Just bury me in the islands!

We had a great time on our cruise to St. Martin, St. Thomas, Grand Turk! I am sure that in heaven there are white sand beaches, crystal blue water, bright, warm sunshine, palm trees, and beach chairs!!! Doesn't the song say "We'll meet on that beautiful shore!" We just enjoyed and relaxed! Each port we either took a taxi or walked to the beach! We spent a couple of days in Ft. Lauderdale before leaving and really enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful yachts and homes. Public transportation there includes a water taxi which navigates the many canals with a bunch of stops. It was fun to ride awhile and then get off and look around then hop back on to another stop! One of the things we really enjoy about cruising is meeting people from all over the world. Each night we had dinner with some new people. Many Canadians and Northeasterners on this trip I am sure trying to escape the cold! People are as a general rule very nice and interesting! You do however met a few cantankerous souls who are way too pampered in my book! If you are not happy on a cruise I am thinking you are just not happy! As for me, I am thinking cruise ship instead of nursing home!

Blog regrets!

Well, I was so excited to get started blogging and then poof I just quit! Actually Mike got me a new laptop for Christmas so I thought I would really get into it! But I have discovered the world of blogging so end up just reading unlimited numbers of blogs instead of posting. As I have discovered other blogs I started messing with customizing hence the conglomerations of lips and Christmas over the past few months. I am going to get it figured out someday. I did finally figure out how to get something off but now have this other mess! So just ignore or pass on information to me on blog layouts! I have really seen some cute ones and enjoyed others playlist of music. Always something to learn!

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~