Christmas 2018

This was the plan anyway, but.....

Jars of Wild Violet Jelly

Jars of canned corn relish

Three girls received hand embroidered kitchen towels, paired with other gifts. 


The kids all received a "Starbucks" wine cork tree ornament.

The girls received charm bracelets I put together with their favorite things.  This is just one of them. 

I hand embroidered this towel for a biker friend of ours.  We invited him out for the big party/meal.  He has very little family, and he is family to us, so I didn't want him to go home empty handed.  He does his laundry on Sunday, and it's sort of a joke, because he often says "I can't ride 'cause I have to do my laundry.

As for what didn't get gifted - the jelly and corn relish.  They had a family Christmas on Christmas day without us.   I had called my Mother to wish her a Merry Christmas.  She couldn't talk long as she was putting food in the oven for a gathering with one of my sisters and brothers.  I was not invited during the call.  We live 25 minutes from where they gathered.

 I was invited 45 minutes prior via a text, and I had rolls rising, and no car.  We had sent our Youngest to deliver some homemade ginger-ale to our 19 year-old who was very sick.  In fact, she may have gone to the ER last night.  I'll find out later.

Anyway, I now have almost 40 rolls that were not consumed with my own kids.  In fact, it was our first Christmas to eat alone.  They kept our youngest (and another daughter was there also, who was expected at our house) at the gathering for almost 5 hours.  I'll be freezing some rolls to see how well it works.

The traditional snack mix and hot cranberry punch were never made either.  I was expected to do it after they finished their own gathering, and I was quite perturbed by what had happened anyway.

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary.  I'll be back to post a picture of my gift.  Hubby has to work today, and I have a ton of dirty dishes from a meal that was to be for many and ended up for two.  I hope to have an update on our sick daughter as well.  I was very worried about her.  She had to work yesterday(and has to work today), and called saying she was laying on the floor behind the counter, and couldn't stop throwing up, even sipping homemade ginger-ale. 

I hope your Christmas was delightful, peaceful and just enjoyable.  The gathering we had with Hubby's family went fantastic.  We had somewhere between 40-50 people here and a lot of food.

Merry Christmas

Oh my gosh, we had the house packed with family and friends.  What a good time.  Birthdays were a hit too.

We have leftover cake too.  Everyone was stuffed to the gills.

I had to laugh this morning.  I found a sticky note on the oven door "Food inside."  Mia came to us for the night, and before the kids went to bed they put all the food away for us.  I was so stinkin' tired.

Youngest got a load of birthday presents and was very happy to celebrate with so many folks.  We had so many we almost couldn't fit in the family photo.

Hostess with the most-est. . .

...with the most-est headache.  I got a text asking for us to once again change the time of the Christmas party.  I've already sent out invitations to people and it's getting out of control.  Hubby wasn't happy either.  He has to work the next day.  

My 19 year old came out to help with the candy making.  We had issues of course.  I wasn't running on all "cylinders" and she hadn't worked with candy for a year.  We were a bit rusty at it, but after one batch, turned on a Christmas movie to take a break.

We made buckeyes, mint chocolate covered crackers (mock mint girl scout cookies) and I made another batch of salted caramel fudge. The guys at Hubby's work were begging for the fudge.

A plate of goodies went to work with Hubby this morning.

It rained all day Thursday.  Cloudy, dreary, and cold.  It's wet and cold today, and I have no plans to bake one iota.  It's a house cleaning day.

You may see a blurp or two in my posts from now on.  It'll start to get crazy busy.

Making Dirty Dishes....and then some....

Wednesday the weather was just about the same - high of about 44°F.  I woke up super exhausted, so I took my time early on (again).  

Here's why.

The night prior, Hubby and I drove to the other "Big City" to pick up some last minute baking supplies for the holiday baking.  However, there were zero half-pint canning jars anywhere.  Sigh.  Literally.  Even sugar in the smaller bags, and toothpicks were sold out.  Frustrated and beyond tired, we returned home to crash.  Someone please, please (I beg you) remind me to buy my holiday supplies in September.  I even stopped at the dollar store for parchment paper - zero in stock and lines so long I would've walked out anyway perhaps.  At the craft store, the lines were long, and one cashier.  I almost fell asleep in line.  Nope,  not doing it next year.  I'll order online if I have to.  It's crazy out in the people-y world.

The only reason you all get to read another post, is because I was once again downing coffee just to wake up and start the day.  Not to mention a bit of procrastination.

More baking went on at the homestead . . .

Salted Caramel Fudge, Peanut butter blossoms, more candy apple jelly, and one last batch of cashew brittle.  

I spoiled tater tot with some homemade dog food - organic oats, chicken, peas and a bit of bacon grease.  My original recipe calls for a "human" vitamin, but I did not add that.  I don't even take them, except for raw Vitamin C.  I didn't add the salt substitute either.  I figure the bacon grease is salty enough.  He devoured it of course.

The only bad thing about a gathering at our place, is we get pantry pirates.  I won't name names, but it's not my side of the family. Sigh.  Seriously, they open pantries and take canned goods.  They have no idea what work goes into a canned item - work the garden, plant the garden, weed the garden, pick the garden, can the garden....a LOT of work, and for organic food for the family of my own.  We had a terrible garden year this year, so it's slim pickin's in the stock-age here as well.  Not to mention the cost of organic seed/plant and the cost of canning supplies, double with the time involved in all of it.  I just find it downright disrespectful and rude.  I am not going to let it continue.  Okay, off my soapbox....I'm just going to put a few kids on guard this time.

Christmas Baking

I woke up Wednesday dragging my feet.  I was full force on Tuesday, and so happy with my progress.  Slowly, I got things rolling.  With a 3rd pot of coffee.  And some rock n' roll.  There is one radio station that plays all Christmas, but it's slow stuff.  I had to hook my phone up to the radio and get some rock n' roll going on.  

Baking resumed. More brittle was made too.  I called out to the kids and got reinforcements to finish the baking.

I literally gave the cashew brittle to my daughter and told her to hide it.  Otherwise Hubby would have it gone before the festivities started, ha ha! 

Good news.  Jesse ate his breakfast.  However, Daughter (his Mom) called me last night.  We are going back to all homemade food for him now.  He doesn't have many years left, and we will be spoiling him.

Tuesday Teabag Tidbits ~ Holiday Baking Starts ~ Cashew Brittle

Canning took up most of my morning yesterday.

We've been out of Candy Apple Jelly for over a year, so some of this is going in the pantry.

I had to whip up a batch of homemade ginger-ale syrup.  Youngest texted me that she was feeling pretty sickly.  Thankfully, I have club soda on hand, but now I'm out of honey.

Made my first batch of organic cashew brittle.  I hope to make one or two batches more yet.

Dinner was easy yesterday.  I used leftover mushroom gravy, combined with homemade condensed mushroom soup, and cooked pork chops it in the crock pot.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I am joining Sandra at Diary of a stay at home Mom for today's "Happy Homemaker Monday."  I am blessing you all with 2 posts today.  Why?  Well, I need a list to stay accountable for (sigh).  I'm puttering around early, growling like an 'ol grizzly bear, looking at all the things I need to do before next Saturday.  We had a pretty busy weekend, so my list is loooooooooooong.  Oh my, so long...grrr.  I am reaching down inside my soul for some uppity positive mojo to get things done.

Last night my husband surprised me by making dinner.  He's not the foodie type, but lately has gone nut-so.  He cooked us steaks with fresh mushroom gravy, and mashed potatoes, and it was fantastic.

Mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins, copper, potassium, vitamin D, and other good stuff.  I love to toss these in casseroles, soups, stews, and gravies.


On the breakfast plate. . . .

Two farm fresh eggs over easy, toast with home canned wild violet jelly, and lots and lots of coffee.

The weather outside . . .
Cold, but we should see some sun this morning for a short time.


Looking around the house . . .
Like I said, I gotta quit growling like a grizzly bear and just turn on some fun music, and dance my way through this week. Lots and lots to clean up and get ready.


Right now I am . . . 
Getting ready to start dishes, while waiting on the washing machine.


On the to-do list (week long list) . . .
-laundry (already started)
-wash bedding
-wash last nights dishes
-unload and reload the dishwasher
-thaw chicken for marinating 
-thaw chicken for the dog
-put pork chops in the crocky
-thaw corn
-can jelly
-wash dishes again
-infuse herbal tea
-clean off large table and put a new tablecloth on it
-bring in wood
-spot clean carpets (again due to a sick cat)
-start elderberry elixir
-dehydrate organic mushrooms I got a great deal on
-start baking/making Christmas cookies and candies
-continue working on handmade gifts
-clean up bedroom
-clean up utility room
-clean up hearth
-take books back to the library/do a pick up also
-sweep of front porch
-wash the curtain I never got around to wash yet
-wipe down one window
-dust
-sweep/vacuum and mop
-clean bathrooms
-wipe down any cobwebs
-tidy up office area
-write out shopping list for the last of the last before the party

Household tip . . .
You'll have to bigify to read, but as I was looking up the temp to dehydrate my mushrooms (rehydrates great), I came across this page (what rehydrates poorly).

Currently reading. . .
Nothing - no time to read, lol!


On the TV . . .
Netflix


On the menu . . .
Crock pot pork chops with mushroom gravy, corn, wild rice
Mac n' cheese, steamed broccoli
Fajitas
Leftovers

What I am creating at the moment . . .
A hand embroidered kitchen towel, and some handmade jewelry (photos to share later).


Favorite photo . . .

...when Jesse used to beg me for his meal.  Lately, he's back to picking out the meat/veggies and leaving his dry food.  I'm gonna have to figure out how to step up my game and get him to eat better.  Poor guy.


Prayers . . .
For my step-daughter, who recently lost her grandfather.