Quality Time With Owen

We went to the museum, and did a little toy shopping (he decided on a little red chair with Spiderman on it for sitting at his desk.  He's asleep now and is spending the night.  I'm waiting for him to wake up so he can eat supper. 

My last day at St. Mary's Hospital

This is the breakroom, see my Pepsi on the table and my soda crackers.  There is a microwave and a little refrigerator.  That's our report table you see there.  This next picture is the computer where I did all my charting, well, most of it anyway.  If you look in back of that, there on the right, you can see mail slots.  Mine was the one on the upper right side...it's emptied out now.

I worked here for almost twenty seven years.  I retired in 2004 but stayed on until today just PRN...very part time.  Today was my last day.  Woo Hoo!!  I'm going to hybernate for the winter months. 

Okay, now below is my recipe I made this morning for my extremely delicious potato soup.  I had some and a 'spot' of tea for a late supper.

Potato Soup

Peel 4-5 medium potatoes, cut them into squares, about 1/2 inch or thereabouts.

Add cold water, a little more than enough to cover them. Bring to a boil and add a little very finely chopped onions, about 1 to 2 tablespoons, more or less to taste.
Add about the same amount of real finely chopped celery or celery seed.

Now, the secret, take a bowl of flour, add just a bit of salt & pepper, mix it up and then dip your fingers into water and sprinkle it into the flour & let it sit a couple minutes. It makes little flour balls and the more of these, the better. Now add the little balls to the soup and continue to simmer. The flour will thicken it up just a little til it's a good consistancy.
Simmer til they are done, then, add about 2 to 2 & 1/2 cups of milk.

Continue to simmer. Add salt, pepper and butter to taste. If the consistancy is too thick, add more milk, if too thin, sprinkle in some instant potato flakes.
After the first time you make it, you will learn to adjust for more or less milk depending on how much you want to make.

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My grandchildren Hali and Owen and their brother Ethin wishing you lots of presents from Santa Claus.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

 

Christmas Tea

Here are the teas that I'm having this year...of course there are others that I enjoy but I like to get holiday teas this time of year and Celestial Seasonings always has a good variety.  I have a perfect large cup that I got from Jenny that I fill with warm tea and wrap my hands around it to enjoy some quiet thinking time, to read for a while, or to work a crossword puzzle.  They make the kitchen smell so nice too.  Try some.

 

 

The Little Drummer Boy

(Davis-Onorati-Simeone)

 

Come they told me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
A newborn King to see (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
So to honor Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
when we come

Little Baby (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
that's fit to give our King
Shall I play for You? (pa-rum pum pum pum)
On my drum

Mary nodded (pa-rum pum pum pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I played my best for Him
Then He smiled at me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Me and my drum

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

Cookies

Owen decorating the new batch of thumb print cookies.

 

 

Hali and Owen eating the cookies.

Honey Cookies
1C butter
1C sugar
2 eggs
2 C honey
2/3 C water
7 C flour
4 t baking soda
3 t cream of tartar
1 t salt
1 T cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 t nutmeg
Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, honey, & water. Add flour to baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, & spices. Add the dry mix to the creamed mix. Blend thoroughly and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick and cut to desired shapes. place on ungreased cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees until cookies are lightly browned. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies depending on the size of the cutters you use.
.

Jumbles

2 2/3 C sugar
4 C butter
8 eggs
4 T vanilla extract
4 T cinnamon
4 t nutmeg
5 1/3 C flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and egg and mix completely.

Blend spices with flour and add to the creamed mixture.

Drop from a teaspoon 2 inches apart on a non-stick cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees until the edges are golden brown (about 10 minutes, but watch them carefully).

Makes 16 dozen small cookies, but the recipe can be easily halved or quartered.

Things I love

 

The touch of a baby's hand on my cheek

The sound of someone I love, laughing

The taste and smell of chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven

The way the air feels after a spring rain

The softness of cat fur

The scent of bread baking

A Rainbow

The sight of rolling green hills

The clip clopping of horse's hooves

The taste of ice cream

A tomato picked right off the vine

The smell of fresh cut grass

And what are your favorites?

So Busy

Picking up hours at work, decorating, knitting, baking.  This song is playing on the radio, let's all sing along...

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!

A Home Day

The picture is of the cookies I made today, recipe to follow, sorry not sugar free.  I stayed home and did a couple projects today.  I finished one scarf and made a little sweatshirt for each of my grandchildren...well I didn't sew them, I added pictures to them and words, etc.  I put one of the pictures upside down, I wonder if I can get away with saying that I meant to do that.  Now I just have to finish up the wash, one dryer load left.  As far as the weather, it was a pleasant and sunny day so I did a couple outside things to make the yard look better.  I am enjoying my indoor decorations very much.  I even added a bouquet of evergreens for the scent.  My cats are circling my chair wondering why I haven't taken a nap today.  I have my aerobic exercise up to ten minutes before my heart rate starts to climb.  Doesn't sound like much but it was at two minutes for over a month.  Celestial Seasonings sure has some delicious teas, and I'm going to go have myself a cup right now.  Have a good evening everyone that stops by.

Here's the recipe:

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Makes 5 1/2 dozen

1 pouch sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 egg

3 tablespoons flour

1/3 cup raspberry jam

1 cup vanilla baking chips

red or green sugar to make them a little more festive

Heat oven to 375F.  In a large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until soft dough forms.

Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls, place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Using thumb (or the handle of a wooden spoon), make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon jam into each indentation.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

In a small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips on high 1 to 2 minutes or until chips are melted; stir until smooth.  Spoon melted chips into a small resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.  Squeeze bag gently to drizzle melted chips over the cookies.

Sprinkle with colored sugar.

A pleasant day

Here is a picture of Lambeau Field at sunset.  Jenny and I did some shopping today and decided to stop at Krolls for supper.  Krolls is just across from the Packer Stadium and it was sunset so I took this picture.  If you come to Green Bay be sure to stop at Krolls and have one of their hamburgers with everything and a bowl of chili.  Very good.  Today I chose a turkey club on whole wheat instead.  Also delicious.  It was fun shopping and not too busy in the stores we went to.  We went to regular stores but we also went to the treasure store and to Will Goodness as Jenny calls it.  I got a couple little made in Japan china figures which I love and a beautiful wind sock which I don't have anyplace to put as I already have too many.  K Mart was another store we stopped at.  It looks just like Santa's workshop in there with all the Christmas things.  After I got home I ordered a couple books from Amazon.  Barack's latest and also a book called One More Day.  Both should be very enjoyable to read.  By the time they get here I'll be done with the books I'm currently reading.  That's about it for today...here's my Jenny...

Family Time

What a wonderful time I had tonight with my family.  We all went to the Botanical Gardens to see the beautiful Christmas lights.  There were butterflies and flowers, birds that looked like they were flying, swans on the pond.  We were in a horse drawn sleigh and the clip clop of the horse hoofs was a pleasant addition to a wonderful event.  After the tour through the garden we all gathered in the shelter for hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols.  I was so busy oohing and ahing the lights that I didn't take many pictures but I have some of my dear family.

Feast of St. Nicholas

Owen checking out the orange m and m dressed up in a darth vader costume for the Christmas tree.  He has fun playing in our miniature forest.  I hope everyone had some golden coins and an orange in their stocking this year.

I wish I could play on the computer, get my knitting done and read a book all at the same time.  Not being able to do that, I've chosen to read tonight.  I have a busy day tomorrow, I hope the snow holds off.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don’t you tell a single soul, What I’m going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon; Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you’ll bring to me: Tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve, When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black, With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one, You'll be sure to know.

Johnny wants a pair of skates, Susy wants a dolly;
Nellie wants a story book; She thinks dolls are folly;
As for me, my little brain isn’t very bright;
Choose for me, old Santa Claus. What you think is right.

A piece of the forest

This year instead of just one tree I decided to decorate a little forest of trees and the one above is the one I decorated for Owen and Hali Anne.  

 

Visit Santa's Secret Village here... http://www.northpole.com/

Stop by Santa Land here... http://www.claus.com/village.php

A Note of Interest

I have taken care of many adults and children in the course of my work that have the AIDS virus.  Usually it's the children that are the most memorable but in this case, it was the adults.  One wonderful thing though...the medicine is better now and this year has almost passed, and in Wisconsin not one child has gotten the AIDS virus so far this year.

Now back to Christmas...something about Christmas that makes you wish it was Christmas everyday.