Countdown to Christmas

We're counting down the days to Christmas.

We decorated the tree last night. I put on the upper 

ornaments and Taylor took care of the lower branches.

Bird is no longer with us so I found a little white

bird at the dollar store and placed her on the tree.

(I made some slight modifications so she would look right)

I tie the tree to the spindles of the stairs

just in case, I've had a tree fall before

and don't want to repeat that!

Taylor has been working on her Advent calendar.

We have the traditional Christmas Candy.

Bob's peppermint sticks are the best

although you can't hang them on the tree. 

 Between work and some projects I didn't have time

to bake so I picked up some pretty cookies at Aldi. 

Taylor won't mind, I'm sure.

We heard the pitter patter of little feet

coming down the steps and then Taylor

walked into the kitchen to see what's for

breakfast.  Pop's was cooking up

some  potatoes with onion and celery

plus a cheese topping.

The amaryllis is poking up so I hope it blooms.

This is a table runner that my co-worker made 

us this year.  It uses only 2 pieces of fabric made into 

a tube, sew and iron to allow the back fabric 

to become a border, flip over the edges and 

attach buttons to the ends.  There's no batting

so it's fast and easy.

Here is a link to the pattern.

Ten Minute Table Runner 

 I folded it over so you can see the front is striped and the

back is a coordinated piece.

I still have to finish a major project and pick up a couple of 

minor things but after that I think we are ready!

It looks like we will miss the bad weather, we'll

get rain but probably miss the ice and sleet.

 I hope your plans are also going well!

What a Difference- 24 hours

Yesterday, dawn was gorgeous!

 The morning glow was a rainbow of yellows,

oranges, blues, pink and purples.

Here is the view this morning?

We still have Blue but also grey and a lot of white!

Yesterday 

A view from the second floor front porch.

The cats are not happy.

Neither are the birds.

This is the driveway up to the subdivision road.

The guys were out plowing this morning and

plan on rebuilding the salt spreader this afternoon

so it actually works.

I had planned to go to the fabric sale at the quilt shop

which is about 20-30 miles from the house 

but I think I'll just stick around here.

I've got lots to keep me busy.

 The snow ranged up to 9 inches in parts of 

Franklin county (our county) but we were not nearly

that deep.  There were lots of highway

accidents, many in town (St. Louis City/County) 

where I would have thought street crews would have had 

it cleared earlier but since it started with rain,

they may have had to wait until it stopped

and the snow began.

I do have some scraps to throw out to 

the woodland critters since everything is covered.

I'll wait until later, once the raccoon and opossum come out.

The cats are warm and dry between the porch shelters

and the area beneath our porch that they have dug out.

The covered porch is 9 ft deep so they bed down way  

back where no water or snow ever gets.

There's always the tractor tent too, 

easy enough to crawl beneath the tent flaps.

Well, I've frustrated myself enough with

some quilting issues so now it's time to take

a break and have some lunch.

Stay safe and warm!

Pretty and Bright to a Snowy Night

 It sure started out to be a pretty morning,

the colors were amazing and I was lucky 

to catch the shot when I did. In a matter of minutes

the colors fade away as the sun makes it over the hills.

Regardless, it would be short lived.

Yet another winter storm advisory 

Rain to Sleet to Snow by nightfall,

expected accumulation 3-5 inches by morning.

 So much for finishing up my shopping.

I worked from home in the morning and

 took 1/2 day vacation in the afternoon for just that.

So, what did I do instead?

I changed out the dining table

from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

My thrift store Funky Santa made his 2013 debut

along with new friends

Mr. Snowman Tea pot and cup

and Ms Penguin coffee mug.

They make a nice trio on my 

S'Noel table runner.

After baking some brownies I grabbed

my apple peeler/corer and two bags of apples.

I had an entire bowl of peels and cores left for

the critters this evening. They'll make a nice

treat when everything is covered in snow.

I gave the slices a lemon juice/water bath and

laid them out on the dehydrator sheets. 

 Then shaking my head, I realized that when

this is all said and done I would have prepped  apples

for about an hour, with several more hours in dehydrator time, 

only to have my husband gobble them down in no time flat!

  A friend stopped by a bit ago and reported

that the roads are starting to get pretty 

slushy.  Until it stops raining there's no use in 

putting down the salt and having it run off the hillside.

  I guess nature made sure I had plenty of quilting time

tomorrow- I need it!  Deadlines approach.

Stay safe,

Stay warm! 

A Visit with Santa(s)

We made our annual visit to Santa today.

He always stops at Bourbeuse Valley Harley Davidson

about this time of year, checking up on all the good

little girls and boys, and probably taking a 

spin or two while the reindeer wait out back.

We met our daughter, Becky, a little after 10 AM

for the ritual handing off of the granddaughter, Taylor.

Surprisingly we were the 2nd in line!

Normally we arrive much later and the place is packed

with children and lots of Santa's elves. 

Taylor is registered for a chance to win this bear,

her grandpa, Pops, wants the bike

which happens to be around $40k so

I wouldn't be holding my breath if I were Pops.

There's always the orange Harley tree

with all sorts of ornaments.

Toys and games are scattered around for 

the kids to play with while they wait.

We'll pick up our photos in a week or so

but I also snapped some of my own.

As it happened, we ran into one of Santa's helpers

when we stopped in at the local Ace Hardware

so Taylor was able to have a second visit 

in just a few minutes!

We had promised her a pair of really warm

gloves, waterproof and warm, which we found here.

This is a great Ace Hardware.

All Hardware is on the basement floor,

ground level from the rear of the building.

The home goods, toys, gifts and fabric shop is

on the first floor, ground level from the front

of the building.

Does it get any better?

Two visits to Santa,

and a stop at the quilt shop!

Cat Hotel

The temperatures dropped as moisture moved into 

our area creating our first winter storm with 

any measurable precipitation. When we have a 

threat of ice I work from home because we have 

little to no road maintenance.  If we want the snow

plowed, the guys have to plow it with their four wheelers.

I don't chance it, so I work from home.

We have a full attic- floors, drywall, bookcases, etc. 

so I set up my office space there.

 My husband must have a soft spot in his heart 

for the cats' comfort afterall because 

when the work day was over he took me 

out on the porch to show me our new Cat Hotel!

 As strays, they are not house cats.

He took Bird's old tubby out to our 9 ft wide covered porch,

  filled it with straw and did the same with a second tubby next to it.

He covered them with cardboard with an allowance

for an entrance/exit.  He covered it all with plywood and

added a capstone from our garden wall to secure it.

  They leap up on the chairs to jump in

but can exit from the inside without added support.

It is pretty much protected from the elements.

 Specks, jumped in right away

(old photo, there's no green left here!)

but the male cat, Spot, was very leery! 

 I don't know if they are going to use it,

but  as we're due for more snow and sleet over the 

weekend, it doesn't hurt to let it stay.

They have found the tractor tent so they 

may be in there as well.  My husband spotted

one sneaking in and out beneath the tent door.

Specks has also been known to hang out

in the green house when the sun is shining.

The plastic door won't zip up anymore so it 

is open to all of them.

Gimps is allowed to live in the garage,

she's not social so she doesn't cuddle with the others

but is a very petite, sweet cat.

Rumbles normally stays out but the last couple of 

cold nights we kept her in the garage too.

We can't have many in there because they knock 

things off shelves and damage my husband's 

equipment when they scratch.

 Sugar Bear, a male, is on his own. The two males

don't get along so he has an igloo beneath the back

deck. I often throw scraps to him without the others seeing.

Does anyone else have other ideas for sheltering cats?

I'm on rocky unlevel ground so I can't dig down more than

a couple of inches, if that.  I'd be interested in knowing 

other alternatives.  

Keep Warm!

Turkey and Savory Dumplings

Now, what to do with the pounds of turkey 

leftovers from Thanksgiving?  

We normally have 

some Turkey and Dumplings but this year

my husband decided to mix in his stuffing spices

into the dumplings which gave it a wonderfully

dressing-like dumpling, savory and spicy!

This is a keeper!

Basic Stew

  Turkey leftovers

Turkey Stock- deep enough to cover meat and veges

plus leave room for the dumplings to steam.

 Chopped Vegetables to Taste (we go heavy)

Onions

Carrots

Celery

Peas

Dumplings (biscuit/flour dumplings)

2 C sifted Flour 

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

Nutmeg to taste

1/2 to 3/4 C Milk approx

2 Tbl butter

Spices to Taste

Sage

Thyme

Marjoram

Rosemary

Pepper

Combine meat and vegetables and allow it to simmer,

 we simmer for about 3 hours.

Make sure to put enought meat and vegetables into your

pot so your dumplings are supported.  You don't want them

to sink because they won't cook properly.

Make dumplings in a large bowl.  Use your judgement on the milk 

amounts, if it looks too dry, add more.

Place dumplings on top of meat mixture, cover and 

steam for 15 minutes prior to serving.

Santa Rides a Harley

Santa Rides a Harley

This is a repost from  2007 when a new family tradition was established. 

We're expecting a round of bad weather, hopefully not as bad as 2007, 

as we make our way to see Santa this weekend. 

Sleet and snow blanketed our area unexpectedly December 2007 on a most important day, at least for three year old Taylor, our granddaughter.  It was the day she was supposed to see Santa and tell him what a fine girl she had been all year.   We were going to the mall which was at least thirty miles from our home and twenty of those are over curvy, hilly, two lane, no shoulder roads where roll-overs are the norm.  The fortunate ones don’t land upside down in the many small creeks. 

How was I going to break the news that we just couldn’t make it?  She truly is fine girl.  One of the most well behaved children, kind and sharing.   I don’t say this simply because she is my grandchild, it was a concentrated effort of all parties involved to set limits, examples and actually provide discipline rather than have a kiddie free-for-all that is so common these days.  Then it hit us-

Our local paper advertised Santa’s arrival at the nearby Harley dealership.  It is located at the cross section of Hwy 44 and 50 just outside of Union, MO.  It stands by itself, very rural and of course has motorcycles in the parking lot.   I have passed by it several times and there have been some pretty strange looking people there.  I was a bit nervous; I had watched movies where Hell’s Angels terrorized towns.  They rode Harleys.   There were tatted up, leather capped, long hair bearded men - also women in tall boots donned in pure black leather with more than a hint of silver studding.  We could get there, but would we get back?

It was only eight miles away, we could make it.  We all jumped into the 4WD truck and headed to the dealership.   I asked my husband to wait in the truck with Taylor while I checked out the store, just in case we had to hightail it out of there.   No, I’m not the brave one, I just can’t reach the truck pedals to make the fast getaway.  He thinks I am ridiculous, a West County princess, but gives in to my request. 

I gingerly approached the door, entered the building and what to my wondering eyes did appear . . . . . ?  Sitting atop a beautiful, shiny motorcycle was a wonderfully jolly, white haired, bearded Santa donned in Santa red and white from tip to almost toe-the required black boots as the finishing touch.  The pretty lady elves in elfin garb, their pointy caps all green and red, ushered the little children to Santa, snapping photos of each- compliments of the dealership.   Little play areas were set up among the aisles where awaiting tots could build with blocks, play with tiny cars or hug stuffed bears. 

The store had been transformed into a winter wonderland with homemade decorations of candy canes and packages high up on the walls.  Display areas were filled with stuffed animals, an unusual selection with anteaters, opossums, skunks, chipmunks and squirrels, all at very reasonable prices.  There were Christmas trees- the traditional green bushy variety. There was also a very special orange and black tree covered in Harley ornaments, all very pretty and quality made.  Across the store was the bake sale with freshly made cookies, fudge and candies which rivaled any PTO selection I have seen.  All proceeds would go to charity, just one of their many charitable events throughout the year. 

I ran back to the truck to get Taylor.  She couldn’t miss this, and I couldn’t pass up this photo op!  Now this is our annual Christmas event.   She loves that Santa and you can tell how much he loves the kids.  He takes his time with them, no rushing.  He has an actual conversation with them, and also with the parents. Then he pulls everyone in for a group photo.   I’m no longer uneasy around the long haired, bearded, leather capped and tatted up patrons, in fact, I would really love to have one of their leather tooled black purses complete with the silver studding  but they are way above my price point!    I make certain to purchase several items from their bake sale and Taylor always gets her pick of unusual stuffed animals, my favorite being the opossum.

So the magic of Christmas didn’t stop at a child’s wonder but also transformed the preconceived ideas of a grandma.  Peace on earth and goodwill to all.  Merry Christmas.   

Raccoon Cookies

Raccoon Cookies!

We went to the River Hills Traveler's 

Christmas party today in St Clair, MO, really

more of an open house where fans of the

publication gathered to gab or ask questions

about the local area.  There were homemade cookies

spiced hot cider, fruit and of course lots and lots

of raccoon items to celebrate their mascot

  that happens to be everywhere in their office

including a raccoon angel tree topper!

The assistant editor

had baked up raccoon cookies that are just

too cute to eat.  I'm really thinking

about spraying it with lacquer and mounting a 

hanger for the Christmas tree!

I wasn't the only one taking them home whole

so I think others have the same idea.

The River Hills Traveler is a monthly newspaper

  about Missouri outdoors (link below), 

stories, hunting, travel, adventures, resorts and

events and points of interest.

There are links to festivals, outfitters, hotels

and lots more.

If you plan to visit Missouri, you might 

want to take a look at the link.

River Hills Traveler

The Trading Post is filled with historical books on 

Missouri, guides, cook books, cds and dvds for sale:

A Paddler's Guide to Missouri, Missouri Cooking Wild,

mysteries of Missouri and other such topics.

My husband found several that he'd love to read

so you never know what might show up under

the tree- or for his December birthday!

Dinner Together Across the Miles

Eight for Dinner-

We celebrated Thanksgiving dinner for eight

despite our table setting for six.

My son, Sean, flew in from Seattle this year, 

my father-in-law, Dick, is to his right in this photo, 

then my husband Tom, daughter Becky snapping this shot,

granddaughter Taylor and two guests that were there

via the wonder of skype!

(we all had to laugh, my father in law's 

expression looks just like my great, great, great

grandfather's portrait hanging on the wall behind me !)

We sat up the computer on the back buffet

so Dan and wife Gina could join the meal from

their yacht in Daytona.  What fun!

At first I thought I had one too many glasses of wine

until I realized the table was in focus, 

 the people were just moving and sharing in laughter

at our old family stories and jokes.

As you can see, everyone had a great time.

 Becky brought over some wine she thought I would enjoy

and we had to laugh as I bought the same brand, Rex Goliath.

I will say her Cabernet was far more tasty than my Merlot.

Papa Dick gets a hug from Taylor.

Tom did most of the cooking-

we thought it would be safer that way! 

I'm pretty good at baking but I can't

hold a candle to him on the cooking side.

And I always measure wrong!

He saved our potatoes when I was about to 

drown them with too much milk.

That happens when I don't make them twice

but try to double a recipe!

Taylor and Grandma Kathy

Becky and Taylor

Our favorite turkey platter!

It turns out these were pretty popular.

I had my grandmother's old turkey centerpiece on the table 

until the food arrived.  This is one of the little pumpkins

I grew but haven't pureed yet.

 Dinner was a success

Turkey and the traditional Usher dressing- 

very spicy with rosemary, sage,  marjoram and thyme.

 Mashed potatoes with gravy plus candied sweet potatoes,

green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce and an olive tray.

Pumpkin and pecan pie topped it all off.

My son brought his own food, being vegan,

and particular about some of the ingredients that

are vegan but that he has objections to.

My daughter is a vegetarian but will eat gravy

and occasionally a bit of meat, but very little.

My granddaughter and husband, both carnivores, 

more than made up for any non-meat eaters.

 After dinner we went next door to my father-in-law's home

 until everyone started feeling pretty tired. All in all

it was a good day, everyone was stuffed and it was time for bed!

I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful.