The Needle in a Haystack

Happy New Year!!!

Nighttime Web BROLL Vignette 2008-XMAS 2008-Vidego-1

Nighttime Web BROLL Vignette 2008-XMAS 2008-Vidego-1.


We've been celebrating the Christ season with family, friends, and a bit of travel....If you have never been to Biltmore in Asheville , NC I suggest you had it to the bucket list.  The candlelight was breath taking!


Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

...and have a fine day ..all day long

Rustic Cabbage Soup

I do believe my body is in sugar overload!  Chris and I both decided we needed something healthy and hardy  for dinner . 

 Scrounging the fridge today we had a kielbasa, cabbage, carrots.... int eh pantry was chicken stock...

We decided a nice Rustic Cabbage Soup would hit the spot.....and that it did!

RUSTIC CABBAGE SOUP

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
a big pinch of salt
1/2 pound potatoes, skin on, cut 1/4-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
5 cups stock (see head notes)
1 1/2 cups white beans, precooked or canned (drained & rinsed well)
1/2 medium cabbage, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch ribbons

1 keilbasa

soften potatoes and onions in olive oil, add chicken stock,garlic & keilbasa , beans and cabbage... allow to simmer until cabbage is cooked... grated parmesan is good on top!

....and how about a few Christmas pics....

our family played Bingo for White elephant gifts this year... we had a blast...

Jamie and Emily hosted the family Christmas this year and did a great job with food and fun!

Emily made this cute little tree cheese ball... Delicious!

Chris gave the family Christmas sermon  on families.... not just our earthly family... but our spiritual family

For rwhoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

  have a fine day......all day long!

 

 

Dec. 22nd Christmas

.. So tonight was the night we celebrated Christmas with Taylor and Kristy.. We had so much fun

  Normally I would have attempted a big meal with tons of goodies, but I knew that after working all day at the shoppe I wouldn't feel like coming home to cook.

  Chris and I decided a menu of take out pizza, cookies ( made by Kristy), popcorn and IBC root beer out of the bottle would be a special treat... and it was. Taylor LOVED the fact that his soda came in a bottle and the pizza and popcorn were just right for snuggling on the sofa to watch   A Claymation Christmas and How the Grinch Stoled Christmas

  I am so glad we decided to keep things simple and just enjoy our time together.

I got an awesome Vera Bradley Kindle Fire case ( What?????? I didn't mention Josh bought me a KIndle Fire for Christmas.... well, yes indeedy he did!!), Daddy Chris got Chuck Norris appreal  and his own Chuck Norris id card ( a running joke in our family), Taylor used his own money and bought a nice fleecey throw for me

 I made both Kristy and Taylor  afchans this year... and yes, Taylors was the infamous spiderman ROund Ripple

 Taylor also recieved a flying helicopter,  some legos ( that Uncle Chris promptly helped him with), and guitar lessons in 2012 from Daddy Chris.

 Kristy recieved an LED headlamp from us for her exploring meetups.. and a pair of fingerless gloves.  She was more then surprised at the jewlery set she had been eyeing  for quite some time .

 Kristana ( Christopher's girlfriend from Washington State) and Christopher bot recieved jammies... pictures to follow.

    Josh popped in to pick up his Christmas cookies... and a bit of time was spent getting him out of the ditch, but besides some ruts that might require a bit of attention the evening was perfect,

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6   

   and of course we spent time remembering the greatest of Gifts.....................Jesus..

and have a fine day... all day long!

Tamale Traditions

In a corner of our market there is a wonderful Hispanic family that sells fruits, vegetables and other products for the local Hispanic community.  I love shopping there! Many times I will try new fruits and veggies and am in awe of preparations and products.

...This past weekend as we enjoyed the holiday festivites at the market they graciously shared their Christmas tradition with us........... handmade tamales!  I have ordered tamales at the local Mexican resturant but let me tell you, they barely compare to these handmade treats made for us.

  Each bundle contained cheese, pork or chicken with a VERY hot pepper contained in a corn meal pouch... There were red and green ones... with a salsa or a mole sauce.   Delicious! 

  The second traditions they shared with us was roasted corn on the cob spread with mayo, sprinkled with chese & chili powder.....

  I must confess I prefered the tamales... but what a blessing to be able to experience first hand a tradition from another culture... Thank you so much!

  I read up on the tradition of the tamales HERE .

and here is an article on how to make tamales.

 

Tomorrow begins our 7 days of festivites. Except for a tad bit of cooking and wrapping I do believe we have nothing to do but enjoy.....

               what traditions do you have for the holidays?

The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine

I have been reading Money saving Mom for some time now and was more then honored to review Crystal's upcoming book for her.

  I must say it was a very easy to read informative book with several catagories of easy to apply principles.

   One of the main objectives for me reviewing hte book was to find an "all in one" type book to give my son's future wives, my dauther , and daughter in law. I was not disappointed.

    Crystal's book tells of her early days of marriage when her husband was in college and the "team work" they applied to graduate debt free.  There are menu tips, orgainizational tips, work sheets , and the grand finale of encouragement of paying cash for their first home. I think every young lady should include this book in their pre marital reads. I know this will be one of my favorite wedding shower gifts not just for our own family but other young ladies as well.

  Not that its for just the young folks!  I too have benefitted so much from what Crystal calls the Drug Store Game .  There is a chapter that spells out how to clip the coupons and work the sells so you never have to pay for toilitries again!  I know I started doing this three years ago and have a nice stock pile of essentials to use and share that didn't cost a dime except for my initial investment.

.....Can I encourage you to add The Money Saving Mom's Budget to your 2012 reading list.  You will not be disappointed!  As a bonus, all the profits from the book will go to Compassion International, a charity near and dear to Crystal and Jesse heart.

 You can pre order Crystal's book   By clicking Here, at Amazon.com.

 

Proverbs 1:7 Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of knowledge.  Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice.

   And have a fine day....all day long!

Christmas Crack and White Trash

 2 more stockings on the hooks and a bit more baking  and I do believe except for all the family time I do think we are finished. We have kept things rather simple around here... just the way I like it...

  Last Wednesday we attended Taylor's Christmas play at First Presbyterian.   Our Little Shepherd took his part very seriously:

  Christopher's friend Kristy arrived from Washington State and we had some time to whip up a few treats for our Service of Lessons and Carols tomorrow morning at Vendor Church.  These recipes are both so easy I thought I would share:

 

Saltine Toffee aka Christmas Crack

4 ounces saltine crackers (1 sleeve)
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4- 1 cup dark brown sugar
12 oz (or 2 cups) chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a 15×10 by 1-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Line pan with single layer of saltine crackers.

In a saucepan, combine the butter and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high and boil for 3 minutes without stirring. Immediately pour over saltines to cover crackers completely.

Bake for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before spreading melted chocolate evenly across crackers. Top with chopped nuts.

Cool completely and break into pieces.

White Trash

Ingredients

• 3 cups Rice Chex
• 3 cups Corn Chex
• 2 cups Cheerios
• 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 2 cups small pretzels or sticks
• 16 ounces plain M&M's
• 1 1/2 pounds white chocolate almond bark

Instructions

1. Combine Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Cheerios, peanuts, pretzels, and M&M's in a large plastic bowl. Mix to combine.
2. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, according to the package directions.  Pour the melted chocolate over the dry ingredients. Mix well, making sure all pieces are coated.
3. Cover a cookie sheet in wax paper and spread the mixture onto the sheet. Smooth it out with a spoon or spatula. Let sit for 30 to 45 minutes, or until chocolate is dry.
4. Break apart and put into tins or containers.

 

Both would make wonderful Christmas gifts and just take minutes to make.

 

This time of year Orion sits right over the house. On clear nights like tonight we bundle up and step outside to have a good look at him and his dipper neighbors... It always humbles and awes us.

  It is so heart warming to know that Job looked at the same constellation and drew strength in the midst of trouble  from THE Creator

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. Job 9:9

Job knew..... we know..

............and have a fine day....all day long!

Mary Did.... How about you?

Still Elfing/2012 book list

 But I am on the hoem stretch now... I can't ever remember being done this far ahead... Usually I am crocheting or stitching well past midnight on Christmas Eve.

  Last night was family dinner night and we put up the tree. Taylor and Kristy came to help and we made ornaments... the attention span of a 6 yo this close to Christmas..... not the greatest... but I must say buttons strung on wire are quite nice... Pictures tomorrow hopefully.

  We put up another small tree this year instead of the big one. We actually have two trees to do this year, one at the shoppe and one here.. both are just right in my book!

  I just finished Crystal's new book @ Money Saving MOm and will have the review up on Monday. I really enjoyed it.

  Chris had permission to do a ride along with Josh... He loved it! I would be a nervous wreck I do believe... I had a whole day to stitch and hook...

I have decided enough is enough and I will FINALLY finish up my Book Across the States Challenge...its been how many years now?? 3? 4?

So, without further ado... before I read ANOTHER thing...

Here's the list:

1. Morning Gloria ( Texas)

2. New Hampshire colony

3. Her Mother's Bible

4. Suzannah Spurgeon

5. Heaven ( VC Andrews, W.VA)

6. Mystick Moon ( Terry White: Conn.)

7. One for the Money ( Janet Evanovich: NJ)

8. Tennesse weddings Heartsong

9. Wisconson Weddings

  The Rocky Road Collection ( Missouri

1. 1. The 101 Ranch ( Oaklahoma)

   2. Little House on the Prairie Books (SD)

   3. My Anotnia Willa Cather (NE)

   4. Wyoming ( Zane Grey )

   5. The Empty Land ( L'Amour) Utah

   6. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ( NV)

   7. The Girl Who Chased away Sorrow ( NM)

OK, so the transfer from WORD didn't go smoothly, but you get the idea... I WILL finish this project..

  Our news was just filled with bad things today. The Virginia Tech thing, a deputy killed on duty a few counties away, someone open fired in a grocery store near by...

  It's good to remember Psalm 9:9

The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a [refuge] in times of trouble.

Remember the Lord..........and ahve a fine day...all day long!

Elf Mode

I am in FULL elf mode arounf here... so many wonderful Christmas things to do.... I PROMISE I will get a post up in the next day or two.... maybe tonight....

 

  Hands to work... heart to God,

Lea