"The wonder of the Christmas story is this: God's power makes regular intrusions even when we make no room."

DO YOU MAKE ROOM?
Although many people read the account of Jesus' birth each Christmas, how many slow down and truly reflect on the circumstances surrounding this marvelous and miraculous moment in history? It is the moment that all of creation had been waiting for with great anticipation. Prophets predicted it. Men and women of God prayed to see it. Still, the world was completely unprepared for how this moment would unfold.
Bethlehem was bustling with congestion and busyness created by the mandatory census issued by Caesar Augustus. No one was exempt from the census that required families to return to their town of origin. Despite being very close to her delivery date, Mary and Joseph braved the long and tiring journey home to the City of David. Without the hotels and restaurants that populate large cities today, hospitality was a precious commodity under normal circumstances but the crowds for the census had exceeded Bethlehem's capacity for this type of hospitality.
Into this hectic scene rides an expectant Mary led by her betrothed, Joseph. With the fulfillment of prophetic promises coming in mere hours, the couple found no housing in their time of need. There was no room for them.
Mary and Joseph were alone in a foreign town, finding themselves in a precarious situation. No room, no accommodation, no regard from others. They were surrounded by a town overcrowded with people who were too busy to make room for them.
It isn't unlike today when we gather together to celebrate Christmas. Some of us return to the town of our family's origin. Our streets are crowded. Towns are buzzing. Inns are full. Accommodations must be negotiated — where to stay, for how long, and with which relatives. In the midst of this chaos, do we make room?
For others, cultural traditions and social obligations battle for priority. The centrality of Christ in the Christmas season comes under attack from pluralistic, hedonistic, and materialistic societies. Christmas has quickly become a series of twinkling lights and sparkling presents with no inkling of the eternal Truth of Christ. In the midst of our cultural traditions and social obligations, do we make room?
In the midst of that crowded city, the Messiah quietly came into the world. The streets were still busy, the inns were still full, the travelers were still abuzz in the town, and God took on flesh. Can you imagine being in Bethlehem that night and missing this miracle?
The wonder of the Christmas story is this: God's power makes regular intrusions even when we make no room. No room in the inn? God still took on flesh. No room in your holiday traditions? God still calls to your heart. No room in society's agenda? The gift of God is still offered. No room in your isolation? The Savior still invites you to intimacy with Him.
God's plan continues even if we make no room for it. The awesome and the miraculous occur every day as He calls men and women from death to eternal life in Christ and He wants us to experience these miracles. Do not crowd God out at Christmas. Open your heart, mind, soul, home, family, and traditions to God. Make room for Him — not just at Christmas but every day.

Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

BRRRRRRRRRR

WINTER STORM WATCH!
SNOW IN HOUSTON?
That's what they're saying. Maybe an inch +. More than a 50% chance!
Here in Houston it's a big thing. We're not prepared for it at all. Traffic on the roads is so light unless it catches everyone at work..... If you do get out, the stores are so empty! Good time to go Christmas shopping if you ask me!
Usually if we have snow in Houston, it's "rented snow". Machines set up in our cooler tempratures so kids can have just a taste of what it's like.

These pictures are from years past.

Last year they predicted a little snow.... I talked to Gilda and she said at her house, just a few miles south of here, it snowed for about two hours. The next day I spoke with my friend Donna who lives just a couple miles north of us and she said they had snow and the kids loved it!

I was telling Janine who is just on the next block about how Donna and Gilda got snow and we didn't.... She said "We did! " Her grandkids had a great time in it! THE NEXT BLOCK???? Oh, poor Bleah! She's never seen snow and it was just on the next block!

Well, tomorrow..... We're gona go look for it if we have to!

Didn't think about it till this morning..... Need to show some pictures of my heater... Maybe tomorrow.

OUR VERY SPECIAL GUESTS

I hope ya'll had a great Thanksgiving!!!!!!

We're back home after 5 days in San Antonio at my oldest daughter's. We go out there every year for Thanksgiving. And as always, it was really nice.

This year was a little different, tho'...... Kathryn and her husband, Franco, signed up at one of the bases out there to pick up a couple of the Air ForceTrainees for Thanksgiving day. I was expecting we'd have a couple young men spending the day with us but it was two young ladies!

If they aren't 'adopted' for the day, they have to stay on base.... I'm sure there's some sort of Thanksgiving meal done for everyone but it must really be tough for them to be away from home and things so different on such a special holiday. They didn't know anything about it until Wednesday. They said they thought it was just anyone who had family nearby that would be allowed to go off base.

Anyway, Denise and Nora came to be a part of our family for the day. It was GREAT! They are two fabulous young ladies!

Denise is from Ohio and Nora from New York. We sure enjoyed having the with us and I think they kinda felt at home:

This was early in the afternoon, before dinner. They're up at 4 a.m. every morning and even tho' Franco had a loud, action movie on the tv and the younger kids were in the front room with their video games and Kathryn and I clanging and banging around they kitchen, they managed to get a little bit of a nap.

They were able to call their families and talk, which they don't get to do too often on base . I know it did their mom's good to hear from them, too!

Well, we got their mom's email addresses and sent them pictures and we're going to stay in touch!

This is Kathryn with them.

The rest of the weekend Kathryn and I shopped and wandered. We found a few sales and I got a couple goodies..... I have to get those pictures together and will post maybe tomorrow............

TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY???

I didn't get to post this over the weekend and I really wanted to get this in here. Because it was very special!The other evening Iggie and I went to see The Secret Garden out at the John Cooper School in The Woodlands.... Our invitation came from our special Miss Ann.... She's the leader of our homeschool group and her son Ben, 14, was involved in the technical part of the play. He's very into lighting and scenery and what not and had worked with his older brother, Trey, who's in college doing other plays around town at the colleges around Houston mostly, I think. Anyway.... She called and invited us. We made it an evening and went out to dinner with her husband, Darwin (I think I'm right, tho.... Gona call him Darlin' 'cause he is such a sweet guy!) ... a bit if an extension to my SURPRISE , more for my birthday...... see earlier post.........................
I remember reading The Secret Garden when I was young and I loved it and it's a favorite of Iggie's.
I'm not a musical person.... I mean, I've never seen The Sound Of Music or Oklahoma or Phantom Of The Opera or anything similar.... I don't like musicals! I've tried but ... nope, I can't do them.
But these kids.... all from the school, were fabulous. The sounds from the orchestra were wonderful and the actors were fabulous! All of them and and WHAT SINGING VOICES! They're just jr high and highschool kids!

Based on the 1909 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, "The Secret Garden" is a timeless classic tale of an orphaned girl brought to a Yorkshire mansion on the edge of a vast, lonely moor.The school decided to 'twist' things a little and turned it into a musical. "This is a dramatic musical and a piece of classic literature set to music," What makes this production different is there will be no curtains or blackouts between scenes. The manor house Lennox comes to live at will and remain in the backdrop throughout the performance as scenes transition.

Lennox is an orphan sent to live with her dour Uncle Archibald, played by senior Ranjeet Paul.Lennox befriends Archibald’s son Colin, played by sophomore Annabelle Cousins, as well as servants of the manor Martha, played by Emily Jacobson, Dickon, played by Alex Novak, and Ben, played by Holden Tikkanen. Lily, the spirit of Archibald’s widow, played by Angie Lopez-Videla, is present throughout the show to share the importance of compassion, caring and looking beyond the superficial.Also cast in lead roles are Nisha Balsara as Rose, Cody Guinn as Craven, Mark Farley as Albert, Margie McGregor as Medlock, Caitlin O’Neill as Winthrop, Ben Shapiro as Lt. Wright, Michael Taylor as Lt. Shaw, Alessandro Portela as Major Holmes, Caitlin Finnie as Claire Holmes, Caitlin Lashier as Alice, Cory Guinn as Major Shelley, Meredith Bechtel as Mrs. Shelley, Paige Gill as Ayah and Meghan Reddy, Srikar Vidala and Yarlini Vipulanandan, who all play Faikir.Set construction began last summer, with the additional expertise of Ben Gilmore, Tiffany Chen and scenic artist Rod Flower, according to the school press release. I don't have any pictures of the scenery but it was soooo AMAZING!
THANK YOU, MISS ANN AND DARLIN' WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENING!!!

GREAT JOB BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKSGIVING 2009

"In the four centuries since the founders . . . first knelt on these grounds, our nation has changed in many ways. Our people have prospered, our nation has grown, our Thanksgiving traditions have evolved — .... Yet the source of all our blessings remains the same: We give thanks to the Author of Life who granted our forefathers safe passage to this land, who gives every man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth the gift of freedom, and who watches over our nation every day."

From former President BushThanksgiving has many associations — struggling Pilgrims, crowded airports, autumn leaves, heaping plates, drunken uncles, blowout sales, and so on. At its best, though, Thanksgiving is associated with, well, thanks giving. The holiday provides a moment when many otherwise harried individuals leading hectic lives decelerate just long enough to muster some gratitude for their harvest. Giving thanks — acknowledging that we, as individuals, are not the sole determinants of our own fortunes seems an admirable, humble, and even situationist practice, worthy of its own holiday.
Consider the message behind the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation. In 1789, President George Washington wrote:
"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks—for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country . . . for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed . . . and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions . . . . To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best."

Teaching Children the Meaning of Thanksgiving
"...your goal should be to move the spirit of Thanksgiving from a one-day event to a basic life attitude. . . . This means being thankful no matter what our situation in life. Thankfulness means that we are aware of both our blessings and disappointments but that we focus on the blessings. . . . Are you thankful for your job even when you feel overworked and underpaid?"
Another piece, entitled "The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving" includes this lesson regarding the main source of the Pilgrim’s success: "It was their devotion to God and His laws. And that’s what Thanksgiving is really all about. The Pilgrims recognized that everything we have is a gift from God – even our sorrows. Their Thanksgiving tradition was established to honor God and thank Him for His blessings and His grace."
Maybe you are unsatisfied with your home or job? Would you be willing to trade either with someone who has no hope of getting a job or is homeless? Could you consider going to Africa or the Middle East and trade places with someone that would desperately love to have even a meager home and a low wage paying job where they could send their children to school without the worry of being bombed, raped, kidnapped or killed on a daily basis?
* * *
No matter how bad you think you have it, there are people who would love to trade places with you in an instant. You can choose to be miserable and pine for something better. You could choose to trade places with someone else for all the money they could give you. You could waste your gift of life, but that would be the worst mistake to make. Or you can rethink about what makes your life great and at least be happy for what you have then be patient about what you want to come to you in the future.
If your inclination on Thanksgiving is to give thanks, I do not mean to discourage you. My only suggestion is that you give thanks, not for the status quo, but for all of the ways in which your (our) own advantages and privileges are the consequence of situation, and not simply your individual (our national) disposition. Further, I’d encourage you to give thanks to all those who have gone before you who have doubted the status quo and who have identified injustice and impatiently fought against it.
Happy Thanksgiving!

A little lighter side.

It's that time of year We're so focused on all the shopping and decorating. Fixing and preparing. Guests and visiting.

The nativity scenes are some of my favorite decorations. They just have them in every imaginable form now. Porcelain.... Carved.... Beautiful white... Bright, shiny colorful sets.... Thomas Kincade... Precious Moments... All the way to Veggie Tales...
I even saw this set
"Children Of The Northernn Lights" (On my mother's side, my family is Alaskan Indian!)





How about this one? Recycled Coke cans?













I love Snowbabies. This is cute.

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life that day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family members that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration. Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the One he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed: 'Lord, You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how. It is not fair, Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is, Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive.. As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, the man felt something fall on his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head higher, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing and Jesus began to speak. "Have you ever told a lie?" He asked. The man answered, "Yes, Lord.." "Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man answered, "Yes, Lord. " And the man sobbed more and more. "Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked. And the man answered, "Yes, Lord.." "Have you ever sworn and used my Father's name in vain?" The crying man answered, "Yes, Lord.. As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever ... " the man's crying became uncontrollable because he could only answer "Yes, Lord.. Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you." It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Please pardon me if I go on and on.......

Sunday was my birthday.

I was 22.

Ask any of my 14 grandkids and they'll tell you, "Grammie's 22!"
Before I get too far into this let me say. . . I cannot even begin to express HOW MUCH this meant to me!
What a GREAT job my kids did at putting together just about THE MOST SPECIAL moment for me!
I know it was so much work and a major effort and I appreciate it MORE than they can ever, ever, ever guess!
Buddy (my oldest son) called me about a month ago and asked if I'd like to go out to dinner Saturday night (the 7th) for my birthday (THANK YOU!) and I said sure. So he called Saturday to see if I'd be ready at 5. He and his wife, Minnie, and their son, Blake, came by and picked up Iggie and me.
We went over to Cafe Red Onion on Eldridge, I love the food there. When the waiter was seating us he took us all the way to the back and I was thinking, "Nice, not too crowded and it ought to be nice and quiet back here....." (I talk to myself alot!) Then the doors leading to the extra area opened and there stood Cort (my youngest son)! I was briefly blank, or maybe not so briefly..... and then, there was Kathryn, 1st daughter...... and Jen, youngest daughter.... spouses, Chris, Tara, Minnie and almost ALL the grandkids.
SURPRISE!!!!!!
I wasn't prepared, or expecting it or ..... what.....? I've never had a surprise party before.... Never had a "birthday party"... And by the time you turn 22 as many times as I have, you don't even think about it. So it was a long time before I collected myself to digest a hint of what was really happening.
Gilda was there, too. We met back in '73 when we had a couple little ones in kindergarten in Central Florida. We've been friends for a looong time! Like close sisters. Very much Like Lucy and Ethel. We talk every day and I know with whatever's going on, she holds me and my family up in prayer. Her kids and my kids are close, too. Especially the boys. So, there she was. She was in on this..... Ya know what they say about pay-back, don't ya, Lady?!
In just a few minutes in came my brother, Chris and his wife, Sherie, his mother-in-law, Carla, and my niece, (pretty thing!), Kara...... WOW!!!! That was FANTASTIC!!!!
Dinner was fun and the food was good and before ya know it, it was time to go. It was SO GOOD to have my precious children and their "babies" and Chris and his family and "Memaw" (Gilda) to share my birthday with!
Cort had already said he had to go back to Liberty Hill that evening because Tara had to fly out Sunday morning for Orlando for work and I felt bad that they'd driven 3 hours and had to turn around the same day and go back. But they decided to go back by Buddy's for coffee and leave from there......... So, I rode back with him to Buddy's.....
I've 'remembered' different things since dinner.... like Cort disappearing to the bathroom after dinner..... And as I stood there to say goodbye to (my special sister-in-law) Sherie, Carla, Chris and Kara, everyone else except Cort and Tara were gone. Nobody had said "Bye, Mom." I was still so bum-fuzzled, and they were just gone. I even looked around for Buddy's truck thinking, "He's left. How am I gona get home?" Right then Cort said," You're riding with me, I'll take you back ." Or something like that.
Ya, know, I used to think I paid attention to what was going on around me and knew what was what. . . . . I think now I must be a bit daft and all of this was pretty easy for them to keep secret.
So we headed back to Buddy's. . . . somebody was still gona have to take me home, yooo-hooo, I didn't drive.... my car's at home.
Got to Buddy's and I'm looking at Cort's shiny, hot, '69 Camero sitting in Buddy's driveway..... "In Buddy's driveway???" and I even asked "Who's car is that?" It was out of place, and remember, I was off balance from the SURPRISE earlier..... And, there was Kathryn's car.... And Jen's..... but I think before I could say too much Cort was at the front door trying to get in the house, complaining "I hate this door!" like he couldn't get in . . . . Well, when he opened the door it was SURPRISE!!!!! Again!
I don't know who I saw first..... But up the stairs was FULL! I know I looked like a real DUMMY, Remember, I've never had any kind of SURPRISE anything before.
I saw My Miss Janine and C.R. . . .My Miss Kim And Chuck. . . .My Miss Donna B. . . . .
KRISTY AND EMERY ????
ALL THE GRANDKIDS!
Then I heard "Hi, Grammie!" And there was Trey!
OH. . . . MY. . . . . STARS!!!!!!!!!!!
I WAS REALLY FEELING 'WHAT IS HAPPENING?'
HUGS! HUGS! HUGS! and me still confused!
I kept feeling like here I was in the middle of something big and I had forgotten whatever I was supposed to have been taking care of.
This was a surprise birthday party for me! Oh, WOW!!!
They had decorated the house and there were 3 birthday cakes THANK YOU!!!!..... Jen's kids had made 2 and she had a beautiful,

PINK Hat Box cake made THANK YOU!!!.... Big PINK bow on top and pearls, it was gorgeous!
Kathryn had done the table. PINK . . . . . PINK ROSES and PINK cloth and PINK candles and PINK candle holders and it was SO BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU!!!!
There had been a lot of thought and a lot of effort put into all of this! Not surprising, seems all of this began with Cort. He likes to invent surprises... THANK YOU! He had a BIG, 'I got one over on you, didn't I', smile when he opened the doors at the restaurant. Yeh, he likes that!
I can talk alot... Not saying that I really have a lot to say most of the time, but I can talk alot! But, they just will never know how special it was, them doing all of this for me!
thank you to my SPECIAL, SPECIAL children and grandkids...
Thank you Aunt Sherie and Chris and Kara and Karla.....
Thank you my wonderful friends..... for making me feel SO LOVED!
I love all of you!

Miss Janine, Kathryn and Jennalee in the kitchen

Cort and Tara. On the left in the back Chris and Jen I see Minnie kinda sticking her head out there and way back there at the end of the table is Chris, my brother.

Jen and Chris with Minnie and Buddy behind them on the left. And Gilda up front here.

That's the back of brother Chris's head and Aunt Sherry to the right, next Buddy and Minnie.

Chris, Sherie, Carla and Kara didn't get to come to Buddy's.... Chris had to go watch a game.... We said we wish we would have thought about it and one of us coulda taken you home.... we all missed you guys!

I hope someone else got some pictures.

Finally, it's cool!

The weather has finally started cooling off here. I didn't think summer would ever end! I don't remember having such a long, hot summer. It began to be in the 100's in June and it went on and on and on.

Anyway, it's nice now and I can begin to think about doing some handwork. Quilting. I like to lap quilt so I have to wait for the cool weather.

The fabrics available now are just about unbelieveable. Look at these colors....

Oh my goodness, they're so BEAUTIFUL!

But I think I'll be working with black and whites....

with a little bit of yellow !

I found a pattern I love in a quilt book, Livin' Large by Heather Mulder Peterson..... It'll be a gift when it's done..... can't say for who...... It was done up at the quilt store and so vibrant! (I took this picture with my cell phone so it isn't the greatest!)Maybe I can take a better one when I get mine done!

HOWDY!

Most everyone recognizes this face.... "Elly May" From the Beverly Hillbillies....What a pretty lady!













Sunday before last we went over to
The Lighthouse Church to hear her as guest speaker. She enjoys talking about her childhood and her religious faith. She says that without her faith in God, she might never have landed the role of Elly May.
"I did a lot of praying and talking to God," she's a devout Christian. "I still do."
A very special friend of mine, Miss Tracy, from my church does outreach with the Lighthouse at Ronald McDonald House here in Houston and other stuff they have going on. Tracy and her husband, Wiley, were host and hostess to Miss Douglas again when she was in town.
This is her today.... still so beautiful!

The Lighthouse isn't a large church yet, but Miss Douglas has been there before and what a special treat to be able to hear her! This was our first time. Her message was towards the children.... good for us adults, too. It was all about character. Staying firm in having Christ-like character and how God will keep you and keep His promises in your life.
She ministered for about an hour and then began praying for anyone who wanted her to. She prayed and had a Word Of Knowledge for each person. She prayed for 10 minutes or more for each one. Needless to say, it took a while.... But it was awesome!



I 've talked to several people since and seems she was 'reading their mail'!
She was so sincere and gentle... What a genteel, southern lady... Unassuming, elegant and graceful.
She lives just outside of Baton Rouge near her only son on a few acres and like Elly May, she loves her critters.
She's a beautiful 76 now.
This picture is her with Bleah. Bleah loves the old tv programs like I Dream Of Jeanie, Leave It To Beaver and The Beverly Hillbillies... I think she enjoyed meeting Miss Douglas more than she thought she would, I know I did!
Look, she's in my favorite color!!!

Getting Ready.... At least in my head.

I'm starting to think about the holidays. Getting together with my kids and their families, That MAKES THE HOLIDAYS for me! And it includes food. In a big way. ......

Cooking. Old fashioned cooking; FROM SCRATCH. Kathryn's in the kitchen with me, up to her elbows in fixin' and mixin' and cleaning up as we go. She makes it possible! It's how I like it. I remember going to Grannie's and later to Daddy's and having THE BEST food in the world! Daddy was always in charge of what was what and how much and such but, Grandma and my sister's are FABULOUS cooks and they were right in there with him. I want my kids and grandkids to remember OURS!

Today with things so busy, it's just easier to go the most simple route ..... I know a lot of people who feel like they have so much going on for the holidays it's just so much better to lay in a good supply of disposable plates and utensils, so once used, just drop 'em in the trash and no-one has to deal with a big clean-up.

I like it when the table's set with dishes and silverware and gotta have the pretty tablecloth. So we use dishes that have to be washed even tho' disposable stuff would be easier. And, usually, everything doesn't match. We have more people than we do matching plates and glasses and such.

All the food comes to the table in serving dishes. I mean, we cook for at least a couple days to put a meal together..... a few minutes after the meal to get things cleaned up seems like a fair exchange.

The menu varies a little year to year. Some of that depends on who's coming. Each of the kids have favorites... especially when it come to desserts. Usually there's Banana Pudding ( have to keep Jennalee out of that till after the main course is thru!), Coconut Cream Pie, Pecan Pie and Sweet Potato Pie, to name a few. My favorite is Grandma's Ambrosia recipe.

Jen's not the only one you have to keep your eye on tho'.... One year in the middle night before Thanksgiving dinner, someone snuck into the spare fridge and helped them selves to a healthy portion of the cream pie filling!

Oh, and every year Jen checks to make sure I put no giblets in the turkey gravy. Yeh, right. WHAT IS TURKEY GRAVY WITHOUT GIBLETS? She's clueless.... She eats and enjoys and we pretend we leave 'em out just to keep her happy! Except for the year Buddy was helping and he threw 'em away before I knew!

Anyway.... I'm gona leave a GREAT recipe here for Sweet Potato Pie. For years I always used my same ole, simple recipe... (The Sweet Potato is another fav of mine).... But then some time back I found a new one and it reminds me of my childhood. I don't know if it's like Grannie's or maybe it was like Winnie Mae's (another wonderful grandma) but someone's! I think I'm gona try it with a gingersnap crust, too.

Sweet Potato Pie

2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds)

1 teaspoon salt

2-1/2 sticks butter, softened

2-1/2 cups white sugar

3 Tablespoons evaporated milk

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract

2 9-inch fresh unbaked pie shells

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel and cut each sweet potato into 4 pieces.
Place in a pot and cover with water. Add salt to the
water and boil 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender when
poked with a fork. Drain well. Mash in a bowl while
still hot. Add butter and mix well with mixer on low
speed to remove any potato strings. Rinse strings off
mixer beaters. Stir in sugar, evaporated milk, eggs,
nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder and lemon extract.
Mix on lowest speed about 1 minute. Pour into pie shells.

Bake 1 hour or until light brown.

Pie will puff up like a soufflé but will sink as it cools.

Makes two pies

Finally, I HEAR Kaedee sing!!

My grand-daughter, Kaedee, was a part of Northside ISD's Fine Arts students (200) who On the 2nd of this month performed for thousands of school leaders from across the state at the Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards (TASA/TASB) annual convention in Houston.
The 25-minute production, titled "Deep in the Heart of Northside," featured musicians, dancers, singers, and actors from across the District who paid tribute to public education, teachers, and school leaders. Musical and dance selections honored Texas' rich and colorful heritage that is celebrated at Northside ISD every day.
I've put a small clip of of one of the songs she was apart of.
It was really great!
On Saturday she auditioned and was selected as 1st chair in the All Region Choir.
YEA, KAEDEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Thank you Iggie for your technical support!)

I love quilting.......

Kristie brought me a pair of overalls for Emery she's done some art work on....Something for her to wear to the school ball games. I'll have to get her to get a picture of Em once I'm done. All she needs is a ruffle around the bottom.

But maybe it's gotten me into a sewing mood. Winters coming. Quilt sewing weather.

I found a quilt pattern I really like "Hat Boxes" after Gilda mentioned that she'd been to a lady's house who quilts and said I'd love her Hat Box quilt so I looked up a pattern..... I doubt it's the same since this lady made up her own... But here's a picture of one I found.

I've done a few quilts, I love doing them by hand, and I'd really like to do 4 different quilts for my 4 kids. I also love the Pastel Bubbles from the same book Passionate Patchworkby Kaffe Fassett. ANNNNDDDDDD..... I called and it's at Half Price Books just down the road for under $10.00!!! Searching for the right fabrics is fun.

Just needs to get a little cooler around her!

IT'S DONE... All sweet and roses

This is my new sofa slipcover....
All fresh and Rosie. I love it!
The cushion is filled with feathers and it's so comfy.
Like I said, Gilda and I have had these matching sofas for a few years. Her upholsterer is working on hers today. Putting the pink velvet on it..... I'll take some pictures of hers, too and post 'em.


I have a small wooden rocker that was done in the same fabric several months ago.... Need to get a picture of it.... Of them together.
Anyway, I love it!