Catching up

I am writing to all my blogger groups. Just an catch up notie

We are doing well.  WE have a new pup. His name is Rascal and he is 7 ninths old now. We got him near the end of September so I may have written about him, before.

We have Daffodils  out in the yard, I thought they were Surprise Lilies since they didn't bloom the first year  we moved into the house, and they didn't bloom last year, either. They bloomed this year and are lovely . a nice bight spot of Yellow out in the yard, and a couple of days later, the Dandelions  started to bloom, as well. Even though we have had a few grey days, it is warm enough to keep the door open for a little bit each afternoon.

Rocky, our oldest day, is 15 and we can tell he is feeling his ager, now. He sleeps most of the time and it can be a struggle on these rainy days for him to get up, to go outside. We re constantly on Rascal to "Leave Rocky Alone" as he tries so hard to get Rocky to play with him. Barney, who is 10, has slowed down a little but at least he can play with Rascal with a tow rope or chase the ball into the kitchen just tad faster than Rascal can, to get it first. 

Jerry does most of the cooking during the week, snice he retired just over a year ago. I asked him to do that, because otherwise he would sit in his chair all day while I was doing housework. He is retired, not ill and needed reasons to get up out of that chair. He does cook well, but the baking is still in my court.

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.

Garden zone 7b

    

Whipped topping from dry milk

Whipped Topping

You never know when a crepe craving will strike, so it pays to be prepared! ;-) You can use shelf-stable powdered milk to make whipped topping in a pinch.

Add equal parts ice-cold water and powdered milk to the bowl of your stand mixer. Whip the mixture until it's nice and fluffy. Then add a little sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, and continue to beat until the mixture has thickened. Use it to dress up crepes, waffles, pie, and pretty much anything else!

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.

Garden zone 7b

    

DIY Chocolate Syrup

I was craving "Chocolate" it didn't matter if it was a chocolate bar, a cookie or cake or even Chocolate Gravy (Yes that's a thing in the south) I would have even settled for some good, old-fashioned Chocolate milk like my mother use to make. I found her syrup recipe in some old files and even though I didn't make it, just recalling how it tasted and how to make it helped sooth my cravings for Chocolate.

chocolate syrup

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the cocoa powder and the water in a saucepan. Heat and stir to
dissolve the cocoa. Add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. Boil for 3 minutes
over medium heat. Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over! Add
the salt and the vanilla. Let cool. Pour into a clean glass jar, and store
in the refrigerator. Keeps for several months, but trust me it will be gone
before then. Yields two cups.

 

 

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.

Garden zone 7b

    

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Ole Country Bakery, Brooksville, MS

1 cup raisins

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

Place raisins in small kettle; cover with water and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Drain. Set aside.

Cream shortening, sugars, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Mix soda, salt and baking powder. Add flour, oatmeal and raisins. Mix well.

Scoop desired size onto cookie sheet; flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.

Author: Geneva Nightengale

from the Nov. 2001 issue of Today in Mississippi

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.

Garden zone 7b

    

testing

I've been having some problems with my email so I'm testing to see which accounts are still active and which ones are not. 

Billie C.

 Life is a journey not a destination

    @~`~~

Christmas Even 2019

Christmas Eve Morning.

As the sun slowly brightens the horizon, this morning, I am reminded that each day is so very special. There are so many things in my life to be thankful for, Prayers that have been answered, wishes granted, Life is good. The early pale pink and orange tinges to the top of the mountain to my right as the sun just starts to lift, a clear reminder that a new day is dawning and that there is lots of things that I should be doing this morning, and that there will always be a new dawn each morning. With it's lights and sounds and awakenings. New adventures to look forward to. A Person is never too old to find a new Adventure, in life. Today is no different. Each dawning is a promise to myself to not take today granted. To look for the good in it, accept the not so good a being only a temporary inconvenience and accept that Life will have it's ups and downs, but the ups will always outweigh the downs.   

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. Not because of the gifts or the food, but because it's a time that so many people feel deserves attention to details. Erratic to be sure, A hassle for many, Sorrows for some, but also Joy and hope and Peace. With the New Year looming just around the corner, only a week after This Holiday, We look forward with earnest, to a year that will be better than the one that is ending, Knowing full well that there is no promise in a better year, That it will just be more days, numbered differently that the ones before and soon we will be writing that number that represents the year without thought or having to pause and think, "What year is it, again?"  But, for now. as we close out this year and start anew, We also wish to start anew, changes in our own life, our own self. promises of better healthier, taking better care of each other and our surroundings. Be that our home or the world we live in. Our work, or pleasures and our state of mind benefits from the renewing of spirit and the promise that each new year brings into being.  

Each year, we don't think about our own growing older as each and ever day passes. our gradual slowing down and having to take more time for the simpler things of life. That steps taken today, at a run, will one day be too hard for us to manage without help. that door knobs so easy to turn, may not fit well enough in our hand, and someone else will have to turn that for us to enter or leave a room, or house. That the kids of today, those in the teens or 20's or even those in their 30's will be making choices that we never had to make. never had to even consider.  Their life will be impacted by some of the small things from our own past. And it's in their future that we place hope and peace and wish the best from our past gives them the power to exceed in life from our beginning to their happiness. That we have taught them the important lessons of what living is really about. It's not the job, or the money, but what you do and how or where you spend your time that really counts in life. Money is just a token of what you have given up, in order to get ahead, to learn a new skill or practice an old one. Be at Peace, Life is wonderful and we each get to experience it to the fullest of our own ability. Go out, Get out, find something that make your  heart Sing with joy. that puts a smile on your face before you even realize you are smiling. Give that joy to someone else, to share it with the world, in your own unique way. For life is what  this planet is about. the cycle of life, the ups and owns and all the rest. are what is making this whole existence well worth the living.

Billie C.

 Life is a journey not a destination

    @~`~~

Re: I know

I know, I've neglected my blog all year long. And, now that Halloween is past, I find something to pot on it.

IF we had a house (or mobile home, not a camper) I would love to learn how to make the singing pumpkins and the think in the window. That would be a great start for my Halloween Decorations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiuTQlY7soQ

Billie C.

 Life is a journey not a destination

    @~`~~