Around my place this morning

This is what I was blessed with this morning. While waiting for my first cup of coffee to brew I stood in my bay window and was completely and totally blown away.

I had to grab my camera so I could share this with you. I am reminded why, on mornings like this,  The Jerusalem Temple is built with "The Beautiful Gate" or Eastern Gate always facing the East. The LORD just doesn't mess around.

And this is from my couch. AMAZING!!!!

I wanted to show you that, true to my word, I am working on my Jacobean Sampler. I actually worked on this very cow while sitting in my car, at the ranch. Allison was riding and I was just soaking in the peace when all of a sudden a cow started telling me the longest story. She mooed to me the entire time I worked on this. Funny huh!!!!

I'm getting quite a bit done. It is really slow going but oh so enjoyable.

I LOVE hydrangeas. I have wanted to make a wreath like this for a really long time. The other day while strolling and dreaming in Michael's I notice that the hydrangeas, along with alot of other beautiful silk flowers were on sale. 50% off. It didn't take but about one trip through the store to decide...I wasn't passing that up.
I am REALLY happy with the results.

I decided since I have so many beautiful rocks sitting around that I might try my hand at this. Whatdaya think? I like it.

I saw this idea on pinterest and it wouldn't leave me alone. I have a devotional that I thought I could use to bless a few people with. It was fun and gave me time to ponder the scripture.

I have had a bit of a creative bug lately and I am just wise enough to know that when she bites... I better act on it. Seems I can get quite a few things out of my head and into the world if I work quickly and stop thinking. hahaha

I popped these photos in because I was just thinking how cool these old bottles are.
(Well the green ones on top aren't so old, but the little one was given to me by my son in law who knows I love green bottles!!)

I like to think about where they have been and who used them. I like the way the light bounces around them. I like the way they remind me that treasures don't always cost alot of money. All things have value. It even reminds me to slow down and appreciate the beauty around me. It's really amazing the things that can take our breath away.
Blessings, Sue

Tamales

 This was our New Years Day Feast. It was delicious!!!

I have wanted to make Tamales for just about ever. When I was a little girl my family went to Arroyo Grande and helped another family make tamales. when I say another family I mean there were people coming out of the wood work. Men and women and kids everywhere.  I remember lot's of laughing, loud music,  lots of women with big butts, and yummy smells and happy, happy happy. ( The bug butt thing was probably because I was eye level with that part of the ladies.) There were big silver steaming pots and

 tables filled with bowls of spicy yummy meat and corn husks piled to the ceiling. Anyway I had a really good time and have wanted to make them myself but was to intimidated to try....UNTIL NOW........

 It was really easy. I soaked the husks for a few hours,while I prepared the meat. I used my pressure cooker so it was a bit faster. And I bought the masa pre made at a local tortilla/ grocery store here. They were making tortillas when I got there so it was warm and fresh.

 It isn't hard at all, just time consuming.

 Tradition is to put an olive inside each tamale for good luck for the coming year. Allison's teacher told her about putting two in. One for yourself and one for someone you love that's not there to enjoy the tamales. We put in two.

You roll the meat into the masa lined corn husk, fold it over, tie it up and ta dahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 Jennifer, Allison and I made about 30 or so. We just kept making them until we ran out of masa.

 Aren't they lovely????

 Little bundles of mmmmm mmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm You place them open side up in a steamer and then cover with a wet towel and steam away for about 1 and 1/2 hours. We actually did these on New Years Eve and had "street tacos" for dinner that night, using the left over meat. Then on New Years Day we re -heated them and I made chili and we pigged out. I will definitely make them again. It's fun to be with people you love while making them and I can understand more now why my Mexican friends love getting together with their families to make them. Only they usually make a TON of them. Enough for the feast and enough for every family to take some home to freeze.

This may even become something I do every year. Tamale blessings, Sue

Here I am...

 I haven't been hiding.....

 Not intentionally, anyway.....

I guess I've just been right here all along. At any rate. I'm ready to write again and boy do I have some stuff to share. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings Sue

In Between

Christmas Tree 2011

 I love the "in between" time. After Christmas day and before New Years Day. It's my time to space out and do just "whatever" While I don't have to be up and dressed to take anyone to school. No more shopping, wrapping, anticipating.

Daddy brought home a giant bag of cuties!!

We had a wonderful Christmas. That being said... "Things" are never quite the way I think they will be. Thomas Kincaid and Norman Rockwell are nice but not really our reality.

Wreath close up. I dissolved the glue gun webs.

 Let's face it, It's a major production here. Getting the dinner all prepared and on the table at the same time and warm. In the past when the girls were small I used to get myself so stressed out, I could barely relax and enjoy myself.

Daddy brought me this beautiful bouquet. LOVE the Lilies

 This year was different, in that I made myself slow down and enjoy the moments. It worked. ( it also helps that the girls are grown) I wanted to concentrate on what's really important. WE are BLESSED. We have a warm safe home, food to share and people to share it with. We have the love of our family and friends, and most importantly we have our faith.

Christmas Eve 2011

 and shock of shocks......My stocking was actually crammed full!!! It's usually the most empty hahahaha  I wanted to share some of my favorite, special quiet moments with you.....

Santa found our house again...whew!!

Even the weens got special treats.



mmmmm spinach dip



Before dinner treats

 Allison bought Her,Daddy and Jennifer matching Whistle Swolt shirts.

 And now I'm slowly starting to put away my Christmas treasures until next year. This is the Angel Carol gave me.

 The table piece Allison made has been broken down into several other little arrangements.

 The tree will be the last thing down. I'll try to keep it up til new years.... (rolls eyes)

My Americanas are laying up a storm. I couldn't resist showing you my Green Eggs and Ham. hahahahaha
I am praying that you all had a wonderful Christmas. Now let's get on with the New Year...whatdaya say..
Blessings, Sue

Scones

I have found it!!! I have been looking for a really good pumpkin scone recipe for a long time. I finally found one that was great. With the tweaks I made, it's PERFECT. I like my scones moist, not to sweet, and just spicy enough. These are they!!!

Scones are a small Scottish quick bread, popular world wide. Basically it is just a biscuit, in fact in Canada and the US. it is called biscuit and scone interchangeably.  The first mention of the word scone, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is 1513. The word itself may derive for the Middle Dutch- Schoonbrood or fine white bread. It may also be from schoon- pure and clean. Check out wikipedia for more interesting information if you're interested.

 

 Moist Pumpkin Scones

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs white sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves and ginger
1 cup dried cranberries or raisins  (optional)

6 Tbs cold butter, cut into cubes
3 Tbs milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg

I made mine in the food processor. Sift all dry ingredients into food processor. Add cubed butter and mix until it looks like bread crumbs. Add wet ingredients and cranberries and mix into a dough. Pour out onto a lightly floured cutting board  and knead a bit to make sure the cranberries are mixed in fairly evenly. Shape into a rectangle approx 12" by 4". Cut into triangles by cutting first into thirds and then cutting each square into triangles. corner to corner make a criss cross. I ended up just cutting mine into smaller rectangles. Bake at 425 degrees for 14 to 16 minutes. Mine took 14 on a parchment line cookie sheet. Make the icing.

Spiced Glaze

1 cup plus 3 Tbs powder sugar
2 Tbs milk
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
a pinch of ginger, ground cloves, salt

Sift all dry ingredients together and throw away the too big bits that won't sift. Add the milk and whisk.
Put as little or as much as you want on your cooling scones.

Brew yourself a mug of steaming coffee, or tea. Put a log on the fire, grab your book or stitching, put up your feet and enjoy!!!! Next time I'm going to add walnuts. SOooooooooo good. Let me know if you make them and what you think.

Blessings Sue

Traditions

 I can't believe the time is going by so darn fast. I've been spending this year being devoted to a NO STRESS Christmas, and I guess while I wasn't looking IT WORKED. I'm stress free and actually enjoying things this year.

 If you have been reading for awhile you already know about Allison's Annual Gingerbread House. If not I will share with you that every year since Allison was around ??? I'm thinking 8 years old, she has been making our Gingerbread House decoration. It has been fun to see the changes throughout the years.

 This year we bought a bunch of different decorating candies.

 And again I had to tell her over and over and over add nauseum... That she was going to get a stomach ache if she kept eating the royal icing. hahahahah I guess that's my part of the tradition. This year however she took her own zantac and layed down and didn't even tell me. hahahahhahaahahahahah

 Loving the icicles.

 And the path to the doorway.

 Beautiful, isn't it!!!

 I made a snowman. bawahhhaahahahahahahh It never made it to the actual lawn on the house. Ugly little bugger huh? hahahahah

 This is the sky last night. We have been having off and on rain and the skies have been glorious.

 Allison collected a ton of mistletoe at the ranch . We now have it hanging from the doorways. I forgot to photo oops.

 And the entire reason for the season. This is the very first Christmas decoration Daddy and I ever bought. So I guess this makes it my oldest decoration. I know its my most beloved. It can't be Christmas until this nativity is set up on center stage.

I remember when we got it. Of course money was all but non existent and we went to Sears looking for just the right one. I am definitely attached to it. I feel great joy every year when I unwrap each piece. I even love wrapping them back up with love for the next year.
Whats your favorite Christmas decoration. I would love to hear.
Stress free blessings, remember.. THE real reason we celebrate this Holy Holiday. Sue