Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening 

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I do not know

His house is in the forest though

He will not see me stopping here 

To watch his woods fill up with snow

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake

The only other sound's the sweep

Of wispy wind and downy flake

These woods are lovely dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep

 

May your day be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

Dec 16

DIME STORE ANGEL
It was just a Christmas Angel, that my Mom put on our tree.
She bought it at a five and dime, when I was only three.
Each year we'd trim our Christmas tree, with lights and ornaments.
Then Mom would always tell me, what the Angel represents.

The Angels came to tell the shepherds, of the Christ Child's birth.
And, Angels are still here with us, to guide us here on earth.
The Angel on our Christmas tree, was made in such a way.
That if the light inside burned out, you just threw it away.

The light burned out when I was twelve, the Angel would not shine.
But, Mom would not throw it away, she said it looked just fine.
She loved that little Angel, that she put upon our tree.
She said it didn't need a light, for anyone to see.

Then I grew up, and I moved out to start my family.
And, I'd go home at Christmas time, to help her trim her tree.
My wife and children went with me, to mom's house every year.
The house was filled with love and joy, as we shared Christmas cheer.

The kids would always say to her, "The Angel is burned out."
Then, she would smile and tell them, what the Angel's all about.
She told another reason, for it's specialty.
Your daddy picked that Angel out, when he was only three.

My mother passed away this year, early in the spring.
And then I had the painful task, of going through her things.
The beautiful old house she owned, was left me in her will.
We moved back in the summertime, we feel her in it still.

Early in December, we brought out our Christmas tree.
I went up to the attic, just to see what I could see.
I saw a cardboard box, with markings, "Ornaments and stuff."
And in it was the little Angel, that she loved so much.

I brought the cardboard box downstairs, and showed the family.
Then they persuaded me to put the Angel on our tree.
We trimmed the tree that weekend, and we talked of Christmas past.
Then when the tree was finally done, the Angel went on last.

Every night till Christmas, all the lights were burning bright.
Except the little Angel, that had long burned out her light.
Then on Christmas morning, I arose before the rest.
I had to have my coffee, to be at my very best.

I walked into the living room, my coffee cup in hand.
Then what I saw, so puzzled me, I could not understand.
I just stood in silence, as, my eyes filled up with tears.
The little angel was all aglow, that had been dark for many years.

Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be
patient and always to be kind.
--Helen Steiner Rice

 

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 Cracker Pudding
 
One quart milk
2 eggs, separated
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups broken saltine crackers
1 cup grated coconut- medium shred
1 tsp. vanilla
 
While warming the milk, beat egg yolks and sugar until frothy. Add to hot milk and stir in crackers and coconut. 
Cook till thick. Remove from heat and add stiffly beaten egg whites and vanilla.  Cool.  Serves 8

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Christmas Breakfast in a Mug

 

Christmas coffee mug
1 packet hot cocoa mix
Individually wrapped muffin
Cellophane-wrapped candy cane
Place all of the items in the mug for a quick gift breakfast. Place in a
clear decorative plastic bag and tie with a ribbon.

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May your day be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

Dec 15

 

Hello.  I am trying to post more often.  Today is nice and warm and sunny. I had the dogs out to enjoy the sun for a while. They really enjoyed rolling in the grass and Barney loved chasing his ball, for a few minutes.  I have put up a Tree (of sorts) in the camper.

 

 

I wasn't going to use it's sticky back, but then I thought, yeah I will. I will just have to be extra careful when I peel it off. 

 

I am thinking that, for next year, I may make a dozen of these felt birds. I didn't make this one, but I can look at it for inspiration. I do need to remove the tag off it's tail soon though.

 

 

I found this Madonna and Child at a yard sale last year and I put it where I can see it as I sit on the couch.

 

 

 

May your day be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

December 11, 2015

December 11, 2015

 

Hello.  My camper is as clean as I can get it, for now. I still have to make the bed but that will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

 

 

While working in the bunkroom, I found a couple of small boxes of Christmas stuff. One is Christmas cards I made last year and the other was a smaller box of ornaments. 

 

 

 

 

May your day    be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

Hello

Hello.

 

I have started decorating for Christmas. Yesterday I put a bow on the front door. I also put up garland that has lights in it along the slide out.

 

This morning I trimmed around a Small Tree that is a sticker. I don't want to stick it on the wall and will have to figure out a way to hang it on the wall. I will have to find some thread and a sharp needle to pass through the plastic backing of the tree and make a hanger for it that way.

 

We had Burger helper last night for dinner last night. Today I'm fixing Hot Dogs and Mac & Cheese, Hubby's favorite. He's now working 12 hours a day and it doesn't look like he's going to get a break until Christmas unless he takes a day off. We are hoping that he doesn't have to do that.

 

 

 

 

 

May your day be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

Billie's Christmas Corner Dec 8

Hello. Here are a few ideas for Celebrating the Season.

 

I'm posting the Advent ideas a bit early so that I can remember to pick up the things needed and be ready to use them.. the recipes I want to try and also need to pick up a few things to make them

 

 

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Advent Dec 12
BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 23; 79:13; 95:7;100:3

 

THOUGHT: " A cheerful smile, a friendly word, a sympathetic nod…These are all priceless treasures from the storehouse of our God."—Helen Steiner Rice—

 

BLESS YOUR HEART: Flowers…Fresh Flowers…That should make you smile and bless your heart. Generally the grocery store has bouquets of fresh flowers. Even a single rose might be nice. Enjoy watching it open. Smell the pleasant aroma. Then just smile!

 

CHRISTMAS IDEA: This year you can start a Christmas memory book. Maybe even a Christmas video. Take pictures and save the Christmas cards. Write about the holiday and your feeling. Who came to visit? What was an unexpected blessing? The possibilities are endless.

 

SERVICE IDEA: Call or write someone you haven't spoken to in a long time, just to say you're thinking about them.

 

CHRISTMAS CAROL: What Child Is This?

 

 

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Friendship Tea

 

2 cups Tang orange drink
1 package Wylers Lemonade Mix
1 1/2 cup sugar (or  sugar Substitute )
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup instant tea

 

Mix well and store in an airtight container
To serve: 2 rounded teaspoons to 1 cup boiling water.

 

 

 

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Cookie Mix in a Jar
Gourmet style
oatmeal, chocolate and nuts yummmm

 

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 c rolled oats
1 (5.5 ounce) milk chocolate bar
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c chopped nuts, walnuts, pecans (optional)
1/2 c chocolate chips

 

Layer as follows and pack each layer solid:
List of 5 items
• Whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda
• Combine oatmeal and grated chocolate bar
• White sugar, then brown sugar
• Chopped nuts
• Top with chocolate chips to the top.
list end

 

Cut a circle of fabric large enough to cover the jar top, and hang over the
edges halfway down. Secured with a rubber band and tie with ribbon or jute.
Attach a recipe card with these instructions:

 

Cookies Especially for You ~
Preheat oven 375º Set aside chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon brown and white
sugar into mixing bowl. Cream together with 1/2 cup butter or margarine.
Add
1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, mix well. Add the oatmeal and flour mixture
into bowl, mix thoroughly. Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts. Roll into 1
inch balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet two inches apart. Bake
8-10 minutes.

 

Yield: 3 dozen

 

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Chocolate Chip Bars

 

1 yellow cake mix
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
12 oz chocolate chips

 

Mix 1/2 cake mix, water, eggs, butter and sugar.
Blend in rest of cake mix.
Stir in chips and nuts.
Spread in greased and floured jelly roll pan 15x10x1
Bake 20-25 minutes 375º
When cooled dust with confectioners sugar

 

 

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Sugar Cookies
1 Egg Yolk      1 t Vanilla
1/4 lb Margarine (1 stick)   1/2 t Salt
1 C Sugar      2 C Flour
1/2 t Lemon extract or Lemon peel  2 t Baking Powder
1 level t baking soda dissolved in 3/4 C COLD water
Mix all in a large bowl. Add enough flour to make a dough that doesnt 'stick' to the sides of the bowl. Knead dough for 5 minutes (this is what makes them Good.) Roll out and bake in 350F oven for 8 to 12 minutes. Sprinkl a little sugar on them before baking, or decorate after them are cooled.

 

 

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May your day be blessed and full of love. May you find joy in the small things.

Billie C.

Checking in

I'm just checking in.

 

I do hope you are having a good Thanksgiving weekend.  We mostly slept the day, went out for dinner at "The Dinner Bell". drove around for a bit, then back home, to sleep again.

 

We are not feeling Bad, we just are not feeling good either. We have both managed to hurt our right knees.  Jerry's happened a few days before he got laid off of his job and Mine started three days ago.

 

Now we are waiting for a phone call.  There was a Email but it came in way to late to be able to make the call. Jerry will try to make that call today but it's iffy if anyone will be in an office on the day after Thanksgiving.

 

Growing up, Mom almost always had to go to work the day after Thanksgiving. On those few occasions that she did have the Friday after off, we usually went to visit our Grandmother in Missouri. 

 

Saturday after Thanksgiving, we would decorate our Christmas tree. Even after leaving her home and getting married, I decorated the tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I have no plans for a tree this year.  There is no place for one here.  I will be decorating for Christmas, I just won't have a tree this year.

 

from: Billie Crossman

Hi! http://moleploughing.ie/called.php?Billie_Crossman Billie Crossman Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Halloween Cupcakes

http://www.partypinching.com/tutorials/spooky-eye-monster-cupcakes/

 

 

 

 

Billie C.

Hello

Hello

Hello. I had every intention of keeping up with all my blogs, and I have failed. I am not giving them up though.  We have moved from Iowa, back to Tennessee. Hubby is working in Cleveland TN and we are very happy to be back in Tennessee. For the first month, we were living with our daughter. our dogs were not allowed in her home though and we kept them in the camper. But as the days got warmer it was harder and harder to keep them quiet and comfortable. Then the cats started to climb on the neighbor's cars and that got us in more trouble with the neighbors.  We were able to move the camper out to some property that her boyfriend owns and the cats can roam and the dogs can bark, and run around without a lead on (most of the time) and we are comfortable since we have power for the air conditioner to work.  So all is good. 

 

Hubby changes jobs here from the one we came here for, to the one we had hoped would call us, while we were in Iowa. This job is suppose to last a couple of years. Maybe even longer. The only draw-back is how far away it is from where we have the camper. It take over and hour to make the drive each way.  We were doing good with that, until the job went from 10 hours a day 6 days a week to 11 hours a day 13 on, one off.  That's a lot of hours to be awake and then to have to stay alert while driving, well that was not going to work at all. so Hubby has moved into a motel room that is much closer to the job. Meanwhile I'm still at the camper, with the pets. Our daughter and her children are making sure I am not lonely.

 

I will be having surgery on July 20 (yes, Hubby will be there with me for this).

I will have a total hysterectomy done. Found out I have cancer in the lining of my Uterus.  But, unless things are much worse than expected, I will not have to have Chemo or Radiation treatments afterwards. I won't know on that until after the removed organs are examined, and I have my post op check up on Augest 27. I will be in the hospital over night when I have the surgery. The doctor told me he wants me up and walking by the end of the evening. That it would be better for me to be up and moving so soon afterwards.

 

Right now. my daughter and her family are planning on camping out in a tent at our place (her boyfriends land) the night of the surgery, and will take care of our pets while Hubby stays with me. She and the kids are going to be taking care of me, as hubby will have to be back to work on Wednesday after my surgery.  (have to pay the bills somehow, right?)

 

I will try to spend more time on my blogs from here out, but no promises.

 

Billie C.

From: Billie Crossman

Hi! How are you? 

Have you seen this http://insekteneten.com/quite.php before? 

Oprah had been using it for over a year! 

Billie Crossman 
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone 

Some Halloween ideas

Sharing a few links for some Halloween fun.

 

 

 

 

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http://restyledjunk.com/2014/09/witch-ornament-made-from-a-glass-christmas-ball-2/

 

 

 

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http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2014/09/halloween-lip-balm-labels.html

 

 

 

 

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http://viewsfromtheville.com/2011/10/22/halloween-luminary-craft-and-an-upcoming-new-weekly-feature/#more-399

 

 

 

 

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http://viewsfromtheville.com/2013/10/25/monster-munch-recipe/

 

 

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Billie C.

: SPICE BAGS FOR WARM DRINKS

 

This looks great for any Fall and or Winter time celebration or Cozy evening spent in front of a fireplace. I am thinking of making a few outer covers of holiday print and then filling with a couple of  muslin or Cheesecloth pouches to send to family this next Season

 

 

SPICE BAGS FOR WARM DRINKS

 

8 sticks cinnamon, broken into small pieces
2 whole nutmegs, crushed
1/3 C. whole cloves
1/3 C. minced dried orange peel (or 1/4 C. ground)
1/4 C. whole allspice berries
Optional: garnish with cinnamon sticks, slice of orange, lemon peel

 

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Tie in sachets of 1 tablespoon
each in a double thickness of cheesecloth; transfer to an airtight
container (perhaps into a canning jar with a decorated lid and tied
with
a big fall-ish bow!!).

 

One sachet of the mixture will flavor 1 quart of cider, tea or wine.
To
use, simmer 1 quart of the chosen beverage with 1 sachet for 20
minutes;
ladle into mugs. If desired, add a garnish or a sprinkling of
additional
spirits.

 

Billie C.

Update, Jan 16 2015

Hello and good morning.

 

I am trying to catch up and am surprised at how quickly I have gotten behind in just keepig up with the day to day things   When our water line froze we were able to deal with that. but when our black water holding tank froze and wouldn't drain we knew we may be in trouble.  I have a bucket I can dump waste into, but it is only a temporary fix. Good news is, we now have running water since Hubby went looking and found out that the gray water does not go into the holding tank, So we can shower and clean up as long as we have running water (I'm going to miss showering at the motel) and there has been some progress in the holding tank thawing. Not a lot of progress but some never the less.  With today's high going to be in the upper 40's we are in hopes that it will totally thaw today and we can get back to a more normal life in the camper.

 

Hubby is not feeling well. He took yesterday off of work and is taking today as well. If he can't make it into work tomorrow then he will have to get a doctor to sign off,  that he has indeed been very sick.  We are fairly sure it isn't flu because he doesn't have pain in his joints but he does have a stuffy head and is over all not feeling well.

The Pets a re loving that he is home and are sleeping around him. He will give them bits of his meal when he's home and I don't give treats until after I am done eating. 

The snow is melting and the ground is getting mushy. Barney will miss snowballs. Not that he is thrilled with them but I have been trying to make one and then toss it at him. Most of the time, the snow is so dry that it breaks into a million flakes before it even fully leaves my hand. but when one does stay together, the look on his face when it breaks in his mouth and then he looks for where it's suppose to be on the snow at his feet, is priceless.

One of the cats (Strips) got out during the time we were trying to thaw things in the back and he stayed out about and hour, now he's been trying to get out every time we open the door. I know he wants to go out but the wild cats around here have not had any shots and I don't want our cats to catch anything from them.

We have been doing a lot of eating out. Mainly to prevent having to use a lot of water, not knowing that the gray water was not going into the holding tank and the fact that the drain line was frozen at the end of the camper. I finally got that to thaw enough that water could pass and now it's almost all gone according to Jerry. Not sure if there is still ice there or not, now. I was putting rock salt in water then bringing it to a rolling boil then pouring down the sink closest to the ice block and that did wonders on that ice. I'm ready to be doing my own cooking again.

 

Billie C.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

 

I hope your year has started off well and that you have a wonderful year ahead.

 

No promises, but I am going to try harder to post  this year. I will try to post tips, projects and food. Most will not be of my own making though, but a link and a picture. If I make it I will post my own results, as well.

 

Billie C.