Lordie, This Must Be Heaven

I have been baking bread every day for some time now.  I love the fresh bread and the lovely aroma hanging in the air.  When I come in my door it is the first thing to greet me.  

I have lately tried my hand at sourdough bread.  I have a starter going now and have baked with it a few times.  The texture is quite different as well as the flavor.  Nevertheless it is delicious.  I have all kinds of goodies planned to bake soon.  One night Brandon, one of my grandsons, and I stayed up most of the night doing the once a month cooking thing.  We had a blast and he has helped me plan what we will bake next.

Now that I am back into the bread making, I am going to try homemade hot pockets, chocolate rolls, cinnamon rolls (which I made often when my children were home) and all sorts of good things to eat!  Now that I am retired and with much more time on my hands than I've had in a while, I am ready to do some experimenting.  So what if I do put on a few pounds....grandmas are supposed to be fat!

 I have a front deck that stretches from one side of my house to the other and a tall oak that didn't suffer too much damage from the ice storm.  I am looking forward to warm weather, sitting out in the shade with a tall, ice cold glass of lemonade, a homemade pepperoni pizza hot pocket, my laptop and a grandchild and lordie, I will swear I have already died and this must be Heaven!!!   Be sweet and be good.

Freebie Craft Magazine Download

 This is the newest issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today.  It is free to download and has great instructions.  There are cards, a mini book , photo tips and others.  If you like making anything, give this a try.  If you have never done any papercrafting, this might inspire you.  It is a great craft and handmade cards are treasures.  You need very few supplies for card making and a handful of cards with matching envelopes tied with a ribbon make a lovely and much appreciated gift.  

You will find the download link on this page.  Happy crafting!     Be sweet. 

My Award From The Little Mama (Sara)

That sweet Sara, soon to be Mommy, at The Breathing Post has given me an award, the Worth Following Award.  How cool is that!?  Sara says Va Bookworm at Confessions of a Bookworm created this award and wants to see how far it will go.  We should check out Bookworm's blog.

This award is given to blogs that you would highly recommend to other readers and the rules are as follows:

Give this award to three of your favorite blogs.  Choose ones you make a point of reading as often as possible!

When you nominate them you have to write a short description of the blog (just a few sentences) and why you nominated that blog.

Link to each of your choices as well as the blog that nominated you.  Spread the love!

The hardest part is just choosing three, but here goes.

The first award winner is New Scribbles From Glynis Smy.  This is an exceptional blog with an exceptional author.  Glynis has encouraged me from day one!  She is one busy lady who writes very well on many subjects.  Great style of writing along with a great sense of humor makes this blog recommended reading for anyone. 

The second award winner is Actuate Life.  This young man is a great motivator and believes we all are capable of great things!  When I read what he has written I, too, believe we can accomplish our goals and more.  I am inspired by his writing and it becomes easy to acquire that positive attitude with his can-do approach to life. 

The third award winner is a blog I have only begun reading recently, tender graces, but I love the style and the posts are so interesting.  I feel a kinship with the author of this blog for some reason.  The posts make you feel as if you are sharing the experience and you feel right at home here.

There are so many more blogs I love, visit, read and enjoy.  It is a shame I can't list them all, but you all know I love you and value the friendships we have created.  You are all special!!

You know, guys, I have received other awards in the last month....please do not think I have disregarded them!!  I would never in a million years do that!!  I value and treasure each and every one, they are so, so special to me just to know that you think I should have an award for anything blows me away!!  I have lost a post passing them on to others, my links and everything.  I have been sick, so have sort of let things slide.  

I guess I better design an award for all of you!!  Be sweet and good!!!!

Stick Figure With a Lopsided Head

For those of us who love scrapbooking our family photos, heritage photos or just the art of scrapbooking because it is such a beautiful craft (somehow such a simple word as craft does not do justice to scrapbooking, but it's what I could come up with at this moment) the internet is an absolute virtual playground!!  What fun spending time at those sites we grow to love and, in fact, grow to depend upon, for not all of us are so fortunate or talented enough to design our own papers, frames and embellishments and somehow that special photo that begs for a fresh new idea has to wait until VOILA!  There it is!!  We have found exactly what we were looking for.  We knew it would one day appear out of nowhere, catching us by surprise, as had happened so often in the past.  I love Cen's Loft.  Not only is she a wonderful designer, she is a wonderful person as well.  You can feel it in her writing.  I ran across Penni quite by accident and was immediately hooked!  Her site is GallimaufryUK.  Her designs are breathtaking, as are her team's.  One of the girls on Penni's site has designed a printable box template  from the latest scrapbook kit.  I have already download it, along with the kit and can hardly wait to begin!  I believe I have called printables the "no fail" craft, because all you do is download it, print it, fold or whatever it calls for and, like magic, a precious little handmade will appear before your very eyes.  You have to try it if this is something you haven't done before.  Computer crafting is a big thing now.

We've come a long way, Baby!  I would love to design,  I guess I even long to design.  I  am sort of artsy and crafty and make everything, but am unable to design, so I am grateful beyond measure for the lovely people out there who are brimming with talent and gracious enough  to share with those of us, like me, who can't even draw a stick figure without a lopsided head.            Be sweet and  good.  Later!!   (I've got to go fold the box I downloaded.) 

Just click on the sites in above post to go there. 

Cream Cheese or Fairy Food

Don't you just love the yummy taste of anything made with cream cheese?! It adds such wonderful flavor to so many foods. It is smooth and creamy, perfect for desserts and dips. I think cream cheese feels right at home in any fridge, patiently waiting beside the eggs and butter
for a grandma or mom to grab it out for some fantastic dessert, knowing it won't be long till the most favored thing in the house will be whatever delightful goodie the grandma or mom can magically change it into!! Be sweet and good!

Cheesecake Coffee Cake

3 cups Bisquick
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 - 8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup strawberry or raspberry preserves

In a bowl, combine Bisquick, 1/4 cup white sugar, melted butter and milk. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Sprinkle some extra Bisquick on your counter, and then dump the dough on the counter. Knead the dough 30 times with your hands. Pat the dough evenly in the bottom and sides of an ungreased round cake pan (9" x 1.5"). Prepare the cheese filling: in a mixer, combine 1/2 cup white sugar, eggs, cream cheese, vanilla and beat all ingredients until smooth. Pour the cheese filling over the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until edge is golden brown and cheese filling is set. Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes. Spread preserves over the top. Keep leftover cake refrigerated.
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Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

Crust: 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup melted butter; 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Batter: 4 - 8oz. packages Philly cream cheese; 2 tbsp. flour; 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cup chopped Oreo cookies; 1 1/4 cups white sugar; 2 extra large eggs; 2 egg yolks; 1 tbsp. vanilla
Topping: 2 cups sour cream; 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 tbsp. vanilla; extra crushed Oreo cookies to sprinkle on the top

Using a spoon and a bowl, combine the crust ingredients above and line the bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. To make the filling mix the cream cheese, sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and heavy whipping cream together in a mixer. Fold the chopped Oreos into the filling. Remove crust from oven and pour cream cheese mixture into the baked crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees and bake for 50 minutes more. Remove then refrigerate. Garnish with crushed Oreo cookies.

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Blueberry Cheese Pie

1 Keebler ready-made graham cracker crust
1 - 21oz. can blueberry pie filling (or any other berry pie filling)
8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
8oz. Cool Whip (optional)

In the mixer, add cream cheese and sugar--beat together, then add eggs and beat well. Pour this mixture into the graham cracker crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Spread pie filling on top and garnish with Cool Whip if you choose. Chill overnight before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Art of Living

Hi Guys.  I have been playing today.  I was going to post some recipes for you to try that I think are just almost too good to eat but, instead, I made this today and had to share it with you.  It is a copy of an old book page, a vintage angel picture and a scrapbook flower embellishment.  I do love making artsy things and I'm going to make some pages for my grand daughters and frame them.  I will surely get to the recipes tomorrow, (you know I always say "never do today what you can put off till tomorrow!"   Be sweet now. 

Never Too Late To Have a Happy Childhood

Is this not cute?  My daughter sent it to me in an email.  She is always sending me funny stuff.

So sorry I have not acknowledged the awards my sweet blogging buddies have given me---I feel so terrible about it!!  I have been sick and have fallen behind.  Last week I had a post almost ready to go, passing the Friendship Award to some of you, another Noblesse Oblige Award and a Kreative Blogger Award, when my screen went totally blank and lost everything I had written, all the links in the post to other blogs, etc. were just gone!  I felt like putting down my head and crying, but instead I just turned off the computer and went into the kitchen, tried to busy myself so I wouldn't think of it too much.  I so appreciate the awards I have been given and value the friendship of each of you very much.  Well, so much for that.  Now on to other things!

I made cupcakes and homemade yeast rolls today.  I got all goofy and tinted the frosting pink and scattered colored sprinkles on top.  They were pretty and so yummy.  I have the easiest and best cake recipe from an old Good Housekeeping cookbook.  I use it for cupcakes,  pineapple upside cake, marble cake and every other thing I can think of.

I have always loved to cook and made everything from scratch back in the day.  I still do a lot, though I don't cook as much as I once did.  When my kids were all home I baked every single day and always had a snack ready for them when they hit the door after school.  I did the same for my grandchildren when they were little.  We had great picnics under a big oak tree in our yard.  I loved those times as much or even more than the children.  

I can remember having a shirt that said in bold letters across the front "It's never too late to have a happy childhood."  Debye always told me, "Mama, you can't be in your second childhood, Honey, you never got out of your first!"  When my children were all home was the happiest time of my life.   Be sweet.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I hope today and all your days are good ones! Don't forget about Earth Hour 2009, when we should all turn off our lights, etc. for just one hour. It would be grand if everyone did, absolutely awesome! How quiet and how peaceful, We all could even take a walk or play a game or paint or remember this is how it used to be...........

Be sweet and good.

So Much Meaning In So Few Words

Accept everything about yourself - I mean everything.  You are you and that is the beginning and the end - no apologies, no regrets.     -    Henry Kissinger

The first step to getting what you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.   -   Ben Stein

Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.   -   Brendan Gill

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.  -  Winston Churchill

We need men that can dream of things that never were.  -  John F. Kennedy

I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.  -  Oprah Winfrey

Anger is never without reason, but seldom with a good one.  -  Ben Franklin

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.     -   Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

I will leave you with that.  I have to try to get a picture of my purse in the computer for a tag.  You will know more about this later.  Boy, the hurrier I go, the behinder I get!!  Be sweet and good!!!

Why I Loved My Husband

This came from Sara of The Breathing Post. I apologize that it has taken me so long to acknowledge it. I have to tell some things I love about my husband then the fun part is nominating some friends to tell.

I lost my husband several years ago so, now, he lives in my heart. I loved the way he walked, his soft, quiet voice and the way he ran his fingers through his hair when he was deep in thought. I loved how he would say to our children, "Kids, your mama is so pretty." I loved his sense of humor and the sound of his laughter, the dark tan he got from working outside in the summer sun. I loved to hear him sing. I loved the way he could go to the river and sit for hours with a rod and reel, never caring if he caught a fish or if he didn't. It was enough for him to just sit quietly in the shade on the river bank and watch the river roll by, listening to the birds and the leaves rustling overhead. The thing I love most about him is how he loved me.

I will pass this on to the following:

Patty at Two Greyhound Town

JT at The Frugal Housewife

The Retired One at The Retirement Chronicles

That's it for now. I will be back tomorrow! I have missed you guys, so be sweet and good!

Magic Begins To Happen

For some time now, I have put my own will above God's. How easy one forgets! I know well what it is like to try to fix everything yourself. I learned a long time ago that there comes a time when it becomes too much and realization begins to set in. There comes a time when you just have to say, "God, I have made a mess of everything! I can't do it, I can't fix it. I'm giving it all to You. I am not asking for anything, for You already know what I need. I am giving to You the fear that grips me, the worries that come in the night, for I know You will give me in exchange a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy beyond comprehension."

I seemed to have forgotten a lesson ingrained in me since childhood. When we turn our anxieties over to God, they begin to be smaller and smaller until they disappear altogether or maybe it's because He is so much bigger than they are. When God's will is above our own and we believe with our hearts and minds, we see magical things begin to happen.

This was brought about by Debye, my oldest daughter, when I expressed a great fear that I had tried to deal with privately. Of course, someone close can tell when something is bothering you. It shows in your behavior, on your face, the way you move. She knows me well, sometimes I think maybe better than I know myself. Anyway, bless her sweet little heart, she has just gone home and left this: "Mom, I thought you would like to read this."


Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things (Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV).

Be sweet.

Awards - Treasured Gifts From Friends

That sweet little Momma Young has awarded me the Passionate Blogger Award.
Recipients are to write about five things unrelated to blogging and nominate five others।

Glynis at Gunibee Scraps

Anish at Actuate Life

Patty at Two Greyhound Town

Sara at The Breathing Post

JT at The Frugal Housewife

The five things I am most passionate about include: my family, scrapbooking, cooking, friendships, and learning new things.

I also received The Nobless Oblige Award form Melissa at Real Parenting 4 Real Kids। Thank you , Sweetie। This my second of these, so I will pass this one to Lilly OF Lilly's Life - please look at Melissa's post for info.

Be sweet guys

Things I Don't Tell Most People

What do you know!? Sara has tagged me with the Weirdest Tag! People who are tagged with this should write a post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. You also should choose 6 others to be tagged and list them in your post. Leave a "you are tagged" comment on their blog to let them know and ask them to read yours. I told Sara there are so many weird things about me it will be difficult to choose just six, but here goes

1. I absolutely love a meal of just steamed, unseasoned broccoli and sweet potatoes.

2. I have been told I am the only person who says the word "sweet" with two syllables.

3. Abigail says I am her old, old, old grandma.

4. I believed till I was in the 7th grade that the doctor brought one of my brothers in an apple box and the other in a suitcase.

5. When I first pick up a magazine, I start at the back cover and look through it backwards.

6. When I look into a mirror, my first thought is "who in the heck is that old lady?"

There was nothing hard about that. I could have easily come up with more, but I must tag others with this Weirdest Tag. I choose:

Melissa at Real Parenting 4 Real Kids


Loribeth at Artistic Romance

Momma Young at Momma Young's @ Home

Lilly at Lilly's Life

Loree at Stories and Scribbles

June at Cen's Loft

That's all, folks. Oh, just this one last thought:

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true. -
- Leon Suyenes

Magic in the Mind of a Child

I am lucky enough to have, not just one, but two brothers.  I am the oldest and they never let me forget it!  My brother, Earl, is 16 months younger than me and Mert is 6 years younger, so Earl and I still call him our baby brother.  I have such wonderful memories of growing up with those two I could fill a large volume!  Earl and I used to tie towels around our necks and try to fly.  We really got in trouble for climbing on top of the chicken house and "flying" off.  I remember how I would try to hypnotize my brother by slowly swaying an object in front of him and how he would stare straight at it and act as if he really was in a trance.  I was so proud!  Here I was an accomplished hypnotist at the age of 7!  

We firmly believed in the existence of fairies.  Nothing could convince us fairies were make believe. We had even seen pictures of them and knew for a fact they lived under toadstools and only came out at night.  Many hours were spent on our front porch and on our knees in the yard looking and waiting for the fairies to come out, dancing in rings around our yard.  We searched under every toadstool, confident that the tiny creatures would be under the very next one!  I could hardly wait to hold one gently in my hand.  Relentlessly we searched every nook and cranny of our yard, determined to find those magical little people with wings.  I honestly don't remember how old I was when I realized fairies lived only in the minds of little children who listened in awe, as the tales were read to them.  

I believe there is a moral here, for there are people who spend a lifetime looking for something that they will never find,  for what they search for is not found on the outside, but in our own hearts and minds.

Be sweet

Skidboot's Story

This video is about the special bond between man and his best friend. Skidboot is not only a best friend, but a helper with the intelligence to be taught tricks faster than his owner could think them up! David, the dog's owner took no credit for teaching anything, but gave all credit to his beloved Skidboot. They were on Oprah and other TV programs. At the time of this video, the dog was going blind. Please watch all the way to the end. It is an amazing story, one I will remember for a long time.







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Valentine,s on a Dime Free ebook

I'm back, guys. I found this great ebook for you to download free, so had to post the information. This is 32 pages, with wonderful valentine recipes and all kinds of good tips to have an exquisite Valentine's Day while staying within your budget. I hope you look over it---really good advice here.
You may download the book here.

Grounds In Grandpa's Coffee

How well I remember the visits to grandma's house when I was a little girl. Luckily I had both sets of grandparents and loved them equally. They actually carried on a conversation with me! None of that baby talk I heard from others, or the cooing and "oh, isn't she just too sweet." My grandmas and I had secrets no one else even suspected. They would let me gather eggs by myself and feed the chickens. All Grandma did was stand in the back door, screen held open, and smile. I felt almost as big as my older cousins, as I scattered the feed around the chicken yard!
I watched both of my grandmas as they prepared red eye gravy for Grandpa's breakfast. Each grandpa would swish a big fluffy homemade biscuit around to gather up the last bit of what was left on his plate. Grandpa always sat at the head of the table, ate out of the same plate and drank his morning coffee out of the same giant mug. Coffee grounds swimming on the top were downed with the rest of the coffee. He always told me "It isn't real coffee unless it has grounds in it."
To this day, I occasionally put water and coffee in a pot to boil, then let most of the grounds settle and pour off the dark liquid to relive those days when I drank coffee at my grandparents. My mom and dad said I was too young to drink coffee, but not Grandma and Grandpa! I knew my mom had been fed a spoonful of coffee at just a few days of age.
For some reason, I always felt so important when I was there. I always got the corner biscuits, which I loved because they had two crunchy sides. Sometimes, at home my brothers got them first so it was a real treat for me. The only time that was not totally pleasant was the time it took to go to sleep after grandma and I were in our gowns and in bed for the night. It would have been okay even then, but I became so stiff from trying not to move, I could hardly stand it. I thought I had to be just like Gran and I swear when she laid down in bed, she never moved!! I wanted to be just like her so I laid as still as I could for as long as I could till I thought I would surely die if I didn't move just a little! In my own bed at home I tossed, turned, changed positions every 3 minutes till I wore myself out and went to sleep. I had to make Grandma proud and if she didn't move, I wasn't moving. My little mind whirled with these thoughts till without realizing it, I fell asleep!
Most grandparents have that knack for making little ones feel so very special, because it so happens they are very special, especially through the eyes of their grandparents.

Recipe Cards to Download and Print

This is my first time to try this, so I hope it will work. I have 6 recipe cards I made for you to download. I have done it one at a time before, but never more than that, so I have these in a folder that you will have to unzip after being downloaded. They are great printed on cardstock or the new Avery Postcards that you can get anywhere now. Avery also has free software to print them off on their product. If you use plain white cardstock, you should be able to print 3 on a page ( at 4 x 6 size). If you use the Avery, I believe there are three on a page.
Download right here.

Wit and Humor of Abe Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln has many an anecdote attributed to him. He reportedly once said, "They say I tell a great many stories; I reckon I do, but I have found in the course of a long experience that common people, take them as they run, are more easily informed through the medium of a broad illustration than in any other way and as to what the hypercritical few think, I don't care."

I believe his wit and humor placed him in the hearts of so many as much or more than his practical side. It is said he was so full of fun, it was not possible to keep it all in. I love reading and learning everything about him as he was such an extraordinary man. The following is a yarn of his I am sure you have read or heard. However, it is so good I feel it is worth reading again.

As he told it, Mr. Lincoln was surprised one day when a large, fierce looking man drew a gun and held the weapon almost in his face. Under these circumstances, "Abe" knew that talking or arguing with the man would be useless.
"What seems to be the matter?" asked Mr Lincoln with every bit of calmness he possessed.
"Well," replied the stranger, who did not appear at all excited, "some years ago I swore an oath that if I ever came across an uglier man than myself, I'd shoot him on the spot."
A feeling of relief came over "Abe", as the expression upon his countenance lost any suggestion of anxiety.
"Shoot me," he said to the stranger; " for if I am an uglier man than you I don't want to live."

Yes, "Abe" Lincoln was recognized as the champion story teller of the Capitol! Nothing could arise that stumped him. He always had a story that would furnish the proper illustration.
You be sweet now.

More of The Crew

This is Brandon, Caitlyn and Michael, more of my grandchildren. These three belong to my son, Mike and his wife, Lisa. I guess as long as they let them think they are the bosses, everything works out just right! Be sweet.

Noblesse Oblige Award

I am so honored to be included in this group! I have received this award from Sara. Thank you so very much!

The award is presented to bloggers who display consistency in any one or a combinations:

1.The blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.

2.The blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.

3.There is a clear purpose at the blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economics, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.

4.The blog is refreshing and creative.

5.The blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1.Create a post with a mention and a link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.

2.The award conditions must be displayed at the post.

3.Write a short article about what the blog has thus far acheived - preferably citing one or more older posts to support.

4.The blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the award conditions.

5.The blogger must display the award at any location on the blog.

I will first say, "Right back at you, Sara!" Her Breathing Post is a wonderful blog, delightful to read. I will pass this on as required.

Two Greyhound Town

The Retirement Chronicles

Cen's Loft

Ghunibee Scraps

Words to the Wise

The Frugal Housewife

When I began this blog, it was to be simply a place to share pictures I was scrapbooking with my family. I told my daughter in law, Carol, that my blog was getting out of hand!! I honestly was not even going to make it public. After a while, I thought - oh, why not? Now, I have received awards, I have followers - there are those I follow. This from someone who thought only a few years ago that a mouse was something you caught in a trap! When I almost gave up blogging, Glynis encouraged me and I listened, so here I still am, pounding away at these keys like I actually know what I am doing. Be sweet.

Lemonade Award (And Ice Storm)

I am just so honored!! I was very surprised and very happy to open a message from Two Greyhound Town with a message that she had given me The Lemonade Award and it was waiting for me at Quick And Easy Cooking! I am very humbled by all these awards.
The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude! How great to be included. Thank you so much.
The rules of this award are as follows:

1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude.
3.Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on a post.
5.Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

I am almost sure some of you have already received this award, but a second one will be even nicer, so my nominations are:

Ghunibee Scraps
RandomWAHMThoughts
The Breathing Post
The Retirement Chronicles
Berry Blog
Stories and Scribbles
Loribeth's Artistic Romance

I have many more I think are deserving of this award, so many I would still be putting nominees on this list a week from now. I appreciate all of you and love reading what you write. If you have not been to Two Greyhound Town, pay a visit. It has some great pictures and she describes the greyhounds as 45 mph couch potatoes!

We have been in the big ice storm. Some families will not have power again for days. It is the worst it has ever been. I have been in a panic because a couple of cell phone towers have fallen due to heavy ice and I have been unable to use the phone to call Keith and Carol, or my brothers to check on them. We have not had a land line in a few years---use cell phones for everything and are lost without them. Me, who grew up not knowing what a phone was! Have internet service today, so will try to email them. The house directly across from us still has no power and finally went to a shelter. My daughter made coffee for them. They have had no power for days. I swear, it is like a war zone, so many limbs and trees, etc. are down. Lots of streets and roads are impassable to to being blocked by trees. Two of my boys had to go out to Debye,s and try to remove enough tree limbs for her to get out of her driveway, but some are so big they will have to be cut with a chainsaw or pulled with a wench. She finally made it out by driving through her yard. Her car was under the carport of she would not have a car left. Two limbs are lying on our car in the driveway. I will try to get pictures. Later! Be sweet.

Mama's Dishes

As a child growing up in the forties, living in a rural area, everyone I knew used empty peanut butter jars, jelly jars and sometimes a pint mason jar. as drinking glasses. Our mamas would soak off the labels most of the time and scrub them till they sparkled like crystal. I thought nothing of it and neither did anyone else. It's how things were. Many a table was set with mismatched and chipped dishes and the empty jars set beside our plates to drink from. Those were some of the best meals I ever ate!
Mom never had a set of matching dishes in her life. I was grown and married before I learned there was such a thing. Sooo, one Christmas Dad planned to surprise Mom with a complete set of dishes. He let me in on the secret and, though I really wanted to, I never told a soul. We had a small town around twenty miles away with a hardware store that sold open stock dishes, which is where Dad decided to go. He said there were so many to choose from.
Well, when Mom opened the big box there they were!! A plate with a gold rim, one with blue flowers, a cup with a green vine and -----you get the idea. No two dishes were alike! I know my poor dad must have spent quite some time making sure of it. Mom was as pleased as punch. My eyes were big as saucers when I saw what else was in the box----six plastic glasses!! They were all different colors, but, oh,my! Real glasses! I thought about being a little uppity with my friends, but knew that Mom would not approve. She let me help her wash them and put them all away. I put the pretty new glasses in front of the assorted jars.
It was just not in me to wait till the holiday dinner was served to use our new glasses. I looked around to be sure no one watched, got the pink one down and took it outside to pump ice cold water straight into it. Oh, Lord that was good water! I raised my glass in the chilly air and right then I knew that, for whatever reason, I would always remember this day and Mama's dishes.

Quotes, Words of Wisdom

Some of us have runways already built for us. If you have one, take off. But if you don't have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you. - Amelia Earhart

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down but an encouraging word makes it glad. - Proverbs 12:25

The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been, - Alan Ashley-Pitt

It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently. - Warren Buffett

There's no place on earth that's not been rained on. - Author Unknown

Yes, I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight, and see the dawn before the rest of the world. - Oscar Wilde

If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place. - Nora Roberts

Henry Ford could get anything out of men because he just talked and would tell them stories. He'd never say, "I want this done!" He'd say, "I wonder if we can do it." - George Brown

Wish I'd said that! Be sweet.

Thought I Didn't Want a Thing Until........

Well, what do you know?!

I have been given The Birthday Wish Award by Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts and it isn't even my birthday! Remember how my mom almost named me Nina Mae and thank goodness she didn't.

Of course, there are rules to go along with the award which are:

1. Post the image of this award.

2. Make a list of what you want on your birthday.

3. The list should be 15 numbers.

4. Give it to 10 friends of yours.

You always think it would be easy to come up with a list of things we wish for, but I find it is not as easy as it might seem. I really don't wish for a lot of things, but if I could have anything I might want and have fifteen wishes, this is what I would wish for.

1. I wish I could sit in the front pew of the church when my great granddaughters are brides.

2. I wish I could be present at the birth of my first great-great grandchild.

3. I want Abigail, Anna and Carlee always to remember me and how much I love them.

4. I wish I could finish the family scrapbooks I started for my children.

5. I wish for a professional organizer to get my bedroom and kitchen in some kind of order.

6. I wish I had a stove with a solid cooktop.

(Boy, this wishing is getting easier and easier! Thanks, Kaye)

7. I wish Glynis would send pictures of the village where she lives in Cyprus.

8. I wish to visit both my brothers at least two weeks.

9. I wish Spring would last six months and Autumn the other six.

10. I wish I had every kitchen appliance known to man, with a room to put them in.

(If you are going to wish, you might as well wish big.)

11. I wish I was not such a procrastinator.

12. I wish for a vegetable garden in my back yard in the spring.

13. I wish all my relatives and friends lived in the same city as me.

14. I wish our old family Bible was restored.

15. I wish I had fifteen more wishes.

Now that my wishes have been made I would like to pass this award on to the following people:

My dear friend, Glynis of New Scribbles, sweet Faith of Scripture2Prayer, Sara of The Breathing Post, dear sweet Lizzie of Words To The Wise, Loribeth of Artistic Romance, Darlene of Darlene Designs. Those are the friends I will pass this on to for now. Maybe we will all have a little angel waiting to make all our dreams and fifteen wishes come true. Don't be such a skeptic. You never know! Spring is sure to be here any day now and there are empty houses everywhere just waiting for my aunts, brothers, and the rest to move into. A new service has just begun in our area---free services offered via the web and I just know soon a professional organizer will be listed who is dying to offer her/his services to anyone who needs them. How exciting! All those papers, pens, notes, bills and assorted clutter could soon be sorted, neatly arranged and out of sight!! Thank you so much, Kaye, for my birthday wishes, for all of you know I believe in angels!!! Be sweet and good.

For Mitch, Love Never Ends

This is a difficult post to write.  This is Mitch, the child I hold in my heart.  The sweet memories are a priceless treasure.  I am grateful for the time God saw fit to give us.  I am so thankful, too, that He saw fit to give me other children to love.

When a child dies, a piece of who we are is gone but, this I know for sure---a part of Mitch lives on in all my children.  Though each child is a unique and special gift, with different talents, personalities, goals and ambitions, their lives all came from my life.  We are intertwined.  We are separate, yet we are one. 

Mitch had a knack for putting people at ease.  He was witty, had many friends and gave pleasure to those around him.  I talk to him often and sometimes end with, "Sweetheart, save the last dance for me!"

Cooking Freebies

Two more recipes already on cards and yours for downloading.  If you use cardstock in your printer, you just have to cut them out and add to your recipe box.  I have recipes scattered everywhere.  If I said I was going to organize them and get them all in one place, my nose would immediately begin to grow!  I have so many cookbooks that a lot of them are in storage tubs in the garage.  I can tell you about each and every one though, where I got it, how long I've had it and what kind of recipes are in it!  I know if one is missing too.  My daughters can attest to that! I really don't understand my fascination with cookbooks as I usually don't bother to measure ingredients.  I just add a pinch or two of this and a handful of that and most usually it is edible.  I have come a long way from the young bride with a flame being lit under her biscuit by a husband who could not so much as take a bite out of the biscuit!  I swear to you, in those days I have cooked food that our dog refused to eat!!   I can sit with a cookbook and read it the way other people read novels.  If I have to wait very long anywhere, I am receiving what I have come to call THE LOOK.  It isn't everyone who can pull a cookbook out of her purse while sitting in the waiting room at a doctor's office.  I recently gave my oldest granddaughter a cookbook written in 1887.  I feel every young girl should know how to pluck a chicken and the proper way to render fat when a hog is killed.

Now on to the freebies!  Download link for Biscuits Recipe Card is here 

Link for Peanut Butter Cups is here.                                               Be sweet!

My Chat With Charlie

You just have to read Charlie Berry's blog!  It is too good to miss.  He has written a post for me explaining his love for recipes.  I tell you, I laughed and laughed.  Especially when he was learning to cook and got carried away with the spices until everything tasted like alum.  He is exactly like me, with a truckload of cookbooks and probably every spice and herb known to man.  I know you will love his humor and style as much as I do.  Pay a visit to Berry Blog and you will stay for the entertainment and visit often.  I was reminded of the mismatched set of dishes my dad proudly gave Mom for Christmas one year.  I will surely have to tell you all about that little episode soon. Like always, be sweet and good and smile.

You've Been Tagged Award

Sara, from The Breathing Post has bestowed upon me the You've Been Tagged Award.  Sara is awesome and her Breathing Post is a blast.  You will have loads of fun at this site.  Thank you, Sara.  I have discovered some responsibility comes with this Tag Award!  I have to say 7 random and/or weird things---now that will be quite easy as everything that comes out of my mouth is random and/or weird!  I also must give the award to other deserving people for writing such amazing blogs.  No need to put this off so we'll get on with it beginning with the 7 things.

1. I found out today that Sara had lost a goldfish named Lady Gwen that she had for a year---     well, I once had 2 goldfish named Floyd and Leroy who thrived in their bowl until  both died a sudden death.  I have often wondered if it was the names that killed them!

2. I am terrified to open a can of biscuits, because one exploded in my hand several years ago.  My kids used to chase me around the house with a can of biscuits. To this day, someone has to open them for me and I put both hands over my ears and move away.

3. When I remarked to my dad that I had grown up with my kids, he said simply, "The only thing is, they grew up and you never did."

4. My birthday is the ninth of May and my sweet little mama almost named me Nina Mae, so I would always remember my birthday. (So glad you didn't, Mama.  I don't even look like a Nina Mae.)

5. My husband has said the happiest time of his life was when I had laryngitis.

6. I told one of my grandsons I was going to seduce Hank Hill and take him away from Peggy.  Not only would he have a new grandpa, but we could sure put Hank's red truck to use and he would have such fun with Bobby.  He said I was senile------he'll think senile when I drive up in that red truck.  Look at what we could save on propane!

7.If we had computers back in the day, I would have been a geek by age 16.

All right, Sweeties, now for the fun part.  I give the You've Been Tagged Award to the following:

1.Glynis @ New Scribbles

2.Lizzie @Words To The Wise

3.Charlie @ Berry Blog

4.Wayne @ wize old phart

5.Jennifer @ The Frugal Housewife

Well, Little Darlins', that's it for this go around.  I'll be back later with more goodies---a tall tale to tell or maybe something good to eat or, how about some money saving tips?  Whatever it is, we'll grab a cup of hot coffee, prop our feet up and just ENJOY!   Guess there won't be a Cole Slaw Debate this year as everyone seemed to agree that the Colonel's was best!   Be sweet!!

 

 

Copycat KFC Coleslaw on Recipe Card (Yum!)

One more thing before I leave you----I have a yummilicious (is that a word?) Copycat KFC Cole Slaw recipe for you. I even put it on a recipe card so all you have to do is download it and think of me when you make it!! KFC has the BEST cole slaw> If you know of one better and have the recipe, bring it on and we will have the Great Cole Slaw Debate of 2009!!!

Download that little jewel right here and, as always, happy cooking
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If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both. - Horace Mann,

Can You Believe It? Two Awards!! Sisterhood From Glynis And Tagged From Sara

After a couple of days away from my computer, I am truly humbled!! Today when I looked at my e-mail and found I had waiting for me, not one, but two awards, I was almost in tears. I had spent the last few days deciding if I should continue writing my blog, then out of nowhere here is my answer!!! Thank you so much. Now let's get down to business!! The Sisterhood Award was passed to me by Glynis Smy of New Scribbles. Glynis is an exceptional lady, so caring, so truly concerned for the welfare of others. Now it is my turn to pass it on to others.

The rules for recipients are as follows:
1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude
(If you don't have 10, it doesn't really matter.)
3.Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know they have received this award by commenting
on their blog.
5.Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom
whom you received your award.

So here goes (I would give it back to Glynis, but don't think I'm allowed!)
I pass this award to these new and dear friends.

Sara at The Breathing Post

Angi at Scripture2Prayer

Carol at Balsam Pond Designs

Kay at RandomWAHMThoughts

Darlene at Darlene Designs

Marie at Flashgraphics Creations

Okay, Sweeties, there you are!! So many amazing and inspiring blogs it is so hard,
especially since I am so new to all of this. I love each and every one of you and, guess what is in store for you tomorrow??? The You've Been Tagged Award that I received from Sara. I know I should do it now, but after all this I am just brain dead!!

I do have one little thing to tell you-------my precious, darling daughter sent me an email that had in the subject line "Mom, this is for you" The message read-------------

Did you hear about the 80 year old woman
who talked herself out of a speeding ticket
by telling the young officer that she had to get there
before she forgot where she was going?


Makes perfect sense to me!!! Remember to be sweet and good!

Never Fail Homemade Biscuits

I will tell you the easiest and best way to make never-fail biscuits today.  It works everytime.  I have used this method since the time I spent all afternoon preparing what I expected to be a delicious evening meal for my husband.  I had made all the old favorites, the comfort foods.  The chicken was golden brown and crunchy with creamy mashed potatoes, green beans and homemade biscuits.  As we sat making small talk about our day, my dear husband placed one of my biscuits on the edge of the table, calmly pulled a cigarette lighter out of his pocket and lit it, holding the flame under the biscuit.  I wondered aloud what in the heck was he doing.  To which he replied, "I'm trying to see if that damn thing will crawl!"

It goes without saying that it was a long, long time before I attempted biscuits again.   Now I will tell you the easiest method I know that will always ensure a good flaky biscuit.  This is the way I firmly believe all biscuits should be made----first, while shopping for groceries, go to the refrigerated section and place a couple of the packages of  canned biscuits in your cart.  Next pay for them along along with the contents of your cart.  When you reach home and begin putting away the food, put the biscuits behind a big head of lettuce or gallon of milk.  Then when you are ready to show the culinary skills you have learned from years of cooking from scratch for a bunch of hungry kids and a hard working husband, take out the package of biscuits from behind the lettuce, tear it open with the strips and pop it against the corner of your counter.  Place them in appropriate pan, bake about 10 minutes at maybe 400 degrees.  That's all there is to it! I'm telling you, this is a fool proof method!!  The only problem I ever had was once when I was talking on the phone too long, they almost burned!!  If you are careful, you can prevent this from ever happening.  Feel free to share this with whomever you please.  Happy cooking!  

Be sweet!  Polly

You May or May Not Believe in Angels,But This is a Message For Everyone

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Debye's Children, Brittany and Logan

This is our sweet, sweet Logan. He was Debye,s only son and the youngest. The hummingbird on his shoulder is there for a reason.
We never see hummingbirds, yet one came to Debye and hovered beside her in the air as she sat outside longing for her little granddaughter, Abigail, who had moved far away to North Dakota. Strange though it may seem, the tiny hummingbird had come with a message for her---love travels great distances and everything will be all right. Abigail feels the love you have for her.
When Logan was called to be a special angel, a part of my daughter died with him. She grieved so, my heart bled for her, then as she sat, in tears, on the patio---lo and behold, the hummingbird came to her again, hovering silently beside her, its little wings moving quietly in the soft air.
Mysterious though it may seem, the hummingbird was back with a special message once more meant only for her. Someday I will (if she agrees) let you read the special poem she wrote for her sweet little tiny bird. She calls Logan her little hummingbird.



Another grandaughter! This is my Brittany, as a baby and today. A horse is nuzzling her cheek. She has always loved animals. Brittany is Debye,s only daughter and Abigail's mom.

Scrapbook Freebies

This morning I downloaded a beautiful scrapbook quickpage to use with a special picture of one of my granddaughters. It is so feminine, with a large pink bow, pink frame and tiny hearts on the paper. Marie at Flashgraphics is a wonderful designer and also gives lots of freebies on her site. I do love my scrapbooking!! I am so proud and happy when I complete a page. If you do not have a hobby, this is a wonderful craft for you. Anyone can scrapbook, as there is no right or wrong way. All that matters is that it pleases you. If, for some reason it doesn't, it is very simple to rearrange elements on the page until it does! I am, as I said in the beginning, trying to make scrapbooks for all my children. When they are finished I'll make one for my grandchildren and my little great granddaughters. It is important that they know their heritage. Till this afternoon---be good! Polly

Quote by Ben Franklin & The Puzzle

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." ~ Benjamin Franklin

I love this quote by Benjamin Franklin.  It is on Darlene Designs today right at the top.  If you like to preserve your memories in a scrapbook, stop by and see Darlene.  Her blog has lots of pretty designs and she gives a lot of freebies.  I download her designs a lot and use the kits, etc. in my scrapbooking.  She would love to have you visit and leave a comment.  I would about give anything if I could design!!  I am so glad there are designers who share their work with those of us not so talented.  

I have a "funny" to tell you today (anyway I sure thought it was funny).  My mother-in-law delighted in finishing a crossword puzzle.  She was happiest when she had , pen held ready in hand, a crossword puzzle spread before her on the big kitchen table!  She waited all week for the Sunday newspaper, for there was always a good puzzle inside waiting, it seemed, just for her to complete!!  One warm spring day, she sat proudly in her spot with her puzzle.  She looked deep in thought for a minute or so, then erased something on her puzzle, the lines in her forehead wrinkled, up came her head and she asked 

anyone within hearing distance, "How do you spell 'baseball glove', with one mitt or two?!"  Everyone burst out laughing as we knew at once that her beloved Sunday puzzle obviously wanted a four letter word for baseball glove and she, face slowly becoming a deep shade of pink, realized what she had said!

Oh, the wonder of a good memory!  How it nourishes both soul and body!  

Be sweet and be good!   Later!

 

From the Olden Days to 2009

Everyone knows I am not a "bah! humbug!" sort of person, but I am so glad the holidays are over and life settles into normal again. I admit, when November rolls around, I will be the first to start searching through storage tubs and boxes in the garage for lights and ornaments. They have to be ready to go at a moment's notice! I will want the Santa my daughter painted to be in a prominent place as it always is. I absolutely do love the season, all the hub-bub and the rushing here and there. I am just so worn out by the time New Year's Day rolls around that I am ready to relax and do my part to make it the best year yet. I make no resolutions, because I know I won't keep them. I once thought resolutions on New Year's Day was a must and always felt bad when I failed to keep them. I am a lot older and a little wiser now, so I am thankful just to see another year begin! How lucky we are---- 2009, can you imagine?!
When my children were little, they thought I lived "back in the olden" days. Mitch asked me once, "Mom, how did people wash their clothes in the olden days? Did you have to take them to a stream and beat them on a rock?" He was so serious. I let that little man know right quick that by the time I was a teenager we had electricity and a wringer washing machine, with two galvanized wash tubs for rinsing sitting on the back porch!!

Free E Book For You Today

This is a really wonderful book full of good recipes, over 500 pages. It is in Adobe format so you will need Adobe Reader to open it and read it. Most already have one installed, but if you do not, Adobe Reader 9 is newest and best. You can download it free from the Adobe website or just "google" it if you need to install. Happy cooking!

Download here

Be sweet. Love you all. Polly

The Angel in my Garden

Brrrr!!  Old man Winter is outside the door knocking like crazy trying to get in!  I sit here, smiling and warm as toast.  I have said that if it takes every dime I have I will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  I can remember, as a child, having to break ice in a washpan to get ready for school and running fast as I could to the wood stove in our living room and standing as close as I possibly could.  Didn't think a thing of it and nobody else did either.  That's how it was then.  It was the accepted way of life, the only way of life.

  

How everything changes with time!  The old cliche', "time heals all" is almost true.  Time doesn't actually "heal",  but it changes everything, including us, how we think, how we feel.  We become accustomed to how things are, it begins to happen so slowly we don't even realize it's happening.  It just does.  One day we wake up with a start and maybe it has been days since we have thought of a pain so great that at the time it happened, we thought we would never smile again and surely we would die for it hurt too much to stay alive.  This is what happens to most of us who have lost a child.  The pain never leaves, you are never the same, a part of us is missing.   You can't ask questions because you get in real emotional trouble when you begin to ask questions that have no answer.  After a few years, you know you must have been in shock to have survived, but you made it.  God sees us through.  We can't know it then, but a great strength is gained.  If  one can go through this, there will be nothing we can't do, because nothing can compare.  Everything else pales.  No pain could be this great.  We survived and we are smiling and breathing and doing all the normal things.  We look forward to Christmas again and springtime.  We are not "healed",  for I don't believe we can ever cope, but we manage so well that most people would never even know. 

Be sweet and be good!!  Till tomorrow, on a brighter note---Polly   (Smile)  

 

Hot Chocolate Lessons

This has been around the web because I received this in an e mail from my daughter, whose friend sent it to her. On the chance it has not reached you, it is a perfectly wonderful message to share on New Years' Day.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives, and relationships. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.

“Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup…but you consciously went for the best cups, and soon you began to eye on another’s cups.

Now friends, please consider this….Life is the hot chocolate…your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.

Always remember this…God brews the hot chocolate, but He does not choose the cup. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.”

Live simply…love generously….care deeply….speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

And remember…the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Enjoy your hot chocolate!

More Goodies From Grandma's

This is too good to keep!! Almost any flavor imaginable can be made using the Easiest Fudge recipe from yesterday's post. Coconut pecan frosting with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting are a few that come to mind right off the bat!! Almost anything from nuts, chopped candies like Butterfinger, to chopped candied cherries can be added. The variety is endless. Just think, next Christmas everyone will think we are quite the cook, and we will never tell a soul our little secret. I wish I had known how simple and easy this candy is to make before the holidays this year. Oh well, I didn't but next fall I'll be stocking my pantry with all kinds of chips and eagerly awaiting another trip to the grocery store to look at the baking aisle and check out the newest flavor of frosting!! It takes so little to make me happy! Be sweet and be good!

Easy Fudge Recipe

I am so excited!! I found a recipe for fudge that I have to share with you. There are only a few ingredients and it is sooo easy to make. So here it is.

Easiest Fudge

12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
1 tub chocolate frosting(Betty Crocker is best)
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

Butter pan while chocolate chips melt in microwave. When melted mix in frosting
then salt, vanilla and nuts. Pour into pan and refrigerate till firm (at least half an
hour). Cut into squares and serve. Delicious!! TNT recipe!!

Be sweet and be good.

A Childhood to Die For

Hi everyone! The holidays are almost over---only a few days till New Year's Day and 2009. I just now got used to writing 2008! I have lovely pictures of Brittany and Logan, Debye's children, and will post them soon. I would look at my pictures all day if I could. I want to share them with all of you

My brothers and I had a childhood to die for!! If angels had come to our house they would have felt right at home, for surely my mother was one of them! Our dad had a great big heart with a bear hug to match! We listened to "Stella Dallas" on the radio, played kick the can, let our imaginations run wild, trying to fly and hypnotize each other and whatever else we could think of! It was such a magical time. That is the only word that describes it. I will put some of Mom,s recipes in a post soon. She rarely used recipes---it was "a handful of this and a pinch of that". Somehow it all tasted so good. After I was married I went to Mom and Dad's almost every day and I always had to eat something she had made, even if it was just a cold biscuit. All my life I wanted to be just like my mother and, trying as hard as I could to be like her, I turned out exactly like my dad!!

The Reason For The Season