Busy In The Kitchen

Over the past couple of days I have been busy trying to get caught up on my baking and getting the last of my gifts ready.

One evening early in the week, I got to work making Butter Tarts. I usually buy my tart shells as my pie crust leaves a great deal to be desired. I made 5 dozen and plan on giving a few to my neighbours as a little Christmas gift. I found out that Butter Tarts are a Canadian invention. There are different schools of thought on how to make them. I like mine a bit runny, but some people like them a bit more solid.

I next made some Chocolate Covered Peppermint Patties. I got to use up the leftover mashed potatoes in my fridge. This gives them a bit of a moister inside even after drying overnight.

I next made some Peanut Butter Cups. My boys just love these. I bought a large envelope of small paper cups a few years back and this makes it so very easy. The only problem is that I have enough paper cups to last for years. At least I won't have to worry about an increase in price.

I also made Chocolate Snowballs that same evening. All I need to do is roll them in icing sugar when I am ready to serve them.

Today I made Almond Bark and Peanut Brittle. I remembered to take a picture of the the Almond Bark but not the Peanut Brittle. So my candy making will end with making Chocolates tomorrow and I will be moving on to Cookie making.

Our oldest son made it home today and we expect the youngest to arrive in the middle of the week. I am hoping to have lots of baking to send home with the two of them.

Well off to visit all of you.

Have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Winter is Here

Today I woke up to this and while the temperatures weren't too bad at first they have now fallen and with the wind chill the temperature has dropped to -34 C with the wind chill factored in. I guess winter has arrived with a vengence.

I stayed in and worked most of today. The good news is our carpet has been installed in the downstairs room. I think it looks very good. The colour goes with the wall colour and still keeps the room bright. Harvey spent the day hanging the door and putting the baseboards up. Now we will begin to move a little of the furniture back in, mainly the bed so Kurt has a place to sleep when he comes home. Later the bed will be moved out and a futon placed in the room as well as lots of bookcases and a nice comfy chair. I plan on making this into a library/sleeping room. It may take awhile but I am looking forward to having all my books in one place. Right now they are scattered throughout various rooms in my house.

Yesterday I was greated by two surprises in my mailbox. The first I opened was my PIF from Maggie. Thank you so much for the lovely brooch and the Snowman Soup. I love my gift!!!

The second parcel I opened was from Pea. Two beautiful books to curl up with this Christmas. I love them. This was the book swap I entered at Mary's Writing Nook. If any of you ever get a chance to take part in a swap I urge you to take it. You meet the nicest people. Thanks so much Pea, I will really enjoy these books, excellent choices.

Some of you asked how I made the icicles for my tree. Well it was very easy. I made a template out of some heavy stiff plastic in the shape I wanted. Then taped the plastic onto the glass. Harvey had bought a glass cutter years ago when he was cutting glass to make some new windows. I scored the glass and while wearing gardening gloves broke off the unwanted pieces. I next used some wire rings I had and placed them behind the glass pieces and using Harvey's soldering gun and the silver leading my friend gave me, melted the leading around the glass making sure the ring was covered by the melted leading. When the leading was cool I removed the icicles from the board I was using to keep from wreaking my table and added the ribbon. I surprised myself on how well they actually turned out.

I am off to visit all of you. Then I will watch my favorite Christmas movie "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. I need a good cry tonight.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Odds and Ends

Well another day of work has passed and I feel that for every step forward I make with the student I work with I take 4 steps back. Today was not a good day at all and I am mentally tired. Think I would much rather be physically tired, but that is not going to be this year.

Thought I would catch up all that I have been busy with this past little while.

I got the afghan done for our youngest son Kris. He loves black and white, so that is exactly what I made for him. I am sure he will love it as it is big enough to snuggle under while he is watching his favorite television shows.

A friend of mine does stained glass, and one day while visiting I noticed all her so called "waste glass" in a box by the back door. When I asked her what she was going to do with it and she told me throw it out, well my inner hoarder shuddered. I asked if I could take some of the clear glass to try making some icicles for my tree. My friend handed me the box, gave me some leading and said "Have a blast!"

I really don't think these turned out too badly for a first attempt. Do you?

This Sunday Harvey brought our tree up and set it up. He does the lights and I do the rest. With a cat in the house I don't put tinsel or garland on the tree. It is too much temptation for little paws to grab, and it is not healthy for them.

The decorating is an all day job for me. I have to gaze at each ornament as I remove it from the box and remember when and who I got it from. The stories the ornaments tell me are priceless.

Here is a picture of the finished product.

Not too bad at all. I do notice that I need to pick up a few more glittery snowflakes to fill in a few areas. Then of course I need to pick up some candy canes as well. The tree will be done then and I can give myself a pat on the back for another job done.

Well off to visit all of you. I have a lovely cup of mint hot chocolate and a spare hour.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

It's Begining To Look Like Christmas

Over the past few days the Southeast corner of Saskatchewn I live in has started to get snow! Finally we are turning a lovely white instead of a washed out, dirty brown. While I love snow and the warm, cuddly feeling I get from being inside with a big mug of hot chocolate, I really hate driving. The roads become icy on the corners and there is always that person driving too close behind me. Makes me very nervous!

Harvey and I painted the trim for the room downstairs, and now we will play a waiting game for the carpet. I have a feeling that we will be unable to have it totally done by Christmas.

Last Friday Harvey's work place had their Christmas party. We started the evening off with a ride in a stretch limo. The limo delivered us to the bowling alley where we had appetizers and bowled a couple of games. We kept track of strikes and gutter balls as there were prizes for each. I was a bit worried that I would win "Queen of the Gutter Ball", but that award went to a lady who got a couple more than I did. Then we walked next door to the hotel that was serving us supper.

While waiting for our meal and mixing and mingling, I went over to talk to the wife of one of Harvey's co workers. She grabbed my arm and told me she had something to give me. Her husband helped her over to their table where she picked up this and handed it to me.

Isn't it beautiful! This lady has MS and can't do alot of the things that we do at our get togethers. At our last get together in the early summer we were divided into teams and went on a scavenger hunt. While her husband was gone, I went and talked to her and kept her company until his team got back. Never did I realize what such a little thing as time talking to another woman would mean to her.

I took a picture of the lovely card that went with this overwhelming gift, but you can't read it. So I will share with all of you what she wrote.

"I just wanted to thank you for the Arc day in the summer when you stayed and talked to me when Ken had gone for his turn. Your kindness was much appreciated. I wanted you to know you are a blessing and I believe a blessing to many. May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and New Year"

Thank you and God Bless you for the encouragement you are.

Shelly

I was overwhelmed by this gift. Never again will I take for granted that anything I do has the ability to change someones life or out look.

I also paid a visit to Linda, who presented me with this lovely award.

Now I need to think of six people to pass this on to. I would like to gift this award to... Barb at Barbs Ramblings, Ginger at Enchanting Cottage (I know she is taking a break but she was my first blogging friend), Gigi at Under the Willow, Mary at Daisy Bouquet, BJ at Sweet Nothings, and Mary at Mary's Writing Nook.

I am off to visit with all of you.

Have a wonderful evening. God bless

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish all my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving.

May your day be filled with love, joy, and family.

God bless.

Finally

It has been a long time since I have had time to sit and do some blogging. I am so glad to be back, don't know for how long, but until our new carpet arrives I have a few spare days to visit and let everyone know what has been happening.

We have finally finished dry walling, taping and mudding the spare room. It is a job that both Harvey and I really dislike.....but we did save quite a bit doing it our selves.

Here is a picture of the first part of the mudding and sanding. Now imagine doing this three times and the dust flying all over the place. Such a big mess!!!

Next we had to pick out a paint colour. Almost more of a job then the one we had finished. We finally decided on a colour called Candle Wax.

It is kind of a creamy yellow and does brighten up the rooms. However because of the light blue that was on the walls first, we ended up putting 3 coats of primer/sealer on and then three coats of colour. Whew....it is finally done.

I went to the carpet store and picked out a Berber for the floor. It is cream, brown, and yellow tweed. Should keep the room nice and bright, just what I want.

Now we have to pick out the trim colour. Any ideas out there? I am leaning towards a white trim to match the window, but I am open for suggestions.

The last two days have seen the mail person dropping a couple of parcels off at my home. The first was from my swap partnerBrenda filled with loveliness for the holiday season. This time I ate the chocolates before Harvey arrived home from work. Her parcel contained so many lovely things....a silver angel for my tree, ribbon, a candle that smells heavenly, a bell door ring, a stuffed heart in Christmas colours, a lovely mesh metal basket, a wreath and berries, and of course the chocolates and fruit slice candies. (Harvey says thank you for those, he has been nibbling on them....had to have one of each just to test them of course). I will so cherish everything you have sent me as well as the friendship that we have formed.

Today another parcel was waiting on my front porch. This one was from my good friend Ginger at Enchanting Cottage. A pretty mug to drink the coffee or the Spiced Tea mix she sent, a book to keep track of all the important dates in my life (I really needed this as I forgot my Dad's and sister's birthdays this year), and enough yarn to knit myself a scarf or even a shawl!!! Thank you so very much Ginger you are a wonderful friend and I am so glad to have met you.

Well I think that is all I have to say for now. I am off to spend some time visiting each of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Life Back To Normal.....Sort Of

The last few weeks have gone by in a flash. Due to computer problems, I was unable to post any pictures and I don't know about the rest of you, but a post without pictures or images is missing a great deal.

Kris worked on my computer on the weekend and I am back in business. I am beginning to think that the computers we buy get a mind of their own. The first one we had years ago seemed to last so much longer and caused me a lot fewer heart aches.

Any way here I am once again.

I finished the baby afghan while the computer was being crabby. This one I did in yellow and white. Turned out not too badly (if I do say so myself). I will be parceling it up tonight to go out in the mail tomorrow.

I also got to help Harvey put the window into the hole in the wall in the basement room. I am sooo very happy that this job was completed before the weather got too bad and we had to contend with a foot or two of snow as well. Here is what the room looks like now.

Now he is busy with the wiring for the extra plug in I wanted and the baseboard heater. Hopefully those will be done quickly and we can finish dry walling the rest of the room and fixing the dry wall that is already up. Harvey dislikes this part of the job intensely, but if we want the room finished by Christmas it needs to be done. I have picked out new paint colours and the material for the curtains. We both need to pick out new floor coverings however.

I received my second blogging gift from Brenda.

Some lovely wax melts, they infuse the room with the smell of maple sugar, one of my favorite things. A lovely stuffed pumpkin, which matches my decor perfectly, an embroidered linen dish towel, perfectly gorgeous note paper (which is something I never buy for myself) and a pound cake, which Harvey started to nibble on right after I took this photo.

I have her third of four parcels almost ready to go and I hope to have it in the mail by Friday. This has been so very much fun.

Well I guess I had better go and visit everybody.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.