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.