Thankful Thursday......New Years Eve

Thankfulness is something that is uplifting to me as I remember where it all comes from. It has nothing to do with me, for the Lord gives in great supply.

This week I have stopped to think about what I am thankful for and the first thing that comes to mind is that my grandson is staying with us for awhile. He will be here to help his papaw and I and hopefully we can help him some as well. He has always been a blessing to both of us. Although I must admit he is not a little boy anymore but has grown into quite the young man.

I am thankful for my health and that of my hubs and family. 

The Lord has provided this year for us in a plentiful way and we are blessed by that. And with that we hope the Lord might show us more ways to share it.

I am thankful for the warmer weather we have had. And for being able to be outside so much and finding this in my yard this morning. 

Today is the last day of 2015. And the dandelions are blooming in my yard. Wow!

Everyone be safe if you are out on the roads tonight. There will be some crazies out there.

Weaving Wednesday

We are almost ready to close out a year. And the best part of that is getting to start a new one.

Have you made your list of things to start or complete for the new year. I do not make resolutions but I like to have a sort of plan for the year in place, so I still have a day or 2 to complete that.

But as far as the weaving goes, my new(to me) loom is in my home and I am going to try to get it warped and ready to start wafting by the end of next week. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have a friend that is coming to help me in that process. Well she says help, I say teach! But either way it should be done and ready to start working on.

But in the meantime I have a smaller loom that I have warped and I am making rug mugs on and I want to complete several sets of those in the next few days. So maybe next week I can have some pictures to share.

So come on and share with me what you have planned for 2016 and what are you working on right now.

Christmas Eve Eve!

I am hoping that each of you is having a wonderful holiday season. 

With christmas just 2 days away and all family out of town or otherwise detained for the big day, it ends up just being hubs and I. We will be sharing a meal and gifts with my father and his wife one Christmas Eve in the afternoon and then home to spend Christmas Day together. Now sure we will miss all those we love that are not here with us but we love each other and have so much to be thankful for. So we will spend the day doing just that! We will remember years past and how much fun and laughter was around about on christmas. And we will do all we can to see that the other enjoys the day and make a few memories to have to share years down the road.

Just look what hubs brought me this afternoon, aren't they beautiful? 

He is really a keeper!

******sorry about the picture of the tree with no baseboards. But we just finished the new floors day before yesterday and decided the tree was going up and the rest of the room could wait till after the holidays were over.***

So there will be more on that to follow in the new year!

Tasty Tuesday on Wednesday!

Okay I know it is Wednesday and not Tuesday, but yesterday was rather hectic around here and after all it is my blog and if i want to do "Tasty Tuesday" on Wednesday then that is what I am going to do. Besides I don't think you will want to miss this recipe(s).

As we get into the holidays it seems one thing always rings out at me, that is one item of food that I don't want to miss out on making and sharing and eating!

Now I really don't know why it seems we can only have these this time of the year?! I could fix them anytime, but they just seem to fit the holiday season.

I make them to share while guests are waiting on the main meal to be ready. 

I make them to take as hostess gifts when we are invited to share time with others during the season.

And I always make them for my Dad during the holidays.

I am talking about cheese balls, I have a basic recipe which was my mom's and then you can add several things to make it perfect for your family.

Cheese Ball

2 pkg. cream cheese

1 cup finely shredded cheddar (I use mild)

1/4 tsp onion powder 

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Bring your cheeses to room temp place in bowl sprinkle with seasoning and mix well. You can use a spoon or you can put gloves on and use your hands. I prefer my hands. Now after this is mixed well, it is time to add whatever you would like to customize your cheese ball. Here are a few that I have added over the years. And I might add I have never had cheese ball to take home no matter what I added to them.

1 cup chopped green olives (this is a favorite around our house and several ask for it)

1 cup well drained and crumbled bacon

3/4 cup chopped green onion tops

1 jar chipped beef rinsed and chopped fine

1 can well drained tuna in water(with this one I also add 1tsp liquid smoke or to taste) This is a fav!

The outside coating on the cheese ball is up to you. I have used finely chopped nuts, parsley flakes, or additional bacon or chipped beef.

These can be formed in a ball or a log whichever works best for your serving dish.

So maybe this is something you can whip up this year for your family to enjoy. Or to share with friends and family. 

Merry Christmas!

Monday Musings and Menus

The weekend was a cold one with something called freezing fog. It was something that I never remember seeing before. But I am sure it is not new! But it was kinda eerie looking.

Some holiday baking was done this weekend. I made mini loaves of banana walnut and apple walnut breads. I have put these in the freezer and will use them to make baskets for holiday giving.

Christmas cards were started. Some of these get mailed and some are placed in the "mailbox" at church. And some will go with gift baskets for neighbors and friends. These will need to be completed this week.

So as we get closer to christmas we get busier and it seems there is more to do than ever. Because of this I am trying to do easier meals that take less time. And I am also trying to keep it simple to reduce some calories and carbs. After all we all know that at this time of the year it is easy to find extra carbs and calories without even looking. So here is what is inline for this weeks dinners around my house.

Sunday......roasted garlic chicken, green beans, carrots and homemade mac and cheese with a chopped salad

Monday.........chopped salad, flatbreads w/chicken, sundried tomatoes, ripe olives and mozzarella cheese

Tuesday......veggie soup, grilled cheese on homemade sourdough bread

Wednesday......chopped salad, flounder and leftover mac and cheese

Thursday......homemade TV dinners made from thanksgiving dinner and a chopped salad

Friday......chili and friends around the fire pit. And then going to look at christmas lights later on.

Weaving Wednesday

 It is "Weaving Wednesday" the day of the week where I share some of my weaving journey. One thing I can say is I am having a blast. It is so much fun sitting at a loom and thinking about who has sat there before me. Who has made useful items on this loom? What would they say to me if they were here? My head just runs wild with questions about these weavers. I am sure I will never acquire all the skills that they had but I am loving this journey. 

Well this week was no different, well it was, oh gosh wait till you hear! I was so privileged to get the chance to sit at a Rocker Beater Loom and weave this week. This loom was massive (to me) and so unique. 

The construction of the loom was amazing. It was built circa 1820 down near Olive Hill KY. which is not far from where I live. It was hand made and remained in the same family till some time in the 1960's. It was all hand hewn and there were no nails or screws and I might add it was as solid as ever.

It was a wonderful experience getting to sit and wind the shuttle from my own rag balls and then begin weaving on the same loom that had been used so long ago to create, no doubt, many very useful items for the lives of those making them. As I thought of what could have been made on this loom my mind was racing. The original owner could have made rugs or covers for beds. They could have even woven cloth to make clothing. Wow, just the thought makes my head spin.

So I sat on the bench with a full shuttle in hand and began the process. Sliding it from left to right and then pulling the beater forward to secure the row...then again from right to left and so on. Well you get the idea, and I was so transfixed by this process. It seemed so natural, so necessary for me to be doing it just like it had been necessary for them so long ago.

Changing of the Mug

Happy December to you all.

It is time for the "Changing of the Mug".

Now just in case I have not made this clear in the past I have a thing for mugs, not just any mug, but big mugs. Mugs that hold 17 ounces or more. A mug that will get my morning started without having to run for a refill.

Now a couple years ago my son bought us a Keurig for christmas and I can make the perfect cup of coffee by running a large and a medium cup through to fill my cup. 

Now I have accumulated so many cups that in order to use them all and make them all special cups I choose one and use it for the whole month. Thus the Changing of the Mug happens on the 1st day of each month.

So my mug for December 2015 is..........drum roll please!

How about you do you use a big mug or a small one? 

And does your mug have coffee or something else in it? Share with us, we would love to know.

  

Thankfulness Update and a Recipe

Today starts the Thanksgiving dinner prepping. And as I was looking at my menu I decided that next year I have got to par down a bit. This is entirely too much food to have at one meal. So notes are being made to downsize and have more time with loved ones and not be a gluten next year.

Monday Menus

Well another weekend has past. It was a hectic one, it seems there was something on the agenda everyday that needed done. And for some reason it still seems as though I got nothing accomplished. But such is life and forward we go with the week.

I try and plan my menus ahead but sadly I don't always make it here to share them with you. But this week I am on the ball.

Sunday.....we had meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, green beans, fried cabbage

Monday....(I have class) so hubs will have leftovers from yesterday (which he is glad to eat)

Tuesday.......leftover chicken noodle soup from a huge pot I fixed saturday. And some homemade garlic sourdough bread sticks.

Wednesday......omelets and homemade buttermilk biscuits with an assortment of homemade jams (carrot cake, strawberry, apple cinnamon)

Thursday......Turkey day! Turkey, dressing, mashed pots, green beans, roasted broccoli/cauliflower w/romano cheese, sweet potato chunks, cranberries, deviled eggs, sourdough rolls, fresh apple cake, chess pie, fresh peach pie, fruit salad.

Friday......turkey sandwiches. Hubs is going fishing so its just me. Nothing fancy!

Saturday......kitchen closed.

Sunday......kitchen closed. Will reopen in the morning!

Now it might seem as though there are a lot of leftover this week. But that is exactly how I planned it. I usually take the leftovers and make TV dinners and put in the freezer for a dinner sometime down the road. But this week I planned for them to be used fresh and get us through the week. Saves me time in the kitchen before the big turkey day marathon and it is good food to boot.

This and That

This post is kinda like scrambled eggs! But then that is how my brain feels lately. It may be the holidays that's got me this way. I used to decorate every room in the house. But every year it seems I could really care less if there is a tree or not. The kids won't be home and the grands are not around so it is hard to get in the mood to spend all that time and energy decorating.We certainly celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and are very thankful for it and share it with those we are around during the holiday season. But I am still out on a limb as to whether there will be decorations and a tree in my home or not.

*************************************************

As far as shopping goes I don't have a lot to do but it is almost complete. Except for those that you just don't know what to get. I personally would love to have a homemade christmas. Where we all made gifts for each other. Spending time and energy and our own creativity. But there are those on my list that swear they never made a thing in their life and do not intent to start now. And they also kinda turn up their nose at handmade items. So what is a gal to do!

******************************************************

How about gift cards? Do you give them? Do you like to receive them? Will you be using them this year?

I don't mind receiving them. But for some reason I feel like I am bombing out if I give them. Always wonder if I am choosing the right place to get the card. What if they would like somewhere else better. Also wonder if I should just give cash and they could use it as they wish.

**********************************************************

I love cooking anytime of the year but especially for the holidays. Have a house full of family and friends is what the holidays should be. But as we are getting older and everyone has their own families. It is hard to get everyone together. 

When I was growing up we would not have considered a Christmas without going to mamaws house. All the family was there from her children, grandchildren even some great grands as time went on. There were also friends stopping by and everyone enjoyed each others company.

But times have changed and this newer generation is not like that. It makes me so thankful that we were, remembering back to how much joy it brought my grandmother.

 So new traditions need to be made. Things that will bring us joy and happiness during the holiday season. We are thinking on this and trying to come up with a few things that might suit us.

Any of you find things changing as the kids are older? How are you coping and what kind of things are you adopting in your home?

Weaving Wednesday

Good Morning, I have some more to share on my adventure. It began here if you want to catch up. 

So first let me say that class we so fun last night. I got to do something different and very beneficial. I spent the evening warping a loom.

So I started out winding my warp on a warping board. This allowed me to get all my warp threads the same length. Once that was completed it tied off, so it would not become a birds nest when I took it off the board.

Then the process of tying it onto the loom began. I tied each warp thread onto an existing warp thread after this was completed I pulled each small knot through the beater bars. Then with the help from my teacher they were wound onto the warp roller. I was then able to tie my warp threads onto the apron bar and the loom is ready to begin weaving on. 

And I did get to do some weaving this week on a big barn loom, making cotton cloth for making clothing. That was kinda neat and I will say that thing was huge! 

So I have a little surprise. I found me a loom and got to see it. Now of course it is old (1930's), but so am I and a couple of pegs need repaired. Hubs will be all over that. Its got a little(lot) of dust on it. But I think it is beautiful. I haven't brought it home yet but it is mine and again I am so excited. I might be too old for all this excitement. But it sure is FUN!

So next week I get to take a field trip of sort and weave on a different loom than before. I will be sure and get some good pictures. I get so involved with "doing" that I forget to take the pictures.

If any of you weave I would love to hear all about it. How you got involved, what you weave on, what you make?

And don't forget to check back next week for "Weaving Wednesday".

Update

I started a post on thankful November, you can catch up here and here.

We can sit and make a list of things we are thankful for but the real task is to remember them when things are not going perfect. You know those times when life kinda flairs its head and changes your plans. So I am trying to be aware of these times and stop for a moment and make a change if I need to.

Life is continuing on around me with daily chores and winter plans, but success is happening as well. And not only happening but doing so without my having to prod it along. After all I a a wife to a wonderful husband not a cattle farmer, so prodding is not something I want to do. But I will stand here and tell you I have done more than my share (at least that is what he would say)! 

So if I have learned anything this week I will have to say it is BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE. I am trying to take a moment to respond to situations in a way that I would want others to. And I am finding that it does make a difference in how others respond back. So I believe this is a success so far. 

I will check back later on.

Thankful Thursday

What a pretty day it is outside! As long as you are hanging on to something yet you blow away. The winds are fierce out there today.

This poor little flag has been whipping in the wind all day long.

But as I stop and look around me there are so many things to be thankful for so I thought I would share a few.

The health of all my family is at the top of the list.

The ability to have choices as we live in this great country.

I am thankful for my home and property.

For my mind which has served me well for a long time and hasn't left me yet.

I am glad to have the opportunity to reach out and help others who are less fortunate than I.

I am thankful for each and every talent that the Lord has given me, for I shall always have something to stay busy with.

I am thankful for my dogs who need me on a daily basis.

So how about you, slow down during this hectic time of year and  say, "self what are you thankful for?" The answers might surprise you and lift you up in a way you never seen before. 

Taking a New Turn

Sometimes this roller coaster of life takes us one way and then another and all we can do is hold on for the ride. But sometimes we get to choose the direction. And sometimes it is fun to pick a direction that you have never been in before. So that is what I did!

I will be sharing this path with you as I travel it and hopefully remembering to take my camera along as well. (I forgot it last night)

So last night I did something I have not done since I was 10 years old. And let me tell you that was a few years ago! I attended a class to learn how to weave. Now I have never had a class to learn how to weave before, but the last class I took to learn a skill was when I was 10 years old and it was to learn how to knit. I do a lot of things but most are self taught. So this class thing was way different for me.

So off to the class I went. Really having no idea what to expect, I walk into and older building that has been turned into studios. This building was in it previous life a store or shop of some kind. It had very high ceilings and was exactly what you would expect from an old building. There was a shop up front of all the items the artists in residence here had for sale. I was greeted by my teacher Jane and another soon to be weaving pupil, Jen. Now being women we got busy saying hello and sharing a little about ourselves. As well as asking question of each other as we got acquainted. 

Now it was time to get down to business. So we were each shown a loom to sit by and given a small basket with a few goodies inside. Things like scissors, small ruler, needles, pins etc... Jane shared a brief history of the type of loom we were looking at and how it was used back then. And then we got busy tying our warp threads onto the apron bar. After completed we moved on to winding some thread onto a small shuttle and then we began weaving our filler and then the heading. This part went pretty quick and it was just a matter of getting into some sort of rhythm.   

Then we got to pick some color to add to our little project. And the weaving continued. And on and on I went till it looked like this.

This was the first piece and the cardboard is used as a spacer bar.

And then you continue on to the next piece. I know it looks like a mess, just hang with me a little bit here.

Well I have to stop right here a minute and tell you that all I was thinking at this point was, BORING! I was wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into. I never quit anything I start so I knew for the next 4 weeks this was what I was going to be doing on Tuesday night. So I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

And then Jane, who I will have to say is probably the best darn teacher on the planet turned to me and said. "You look bored and are going to be even more so if I don't teach you some other things real quick." 

So we chatted a bit about what I would like to be able to do in the end and we have a new line of action and I can't wait for next Tuesday. So stay tuned for the continuing saga on "Weaving Wednesday."

Here is my completed project for the evening. 

  

Wednesday...update.

I am still trying to get as many items in my Etsy Shop as possible for the upcoming holiday season. Several more items to go in today if the sunshine cooperates. 

This what my hubby is doing today, I think he would rather do this than eat!

But I am so glad he gets to do it and enjoy the outdoors.

Now I started on a month long endeavor Here.

And I just wanted to let you know that I have decided this is going to be harder than I thought it was! We have lots of things on our list to get done before winter hits and yesterday we were going strong at the list and the neighbor called and had a water leak, so guess who took off to help dig it up? So I had to stop and remind myself how lucky I am to have a thoughtful husband that will jump to the aid of a friend. And I continued blowing and mulching leaves because after all the real deal was getting the task completed, not who did it. End of the day the leaves were all done and the neighbor had water again. So it was all good.

Then at bedtime last night a buddy called and said since the weather was so good they ought to go fishing today. And to be honest with you I would rather be fishing too! So I encouraged him to go and enjoy the day. i will work around and get a few things done and then do some more work on things for the shop. 

So far this is reminding me that people are more important than stuff. So I would say that thankful November just might teach me a thing or two.

November is a month of Thankfulness

          *****I should have posted this yesterday November 1st*****

November is a month of Thankfulness. So I have decided to do just that and be thankful each day and not just on Thanksgiving Day. I am particularly centering on my husband this month, because he is the greatest husband. Now I didn't say perfect, although he is perfect for me. 

So many times we take for granted that those we love just know it. We assume they understand our thoughts before we say them and sometimes we don't say them at all. But everyone likes to here they did something well. That they made a good choice, that you noticed their efforts. So this month I want to make more of an effort to remember this and lift my husband up in the lord. I want to show him he matters to me and that he is important. 

Now as I have thought about this as we got closer to the beginning of this month I decided this was more about not mentioning the negative things as much as it was pointing out the things I love about him and the things I appreciate so much. So I am off on this adventure and I will touch back on it from time to time throughout the month and let you know how it is going.

Monday's Menus

Happy Monday Morning to You! 

Lots of fog outside this morning but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will burn off soon and sunshine will prevail.

Weekly dinner menus are all I am sharing with you. We do simple things for breakfast like eggs, toast, oats, cream of wheat or cocoa wheats(my hubs' favorite). Lunch is always a leftover from the night before or a PBJ or grilled cheese with some fresh veggies.

So here we go!

Monday......roasted chicken, fried cabbage, fresh green beans

Tuesday......pork loin, mac n cheese, roasted broccoli and cauliflower

Wednesday.......split pea and ham soup from the freezer. (for me) 

home canned veggie soup (for hubs)

Thursday......chopped salad w/roasted chicken and pea pods

Friday.....homemade pizza (lots of veggies and a thin sourdough crust)

Saturday.....I am making chicken/sausage po' boys with onions and peppers.

Sunday.....I have no idea!

So how about you, what is going to be on your table this week?

Changing Of The Mug and Fall Pictures

Today is November 1st. We set the clocks back last night or I guess I could say they set themselves back. I am really going to be dating myself here but I remember when we all had to run around the house setting all the clocks in the house back. There was always 2 clocks in the kitchen (one on the wall and one on the stove). And alarm clock in the bedroom. And a big clock on the wall in the livingroom. And then of course everyone was wearing a watch. And you had to decide if you were going to set them back right before you went to bed, so you got up to them reading the correct time or if you were going to do the set back when you got up in the morning. And you had to coordinate with everyone in the house so they all did it at the same time or it could really get confusing. So how about it, do you have a clock set back story you would like to share with us? We can laugh about it now even though it was probably not so funny at the time.

I have a few pictures to share of a walk around my yard. All of them show some great fall color and are proof that beauty is everywhere.

And that leads us to the Changing of the Mug. My mug for the month of November will be.......

And as the weather is suppose to continue to give us some good stuff I may just get to enjoy a few more times on the porch with my coffee.

Thankful Thursday

Cool, windy and wet...oh yes, fall is here! I am not complaining at all. I just have to be more diligent about planning and sticking to the plan. If I have something that needs done that requires sunshine I have to make sure it gets done when there is some. Because as we all know there will not be sunshine everyday. I miss it already! When the days shorten and sunshine wains, I admit that I struggle a bit in the "get up and go" department. So I am trying to get a headstart on it or a handle on it which ever way you wish to look at it. 

I have plenty to keep me busy and of course I am always coming up with more! But in all seriousness I do have a new adventure on my horizon. I will share more of that later on.

I have so much to be thankful for. I cannot list them all on here. But as you will see in my list I try to see the little things in life that are a blessing. So the normal things like family and health are just a given. But beyond that I like to look a little deeper and see some of the small blessings that the Lord allows me to have. Blessings are gifts so no matter how big or small they are special.

I am thankful for food in our pantry and the ability to know how to preserve our food and such.

For the trees changing colors and being able to enjoy the different seasons and what they each have to give me. (yes, even the snow!)

I am thankful for a washing machine. I know I could make it without one but I am glad I do not have to.

Friends are such a gift, and it seems the older I get the more he gives me.

Art supplies are something that I have an abundance of and I am so glad. because I am never without something to do.

I am also thankful for my new studio(corner in my garage) to create and not have to clean up everyday. 

So many things that the list could go on forever, but I will stop and let you have a chance. What are some of the little things you have to be thankful for?

Creativity

There is a chill in the air this morning but nothing like it was a few days ago. We are in the midst of an indian summer, they say it should last about a week to 10 days. So you will hear no complaints from my knee of the woods and I will be enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. 

It is a little chilly to have morning coffee on the porch. But lunch is a total possibility and afternoon might find me on the deck with a project in hand.

Here are a few items I have been working on. I have got to let some of this pent up creativity out of my head from time to time or it will explode! 

These pieces are whimsical and fun!

They are in an altered art style using paint, paper, ink and reclaimed wood.

They are perfect little shelf sitters or would make great paper weights. 

Christmas is just around the corner and if you see something here you like you can contact me or check out my etsy shop here.

Frosty Saturday

The frost was heavy this morning on the roof tops. In fact the temps are still dropping as I write this. At 6 am. it was 38* and now (8:30) it is 36*. Suppose to be even colder tonight. And then warm back up for the week.

So this morning will be spent in the kitchen, doing some cooking and using the heat to warm the house a bit. Not sure what just yet but I will share later on.

It will warm up later today (50's) so I will try to get some more of the fall cleanup completed. The part that gets me about the cleanup is that my father is 87 years old and he has a huge garden and his cleanup is complete and all his winter wheat is planted. But then I have to remember that he doesn't do things like cooking, house chores, etc.....! But still.

I love the weather it gives such a calmness to itself. Fall is like the sun setting on the season. It seems like a time to slow down and relax and reflect on oneself.

This is a picture of the Blackwater River in NW West Virginia.

Isn't this the cutest thing you ever seen. It always makes me sad that they will rot and be gone after someone works so hard to create them.

They are calling for our first frost on saturday night. I don't know why it surprises me as our projected first frost date is October 16th. So right on target I would say. But it still always seems to take me by surprise.

Fall cleanup is progressing but it seems I get 3 things done and find 5 more that needs done. Can you say never ending battle!

I want to get started on some handmade christmas items as soon as I get things completed outside. Are you making Christmas gifts this year? If so, for who and what are you making. I need some ideas for men in a bad way. 

Fall Menus and Fun.

Well the weekend was a good one. The weather was perfect and we were able to get out in it and do some walking and hiking. it is not going to be long before that will not be so much of an option.

So I need to share that as the seasons change so does the way we want to eat. Or should I say the way we want to prepare foods. This is not serving us well as I am seeing the pounds creep on the scales and I trying to take back some control over this. So this week's dinner menus are as follows.

Monday......pulled chicken in a chopped salad.

Tuesday........grilled pork chops and roasted veggies(zucchini, onion, carrots and broccoli)

Wednesday.....chicken veggie soup

Thursday.....veggie frittata

Friday.......roasted veggies(whatever is in the fridge) with turkey kielbasa in foil on the firepit.

Saturday.....some sort of soup or stew.

So are you eating or cooking different since the weather is changing? If so share with us and maybe we can get some ideas as well.