Random Tidbits ~ The Car Saga

Thanksgiving yesterday was spent much differently, but so much more less stressed and way less dirty dishes.

We started off the day with ordering 7 meals online from Bob Evans.  We went to the "Big City" and delivered 2, then headed out of town to our daughter who is in quarantine with a total of 5 people.  We placed a box (5 meals) and bag of extra food in the driveway, and then called her.  She was ever so thankful, but still can't really taste food.  

By the time we returned home, our 21 year-old was off work and we broke out our take out meal.  I was literally back in my PJ's by then and we just hung out in the kitchen until we were all done eating.  

Porch weather returned for a short bit, so we spent some time chatting on the porch too.

We had to stop at the grocery store for an extra pie, the day before Thanksgiving.  Our 21 year-old daughter is constantly buying Christmas decor (which I told her "save your money")

Guess what she bought for me?  

Camper ornaments.  They are so cute and she insisted the tree needed them, as we are not putting up our bigger tree this year.  We are using her tree that she put up (a bit smaller).  I love them, but still told her she better be saving her money.

On Tuesday, the day before my Dad's funeral service, 3 of us went to town to take care of all of the last title/plates (deadline due to pandemic was Dec. 1st.).

We were at the title office, and I watched my daughter and husband walk back to the truck.  I said, "uh, she has to go next door and get plates."  

My husband looked at me and said, "your daughter is broke down on the highway (our 2 lane country highway).  It was raining and we drove all the way back to her.  Her car wasn't going anywhere.  My husband and I pushed her car off the road, drove her home, gave her the keys to my car and she went to work. 

We drove back to town (this is about a 25 minute drive), got the plates for the other daughter's car, went back home to get help to tow the car back home.  When we got home, we saw transmission fluid all over the driveway.  Ugh.  We have yet to look at the issues and I'm praying the transmission isn't blown.

So, guess who is back to having no car again.  I never even got to drive it again.  Sigh.

Our family needs a break from all things bad.  

 

This and That

 

Let's talk about English Muffin rings.  I had no idea these things even existed.  Do any of you have them and use them, and if you have them, do they help in the rising/baking process?

Where is a good place to purchase a wool pressing mat?

Let's talk pie.  Does anyone have a really good homemade butterscotch pie recipe?  I will be checking my cookbooks, but I really don't want to use a pudding to make it.  I'd like to try a homemade one.

I found another use for my home canned pizza sauce.  One day last week I made chicken parmigiana in the crock pot.  So easy and tasted awesome.

I sliced two organic chicken breasts in half, making 4 filets of chicken.  Dipped them into an egg beaten with salt and pepper, then dipped them in Italian panko, seared 3 minutes on each side in butter in a stove top pan.  Transferred them to the crockpot, poured a pint of home canned pizza sauce over it.  Put the crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours, then hand shredded mozzarella cheese over it at the end until melted.  Delish!

My 21 year-old daughter bought me a very cute camper blanket.  She also bought me a box of Christmas cards she found at the dollar store.  So cute!

I finally figured out what I can make for Mom for Christmas.  I will be digging out my sewing machine for part of the making.  I haven't gotten it out since I sewed goat coats for our baby goats.  I'll update as I work on it.  This should be fun.  I never figured out how to thread a bobbin with it, so I sure hope YouTube has some videos.  The book that came with it doesn't have directions.  Mom gave me the sewing machine, so I am thankful for that.  I still have her old one that I used for years until it just got to the point of not being useable.

Dad, Mom, me and my siblings with my Dad's horse Sugar.  We lived in the city, and his horse was kept at a barn nearby.  I remember us driving home one time and Dad road Sugar into town to our house.  The first kiddo on Sugar is me at the age of 2.  Such precious memories.

His service was Wednesday afternoon.  It was graveside.  It started with an honor salute, as Dad was in the Navy during the Korean war.  It was very cold and raining the entire service, but we shared many, many funny and happy stories (and we all had different ones).

By the way, not sure if I shared, but our daughter (who has our grandkids), was tested positive for covid.  She got pretty sick.  We are really worried about her family, as her husband has many health issues.

We plan to do a driveway drop today for my Mom and one daughter (meal).  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Egg Souffle (aka Christmas Morning Casserole)

 

(note:  you could use ham or bacon or any mix of meats really, but we've always used breakfast sausage)

The original recipe was given to me by a co-worker many, many years ago.  She had brought the dish in for a potluck, and it was amazing.  We've been baking this for Christmas morning every year since then, because you can make it the night before and bake it in the morning.

Brown one pound of organic (or homemade) breakfast sausage.  Drain. Set aside.

Recipe calls for "8 slices of white bread"

I use homemade white bread, and use about 6 slices, because my loaf is much larger than one from the store.

Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.  I've also used a thin layer of organic olive oil.

Dice the bread with kitchen sheers or a knife. Layer the cubed bread into the prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle the cooked breakfast sausage evenly over the cubed bread.

Grate 1 cup of organic sharp cheddar cheese.

Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top of the cooked sausage.

In a mixing bowl with a spout, mix 2 cups of organic milk (I use whole milk), 1 tsp. organic ground mustard and. . .

6 large eggs.  Whisk.  I used 7 as my layers are still laying small-ish eggs.

Pour the mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish.

Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until eggs are cooked.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather outside is . . .

Cold, sunny, 40's, lows tonight 30's

On the breakfast plate this morning . . .

Egg Souffle (again)

As I look outside my window . . .

It's sunny.

As I look around the house . . .

Not really looking.  Things can wait for now.

What I am wearing today . . .

PJs.  

To do today or this week . . .

-pick out an outfit for Dad's graveside service

-try and get a hair cut

-get through the week

Currently reading . . .

Nothing this week.

On the TV . . .

Operation Christmas Drop

On the menu this week . . .

So far it's been take out.  Chicken noodle soup is in the crockpot and after that most likely take out.  To mental stressed to even want to cook/bake.

Something I want to share. . .

If you go to Cookies and Cups website you can copy and paste and print this chart.  We may all need it if things get bad.

From the camera . . .

Miss Thelma thought the food tasted better inside the feeder.

Prayers . . .

Our family (Dad passed away), Youngest, for the healing of our 21 year-old's hand surgery, Mom (staying save from the virus), our country, our daughter who has grandkids (she is sick, doctor today said he's 99% sure she has covid), and other personal requests

Random Tidbits

I placed another book order.  I also ordered a few western movies for my husband for Christmas.  We are not really exchanging gifts this year, but it gives us something to watch Christmas day too.  We still plan to buy for two younger ones. We've just had too many car repairs expenses, and one daughter we co-signed for and moved out of state, stiffed us with 3 months of car payments then blocked us on social media.  I can't make this stuff up.

I just don't go to the library anymore.  First, without the car, had a horrible time getting help getting them picked up and dropped off.  Second, you can't just go and browse.  You have to make an appt, ring a doorbell and they come let you in.  I just caved and bought the book I need.

I heard back on the dehydrator part.  It's not in stock right now, but they suggested another door - $30.00 and no answer yet if it will work for my model.  So frustrating, considering this is not a cheap dehydrator.  I'm now told that my part will not be in until 2021.  For now, duct tape it is.  At least unless my husband can do anything else for me to rig it.

I've been successful at tackling (deep cleaning) one kitchen corner at a time.  One longer counter I keep my recipe boxes on was the one I dreaded.  I have a huge stack of papers to sort - recipes tried, recipes to try, receipts, patterns for crochet....just keeping busy, considering all that is going on in our homestead.

I added new recipes to this binder, but will re-print the cover and leave the year off of it.

Thanksgiving will be just the 4 of us.  Three of the older kids don't come around anymore, and we told our other daughter it was best she stayed home with her family and the grandkids this year.  Hubby's family invited us, but we declined.  Taking it safe and praying we all get our lives back to normal next year at the holidays.

I really don't have the mojo to stay busy today, nor focus on reading or crocheting, nor anything much.

Thank you all for your prayers, kind words and thoughts, and well wishes yesterday.  It's hard for me, as my Dad babysat my kids, mowed my yard when I was at work, built things for me, supported me when I was single raising 3 kids and working full-time, and even babysat until 1am one night so I could help stain trim that was going into my first house. I'm just happy that he was able to live his life out, while living in his own place.  I'll probably go through photo albums today and put something together for my family to see.  Those photos are precious and not loaded to the computer nor on a device - printed the old-fashioned way.

Today I am thankful for my husband's support.  He knew I was mentally suffering and brought us all dinner home last night.  He is even working all weekend and did that for me, so I wouldn't have to cook or do the dishes.  I just love that man!

My Dad

Sadly, my loving father of the age of 89 passed away last night.

My heart is very heavy.  Please send up prayers.  Our immediate family has had one h-e-double-hockey-sticks of a year in the way of grief and loss. 

Christmas Traditions

We have had many fun and memorable Christmas traditions in our home.  First, I loved (loved!) being classroom Mom for the class Christmas parties.  I would literally try to sign up for them when school started.  I loved it!  I always made some sort of treat bag/treat container that was filled with fun.  By fun I mean a handmade ornament for each student, candy, and fun activities or toys.  Here are a few treat bags I made for Christmas.  Also, most years I hand wrapped each handmade ornament so the kids had something to unwrap.

Classroom treats were also made.  One year I dipped large marshmallows into melted butterscotch chips on a stick.

Link to this on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

I had so much fun coming up with creative treat holders.  The one above was made from a toilet paper roll (bottom piece), and the top was an ornament that sat into the top.

Link to this on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

Long time blog followers already know that I have a passion for making homemade ornaments for my family every year.  Well, every year until I got some comments that they "had too many."  Then I stopped, but I am making one this year.  The above one was made with gumball machine capsules.

Link to this on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

Link to this on my blog

Link to this on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

I made so, so many ornaments over the years.  Many are on my S.C.R.A.P. blog, and if you search my blog here, I posted many photos of some.  Search handmade/homemade Christmas ornaments.  The posts should pop up for you.

Another tradition when the kids were younger - sugar cube castle building with frosting and candies.

We still have a tradition of gifting new and wrapped jammies on Christmas Eve.  We are now down to just the 4 of us, out of a family of 8.  This year I will gift everyone a few days earlier, so we can all wash them before wearing them.

I'm going to start a new one this year, just different from the idea of it all.  I will share when that happens.

Of course when the kiddos were young, they would leave cookies and milk out for Santa.  Making all sorts of cookies and candies was a family tradition, and saving some of them for New Year's Eve.

Over the years, trying a new cookie/candy recipe for the holidays became a tradition as well. One year we even tried an alcoholic breakfast beverage (adults).

Overnight breakfast casserole has been a long time tradition for us.  We only make it for Christmas morning.  I thought for sure I shared my recipe on my blog, but can't seem to find it.  I guess when I bake it this year, it'll get it's own post.