A Blog about life and living through my life experience and perspective. I am a writer, singer/songwriter childhood savant musician...Trying to find my niche and stake my place in society...
This was a Christmas gift per my request. It was on my wish list. I decided to give it a try yesterday. I made Hamburger Soup, one of the recipes within this cookbook. It turned out well! Full of fresh veggies! Onions, carrots, chunks of red potatoes, three colors of bell pepper. Fresh chopped garlic, a can of whole tomatoes and a small can of tomato paste. Oregano, parsley, salt, pepper a bit of cayenne red pepper and of course a healthy hefty amount of ground beef. Lastly, beef broth!
This is how mine turned out...
I added more beef broth than she calls for in the recipe as we like ours more like soup. It was delicious and a nice warming meal. I paired this with some (cheater), Pillsbury Honey Butter Flaky Grands that I baked. They were a terrific accompaniment with this soup.
Here is my kind of homemade Bread...
Guitar Man written by Bread- - My SoundCloud Cover-
I hope that you enjoy doing something different apart from your daily routine today. No matter how small and insignificant you feel that it is, it's worth doing/trying!
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I'm looking forward to saying farewell to 2015! Not a fan of this past year in retrospect. I am thankful for a new beginning!
It's a good time to soul search and redefine your goals and aspirations. From small life tweaks to grand makeovers and everything in between. What is it that you want to dream, visualize and accomplish?
Never ever give up on your dreams! Live them, if only in your head!
Living life in the slow lane... Nothing much is going on here between the holidays. My husband is working Mon, Tues and Wednesday. I have my teen home on winter break. We are pet sitting for the next 10 days for a neighbor. This requires that we visit that household four times a day. That precludes us from going very far... I rather feel that we are on a leash... I should be glad to be of service but somehow, I'm not lol. The pets are very affectionate and adorable so I should be grateful for that. Easy too.
Not much going on as I mentioned...I think we will get some haircuts today. I may take my daughter to a matinee. See, nothing much going on! I suppose that's a good thing!
Among my gifts for Christmas are these gems. Zoe and I have a "thing". We watch Downton Abbey together! We have so enjoyed watching the whole series and we are sad to see it ending. One final season and that is that... We look at each other and say, now what are we going to watch? I was so glad to have found this way to connect with my 13 year old. Sad to see this go! It's nice to know that she enjoys this time with me...
Now for some quiet time after the hustle of the holiday! Clarice kitty hugs are at the top of things I want to do today...
Yesterday was just the three of us for the most part until dinner... Zoe was thrilled to get this gift.
She so would like to be a rock chick...lets see how she does with this!
Who at 13 has a Christmas Tree in their room? She really wanted one in her room lol...
Delcee and Britt!
It was also my husbands birthday yesterday. This can be a challenge to make special...we try every year to make his B-Day feel like a birthday.
Black Forest Cake
Daughter Delcee made an extra special effort with this cake! The most beautiful and delicious Black Forest cake! Wow... I'm not the only baker in the family. This was the first year that I didn't make a Christmas dinner! My daughters had us over for dinner. It was a grand scale dinner as well! Prime rib, baked potatoes, green beans, salad and potato rolls! Amazing!
I am so proud of the women my girls have become. Definitely fun to hang out with!
We had my husband open his "Birthday"presents when we got home... He's just a big kid so we gave him a few fun things. Including keeping with my theme of the tight glass for the right beverage loll. He really enjoyed that! A win for me as he can be the most difficult person to shop for!
Boys and their toys...a spy drone...
Lastly, he was very happy to receive a nice bottle of something...he hardly drinks but enjoys having some nice stuff...
I'm exhausted just like most of you are! Enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet if you can today!
This is a beautiful tree that we happened upon at the Anthem outlet mall...
I couldn't even fit it all in my camera lense...
Maybe this pic will give you some perspective as to it's generous girth as well.
Here it was at night, lit and lovely!
That's about all this retail outlet can boast...the prices were terrible. We found nothing there for selection.
If you are into lovely Christmas trees than check it out! If not than, don't waste your time with this mall.
Today is Christmas Eve! May you be surrounded by good company, human and furry- Have a few laughs and enjoy all that can be enjoyed from this magical season.
My regards and appreciation to all of you who take the time to read my blog and listen to my links. I appreciate you! Happy Holiday's!
The stockings were hung with care in the hopes that St. Nick soon would be there...
As adults, we never give up on our secret desires. The things we wish for are different and they don't always fit in a stocking but we still have them. We have hopes and dreams that are very specific and very broad as well. We wish and hope for success, good health, all of these things for our families and all we hold dear. We have hopes on a global level concerning the state of, and well being for the universe and all the masses. You name it, we have thought it. Good things, good feelings and Yuletide wishes! Most of us desire peace on earth and goodwill toward men (and women). Nobody wants to think of anyone hurting especially at the holidays!
As I said, we all have dreams, goals and desires that are extremely personal as well. Those who are religious pray to God or whomever they have chosen to worship. I understand and respect that! I however, am choosing as a grown 53 year old, to ask Santa for a few silly and only important to me
things this year! I have a little tree in my room. I will write my most secret desires down and put
them under the tree for Santa...silly? Ok...
The older you get, the more people you miss as many pass away. With every day that passes, you feel an urgency to fulfill your passions and dreams before it is too late. You understand that the clock is
ticking for all of us. Try as you might, you become restless and dissastified about the life you have
fashioned for yourself. You start to second guess your mission here and wonder if you couldn't do more, be more for yourself! I see this as being what they call a midlife crisis. I am living this!
An oridinary housewife, with an extreme desire to do and be more! I have hopes of doing something
in music that will pay me!
I will share with you the silliest of my secret desires. What the heck, you are all strangers all 11 of you who may read this...
On a piece of paper, I will write this wish to Santa...
I want to meet Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies! I would love to have them over for dinner and
talk...lol! How is that for a childish, self indulgent, utterly ridiculous and unattainable desire! Yet, it is
one of my hidden and deepest desires. I could get really into this daydream including planning the menu in my head for such a dinner! I actually think that it would have to be two seperate dinners as the two have parted bitterly since splitting their musical efforts, I believe. Both artist have captivated
my heart with the music that came from their souls. I wish to know these brillant songwriters!
For those of you who aren't familiar with the names, they are the two songwriters from the group Supertramp!
See, we may grow up, raise families, have big careers and big lives but we never really quit having silly little fantasies! I guess it always keeps us wishing on stars and on Santa. So under the tree this silly, self fulfilling, indulgent desire goes. While I'm at it, how bout my desire to record my music in a
high tech music studio?!!!
You are never too old to dream and to share your wishes to Santa!
I leave you with these ... A song written by Rick Davies that I cover called Casual Conversation.
Zoe and her friends at our Christmas Party. Teenagers are so funny... Too cool for Karaoke
lol?
I was so happy with how the backyard turned out, it was beautiful! Loved the lights and candles everywhere...
The food was simple but festive. We made a ham, homemade pasta with hot and sweet sausage, mushrooms, onions, garlic and parmesan cheese.
Semi homemade rolls, a tossed green salad and a cranberry pineapple jello salad. The ham was slow cooked in pineapple juice and was very moist and flavorful.
We had fun after dinner with a few of us participating in Karaoke. Most of the party was inside watching the Cardinals game. It was fun to watch the kids enjoy singing.
Lizzy was amazing ! She sang Feliz Navidad and amazed all of us!
As I said, the teenagers wouldn't even try to loosen up and sing. My neighbor Scott and I managed to get one song in. Mostly the little kids sang everything they even remotely knew the chorus to. It was fun to see them making the effort to try to keep up with fast rap lyrics wizzing by on the screen...too cute!
Then dessert ! Our cookie exchange was successful, everyone made a few batches to exchange We have our fill, that is for sure! I had each guest go around the table and hand pick a plate of cookies to take home. I still have a lot of cookies leftover.
Lots of lovely cookies here!
A great time was had by all. I'm tired today but glad that we took the time to get together and really celebrate! My very sweet neighbor and his foster child brought the most thoughtful gift to my cookie exchange... This lovely cookie jar!
I love it and will cherish this special gift
The next few days will be quiet as we prepare to enjoy Christmas...
The weather was a little chilly, as it should be this time of year!
I hope each of you are finding joy and peace this holiday season!
It isn't Christmas till I do one of these... This is a homemade Gingerbread Candy Cake. Much more fun than trying to make a gingerbread house that doesn't fall apart! The grocery stores and Dollar Tree have these fun little candies... You just need a vision of how you want it to look.
This cake is 3D lol. It has four different sides to decorate... The G-Kids seem to really like it.
This is sure fun to make!
Kid friendly...
I have had two baking days for the party tonight... I had some kitchen help the other day with two G-kids that I watched two days this week. Daughter Delcee picked up some extra shifts for extra Christmas money. Even though I was busy who could say no to that?! I so enjoyed having them here anyway...!
Kadee and Korbin
Oatmeal Scotchies and great kitchen company! Kadee Lynne
Snickerdoodles
Paige and Zoe also made Pretzle Rolos and m&m cookies! A good start to our cookie exchange.
Then came the outdoor prep...
We have yard cleanup to do today in the getting ready process... I bought a Christmas Karaoke CD for whoever wants to participate. Also, a big Cardinals Game will be on during the party... I'm sure that the guys don't want to miss that! It's become very exciting now that our Cards are going to the playoffs!!
Hanging the Edison lights...
I took a few hours to spray paint our crappy weather beaten plastic chairs that will go around the firepit...
I tried to breath new life into these sorry old plastic staples...
It really is fun to decorate this tiny house. We spent the last few weekends decorating, we just
finished the front yard last night. Today we start the Edison lights in the backyard...
Here is our front yard this year.
It gets bigger every year it seems. This year Olaf joined us...
The leaves on our tree just keep coming down like snow. I have raked and swept a few times this week. I say just let the rest fall and I'll sweep the driveway when they are finished falling.
I could drive myself crazy trying to keep up with the leaves.
To the backyard I go to hang Santas and snowflakes from the patio overhang...Howard is renting a 15 foot ladder to hang the Edison light canopy. I will no doubt be spending my afternoon holding lights and the ladder...
Any of you out there that have done this know how much time constructing a Christmas village really
is. Hours! Made difficult by the fact that we don't use village cords. We use white Christmas light
strands that we hand bundle into a bunch that we put into the hole of each village piece. Alot of this is
done under the snow so it is very tedious! Worth the effort every year! So very pretty! This year, we have Santa and flying reindeer as well as a moving carousel. We didn't feel the train was needed. The house is beginning to look Winter Wonderland ish...
Backyard lighting is the project for tonight!
I can lose myself in here and I do!
My favorite scene... Oops a light post fell over lol...
This really is my husbands thing. I just help with whatever he asks me to do. This truly is his vision that I support!
I have a couple of baking days ahead of me later this week...
Baking is my thing...
Have a terrific Wednesday!
Brrrr!!!!!
One last vantage point view...
To view this Christmas Village in motion here is a link.
This pic is of a rainbow trying to happen over the valley here in Phoenix. This was a rainbow before the storm around sunrise yesterday. El Nino is here! I'm not complaining! It was a really cold day here yesterday with highs in the 50's.
Because it rained and was so windy, all of my tinsel garland has to be redone in the backyard lol...I should have known not to put it up out there till the day before our party. Thats ok, we have Edison lights to hang tonight as well.
I think we are in for more rain and definitely colder temps for the next few days. Good day to make chili or soup. I have grocery shopping on my agenda and maybe even a little of this...
This is going to be a busy week for me as it is for many of you I bet. I am hosting a Christmas party this upcoming Sunday evening. A few friends and my kids with their families. Still and all, planning on up to 25 of us.
Although it will be chilly, we are planning on a patio heater and a firepit to provide ambience and warmth in the yard. Inside, outside party. We might even do a little Christmas Karaoke as I bought a silly Christmas Karaoke CD. We have a nice Karaoke player that we break out for parties.
I still have a Christmas Village to set up. That will take some time to do! We still have Edison lights to hang in the yard. Plenty is left to do before Sunday's party.Holiday
I am baking a special gingerbread cake and two types of holiday cookies for a cookie exchange. Zoe
and her friend Paige are getting together over here Friday night to bake a few as well. Plenty of
holiday baking. Baking is fun! I look forward to it every year. Daughter Britt is baking a Yule Log for us in addition to a few different cookie batches.
I'll make a ham in my big roaster. Howard is making a huge quanity of his fancy special sausage. Salads and Rolls and we are good.
When the party dies down we like to caravan around the community to look at the light displays our neighbors put up. If I'm boring you with the small details of my life I apologize! It is however all that I have to blog about right now. The holidays are upon all of us and this is how it goes for me. This consumes my thoughts and energy and, it's what I enjoy doing, every year!
I really hope for all of you, enjoyment for all that this season inspires! All the goodwill that your heart can hold. May you prosper in mind and spirit, and find joy and wonder in what lies around the corner.
May you give with your heart and soul- get back enough to fulfill you...
Enjoy the people and creatures in your life that you love.
Take time to fill your own tank with solitude and time for reflection...
