We Did It!

Read the whole Bible

in one year!

This was such a fun way to do it. 

We did it together.

This bible is arranged in chronological order

according to the timeline of events.

It really helped make things fall into place. 

When you read a story and then 3 books later read the same story

you don't have to wonder if they are the same or just very similar.

The stories will appear right next to each other. 

That was very handy in the Old Testament when

reading about all the kings and their exploits.

I am convinced that if you took all the repetition

out of the Bible, it would be about a third of the size.

But there are also some very strong warnings about 

messing with, as in adding or taking away from, 

the Bible so I'm cool with the repetition. 

Mike was way better at staying on top of the daily readings. 

I had a few weeks where I had to do 

multiple days in one day to get back on track.

And I'll be honest, some of the time I wondered what

the heck I was reading about so I would bust out my

student bible for some clarification.

That counts as extra credit, right?

It also made me realize that while reading the Bible is

a great accomplishment, 

studying it, 

being guided through it,

and

understanding it, 

are the best ways for me to 

live my life through it. 

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The Snuggie.

Dirk gave this to Shanna in 2009.

Fast forward to 2011.

Turnabout is fair play.

Well played, Shanna.

A Collection

You never know when one will develop.

Even the dogs are no longer safe.

When To De-Christmas?

I think New Years Day is 

pretty typical

but is the first day the rest of the world goes back to work too soon?

A friend on Facebook posed the question.

I decorate the day after Thanksgiving

and I have to tell you, 

while I love all my little *vignettes* 

when I make them,

by Christmas I am getting kind of tired of all the

stuff around. 

Between that and all the activity

I'm getting ready for a little more order in my life.

So, today is the first "work" day after Christmas

and I have consolidated my decorations to the

living and dining rooms. 

I have reclaimed my family room

and kitchen. 

Now to reclaim my diet!

Santa Hats

Or how to get from here

to here

These are so cute, 

but so inedible.

They are way too sweet but I mixed them in with

the Puppy Chow I made and they looked really cute. 

Unfortunately, I did not manage to get a picture of that.

Shanna sent me the link to this.

They have you mix them with a white 

chocolate covered concoction. 

Talk about *sweet*!

Here's what I can tell you about this little project:

Val had suggested you dip the bugles

in halves but top and bottom as opposed to side

and side. It made sense till I did it. 

When you dip from the bottom all the

coating pools at the bottom. 

The Swedish Pearl Sugar was a better size than the 

white "ball" sprinkles I  bought.

This is messy and requires the down time

for the candy melt to harden between steps.

But the ooohs and ahhhs 

made it worthwhile. 

The Greatest Gift Of All

Is Jesus Christ. 

That being said, 

here's number two.

I remember my mom being so excited to become a 

Grandmother.

I didn't get it back then. 

And then after my kids were teenagers

I started *borrowing* friend's kids.

Then I understood. 

I have loved loving on my friends children. 

I thank

Anna, Rylan, Libby and Ava

for my grandmother training. 

My *rentals* as I have liked to call them.

I thank my girlfriends who have

shared their grandchildren and their

grand-parenting experiences with me. 

I have less than 9 months to take off the training 

wheels and jump into the 

Grandparent pool!

Now to choose a title. 

Diva and Mrs. Luehr have been rejected. 

I've Been Busy!

I've been so busy this last week and 

most of the things that have kept me

busy are Christmas related and therefor

not Blog ready. 

But what I can tell you about is this:

I had the privilege of being asked to

put together a dessert table for a 

wonderful organization. 

Maternity Homes Of Fox Valley is located on the 

Mooseheart grounds in Aurora. 

They are a home for young girls who find 

themselves pregnant and in need of housing and more. 

Check out their website. 

I was so impressed with what I saw. 

Each girl has her own room and access

to information, education and counseling. 

They have formed a bond with one another 

and a support network instead of the 

isolation they would likely experience in 

another setting, on their own. 

I had so much fun putting together

this table for an open house they were hosting for 

donors and friends. 

I was excited to create but now 

I think I'm a bit more excited to know more

about an amazing organization. 

Baked Bean Casserole

I have no idea where or when this dish made it's

way into my family's lives. 

All I do know is that I was a child and it's still good. 

Oh, and as far as I can tell there is no

"official" recipe.

But here are the Cliff Notes for you.

Layer a can of baked beans,

(the kind with molasses are best)

a handful of brown sugar,

a layer of ground beef that has been browned with some 

onions and mixed with some tomato paste, 

and repeat. 

Top it off with slices of bacon

and throw it in the oven till it's

hot and the bacon is cooked. 

How much is a handful of brown sugar?

Some. 

How much tomato paste?

Till it looks good.

How high should the oven be?

Isn't every thing at 350?

Hey, that's the best I can do for you, 

but hey, look at it this way, 

no pesky measuring devices to wash :o)

Rolo Turtles

These babies are crazy good and

crazy easy. 

You just line a baking sheet with parchment paper, 

spread out mini pretzel twists, 

top each one with a Rolo candy

and pop in a 350 oven for 3-5 minutes. 

Just till the candy gets soft. 

Press a pecan on top as soon as you

take them out of the oven and 

Wa La!

I drizzled the dark chocolate over top. 

My own little addition. 

Feel free.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Or, Christmas Gift Idea #4

It' s #29 in the Food Network Magazine's 

insert this month.

I am taking these for a mass birthday party tonight

but they are really cute hostess gifts as well.

I have never made caramel before and my candy

making experience is limited at best, but nothing

ventured, nothing gained.

Here is what I can share:

Do not "simmer" the sugar water as the instructions 

would have you do. 

After 1/2 hour of simmering

 (not the 12 minutes the instructions suggest) 

 and the mixture not getting anywhere near a dark amber, 

I Googled more instructions. 

As best I can tell, you should allow the water to boil. 

I had to make a second batch and that one 

did turn dark amber in about 12 minutes. 

Ina would have you stir the sugar water, 

these instructions tell you to swirl it. 

For some reason, I think you are not supposed to 

stir sugar water when making candy, so I did not. 

The first batch I just poured in the cold cream which 

bubbled quite impressively and proceeded to form a 

big ol' ball of goo that I eventually

turned into a sauce.

With the second batch I warmed the cream a bit but

when I poured it in it went NUTZ!

Up and over the sides of the pan, 

all over my stove. 

Now, I don't know if that was a result of the warmed cream or 

of taking the sugar water all the way up to a boil.

A bit more research and I found Alton

suggests you let the sugar water cool a bit

before adding the cream. 

That sound like good advice. 

All that aside, it's really delicious sauce. 

My friend asked what you do with it. 

I suggested

over ice cream, 

over gingerbread cake,

or by the spoonful. 

You decide.

Cookie Day 2011

It's funny how traditions are born all 

on their own.

Sometimes you don't even know 

it's happening till it's firmly established.

Cookie day did it. 

And what looks to be our mandatory picture.

Looks like this mandatory picture is creeping in.

Nice that he's changing up dogs each year. 

And that the dogs now have a matching hat.

Our Christmas Stockings

And my random thoughts about them.

There are three generations of stocking makers represented here.

Big made mine (the biggest, gotta love that!), Dirk's, 

Shanna's and Michael's.

I made Mike's 

(back in the 80s when he was big into cowboy boots)

and Shawn's.

Breese made Michelle's.

I know there are many styles of Christmas stockings out there.

They are all nice and have their good qualities.

But for our family, these are the only

true Christmas stockings.

I love that Big gave us this tradition. 

I love that Breese will carry it on. 

I wonder how many generations will.

And I love that for as many generations that do carry 

it on, that's how many generations will 

hear loving stories about my Big, 

the kid's Meme. 

Aggie's 3-Bean Pumpkin Chili

That's Aggie of 

Aggie's Kitchen.

She helped me out with Michael and Michelle's wedding.

She's good people.

She also got me started blogging.

Last week she posted this

Slow Cooker 3-Bean Pumpkin Chili

and it just struck a chord with me so I gave it a try.

It's terrific.

Here's my take on it:

I used black, northern and pinto beans,

I added a sweet potato, 

I used mushroom broth,

and fire roasted tomatoes.

It's really good and hearty. 

And pretty colorful besides. 

Thanks again, Aggie!

The Art of You're Welcome

Once Shanna and I were at church and the pastor at the 

time thanked Shanna for something, I don't remember what

anymore. What I do remember was his response after Shanna

had replied "no problem" or "it's OK."

He took issue with the reply. 

He felt "you're welcome" was a better sentiment.

"No problem" or "it's OK" 

seems to diminish the kind gesture by his way of thinking. 

That stuck with me. 

I do prefer a "you're welcome."

It does sound more sincere. 

I try to say you're welcome. 

It does convey that I was pleased to do whatever

it is I am being thanked for. 

Funny how some things just stick with you. 

Like the time Val Langooth's mother

called me an instigator. 

Had to go home and look that one up. 

Things That Make Me Smile

Well, really many things make me smile.

But these guys do it to me every time.

I love The Art Institute.

My sister gave me a membership a few years back

so I can now go whenever I want and spend as much or little

time as I choose.

I found the members lounge this trip. 

They have free coffee and hot chocolate.

But right down the hall is the cafe

and there you can buy:

(the wine, not Honey)

Yet another reason to love The AI.

Whatcha Gonna Do With Those?

Seasons 52 turned us on to the 

Mini Dessert concept.
So Gaye got 6 To Go and I wound up with these:

Then Steve and Nancy gave me these for my birthday:

They bought them at Pier One.
They are called mini cordials.

Can I just tell you, the possibilities are endless!

These were just what I had in the house.
Granola, instant vanilla pudding, blueberries, whip cream
and some toasted coconut on top.

Here's my take on a deconstructed eclair.
Graham cracker crumbs, vanilla pudding, chocolate ganache
and more graham cracker crumbs on top.

Mmmmm, crushed up Oreos, Oreo pudding,
whip cream and a mini Oreo on top.

And finally,
Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits.
These were for Thanksgiving.
I happened to find mini gingerbread men sprinkles
for on top.

These are so much fun and everybody really gets a kick
out of them.
The one tip I have so far is, if you put
crumbs at the bottom, don't pack them in.
It's a bit hard to get them to break up while you
are eating the parfait.

Oh, and if you have other ideas, please share!

The Santa Tree

I have a few Father Christmas'.

I got this bright idea about 14 years ago.

Somehow
(mom and Big)
I found my 

collection had grown beyond any flat display

area my house had. 

I needed a way to display all these

guys that I could collapse and 

store away.

What I came up with is what we now refer to as

The Santa Tree.

It's just two wooden shelf supports that I hinged at the top
and then ran four 1x12s through.
Over the years I have added the greenery and lights.

However, the best addition I ever made
was getting The Daughter Unit to decorate it!

I missed you this year, Shanna :o)

Kosher Turkeys

I have one or two things to say about this.

And these observations are in no particular order.

1- What's with that big ol' tear?

2-Kosher = no internal organs = no giblets = no giblet gravy.

3 - Lots of plucking

4 - Someone butchered the butchering. 

5 - They really didn't seem any better than the 

Hokas we've always had.

6 - They were WAY expensive!

They did provide us with one chuckle.

My mom bought them and dropped them off in my refrigerator.

She didn't really take a good look, but part of the wrapping was dark

green and it kind of looked like they were black. 

When I talked to her that evening she said, 

"did you know they would be black?"

I proceeded to have heart failure, ran to the fridge

and discovered what had misled her. 

From then on we named them 

Sammy Davis Jr. 1 and 2. 

Ha,ha.

I'm So Proud

This is my family.

Shanna had the idea for the PJ's.

She even went out and bought them.

You might think a family photo in Christmas PJ's

is a cute, relatively harmless

thing to do. 

What this picture doesn't show is that we are in

the administrative building at 

Bulter University.

It was during the reception for their new president.

We had to change in a faculty break room.

There were MANY people milling about.

We took the first set of PJ pictures outdoors.

In the cold.

I had neglected to mention to Mike that 

there would even be PJ's involved.

I have many thoughts running through my mind

looking at this picture of familial bliss.

I'm just happy to be there.

Michelle is wondering if they are going to turn on her.

Michael has waited years for this opportunity.

Mike and Michael have 

frighteningly similar facial expressions.

I'm totally living in my PJ's 

Christmas Day. 

Long Time, No Write!

I know it's been a while since I've written

when I have to "sign in" to post again.

Mom and Big will think I have fallen off the earth.

I have not. 

I've been busy. 

There are probably 5 posts banging around in my head.

I will start at the beginning.

Lynne and I made donuts.

Red velvet donuts.

They were not great.

In fact they were awful.

They were just fried lumps of dough.

Definitely not worth the calories.

This has given me pause to ponder.

What exactly does Red Velvet taste like?

Lynne contends it tastes like nothing.

And honestly I am left to wonder if red velvet

is more of a visual feast then a 

taste experience.

Lynne and I will not have our traditional

holiday donut making extravaganza

thwarted.

Food Network Magazine has a recipe

 for jelly filled donuts in the last issue.

The donut shall rise again!

Christmas Gift Idea #3

A Memory Box

I have done variations on this.

This one was for my mom. 

I did one for Big Mary too. 

They are great for someone who *needs* nothing.

I got the unfinished wood boxes and 

burned and painted them myself. 

But I have also used "off the rack" boxes as well.

This one was for Honey's 50th.

This one was for my friend Val's 50th.

Honey's had 50 things I love about him.

Mom and Big's each had 50 memories.

I sent an e-mail to my siblings and asked them to contribute.

I just wanted short little one lines, even just a word.

Like "The wooden spoon" LOL

I had them all rolled up individually 

and tied with a piece of embroidery floss. 

It's a fun project but start early.

50 is a lot!