Blogmas Day #21

 I was up early this morning and I spent time getting things back in order.  The Christmas wrapping supplies got put away.  I loaded and ran the dishwasher and washed up the rest.  I kitted up my socks for Christmas Eve and also my Chicken Joy for Christmas day.  I made a small menu and grocery list and then went to Walmart.

  I got ingredients for Zuppa Toscana for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It's a copycat recipe from Olive Garden.  It is scrumptious!  I'll make some homemade crusty bread to go with it.  I also have my wine salami and shrimp for shrimp cocktail and there will be Christmas cookies for dessert.  I got a few supplies for those. I also got Eggnog and some spiced rum to put in it.  I like mine warmed up.

Tonight I'm cooking up some rice and green beans to go with my leftover Curried Coconut Chicken....really good if you like curry and coconut.
Last night Amy received a shawl/scarf I made her and the hint she gave me was "Oolong, Jasmine, Green" and it was a red clover tea and honey lotion bar.  It smells divine!

Your Christmas Tidbits for today are..........

In case you don't have a diffuser or essential oils and still want that Christmas smell in your house........here's how you do it!

This recipe looks good!  I love Brussel sprouts and any vegetable roasted............

Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #20

I got to Mountain Home and back safe and sound.  It got quite foggy as I got closer to Mountain Home but not as bad as it could have been!  The labs got taken and I saw the doc and evidently, my upper number bp has gotten higher so he's increased my bp medicine.  I did take Jim's things (not all of it) to the Salvation Army and then stopped in their store.

 A bag of thread and machine sewing needles........

 Some scissors that cut different designs on the edges of cards etc...............

 a couple apron patterns................

 A book by an author I like...............

 and a Christmas mug for me!

 Then I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a few items for a Christmas shadowbox I want to make.......I have the shadow box and some Christmas scrapbook paper.  I just needed some miniatures....I hope these will do.

I also got 1 skein of cotton yarn.......
                               

I think I spent less than $10 at the Salvation Army store and Hobby Lobby........that did not hold true for the grocery store though................I bought a few things from their deli.........items I cannot get around here like prosciutto (Italian ham), fresh grated parmesan, wine infused salami, brie, fresh salsa and bagel crisps.  Some of this will be for Christmas munching...........

That was my trip to the big city!  Oh, I was starving so I stopped at Sonic on the way home.  Also, I had the Starbucks  Creme Brule' Espresso Latte...big disappointment!  Tasted more like hot milk with a little sugar....do not waste your money on that one!  I'm pretty sure whoever wrote the recipe for it has never had a real Creme Brule'.  I have had the Peppermint Mocha before and it is good and the girls at the counter said their favorite was the White Chocolate and Toasted Almond.
Our Advent Gift for yesterday was foaming Lemon soap for Amy and her hint to me was "Captain Morgan" and it was a really great smelling butter rum candle.  I want to eat it, it smells so good!

 Here are your Christmas Tidbits for today!

Great gift if you're down to the wire.....unfortunately you have to order the bags from Current......sorry...I didn't know.  I'm sure you could improvise.  I liked the way they wrapped the dollar bills individually.

The Easiest Slow Cooker Christmas Ham.....they had me at the word "easy"!  Here's the recipe

That's all for today folks!  I'm bushed and heading to veggie land!  (pj's, bed and t.v.!)

Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #19

I just realized I have not been showing you my Advent gifts for the last 2 days!  I guess my mind was too cluttered.  Tomorrow I go to Mountain Home for lab work and doctor visit and then I am home free to relax and get ready for my Christmas which is making out cards, baking Christmas cookies and getting my menu and groceries for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I'm getting excited!
I did pack up a bunch of Jim's clothes to take to the Salvation Army tomorrow while I'm up in Mountain Home and that brought a few tears but for the most part I do pretty well.  I know for sure Jim would not want me to be sad but sometimes I just can't help it.
The last batch of kale chips I made last night that I didn't 'wash' turned out the best.
I got my last present wrapped and to the post office this morning so that's all done!  I found out today that my postman that dresses up as Santa every year is recovering from knee surgery and won't be here on Christmas Eve.   There's going to be some disappointed youngsters and a few oldsters too!  I'll have to get a card to him and some Christmas goodies which he always appreciated.
 This is what I got for Advent Day #17..........the hint was "what does the fox say?" it looks like fun if I can maneuver my old joints to do that tiny work....maybe I'll get the tweezers out to help me! LOL!  They're beautiful pictures.  I got something similar for the grands a few years ago.

  Yesterday was Day #18 and I received this yummy smelling bar of organic handmade soap...the hint was "all-natural"

After I post this I am taking a bath and getting ready for bed!  I won't go to sleep but I'll be all set for tomorrow morning and I need to go over the Hobby Lobby flier and I have my 40% off coupon!   Plus, I have to make sure I don't forget my Starbucks mug and gift card!

I did start the baby blanket for my pharmacist.  I was going to order organic yarn but it would have cost about $50 so I found 3 big skeins of off white wool-ease from Lion Brand that I had and I'm using it instead.  I'm using a pattern from Alicia Paulson called Tiramasu.  I made the beginning chain longer than they recommended and it still looks awfully tiny.  Maybe I've forgotten how tiny babies are? LOL!

 This is my Grace girl...I guess getting ready for Christmas can be really exhausting for cats!

That's all for today..........here are your Christmas Tidbits...... 

You know how I love lights!  I have a colander just like that too!

Here is the link
on how to make old fashioned hard candy for the holidays or whenever..........lollipops too..........

Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #18

Today was a great day.  One of those days where you feel like you're catching up a bit!  I'm sure it won't last but it feels good at the moment.  I got lights strung and the ceramic tree set up in the window with its new plastic colored bulbs.  I'll take another picture at night when it really shines!

 My dearly departed Aunt Alice made the tree and the wreath and so much more!

 I put Amy's lights she gave me across the mantel and they're just perfect for that

 Here are some treasures from dear friends and family

 I received this hand-painted card yesterday from Rain.....thank you so much Rain....you are multi-talented my friend and I am blessed to know you and be inspired by all you do!

 There's the card with the mystery family....and Santa too!

I also cleaned litter boxes, filled water bottles, watered the plants and made kale chips...........this is prior to baking............

After baking..........

There are a few things I would do differently.....a very single layer, no washing prior to baking.  Mine were organic so how bad could they be if I didn't wash them?  They were too wet and had to be baked and re-baked to get them finished.  They are tasty but be careful not to add too much salt.  I have one more batch to make and I'm not going to wash them and see if that helps plus I'll spread them out really thin....I'll report back!  I got a big bag that was already cut up so there was none of that to do.  I don't think they will fill you up very much if you are a really hungry snacker...they're like eating air! But healthy air! LOL!
Here are your Christmas Tidbits for today.....

 These are cute, easy and I have no doubt they are delicious.....it's cheescake!  Here's the recipe

 I hate to cut up my Christmas cards as I don't get that many but maybe the after Christmas sale?  I think these little houses are so cute!  There were no directions but how hard can it be?  I think I need lots of glitter though!

I hope you had a great day!  UPS just delivered my last Christmas present to be wrapped and mailed out!  Yippee!  Have a nice evening!
Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #17

Well, remember how I wanted to go to the post office yesterday to mail some presents?  Well, I didn't because of the dicey road conditions but today was sunny and supposed to get into the 50's so off I went!  Until I tried to start my car and there was nothing but a ticking noise.  So, I went in and called B&J's and they said they'd be out.  I waited and called back...they forgot and then came out.  They gave me a charge so I could get it to the shop.  They gave me a new battery, checked oil, tires, needed oil and antifreeze all to the tune of $200......didn't I just spend $800 on my car this past summer?  Why is it when I think I can finally breathe a little financially.....something happens that takes my breath away!
I know, it could be worse.....so after that, there was still time to make it to the post office and I got the presents off in the mail!  Whew!  When I got home there was a package for me!  My yarn swift for $20.  Best deal of the year!

and the bulbs for my Christmas tree!

All's well that ends well!
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 Has this ever happened to you?  I received a beautiful Christmas card from a young family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where my daughter lives and where I stayed this past summer while my son was in the hospital.  Lovely photograph of their family with 3 daughters and it was addressed to me so I thought it must have been one of Amy's friends that stopped by her house while I was there.  I asked Amy and she said she had no idea who they were.  I don't have any idea either!  It's driving me bonkers!  Do I send them a card back and ask them politely how I know them?  It's crazy and they look like such a nice family.
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Last night Amy got the 2 magnetic memo pads from me and her hint to me was "Sugar, oh honey, honey"  and it was this cute little guy filled with Iowa farm-grown honey in the tiniest little honey bear I've ever seen!

Here are your Christmas Tidbits for today..............

What an adorable snowman...............this was $18 on Etsy or you could make it yourself....it doesn't seem too complicated..........

This looks tasty AND festive!  The recipe is here

That's all for today!  I hope you had a good one and I hope it didn't cost you $200! LOL!  Unless you bought something really nice for someone you love or yourself who you should also love.  Have a great and cozy evening!
Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #16

Back to the work week!  Even though I'm retired I try to keep to a schedule of weekends off and work during the week.  When you work out of your home you have to force yourself to relax as there is always something to do!  I had the packages all ready to take to the post office today but woke up to winter weather advisories.  It was raining and the temperature was hovering near freezing.  The post office is in the next town and there is a bridge that I have to go over that crosses the Strawberry River so..........I decided I would stay home.  I don't believe in taking unnecessary risks.  There's always tomorrow.  I was going to make parmesan chicken for supper but I had no parmesan so I went looking on All Recipes for another recipe.  I love that you can plug in the ingredient(s) you have and it will show you appropriate recipes.  I found one for which I had all the ingredients; Curried Coconut Chicken which is cooking while I type.  Yes, I had coconut milk and all the other ingredients....amazing!  No parmesan cheese but I had coconut milk....go figure! LOL!  It smells really good and I love curry.

 I still need to make a vegetable and some rice.
Yesterday the Advent gift I gave Amy was dishcloths, scrubbies and a pot handle cover.  Her hint was "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and it was these tiny twinkle battery operated lights!  Amy knows I can always use lights!  I'm going to string them on my tree....I think or across my mantle.  The light is really bad today with the rain.....it's very dark out.

 

Here are your Christmas Tidbits for today........... 

 

This is another cute craft I'd like to make.....who thinks of these things?  There are so many really creative makers out there!

 This looks refreshing for Christmas morning!

I hope you are off to a good start this week!  

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #24

I don't have much this week as the focus has been finishing these ornaments and getting everything wrapped and in the mail!  But I am so pleased with the ornaments and how they turned out.  I amazed myself!  But I must admit, Lori Holt gave very good directions in her YouTube tutorial.  First I made little pillows to go inside the ornaments and then made the ornament and the backing fabric into an envelope style pillow cover.  I had the ribbon and the material for the pillows was some old pajama material I had cut up and saved.

  You really can't see them too well.  I guess I should have taken a close up shot of one of them...they have pretty blue eyes and the names of the grandboys are stitched along with the year.

Here are the backs of the ornaments.  I got some fat quarters at Walmart in Christmas fabric.  I did make a 4th one for me and it is already on the tree!

The advent gift from yesterday for Amy was 2 Christmas scented sachets and the hint she gave me was "Pumpkin Spice, Creme Brulee, and Caramel Apple" which I could not guess...........
it was this............a reusable Starbuck's coffee cup with a $15 gift card to Starbuck's!  Oh baby, oh baby!  I'll be using that this coming week when I go to Mountain Home for sure!  Thank you so much Sweetie!

 
Now for your Christmas Tidbits for today.............

 These look yummy and fun to make...............the recipe is here

 I've seen these before and again...something I would like to make.........here are the directions

This was a good week and I feel like I will be able to sit back and enjoy my Christmas.  I'm doing well on the grief side of things......but today would have been my son's 39th birthday.  Next week I'll be going to Mountain Home and taking many of his things to the Salvation Army.  It is amazing how life goes on.  I have my moments but they don't last as long as they did at first. God has blessed me with a strength, a faith and a friendship that continually lifts me up. Thank you all for your continued prayers for me and my family.  BTW, my SIL is doing well and is already getting physical therapy.
Blessings to all of you at this special time of year!
Happy Trails!!!