Random Dozen

Joining Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for this weeks Random Dozen.

 

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like?

If it’s a hormonal charged PMS day I am the perfect picture of the Wicked Witch of the West! Just ask the lady at the Zaxby’s!

“I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog too!”

On a good day I have visions of myself as Glenda the Good Witch floating into situations surrounded by a giant soap bubble wearing that fabulous costume, waving my magic wand and beckoning the munchkins “Come out! Come out wherever you are and meet the young lady who fell from a star!”

And here is a little factoid that gives me great hope.

In my search for a picture of Glenda I ran across this:

The actress who played Glenda was Billie Burke
she was born on Aug. 7, 1886 and died on May 14, 1970, her real name was Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke.

Now here is the kicker…

Billie was 53 years old when she got the role of Glenda, on Sept. 12, 1938.

53 years old!!

Glenda the Good Witch was 53 years old while she was wafting around with her magic wand in her perfectly pink floaty, glittery, sparkly pink perfection. I have always lover her character but now I think she totally rocks…53 WOW!

So on a good day I can proudly announce:

“Let the joyous news be spread – the wicked old witch at last is dead!”

Well for a little while anyway, until the next hormonal flair!

 
2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why?

When I left the house to go to a paying job I would select my outfit the night before so I would not have to think about it in the morning. Now what I wear usually reflects what I will be doing for the majority of the day. If I head to work out then it’s sweats and my walking shoes. If its bible study then it’s jeans and whatever is clean and not wrinkled.

 
3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without?

Flies! Nasty but technically they are insects.

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home?

One, and that’s plenty for me!

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak?

No.

 
6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression?

Not really! In years past I experienced feelings of regret or disappointment if we were extremely financially challenges, but it is amazing how moving past those hard times and the growth that comes from experiencing them season the way you look at so many things.

I do from time to time experience feelings of stress or being overwhelmed with preparations, shopping and general holiday hustle and bustle.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music?

Not particularly! I have a very difficult time separating the man from his music, plus I’m just not much of a music fan in general.

 
8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma?

Good question. A smile is usually the first thing one notices about a person. I think it is one of those double standards that are so prevalent in society today. Just look at the celebrities…If you’re to skinny then you are criticized for being anorexic, but heaven forbid you gain a pound or two then your on the cover of the national inquirer. If your starting to show signs of aging then they airbrush it out of the photo but if you go under the knife then that is criticized.

Having just passed the BIG 50 I can confidently say that if I had unlimited funds I would not be apposed to a nip or a tuck! All things in moderation though, I mean we all know those who have taken the quest to be younger too far!

9. Enjoy horseback riding?

I would love to learn how. It looks like fun!

 
10. Shoes--practical or stylish?

Since I am fashion challenged and I absolutely hate shopping for shoes or anything else I usually go for practical.

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic. 

The first pet I had as a grown up was a sweet kitty named Max. He was a wonderful companion and the very first opportunity I had to be responsible for another living thing all on my own.

This is my sweetie just after I brought him home.

This is my giant sweetie in all his full grown glory!

 

The hubs and I moved into our first official home of our own in 1984. After we had gotten settled in I went out into the back yard one afternoon. I was standing on the deck gazing out at my very first back yard. I looked over and there was my Max lounging on the roof of the screened in porch just as pretty as you please. It was his royal feline perch where he took his afternoon naps in the sun.

 

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done?

Probably less than 10% of it! YIKES! I think maybe i need to do a  bit of shopping!

Blessings

Robin

A Morning Cuddle

So here’s what happens.

Each morning when the DD leaves for school the puppy and I have begun a morning ritual.

I sit with my laptop, my coffee warm and cozy in my ratty old purple bathrobe and the puppy hops up on the sofa and curls up next to me.

I’m checking my FB, emails and blog and he cuddles up real close and naps. He also from time to time looks up at me with those brown puppy eyes and exclaims “I love you and all…but could you stop whacking me in the head with your elbow as you type!”

Friday Morning

Monday Morning

Tuesday Morning

So that’s it!

A little glimpse into a warm and cozy puppy interlude!

Blessings

Robin

A German Chocolate Cake – A Tower of Chocolate, Coconut and Nuts…

I have made lots of German Chocolate cakes in my time…from a BOX that is.

German Chocolate is my husbands favorite cake so birthdays, holidays this is usually on the menu.

What I had never done was made one from scratch.

Again I ask the age old question:

How Hard Could It Be?

Well not really hard, time consuming, utensil heavy and lots and lots of ingredients.

Cake Flour came to the party as well as…

Salt

Baking Soda

Crisco to grease the pans

Parchment paper to line the pans

Sweet Baking Chocolate (4 ounces melted)

2 secret Be Still and Know ingredients

Condensed Milk

Egg Yolks

Beaten Egg Whites (stiff peaks if you please)

Butter

Sugar

Vanilla

Flaked Coconut

Chopped Pecans

Lots of these came to the party.

Lots of Butter was invited as well as a generous helping of Buttermilk!

It felt like I used every baking and cooking utensil in my entire kitchen as whisks, measuring spoon, pans, mixing bowl, knives and my kitchenade got a good workout!

There was sifting involved, melting, creaming of butter and sugar, separating egg yolks, alternately adding the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients, there was folding of egg whites involved…

 

Lots of these as well…

Lots of stirring and stirring and stirring and then more stirring…12 minutes of stirring to be exact.

Three of these…

I had to do the baking in stages as I only had two 8” pans.

More stirring…coconut and pecan go into the the cooled icing, which is really more like a custard.

Then you stack em up with generous spoonfuls of creamy sweet coconut & pecan icing in-between.

 

Let’s jus take a moment shall we to gaze upon it’s magnificence!

Y’all it was so tall it would not fit under my cake dome.

Paula would have been proud.

All total I used 7 egg yolks, 3 sticks of butter and 3 cups of sugar plus all the flour and bla bla bla bla…and other ingrediants.

Can’t y’all just hear the sighs of shame from the apple and pumpkin pie.

They fell sadly inadequate as they lay side by side beneath the powerful dark shadow of the mighty tower of chocolate glory!

The chocolate chip cookies have taken a vow of silence in the aftermath of their utter and complete humiliation.

I am “Tower of Chocolate” hear me roar!

It was good y’all!

Blessings

Robin

The Menu

The day started with Stuffed French Toast served with warm Syrup, Bacon, Grapefruit and Orange Juice. A Holiday traditional at our house.

While I am slaving away in the kitchen (NOT…as most of it was done ahead, I am all about pre planning) the dog was taking it easy and lounging around. Every once and a while he would muster up the energy to wander through the kitchen to make sure nothing had landed on the floor during the meal preparations.

It holds us over till our meal.

At about 2:00 PM I set out a plate of crackers and my Pepper Jelly over cream cheese for an afternoon tide me over snack. Super Yummy if I do say so myself. The Hubs did not like the jelly but that just means more for me!

Y’all it happens every year. I should have used this one for my last Random Dozen.

Without fail we manage to fix enough food for twice as many people (3 times probably). But isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about. A celebration of a bountiful harvest and being thankful for God’s provision.

Well we did it up right this year.

 

 

Spiral Sliced Ham with a Brown Sugar Glaze

Turkey Breast (Brined for 24 hours)

Dressings

Gravy

Mashed Potato Casserole topped with Bacon & Cheese

Macaroni & Cheese

Creamed Peas

Spiced Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Pineapple Casserole

Broccoli & Rice Casserole

Corn Pudding

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Homemade German Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

I have enough leftovers for a month!

My sister and crew have just left. My tummy is pleasantly full. I managed to restrain myself from over eating to the point of misery.

After dinner we played a game of Picturekia and enjoyed our desert and a round of latte’s.

It was a wonderful time of family and festive holiday celebration.

Now, I am nestled in the corner of my sofa, laptop on my knee with a roaring fire watching Shrek contemplating a piece of pumpkin pie or maybe Homemade (from scratch) German Chocolate Cake (whew…that’s a whole other post) but y’all it was really good!

Happy Thanksgiving

So what did y’all have on the menu?

Blessings

Robin

Happy Thanksgiving

 

PS 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

 

Blessings

Robin

Random Dozen

Joining Lid over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for this weeks Random Dozen

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?

Traditional!

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

My House. I now have a home that can accommodate a large family gathering. We can host thanksgiving now without having people eating in the living room balancing a plate on there knee! Everyone will have a chair and can sit at the table and eat dinner together. We will have a grown up table and then a Tween table in the dinning room. Yea!!!!!!!!!

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

Maturity. The knowledge that thankfulness does not depend on tangible things. Thankfulness starts with recognition of something greater. Something beyond what you have or what you can buy.

PHP 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

I think it was the last thanksgiving we spent with my grandmother before she went home to Jesus. I have a vivid memories of us whirring around in my sisters kitchen getting the meal ready.

Grandma was off to the side sitting in her wheel chair and we would take the pot or bowl over to her for her inspection or a final tasting. She would look down into the bowl and pronounce that whatever we were fixing looked just right or maybe it needed a bit of sage or a dash of salt.

Later when the meal was served Grandma got the seat at the head of the table because she was in a wheel chair at the time plus she was the matriarch of the family so she deserved to be at the head of the table.

Sadly her hands were so debilitated from the rheumatoid arthritis that she was unable to feed herself very well. Her hand also shook terribly from the Parkinson's. I helped her with her meal, cutting her turkey up and arranging thing on her plate so she could enjoy the meal as independently as possible. She had a special set of utensils with large padded handles that made it easer for her to grasp.

I remember sitting next to her and keeping an eye on her plate making sure that she was not struggling to get the food on the fork.

I have such vivid memories of sitting around my grandmothers table at holiday dinners.

The meals she prepared and the command she had of her kitchen. The contrast of how she was in those last few months of her life were so different from the powerful organized in charge woman she was before the ageing process took her was very dramatic.

I am thankful for memories of my grandmother.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?

I always make to much dressing!

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

No! The hubs is very adamant about the puppy not getting table food, but confession time sometimes I will sneak him a treat while he is not looking. So he might get a nibble or two!

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

Yes! We all gather in a circle and hold hands and then my husband will usually pray.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

Not huge sports fans here. We will be sitting talking and enjoying each other company. I feel certain there will be pie and a latte involved.

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

That’s a big no!

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

I think so, but then I am far from a history buff!

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

Apple, Pumpkin and then a Homemade German Chocolate Cake.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

That’s another big no and while I’m at it pass the carving knife!

 

Blessings and happy Thanksgiving

Robin

Lost and Found

How do you guarantee you will find something you lost?

 

1. Order the replacement part online.
2. Receive the placement part in the mail.
3. Attach new stylus to cell phone.
4. Go to meeting at church and use new stylus multiple times.
5. Return home from meeting and sit on sofa enjoy a handful of Licorice Jelly Beans.
6. Spill a handful of Licorice Jelly Beans in-between the sofa cushions.
7. Retrieve Jelly Beans as well as the lost stylus for my cell phone which had fallen down into the deep recess of my sofa.

I even commented to my husband after I ordered my replacement stylus “You just watch! As soon as it gets here I will find my old one!”

Blessings

Robin

Weekend Warrior

Y’all it felt like we were on an episode of HGTV’s Ground Breakers.

In a nutshell, my weekend started on Thursday with a trip to a local grower. I returned home with three Leland Cypress, three Autumn Twist Encore Azaleas and two flats of Liriope New Blue, that’s Monkey Grass in normal people language!

Not all of this lovely green-ness belongs to me. Some of it is now in Skoots1mom’s yard, plus one of my other dear friends as well.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday were a whirl of backyard activity!

 

I got almost a third Liriope planted on Thursday!

and two thirds left to go…it seemed like I had about a million of these little suckers to plant but in reality it was only 36 small plants.

I finished up part of my planting on Friday and then the really hard work started.

Ever moved a fence line? ON A HILL!!!!!

Let’s just say that there was much digging, sledge hammer wielding (by the hubs, not me) hauling bags of concrete, and yes I managed a few bags and they weighed 50 pound each!

We dug holes, we filled in holes, I stirred concrete, I shoveled concrete, I used loping shears, hack saws, a hammer, I hauled sticky juniper branches, got stuck by prickly sticky juniper braches and YES…I used power tools!

I am construction worker hear me roar!

In the process I only had to make two trips to the Home Depot for additional supplies. Isn’t it just a right of passage that you always need more or forget just one thing!

Anywhoo, on one of my trips to get a fence post I saw a bright yellow dancing chicken advertising a local hot wings restaurant and two hot air balloons out for an afternoon flight on the absolutely amazing fall day we were having. The dancing chicken was amusing but the hot air balloons were awesome. I tried to get a picture of them but sadly by the time I got to the Home Depot they had dropped to low in the sky for me to see them.

In the process of moving the fence line we vexed the dog to his limit as he had to remain on his chain while he was in the backyard. He could see his ultimate freedom, but to his great frustration his chain held firm! He did however exact his revenge by snatching and gnawing on a finial that was laying at the hubs feet awaiting installation.

At long last on Sunday afternoon the new fencing was in place and we stood back and surveyed our handiwork with a sense of satisfaction.

Satisfaction flavored with a thick covering of Georgia red clay, sweat, concrete dust, splinters, sunburned faces and shear exhaustion.

Here is a picture of the completed project. This new space will be the future home of  a backyard shed.

Thrilling I know.

But it will also mean that we can move many many, many, many, many things stored in the garage out of the garage. In turn this will mean that I can back my van out of the garage with out whacking my side view mirror on the garbage can for which I will be eternally grateful!

Here is a picture of the new landscape area in the back yard.

If you look closely you can see the line in the dirt where the previous fence line was. We moved it back about 10 feet. Did I mention that we moved it back ten feet ON A HILL!

This is our ingenious solution, much to my perfectionist husband dismay, to correct the dog sized gaps at the bottom of the fence.

And guess what y’all we are still not done. We move on to shed installation 101 and then moving the fence line on the other side of the house!

But that’s for another weekend!

What did y’all do this past weekend?

Blessings

Robin