This blog will no longer be quite as active as before! I won't have time to keep up with it like I used to have. Maybe a post here and there when I can get to it.

Hope your holidays were peaceful and everything you wished for came true! See below this post what I've received as gifts from my "online Santas"

Happy 2007!!!
signing off...........

I had a secret elf for the 12 days prior to Christmas...
Each day, I'd find a special little something in my stocking er....ummmm, email!
Thanks to my secret elf--you made my days oh so special!!
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I've had the most wonderful online-friendship holiday ever! Short from having family home for Christmas, my online family showered me with some lovely, precious gifts!


A group of ladies I belong to---friends that I have met, others still yet to meet; we've been online friends for several years...we decided to have a 'name drawing' for a 'secret santa' gift exchange. Hubby was the one who drew the names for us all. My name that I was to buy a gift for and send it along to her was Chilady!
My gift to Chilady is something I made. I crocheted her an angel centerpiece. Here is the gift---

Chilady has two views, front and back on her blog.

Norma made me this beautiful stat --it's just gorgeous!

[click here for 808x594 image]
Dear Wystful,
You bring a Bright light into peoples lives.
I am grateful for such a wonderful friend .
Hugs Norma

And a wonderful woman that has graced my online adventures for years, Karma, drew my name. Karma? Your gift is most cherished! Here is the adorable gift Karma sent me for Christmas--


I've dubbed him Sir Windsor of Mooseville
(Karma is from a town called, Windsor)

Then, there's Lady Lisa --She honored me by sending me a most treasured gift--the "how-to's" and equipment to make Denmark's own traditonal Danish Hearts. The traditional heart is done in red and white---Denmark's flag colors; filled with treats of all kinds, and hung along store windows, on Christmas trees and the like. I made several, and now I'm hooked! I love them, Lisa! And thanks. Here are a few of my finished hearts.




Then, last but not least of friends' gifts. Comes a surprise from Melli. But, there is a story behind this gift. A bit of fun actually. Yet, at the beginning she had me really going there!----You see, to make a long story short, she told me that she found 'flavored' linguine! And she was sure it would be a flavor I'd appreciate! Yes, she did have me going. Then, the package arrived...on the bubble envelope, Melli had written: "The pasta's here!" I opened the envelope, and sure enough there was this Linguine box!! But through the cellophane window I could see something wrapped in holiday paper. I opened the linguine and had fun with her for a while all over the 'net...making her follow my clues to get a joke, a poem, stuff like that. Really, fair play don't you think? Okay so, come this morning (after the linguine simmered under the tree for a couple of weeks) I opened the now scorched pasta!! Burnt pasta paste, indeed! (just joking!) They go so well with my newly 'styled' bedroom color!! Thank you so much Melli!! Look at these beauties!----



~<>~<>~And to all my online and blogging friends...~<>~<>~

LEMON MERINGUE DESSERT

1 large package of cook 'n' serve JELLO Lemon Pie Filling
homemade prepared pie crust (with some sugar added)
3 egg meringue

This is a long drawn out affair, but oh so scrumptious.
When I make a lemon meringue pie I always find that the pie filling is much more than can be held in a large pie pan, it always seems to overflow and then I can't seal the meringue like it should be to avoid watery filling.

So, I've remedied the dilemma by using a 13x9 oblong cake pan.

The pieces, after it's prepared, can be cut into squares and served as a dessert just like pie, but as a smaller portioned 'bar'.

And I'm not one much for the meringue itself, too sweet for me...so the 3 egg yolks used when following the boxed recipe, is thin and not 'bulky' and overpowering the tangy lemon.

Step by step with a few pictures of the process is below.

Prepare jello lemon pie filling as directed on package
(I use the microwave section, but can be stove top)









While cooking the filling mix to a boil, and cooling for 5 minutes (stirring twice) -- you prepare your own pie crust. (I add sugar to my pie crust mixing to add just a touch of cookie sweetness to the bar)



With damp hands, press the finished crust into the ungreased, oblong cake pan and set in preheated oven to brown lightly. (I never say oven temperatures because convention/convection ovens vary in heat processes AND cooking times-so, lightly browned) Meanwhile, stir your pie filling to keep it from lumping up as it cools.

Once your crust is browned to your tastes and preference, and flaky to the touch, remove from oven and cool.

After cooling, slowly pour the lemon filling on top of the crust, spreading evenly to coat the crust. Again, alow to cool while preparing the meringue.



On the back of the jello package, there are directions for meringue. Follow as shown and when peaks form on the whipped egg white/sugar mix, you're ready to top the filling/crust that has been cooling.




Pop the crust/filling/meringue filled pan back into a warm oven and brown the meringue (about 5 minutes or so, depending on the temperature you have set)

You get this as a result (of course more egg whites can be used to completely cover, but around our house, only hubby likes the meringue, so it's 50/50 for us!!)
REFRIGERATE at least 5 hours before cutting/serving

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

(also, if you'd like to join me and would like to use this graphic header you're more than welcome. Click here to save it.) And the link for the posting of your Thursday Thoughts URL is on my sidebar!!

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Have you ever realized you're thinking in words? In your brain--without actually speaking those words aloud? In turn, have you ever thought to yourself, how did language evolve?

Where and when, in history, did language actually become congnitive? Speech, such as forming sounds into words? How did the Neanderthals express their thoughts verbally? Where and when did the association of apple actually become the fruit as we know today --let alone the "forbidden fruit" being associated with the word apple; and there is no reference to apple in Genesis. It's simply 'translated in one "language" from another "language" as the fruit from the tree of knowledge'? Is green, the color, actually green as we know it--the shade of grass blades?

I have. Many times.

Humans have a brain functioning at high speed, tho we are reportedly only using a small percentage. And I'm sure that we humans of today's generation learned speech from our parents and they did and their parents...and so on. But going back to days of say---cavemen? How did the man of the house let his woman know he's hungry and wants her to cook? Was it a verbal grunt or two? Was it all hand signals?

I'm contented to visualize our vocal abilities have evolved along with our brains and brain size. Our physical apparatus with language and speaking has also evolved into a highly mechanized tool.

Was it a different movement of humans' vocal chords? Why now in our time do we choke more than past generations? Is our larnyx continuing to evolve?

When we visit foreign lands that the people of the visited land speak a strange language, what do we normally do to communicate? Is it from our instinct and our evolution to use sign language and point along with words?

Did we use signs, and motion of our hands and then find that our hands could make use of tools? And with those tools came a necessity to communicate verbally to allow us to continue working with our hands while 'talking'?

So facinating and yet at the time unanswerable. The study of evolution and language has always intrigued me. So many different languages and translations....all through the evolution of conversing/communicating in those different languages!!!

Should there be more of a universal language? If human evolution is correct, and man 'began' in what is now known as Africa, why then are there so many different species of humans? So many languages. In China, for example, the many hundreds of Chinese dialects differ so much even Chinese from the far eastern shores cannot understand the Chinese to the west?

Where and how did language evolve you wonder?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Not so wordless this week....
sending you this card from my house to yours--------





....you have everything you need, if you just believe!!!!

TWO FOR TUESDAY

What a difference a day makes.....



One day it's this.....




...the next day it's this!

It's foggy!! How I love fog!!
For me, it's one of the best of nature's glories!!
The sounds, how they carry, the whole feeling of dampness, and stillness all rolled into one----



From the front yard...looking down the street, can barely see homes.

From the back yard, over the fence...into an empty field...but it's NOT empty. They're building houses and there are large pieces of equipment sitting there...invisible this morning!

Dew on a climbing rose bush branch

I tried to get the dew - water drops AND a web with dewy mist interwoven.

[enlarge the photos for better views]

SUNDAY'S SNIPPET

Sunday's snippets is my original idea to share something a bit 'out of the ordinary'...yet, newsy without being of crimes, wars, hate and such that the media tends to over saturate the papers/tv/internet. I wanted Sunday to be a bit 'peaceful' and enjoyable with meaningless stature or perhaps something of an intersting-helpful value!!

Today's topic is Children -Children's Hospice Coalition to be exact.

This past two weeks, beginning December 4th and ending December 14th, the oh so talented man of my dreams, Johnny Depp, among other celebrites donated items to be auctioned off to raise funds for children in need. (Johnny Depp's "Today is a gift, have fun" bracelet you often see him wearing can be purchased to help with funds also)

To continue with the 'happy' story of charities from celebrities (this is always a feel-good for me, reading about such happenings)....Mr. Depp did a self portrait of his recurring role as Captain Jack Sparrow on a bowling ball. And this past ten days, it was auctioned off. The bids started at $75.00 (USA currency)...in ten days' time the top bid was $2,360.51 (USA)!!

I don't have my normal newsprint scanned this week, but I do have the photo from the auction here --



The winning bidder is Sheila! It's a treasure!

Also, among other items, were "A day with Melissa Gilbert" --top bid was $1225.00 (winning bid was from Stephen) - Lunch with Mandy Moore -- bidding topped close to $5 grand!! - FX's Nip and Tuck VIP passes bidding for over $6,000 - many many others!! The top item auctioned off this past week was Andy Warhol's "John Wayne" original screenprint going for over $34 grand!

All proceeds, 100%, goes to the benefit of the Children's Hospice!! All totalling nearly $60,000.00. Awesome...like I said, this particular item is a feel good story...when we're all so busy charging and purchasing gifts for our family and friends, the hard working celebrities and well-knowns have it in their hearts to give to the needy as we all should!!!

God Bless them, each and every one!!

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Your Elf Name Is...

Happy Sweet Cheeks

What's Your Elf Name?

I am shocked!!! 'sweet cheeks' is hubby's and my nicknames for each other!!! UN-be-LIEVABLE....*gulp* This is the first time anything has even come remotely close with these "name" quizzes. And she actually looks about how I feel.

SATURDAY PHOTO HUNT

Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.


THIS WEEK'S THEME - - ANNOYING
Okay, not much in my life annoys me, so this was difficult for me since I've not left the house much this week. The first thing that came to mind was something on television...but since I've been sick, and haven't had a chance to get any pictures, nor any time to actually feel like sitting in front of a TV. This is usually on during dinner at our house, as we have the television going so we don't have to hear each other chewing! LOL

So, I kinda 'cheated' this week. ....gotta break the rules once in a while....that's what they're for, ya know? I went out on the 'net with my hunting this day----it's not clipart, but actually it's not a photo either---it's a very SHORT 13 second video. Yet, the true TV airing goes on and on and on and on....for at least a minute!!! And something about shoving this and where the sun don't shine, comes to mind!!!! Okay...here's the most annoying thing I could think of this morning.



(No, we don't have TIVO, and we don't need it actually. 'Cause most times the TV is used for DVD's)

VIRTUAL HOLIDAY COOKIE SWAP

Carol, being a gracious hostess that she is, is holding a 'cookie swap'. I've decided to add a recipe. Tho not a cookie per se, but the size you make these mouth watering 'pies' is totally up to you....I have made 'em about the size of the store manufactured moon pies. They're fantastic with a tall glass of icy cold milk!!

(and I use the bottled Marshmallow Creme for filling)



1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
Whoopie Pie Filling (see recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together shortening, sugar, and egg. In another bowl, combine cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a small bowl, stir the vanilla extract into the milk. Add the dry ingredients to the shortening mixture, alternating with the milk mixture; beating until smooth.

Drop batter by the 1/4 cup (to make 18 cakes) onto prepared baking sheets. With the back of a spoon spread batter into 4-inch circles, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cake. Bake 15 minutes or until they are firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Make Whoopie Pie Filling. When the cakes are completely cool, spread the flat side (bottom) of one chocolate cake with a generous amount of filling. Top with another cake, pressing down gently to distribute the filling evenly. Repeat with all cookies to make 9 pies. Wrap whoopie pies individually in plastic wrap, or place them in a single layer on a platter (do not stack them, as they tend to stick).

To freeze, wrap each whoopie pie in plastic wrap. Loosely pack them in a plastic freezer container and cover. To serve, defrost the wrapped whoopie pies in the refrigerator.

Makes 9 large whoopie pies.

Whoopie Pie Filling:
1 cup solid vegetable shortening*
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups Marshmallow Fluff**
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* Butter may be substituted for all or part of the vegetable shortening, although traditional Whoopie Pies are made with vegetable shortening only

** Marshmallow Creme may be substituted.

In a medium bow, beat together shortening, sugar, and Marshmallow fluff; stir in vanilla extract until well blended.

....the best time of the year

....when Christmas comes to town!!

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Don't miss the virtual Blogs' Holiday Parade!! Won't you join? It'll be like a drive through the neighborhood with all the 'ooooooooo's and ahhhhhhhhhh's' of the beauty of the season!! Link above, on the top righthand corner...just click and join the fun!!

Ho, Ho, Ho!
Mer-r-r-r-y Christmas!!!













I'VE BEEN SO SICK I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPUTER TIME...
THESE ARE MORE PHOTOS OF SANTA RESIDING HERE IN OUR HOME that I have stored on the computer already---

TWO FOR TUESDAY

CROCHET & SHELLS

Well, today, this fine Tuesday -being a very busy time of year for me, I wanted to share a new project I will be starting for the winter days while hubby is watching his Super Bowl all day, etc. LOL (I always seem to want to start a new project around this time, 'cause if my favorite team isn't in the bowl--I ask now: "What is it with this new Rookie Quarterback for the D. Broncos?"--, it's a bit boring. Besides, there is way too much money wasted putting on the sports' show of shows. My humble opinion.)

Anyway, today, before I begin to start making some holiday treats that will last the month for us, without spoiling, or things I can freeze ahead of time, I'm going to show you TWO VIEWS of the one thing I want to try to make. Just hope I can find the right color I have in mind! I'm thinking a bright rich blue, or perhaps a misty lavendar...all colors for Spring. *smile*

It is labeled "advanced" for the pattern, so I will read through the directions more thoroughly before I even LOOK for thread. Just to see if I think I can understand it first. It's something totally beautiful in my estimation, and would look great with a simple pant suit of a dark color. If I choose the correct color of thread, I'd be able to wear it for casual wear with a nice pair of jeans AND going out in the evening for 'more fancy' dining.

The front and back views of my hopefully soon to be new project! It's soooooooooo, well, for lack of a better description, feminine and victorian-looking---




What's your opinion? Right now, for me it's "ACK!" I'm not sure 'bout this one...looks pretty, but still in my mind PRETTY difficult. We'll see. Then....

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My second entry is a photo of some shells. When I go walking on the beach I am equipped with my always present water bottle and a cloth shoulder bag. The water? For drinking. The bag? For shells!!

If I happen to get 'lucky' I can find some unbroken shells. Ya know---The beaches on Mustang Island vehicles are allowed to traverse over, and the shells are smashed to bits. The last month or so, a new section of the beach has finally been re-opened. For a couple of years, it's been cordoned off because of the county's construction....or I should say REconstruction of Packery Channel. The redredging of the channel is finally complete and once again that section is open to the beachcombers and fishermen!! Hubby and I went there for walking last week, and tho I've still not cleaned the shells up, I was lucky enough to find two sand dollars that were whole and one that it looks like the gulls pecked at....but I never the less grabbed 'em!! And from the photo, you can see what else I found....even a coconut shell washed up!! ---hmmmm, there are no coconut palms around here....it had to have washed ashore from floating across the gulf from the Caribbean somewhere. And it's a RARE treat to find any clam shells that are larger than a half dollar in size...the ones to the right of the coconut are approximately the size of a canning jar in circumference ---AND whole!!!

[click for larger view]

"But why's the RUM gone?"

~A HOLIDAY MEME~
"Just 'cause it tickles me!"


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Most times, I do paper. But I HAVE done gift bags.

2. Real tree or artificial? We've had an artificial tree for decades! We're probably one of the first to like the concept. Why cut down a REAL one and kill it?---trees actually absorb the bad emissions we humans create, so the more trees living, the less pollution. (Funny story, on a dare once --something like a dare always gets me riled into showing 'em I can do it!--ONE year we used a HUGE tumbleweed---it was like 6 or 7 feet in height and very bushy. Spray painted it white then, flocked it with fake snow, and had it decorated with acrylic icicles and tinsel and white lights! -- It was actually VERY beautiful, in an artful sense!!)

3. When do you put up the tree? We usually put it up on Thanksgiving, after the big meal and while watching the Dallas Cowboys football. Has there EVER been a Thanksgiving that Dallas doesn't play? It's as traditional as the turkey feast I imagine--at least to us sports fans.

4. When do you take the tree down? I start taking most down the day after Christmas. My thinking is, the holiday is over, get back to normal living.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it!!! Without booze most times! Lots of nutmeg.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Golly, that's not an easy one. Our family wasn't much on gift giving....Just Santa. So, it'd have to be a doll that I rec'd from Santa. Other than that, it was more tradtional that we draw names after I grew up some, and Santa stopped visiting. It was much more fun to shop for the name I drew than receiving. Truly!! Actually, now that I think about it, it was the gathering of the huge group of family that was the best gift!!! And the most fun. Eating, card games, festive drinking, and more games and eating---all day long and into the late evening.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, one. Made of frosted glass.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Here at home, it's just the two of us. And to be honest, we buy each other stuff ALL year long...so it's not difficult. We know what each one likes. The other family members living away from us, we just send cards, money, or gift cards. Or perhaps for some, just a phone call to wish them the best of holidays and a happy new year. In our family that's more sensible. Money comes hard these days and why waste it on distant family members that feel obliged to reciprocate --- use the money on themselves instead of us. We don't need anything but our health and each other. And I state this with conviction.

9. Easiest person to buy for? As stated above in #8, nothing is difficult for the two of us. The 4 legged children are even easy to buy gifts for, to fill their stockings! Yes--you read that right, we do have tiny stockings for our kitties also. Oh don't get me wrong...it's nothing much, maybe a $1 cat toy or a bag of kitty snacks, something like that.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? None. I've always appreciated them all. But, I do know one I thought was the worst I've given!! A turkey to my nephew. What a joke that was, and I still feel badly I did such a thing. (mind you, it was cute, but something like that to a nephew just doesn't come across as too thoughtful, ya know?)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hands down, the most recent "The Polar Express"...it truly brought back a good childhood for me.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Used to be, when the kids were small, all year long. If I saw something that I knew someone would like, it was purchased and packed away in a special drawer I had just for that purpose --or in a locked closet; or often, in the garage attic. That way, we'd not need to use credit cards for holiday shopping and ever go off the budget---no sense paying premium interest rates for a gift that ends up in the trash bin within a couple years' time!! But now....no need to even think of shopping for hubby 'til it gets closer to the season. Why, during the year he might buy something that I perhaps had in mind for a gift....so, I wait.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Shamefully, it's all mostly the sweet goodies. I make a double batch of Rice Krispie Treats to fill my huge Santa boot...and it's replenished throughout the month of December. Cookies. Popcorn Balls and then, good stuff, I always buy some bulk mixed nuts....but if you see me at the store near the bin, I'm usually picking through to get mostly pecans.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? It depends on the theme for the year. Sometimes, mixed colored lights, sometimes all white. This year, the theme is red. We have a monochromatic lighting on the tree...all red.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Depends. If it's Christmas Carols (to me, the tradtional carols should be only hymns!) you are wanting to know, it'd be "O Holy Night". I just love that song. Then, I have a few plain songs, that I wouldn't consider 'carols'---I do love "Christmas Eve in Saraejvo"(poor hubby is glad to know the holidays will soon be over ---I play this song daily I love it that much), "I'll be Home for Christmas", and the one Josh Groban sings ---"Believe". BUT!! There is no question here that asks what the LEAST favorite is? ---gotta tell you I detest "Gramma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"!!! That song, in my humble opinion, just irks me to no end. It degrades the whole concept of the reason for the season! It's stupidity.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We've done both. Travel and stay home. Now-a-days, it's stay home. We'd prefer this much better.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Of course!! You need ask?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither....it's usually an animated santa tree topper. This year tho, it's a blown red glass fixture.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning!!! By all means.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? TRAFFIC!! And then coming in 2nd would be the shoppers that are in line to check out and they wait 'til all the purchases are scanned, then find they don't have the funds and we have to wait for them to go back through everything that they've purchased and take off items 'til they get the check down to their budgets, or credit card max!! Why do people do that?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Santas...always santas.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Well, it's more of a late luncheon-early dinner type meal...we usually dine around 4 or 5pm, instead of our usual 7pm meal time...so we won't be overfilled still by 10pm and have to go to bed on a heavy stomach. We eat early, then always walk it off somewhere, and play board games like monopoly or trivial pursuit. Oh, you asked what's the favorite at our table? Ham, with mashed potatoes and gravy!!

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My very small Monday Memory today is one I thought of the other night, watching a video about the Islands. The Hawai'ian Islands to be exact.

Now, I've taken many trips aboard planes. For nearly 40 years, most always, we'd fly to our destination and then use a car rental to get around. I've flown in planes of all sizes, and tho we've flown to Mexico several times to different destinations and the intercontinental United States, it's always the, now more or less extinct, 727 jets. We've flown in 737's also.

But the one trip we took that we spent 3 weeks in Hawai'i, we flew from Denver's Stapleton (that too is no longer in Denver...they now have the new Denver International) to Los Angeles's LAX! We didn't have much of a layover time before we had to board to fly overseas. It was going to be a 6 hour flight. But, we got to the terminal---and people, people everywhere. I had seen huge planes on TV and movies...but not to board!!

This was a 747 two decker!! And looking out the window of the airport's gate, there was ours!!! My heart stopped!! There was this plane...and all I could see was the huge windshield and the upper deck of the plane!! Normally, when I board and look out the window of the airport, there is this fine sized, medium size 727! This plane was so damn big!! I turned around to hubby and said "Is this sucker gonna get off the ground?"

You had to be there....it was the first time in my life I flew in a 747 double decker! And ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, what a joy ride that was!!

(Also, this was the first time in my life I got to see the live action of a volcano...when we started to descend into Oahu's International airport, the pilot pointed out the hot orange glow of the lava flows!!! It was just so awesome!!!)

[click for a much larger view]

Isn't this pretty? It's a gift I got, and opened BEFORE Christmas. I was supposed to check if anything was broken. The picture doesn't do justice to the beauty tho. It's absolutely stunning (at least I think so). And it's VERY large and heavy!! It's blown glass, and crystal clear except for around the spine area...that is green. About 8 to 10 inches high!

But, right now...bah humbug!! There hasn't been any sunlight filtering through the window the last two days...I can't wait to see it with the glow of sunshine!

(Since we've moved to the coast, I've slowly started a small collection of dolphins...small enough to have them all sitting on the window sill here in the office. But, this one will have a special place somewhere!)