home.  Of the possible 40 guest I could have had I had 18.  Those that couldn't come because of other commitments and sickness where missed by the rest of us.

We pull out of the gargage two banquet tables to fit everyone at a table.  I only purchased one paper table cloth that my Mr. B. thought was less than ideal.  He thought they should be all cloth, funny guy!  I might have to find some fall fabric on sale and make another one. 


Dinning room group



My plan was to take photos as everyone came in, but their hands were all full of food, so I cancelled that idea. I don't like to stop visiting to take pictures but if you don't stop you don't have pictures.  So I stopped eating to take a few shots.  The first shot of the living room crowd they all hide their faces.  I didn't make them post nice, but I didn't want them hiding either.  I should have taken this one from a different angel so I could have Kierra our daughter in the photo.   



The Man Cave group



We even pressed the man cave into service and had a table there.   Isn't our great niece a little cutie, and holding her own with all those boys.  I think the paper cloth looks just fine.  We borrowed the folding chairs from church in case you are wondering do I really have that many chairs.  

Everyone had a nice time, but couldn't stay long to visit since they all had other dinners and families to visit.  That is why we eat at 1230. 

Click Here and Here to read about my memories from Thanksgiving past. 

Christmas Day 2009

Krystal was surprised by her Blue Horse and liked it. Exact quote, "It's cool". We hung it over her computer area so she can enjoy it. It must be hard for her not to be in her own home but some day they will be again. We had a humble Christmas this year and Richard was still not feeling very good. He asked me not to post his picture of him passing out the gifts. So I won't even though I did it last year. He doesnt look any different. I also think he is majorly disappointed because he had four days off and he was hoping to work on his Man Cave and wasn't able to. He is feeling better today and is off buy wood now to work on it.


I was very surprised by this darling gift ornament set I received from my good friend Karin in Buffalo, NY. It is a Cherished Friend Angle with a Noel Dove. The Angle is lovely.


So here is the French Toast Casserole, or what is left of it this morning. I forgot to take a picture yesterday. It was good and liked by all. I liked it a lot but I missed my egg casserole. With only 5 of us here for Christmas Breakfast two casseroles would have been too much. I think next year I'll half both recipes and have both.

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Hawaiian Bread (large loaf)
8 oz. cream cheese
2½ cups milk or half and half (I used H&H)
¼ cup maple syrup
8 eggs
6 T melted butter
13 X 9 greased baking dish

Cut bread loaf in half. Cut one half into cubes leaving the other half aside. Place cubes into greased casserole dish.

Cube cream cheese and place on top of bread in casserole dish. Cube remaining bread and place on top of this.

Beat eggs, melted butter, milk and maple syrup in blender or with whisk. Pour on top of casserole ingredients. Smooth down with spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator overnight.

Next AM remove plastic wrap. Bake casserole at 325 degrees for 35-45 minutes until top is golden brown. Serve with warmed maple syrup.

I couldn't find the bread this year and I used rolls and they worked fine. I also cooked for an extra 10 minutes, until no soggy bread was left. We had bacon and sausage with it. It was very good.

After breakfast and gifts the kids scattered to see their mother and Krystal's family. Richard spent the day resting and watching a Bones Marathon. I spent the day making another mini quilt, it only needs four more whiskers embroidered on and it will be done. I had a goal to finish it last night but I just was too tired by 10 PM to finish it. I'll post a picture when it is finished. It is turning out very nice.

Christmas Eve 2009

Richard & I had a quiet day at the house. My poor honey is feeling under the weather again, so he slept most of the day. I went grocery shopping to buy the last few items I needed for tomorrows Christmas Brunch. I spent the day doing the hand embroidery on my last Monthly Mini. I have been working on these for two years. At 11:20 I put the last stitch in the binding & took the pictures. Yes they are all done!!!


One of my friends asked me to take a picture of all of them, so Kathy here is the pictures. Count them, there are 12!!


I also spent time wrapping the Christmas gifts. In the evening we went to Richard's sister house for Christmas Eve dinner and to watch Tom play Santa to the the grand kids and great grand kids. This is one of the three pictures I took tonight. This is my great niece and her husband and baby James who is 1 month old. Aren't they a cute little family.
About nine I made the breakfast casserole and put it in the refrigerator. In the morning all I have to do it pop it in the oven. It is a stuffed French Toast recipe. I had it last an at a pop luck breakfast. It sure tasted good and my co-worker shared the recipe. If it turns out as good as I remember tomorrow, I'll post it here.
Well I need to go to bed. Good Night all and a Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Has Started

Tonight we had dinner with Kierra and her husband, their first Christmas in their home. They are both working on Christmas & Will works tomorrow. So she had us over for dinner tonight. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and salad. The best was cheese cake for desert. They didn't have a tree because of their puppy (a doberman), so we piled our gifts on the coffee table and watched them open each one. Will's parents were also present and took this picture of all of us. Left to right: Richard, Kierra, Will, Kinsen and me.

Twice this afternoon before we drove over there, I reminded myself to bring my camera and twice I didn't get up and put it in my purse. The third time I remembered we were in the car driving to Kierra's house. So these pictures are taken with my phone, so they aren't very good, but they are better than nothing.



Kierra is kind of fun to buy gifts for, I just get her anything Halloween and she is happy. She loved these See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil skeletons I purchased for her. She also liked the spider web table cloth and the skull cups. But these were her favorite. She also liked the Will & Kierra's First Christmas 2009 ornament I got for them. She wasn't sure she wanted it because they weren't going to have a tree, after she saw it she like it a bunch. Will was a little confused when he opened the plastic box with the stuff to make his stockings. It had the fabric, the embroidery thread and even my magnet board I use to hold the pattern on. He said, "I guess this needs to go back home with you". Later he said good by to the "Temporary Stocking".

It was a nice evening.

Have a Merry Christmas!!

Holiday Recipe Hot Buttered Wassail

I posted about this last December, click here for the recipe.

Today I'm just doing pictures. In the pot starting to get hot. I only use 4 quarts of water when I cook it because this is my biggest pot and it is full.


Just before it went in my tummy, it was yummy.

Here it is ready to gift give. Maybe add a bow on top. For small families I add the water to make it ready to server. For large families I leave it double strength and tell them to dilute it 1 : 1 before warming. I also write a note on the top so my crew here knows to dilute it first. Two of those jars are diluted and the others aren't. So you can see how much it makes.
Be sure to stir every time you dish it out so the cloves don't settle on the bottom.
Enjoy!!

Holiday Recipe Apples Cranberries and Yams

Here is the last of my Holiday Recipes before it is baked.

This one I learned about when I was on the Dear Jane Quilt list in 2001. Andrea is the owner of the recipe and she shared it with the list. I'm no longer on the list and my Dear Jane is still not finished. I really like this one and I'm very glad I don't have a lot of competition for it, only Richard and I eat it. The kids don't but Krystal did try it this Thanksgiving.

Apples, Cranberries and Yams
4 Cups of fresh yams sliced thin and peeled
3 Cups of apples, Granny Smith are the best
1 Cup of fresh cranberries
1/4 Cup of granulated sugar
1/2 Cup of dark brown sugar
1 stick of butter
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 Cup of walnuts or pecans

Toss sugars and spices add the apples. Take 1/2 yams, place in a baking dish (9" X 13"). Put half of the apple mixture and half of the cranberries in the pan. Cut half of the butter in slices on top of the layer. Repeat. Sprinkle with the nuts.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until tender.

You can cut the sugar and the butter and it still taste great.


Here it is after it was baked, I forgot the nuts when I first placed in the oven and add them for the last 5 minutes. They are better if added at the beginning. I don't think I should get a job as a food photographer.

Holiday Recipe Cranberry Mousse

This recipe was a favorite of my friend Roise, I ate it at her house for many a Thanksgiving and Christmas starting in 1985. Rosie was a single mom and I was a single gal when we meet. All her kids call me Aunt Mary and her home was always just like home to me. The kids can tell you stories of me falling asleep on the couch and snoring. We both found good men to marry and we still stay in touch. I just don't see her for Holidays any more. About 2005 she moved out of the Valley of the Sun up to Pine Top.
This year I finally asked her for the recipe and made it. It is very good. Roise has more style then I so she chilled it in a jello mold and turn it out unto a plate and it looks lovely. I don't have a jello mold, so I just severed it in one of my glass baking dishes. Yes I had already sampled it before I severed dinner. It is that good.

Ingredients
1 package (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple
1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 medium granny smith apple diced (I left the peel on)

Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Drain pineapple, setting the pineapple aside and adding juice to gelatin. Stir in cranberry sauce, lemon juice, peel and nutmeg. Chill until mixture thickens. Fold in sour cream, pineapple, apple and pecans. Pour into a glass serving bowl or an oiled 9-cup mold. Chill until set, at least 2 hours. Yield: 16-20 servings.

I made mine the day before.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a year ago Thanksgiving that I started my blog. It has been a fun year in blogville, I have meet new people and made some new friends. I have also connect with established friends, does that sound better than old friends? Seen some wonderful blogs with beautiful quilts and great stories about live, love and living to the best of our abilities. As well as living with the things live gives us.
When I think of the things I'm grateful for the list hasn't changed.
Here it is:
There is much to be thankful for we are truly blessed. We are all healthy, all working, and all happy. We have good jobs that we like. We have a lovely home in a good neighborhood. We have good friends and good relationships within our family. We have hobbies we enjoy to enrich others. Most important we have a sure knowledge of the Lord’s Plan of Salvation, of His divinity. The sweet whispering of the Holy Spirit tells us this daily. My heart is full of gratitude. Plus this year I can add a daughter has been married and is happy. My son & his wife came to live with us which has been hard but good because I have gotten to know my daughter in law better.

So to all of you I wish a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just so you know!

It is 2 months to Christmas!!!
I'm at work and it is going well I just took a few minutes to check my favorite blogs!
Back to work now.

Christmas Day!

I forgot to wrap Richard's big gift and he forgot mine. We both had a good laught over the forgotten gifts.

My camera date was off!

Christmas Eve Pictures