Having Fun - Play - Boost the Mind

 Howdy to everyone.  So glad to be here today, as a new day starts.  Hope this finds all of you well.  It is 2 weeks until Christmas Day!  

It is colder here this morning - got up to the freezing mark.  Tomorrow will be bitter again - then it warms yet again.  I can do this all winter if it so happens!

I have been out of the house a lot in the past 3 days - and need to buckle down and get busy.  Still several things I want to accomplish - but will not fret, if they don't get done.  Que sera, sera!

Another little memory for me.  My brother Dick and me.  He came home on leave at Christmas and brought me my own Navy suit!  I loved it (still have it).  He was my hero, and I was sure I would marry him!!! I was so angry at my SIL when they got married, I didn't like her for a long time, as she took my brother and my buddy and my future husband!  LOL. We are good friends now!

Do you play games at Christmas?  I know lots of people have all day get togethers and games are a huge part of it.  My niece and her kids and her grand have a day of it, and they just love games.  Made up games, board games, card games, etc.  I think that is neat.

Her is one that could be a game for the family or just something to keep next to your chair, to exercise your brain over the winter!  That is what I am doing.  It is fun and a challenge - and I can't imagine finding all they say there is!!!

Now this would be something to let people do over the entire day - then see who has the most at the end of the visit.  I will work on this at home!

Another fun thing to do - might be to have everyone write down as many lines from holiday movies/shows that they can - that make the name of the movie immediately known.  Then see if everyone agrees.

Like - "you'll shoot your eye out", "God bless us everyone", "every time a bell rings...", "you're a mean one...", "I triple dog dare you".  There are so many phrases out there that instantly make me think of a holiday movie.

Can you think of any?

I think these ideas are fun - as I like trivia, but it really does help keep the mind fresh.  We need to use that old brain of ours every day to keep it fresh and alert.

Here is a bit of trivia.  I love the National Lampoon Christmas Vacation movie - it is so silly.  I just like to laugh, and I do that through the whole show.  It is just plain old silliness, with a little moral point thrown in here and there.

I know this one is not everyone's cup of tea, as there are many others that I won't watch as well.

Throw a little fun in your celebrations and winter.  Have fun and laugh!  It is good medicine!

Have a super day.  Give away a smile today!

Talking Tuesday - This and That

 Hello to all.  Happy Tuesday!  Hope you are all well.  It is a VERY foggy morning here.  Earlier it looked like you could cut the fog with a knife.  In the 40's for today - then we go back down for a couple days and then back up!  We are playing seesaw with the weather here!  That is fine with me, nothing bad yet!  Around 4AM today, I guess there was a meteor shower here and a sonic boom - missed them both!

I have had a couple fun filled days - now it is time to getting back to being serious about the holidays.  Nice to have fun.

   Me and Santa at Santa Claus Land in the 50's.  He is still there, and it is called Holiday World now. 

I mentioned last week I went to the feed store.  I walked around hoping to find something I wanted as a gift (a kit for a terrarium).  Nothing there.  BUT as I am walking around I see what is called "PRIMITIVE PLANT HOLDER" - it was a macrame plant hanger!!!!!  Primitive???

I laughed out loud, and the gal working there, walked up and saw what I was looking at - and 'yeah, can you believe that?'.  I guess macrame is a fun thing again - but oh my goodness, the word primitive just set me to laughing.  

How many macrame things I made back in the day.  I still have a plant hanger and a belt!  I guess that means we are primitive too!!!!!  LOL

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I just wanted to put this out there - it might help someone else.  I have over the years been gifted 2 Himalayan salt lamps.  Never used them much, but I have one sitting on my bedside table and figured why not actually use it.  I started using it a couple weeks ago and let me tell you I have been sleeping much better and more restful, and my restless leg has quieted a LOT.  I still have it now and then - but symptoms are less and last a much shorter time.

Now I know some may think that is crazy - but it has helped me.  Supposedly they ionize the air and that helps calm us.  It sure has worked for me.  Mine has a variable brightness; I keep it very low (a soft faint pink light).  I leave it on all night long.  I may try using it a bit brighter to see if that makes a difference.  I just didn't want a light that kept me awake.  It is a very pretty light.

So, you may want to give it a try.  They sure are pretty when lit. (not my pic).  This looks just like mine.

Well, I think I am going to go out and look for the last couple things I am having trouble finding.  JoAnn's may be a good place to go.  Two youngsters asked for very specific things - and of course no one close by has anything!  I will run down to Greenwood and look around - more variety there.

I hope you all have a great day.  

Spread joy and smiles wherever you go and whatever you do.

Weekly Wrap-Up 12/8

 Hello and happy Sunday to all.  Hope this finds you all well and safe.  It is a much warmer start to the day today.  It was warmer when I got up than most of the week got as a high!  We will be having warmer, colder and somewhere in between this week!

Two and a half weeks until Christmas!!!  Goodness, where has the time gone?

Yep, that is my tree this year!  Old school (I made years ago) and simple!  I do have a couple lit wreaths inside as well - one large and one small.

Friday was exactly 1 year since Bitsy and Blackie came inside to live their best lives!

Been enjoying the brightness of the moon and seeing Venus very clearly this week.

Sis, went home Thursday!!!!!  She is soooo happy to be there.  Friday was going to be extra special as she was getting her doggy back - after not seeing him for a little over a month!  The kids have brought her lots of food goodies, so she shouldn't have to cook for a while.

My frugal week:

• Made a small pan of cornbread - haven't had in a while
• Made some banana/chocolate muffins w/added chips and nuts
• Opened a new toothpaste!!!  LOL - It takes me a long time to go through a tube myself.
• Told you earlier about the chicken leg deal I got a Kroger, and the oranges - MY ONLY GROCERY this week
• Made a batch of apple butter and canned
• I did run to feed store for corn - I was out!
• I worked on finishing the blankie for niece.  She came and got it and loved it.  We got to sit and talk (w/no kids) for a long while.  That doesn't happen much and was truly enjoyed.  She posted on TikTok and FB a video about the blankie!!!  I think she loved it.
• Trimmed my hair
• Got out cards and will finish up today
• Ordered my jerky and summer sausage for baskets (early in week)
• Made up new bottles of shampoo and dish soap this week
• Still eating my tomatoes
• Lots of cleaning around the house
• Picked up lots of sticks and did a backyard clean-up again
• Started going through all the gifts to see just what else I may need
• Watched a couple Christmas movies - fun ones and older ones.  I can't do any of the romantic ones anymore!  Those just aren't my cup of tea - LOL

Meals this past week:

Dirty rice and red beans and cornbread

Rice, turkey and broccoli

Cheeseburger (no bread), corn on cob and side salad

Grilled burrito and salad

Pork steak, corn on cob and salad

Bacon and egg sandwich and salad

Thin chicken breast topped w/salsa and cheese, steamed broccoli and carrots

SNACKS:  cornbread and apple butter, muffins, fruit, cheese and crackers

Grilled burrito and salad.  Simple and filling meal and used leftover rice and beans in it.  Also added spicey summer sausage and salsa which I had.

How was your week?  Are you done with your holiday preparations?  I am not finished quite yet - still have a couple odd ball things to get - specific requests I am having trouble with! Baking to do.

Did you get any great deals w/ all the holiday sales?

I sure hope you are all good.  Still needing to hear from some of you - really missing your posts.  It just makes me feel better knowing everyone is OK.

May you all have a super week ahead and stay safe and healthy.

Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.

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O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Psalms 95:1

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

Lord, help us to open our hearts and hands to receive all the gifts and joy You have to offer us each day.  Let us go forward in communion with all that we meet.  Help us to cope with all our frustrations and circumstances and let us not to be overwhelmed.  May we each spread Your love and joy during this week.  Amen

Show and Tell - A Couple Things!

 Howdy all.  It is soooooo cold this morning.  I know I am spoiled.  Weather says it is 12*F - my thermometer says about 18*.  Windy too - but not as bad as last night.  I have several sticks to pick up at some point, and the chairs out back were all topsy turvy.  Trash blown in the yard picked up.  Surprised the yard decorations across the street are still there!  We had some 60 mph gusts last night.  Today's high - maybe 20*.  YUCK.  It is supposed to warm up this weekend for a bit - Yay.

Yesterday did finally get into low 40's and the neighbor 2 doors down was mowing about 4PM yesterday!

Just a couple things - one bought and one made.  Just wanted to share.

Old time candy - I remember from childhood.  I got both of these at Ollies the last time I was there.  Just a bit of nostalgia that I will enjoy.  2.99 a bag.  They also had boxes of the thin ribbon candy.

So it can still be had!

I mentioned making a throw for my niece with baby clothes from her 3.  Well, it is complete.  I just want to say I am not calling it a quilt at all.  I know there are wonderful quilters out there and would never want to insult their work.  This is a whimsical and fun throw.

A full image.  It is backed with a super fuzzy store-bought throw.  The denim is from a pair of Uncle G's jeans, and the binding I made from a top I had.  Making the binding was almost the worst part!  (So, we are also included in their memories too.)

Lower half.  Includes a handmade bootie of one, a bow tie - even zippered items.  Tried to make it a 3-D type item.  The booties could be removed at any point if wanted - not harmed at all.

Upper half.  Part of a tutu in top left corner - another bootie in a pocket and ruffles that hang in middle.

I hated cutting up the clothes - but she said do it!  It was fun to make, but tough too.  Wanted it to be totally different than anything else I had made her.  I have lots of scraps left and have a couple ideas of plans to make her something else after the holidays.  

This sure made my back hurt.  I have very little floor space to spread something that big out.  It is heavy too (and warm).  My worktable could use some improvements (an old dining room table).  Not to mention this body isn't as young as it used to be!  LOL

She is coming this morning to get it.  I hope she loves it - I think she will.

She has asked me to make her oldest a T-shirt blankie for his grade school graduation in May.  Good thing I love these kids!!!!!

Have a warm and wonderful day.  May everything you touch turn out wonderful.

20 days until Christmas!!!!!!!

Expanding Info and Yumminess

 Howdy all.  Hope this finds all well.  Another chilly morn here.  It is warmer according to the thermometer, but it feels just as cold.  The wind is blowing, and it will get much worse tonight.  They are saying 45MPH wind gusts.  Tomorrow is to be the coldest day this season so far!  THEN it starts warming - back close to 50 this weekend!  Crazy stuff.  Heck it isn't even 'winter' yet - we are still in fall!!

Yesterday I was talking about the loaf pans.  They cost me 2.99 each at Ollie's.  Very heavy and pretty.

Lots of goodies will go in them.  I also do reusable grocery bags - you can sure get some pretty ones now a days.  And then there are the youngsters - many are old enough to want their own goodies.  They get a bag as well (although smaller).

Here is a view of the pans!  Just some items for various people that will go in holiday gift bags.  I listen to the things they say they like and supply them.  Just because I like something, doesn't mean I buy it often - others do that too.

I have a nephew in law that looks forward to his container of orange slices every year (in their bag).  A grown nephew (in his 50's) also wants & expects his Bottle Caps to be in his basket!!  LOL.  Beef sticks are a fav of the teens.  My brother loves Horehound candy, and his wife loves cream chocolates.  Crazy straws for one of the littles - along with Pop Rocks, and giant Fruit Loops!!  LOL

Mushroom growing kits will go in 4 baskets - they all love doing stuff like that and love mushrooms.  This is just a small sampling - but you can see what I do.  It is fun to find all these little items and they get excited to see what is in their bags each year.  YES, even the adults get excited.

Have fun with it.

Yesterday was apple butter day!  I cook down the apples in the crockpot, while I spent much of the day sewing.  Then I canned the apple butter.  There were some scrapings in the bottom of the pot, and I ate it warm with some cornbread.  Oh my gosh, it sure tasted good.

This was while cooking down - this was about 1 1/2 hours in.  It cooked down about half at this point.  The apples were soft at this point, but it cooked for another 3 hours on high.  So pretty and brown and yummy after.

I ended up with 8 half pints and one pint.  All sealed immediately.  All this from 5 lbs. of apples - which were already in my crisper.  All kinds mixed together.  

Noticing I need to wash down the jars!!  I added vinegar to the water - guess not enough.

Most of this will be gifts.

I did not have cardamon - so didn't add that.  I had everything else right here in the pantry.  I also did not pack the brown sugar - just to cut back a little on sugar - not that it made any difference.  I still had some cider in the frig.

It turned out yummy and couldn't be easier.

Thanks to whomever I got the recipe from!!!!

**The peels and cores went in a bag in the freezer to make jelly at some point

Peeling apples takes time, and I just used my paring knife (not the rotating peeler).  Kind of made a game of it to pass time - seeing if I could peel the apple in one piece (strand)!  It went quickly and I got pretty darn good at doing it all in one piece.  The things I do to amuse myself!

All while listening to Christmas music.  

NOTE - if you have Direct TV there are music stations.  There are a couple that are all Christmas music - 24/7.

I am off for another busy day - Santa's workshop has much to get done.

Hope you have a wonderful and magical day.  Make it fun and special!

Posts for Dec. - a Bit of This and That

 Good morning all.  I hope you are warm and safe this morning.  It is cold here.  It looks like maybe we will get above the freezing mark sometime today!  We had flurries and a dusting of snow here yesterday afternoon and evening and it stuck, because it was cold.  Many schools are on delay today, due to slick roads.  

This month, posts will be of all types.  Maybe some crafts, cooking, baking, frugal, myths, spiritual, funny and maybe a memory or two thrown in.  It will be a real potpourri of things.   Tis the season!  It is a busy month for most of us, so I hope this will give a light moment to sit back with a warm drink and reflect!

I ran out for a few minutes yesterday to Kroger.  I wanted to get navel oranges before the sale ended on Tuesday evening.  They had 4 lb. bags of navel oranges for 2.49.  I am truly an orange fiend.  I love them.  This is my best time of the year to get them.  Always look for deals on citrus around Christmas if it is something you enjoy.

While there, of course I walked around and looked.  I am not a huge chicken leg lover - but a deal is a deal - and I will have several meals cheap.

                                                                 (sell date was for the 4th)

I got a pack of really large legs on clearance for 2.59.  It has 14 legs.  I packaged them 2 per bag.  So IF I do eat both per meal that would be .37 per meal!!!!  If I eat one and save the other for another day - it would be less!  Sure can't beat that price.

So, keep your eyes open and get those deals when you can.  Your wallet will thank you later on!

I think this is a cute idea for neighbors, office staff, teachers, bus drivers, etc.

I am going to do something similar for a couple neighbors - maybe in a coffee mug.  Just different goodies (a little sampler), then I will wrap in saran wrap.  There is no limit to what you could include.

I am also doing a snack thing for some of the nieces and nephews (adults).  I got red and green non-stick loaf pans, very cheaply (looks like stoneware) and I am filling with a lot of snack packs and goodies for their family.  It would be a good treat for a movie evening.

There are a lot of fun ideas for gifts.  You can add something useful and then fun goodies - and it is a neat gift.  Just use a little imagination.

I wish I could say I am chilling out today - but I have plans to keep plenty busy with fun things for the holiday.  I will show and tell later in the week!

Have a wonderful day.

Whatever you put your hands to today, do it with joy and love.

Weekly Wrap Up 12/1

 Happy Sunday.  Happy December.  Well gang, 3 1/2 weeks until Christmas!  Oh my!!

Oh baby, it is cold outside.  I know those way north of here are much colder - but we went from a lovely warm fall to cold overnight!    I guess the southern part of the state got snow yesterday afternoon, but I got nothing.  Happy of that!

Donna - I wanted to say thank you for the lovely card - I did get it before Thanksgiving, I just kept forgetting to mention it.💗

Well now that Thanksgiving is done - it is forward to Christmas.  I still have much to do - not huge things, but lots of small stuff.

                                                                           YES!!!!!

My frugal week:

• Visits with sis
• Stopped at Menards again last weekend and got one new metal trash can for critter feed - one of the old ones finally gave out
• Got gas for 1.99/gal. with Kroger points
• I told you about the meat deal at Kroger and the fruit clearance
• Still have and using tomatoes I brought in from garden end - they slowly turn red!
• Neighbor brought me some bananas - he works his church food pantry - and they got cases - and couldn't give them all away. So he brought me some, as well as other neighbors
• Gave myself a pedi
• I put up the outdoor wreaths and holiday flag while it was warmer at the first of week
• Tons of laundry - all furniture throws and bedding
• Baked a small boneless turkey breast I had
• Got a pack of really good Kroger coupons in the mail
• Have had free movie channels all weekend and have recorded some movies for later.  The Secret Garden (original) got recorded.  I love watching that every year - such a good show.
• Have been working on sewing a lot (nieces quilt/throw)
• I did a little indoor decorating yesterday - pretty simple - but enough for me
• NO other shopping for me this week
• Making my lists and checking them twice!

Meals this past week:

Tuna patty and leftover mashed pots and gravy

Taco rice bowl topped with fresh veggies

Cheesy/ranch fries, pork chop sandwich, small salad

Cup of broccoli cheese soup (freezer), and grilled cheese

Thanksgiving w/family

Leftover sides sent home from T-Day and cold turkey sandwich (my fav)

'Alice Springs' turkey, steamed baby broccoli spears and tomatoes

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving (those that celebrate).  Some of the neighbors have now lit their houses for Christmas - many decorated w/lights while warm.

Did you get any deals this week or did you stay home from stores?  Any Black Friday deals?  Have you started or finished your decorating?

I really am missing some of you guys.  Sure would like to know that all are well - please check in and say hello!

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead - stay safe, healthy and warm.

Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home, as I sit here with 2 kitties all curled up and sleeping! 

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Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalms 145:3

May we sing praises to our Lord, through good and bad times, which He helps us through.  May we keep our minds set on Him.  His love is steadfast and endures all.  We know He is beside us always.

Thank You for our every blessing.

Help us to practice kindness, listen to our hearts, and to let go of what we cannot control and just to live our best lives.  AMEN