Reason for the Season

I started to post this a few weeks ago but decided it was way too sappy! Just decided tonight to go ahead anyway after I saw Jen's nativity on her blog.

Mother bought me the blue creche at an art festival the first Christmas in our other house. The lady that painted it was handicapped and couldn't walk but did this beautiful ceramic work. The detail is just amazing. Their faces look so holy! Phyllis bought the Fontanini one for us about the same time. They are permanent fixtures in my Christmas decorations and seem to be all I really want.

When the children were small I would always try to get the nativity scenes out first before any of the other decorations in hopes to make an impression on them as "the reason for the season". In my hope to make an impression on them I think I was the one that the tradition became a such a time of reflection and love. I always put on my Christmas music and amazingly at just the time I am ready to put it altogether on the shelf, Vince Gill's Breath of Heaven has come on. "Hold me together, be forever near me, Breath of Heaven! Breath of Heaven lighten my darkness, pour over me your holiness for you are holy!" I can't explain the feeling but I know God has spoken to me in those times reminding me that he is all we need to face whatever comes our way and He is the reason for the season!

Okay, so I am looking for something to post that will make us all laugh! I am way too serious!

Merry Christmas!

Vicki's Chicken Riggie's

Last summer when we visited Vicki she served many delicious meals but one which I loved was Chicken Riggie's. I understand they are native to Central New York especially the Utica area. Anyway, I knew my family would love them so instead of making them have turkey and dressing at least twice since they visited both parents, on Friday I fixed the riggie's. They were a hit! The girls wanted me to post the recipe but I failed to remember to photograph my food! Ha! Vicki had the beautiful Gail Pittman Southern Living pasta bowl which made them look great! I just had a flat clear glass bowl which worked okay. A good salad, some french bread and what a meal!

Vicki's Chicken Riggie's

Saute' the following:
1 stick real butter
1 red onion, minced (white is fine)
3 garlic cloves, minced
24 oz jar roasted red peppers in olive oil
5 sliced cherry peppers mild or hot

Then add the following:
1 cup parmesan cheese (Optional)
2 lbs. boneless cooked chicken, cubed
1 can chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce (she uses the ones with Italian seasoning)
1 jar Alfredo sauce

Add cooked rigatoni before serving and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
(I actually doubled the recipe and used two bags of noodles. )
May be prepared in advance then just heat and add cooked rigatoni.

Enjoy!

Tablescapes and Thankfulness!

I have been reading a bunch of blogs this week which featured Thanksgiving tablescapes and many about thankfulness one in particular had posted something she was thankful for everyday for the month of November. Many are inspiring and funny. One which really made me laugh and think was a picture of toilet paper. I remember my mother and daddy talking about getting up in the morning to go to the freezing outhouse and the beloved Sears Roebuck catalog. SO I decided to just post a few pictures of my buffet and table decorations and express my thanks openly for the many blessings of the day.

"I exalt You, my God the King, and praise Your name forever and ever. I will speak of Your glorious splendor and Your wonderful works. They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring works, and I will declare your greatness" Psalm 145: 1, 5-6

As the nights have been much colder I am especially thankful for my nice warm house and however shallow this may sound I am thankful for every modern convenience I enjoy daily, (microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer, garage door opener, hair dryer, hot water, telephones to keep in touch with all those I love, cars, and yes, computers (they amaze me). I am thankful to have had wonderful Christian parents and for their lives of hardship and sacrifice so that I can enjoy all of the above. Although I miss Daddy and Lionel a bunch I still thank God that their suffering and pain was limited and for the joy they added to my life.

I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the precious gift of everyday on this earth and the assurance of a glorious home in heaven.

"It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, that we will begin to live each day to the fullest; as if it were the only one we had."~Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Most of all, my precious family who love me in spite of all my faults! What a blessing they are to me!!! Love you all!

I saw some blogs which had Thankful Tuesday or Thankful Thursday! Great idea for the coming year as my list could be rather exhausting at this point!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Quick Fall Getaway

Mike and I took an unexpected trip last week for a couple of days to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in hopes of seeing some remaining foliage as well as a quick road trip. We both had been there many years ago and could just remember bits and pieces. We enjoyed walking the narrow streets stacked on top of each other. All of the Victorian houses, old hotels, quaint little shops, and variety of interesting people, many of which are artists, naturalists, etc. made the outing an adventure as well as relaxing. We enjoy road trips and spontaneous ones seem to be the best.

We do enjoy traveling and being with each other but the shopping sign just said it all for my time in those cute shops! Oh well, I don't need any more stuff but always love to look!

You might be a redneck if .........

Well, the guys returned home from the big elk hunt each with an elk. On the day of return I was glad not to be here as raw meat (from any source) makes me gag! I think they had it all over my patio and kitchen but did a great job of cleaning up. Mike has decided to do a skull mount with his so he had to figure out a way of getting all of the meat off the skull. (too much information I know) However, being the resourceful person he is, he proceeds first to build a fire on a concrete slab in our backyard and place a 5 gallon bucket full of water on it and boil this elk head in the bucket. When he realized keeping the fire hot enough might require some diligence he then proceeds to a hot plate and a five gallon bucket. I have spared you the pictures of the skull actually in the bucket with the horns sticking out but rest assured it was unusual and obviously won't do much to help my yard make the Southern Living backyard edition! (Ha!) He worked silently off and on for two days but managed to get it cleaned up so it is now off to the taxidermist here! Thank God he doesn't do that for a living! Matt has pictures of the two of them with the elk so will have to get that to post. I guess it is a guy thing!

Okay, I can't get the bottom picture to delete~ Someone tell me how to do that~

The Thrill of the Hunt!

Mike and Matt are leaving in the morning for an elk hunt in the mountains of New Mexico. I gave Mike a book a few years back which I have read several times (who knows whether he has or not) entitled "A Look At Life From a Deer Stand!" The author says " Planning for a multi-day hunt is a process that can occupy the thoughts, conversations, and even the daydreams of anyone who enjoys big game hunting!" As you can see Mike has been planning and packing. I am happy for them to have the opportunity to spend time together and I love seeing Mike actually getting excited about something! Ha! He always packs his Bible which shows the kind of man he is and for which I am thankful!

I just had to make some "Two-Handed Cookies" for the trip. When the kids were little and we would go on vacations, ski trips, etc. I always made these cookies for the trip. They have 9 cups of oatmeal and 2 1/2 cups of peanut butter so I always felt like at least we were getting something good for us when I knew our eating habits were going to less than desirable. They make a pretty good breakfast and probably as good for you as some granola bars! I'll post the recipe if anyone wants it. I guess this whole blogging thing has made me rather nostalgic!

Maybe we can post the big elk when they get home! Have fun guys!

Notes to self!

The fall always seems as though the colors are a bit brighter and all my struggling plants from the summer tend to take on a new refreshed look unfortunately right before a freeze. It seems like a perfect time to evaluate plantings and plan for yet another spring. Although many people buy new chrysanthemums every year in their neat little pots strategically placed in a fall arrangement, I guess I prefer to let nature do its thing. If I will just remember to cut them back before the Fourth of July I have a beautiful display! These particular ones are a plant I received when my father-in-law, Lionel, passed away. What a great reminder of him and his hard work as a farmer so patiently tending to crops and family!

My flower bed to the north of my sunroom is my favorite! This year I planted some new plants to go with the usual impatience, black-eyed susans, hostas, and miniature roses. The Magilla Perilla coleus plant, and Diamond Frost Euphorbia have made me so happy! The picture doesn't really do them justice but they for sure will be on my planting list next year! Mindy gave me a reblooming iris she purchased at the Farmer's Market in Norman and what a wonderful surprise that has been in September. So needless to say I am in the market for other colors of reblooming iris.

Maybe next spring I will be able to find these notes to myself! Ha!

Sunrise and Coffee

"Morning by morning new mercies I see, All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness Lord unto Thee!"





Over the past year or more I have enjoyed reading my friend Leeann's blog so much and as I have watched all the entries of happenings in her life, I began to realize even more how swiftly the years go by! Therefore, I decided to try my hand at this blogging thing and with the help of my "techie" friend Cathy, I think I may have it. I think it will be fun as I have begun to think of all the things to blog about. Webster says a cache "is a hiding place for storing and preserving provisions." So I guess I will try to preserve and record a bit of my life in my blog. I am reminded of Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" as he sang "Sunrise, Sunset, Swiftly fly the years, one season following another, Laden with happiness and tears. Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? I don't remember growing older When did they?"





One of my favorite things now that my life is not so involved is to come back from my workout in the morning, (yes before sunrise) sit in my sunroom with my coffee, my Bible, and the newspaper. I took this picture one morning of the sunrise as I sat soaking it up and marveling at the beauty of the earth. I told God "Today I think you just have outdone yourself!!!" (Quote from my sister-in-law) Sooooo beautiful! Every sunrise is a new beginning full of God's mercies and faithfulness.

At this season in my life crafting and cooking are not priority but surely I can find some things to record and preserve each day!