Category: Holidays

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps? I am not a fan, but my sister adores them.
2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down? I usually cook. This explains my lifetime membership at Weight Watchers.
3. People say, “April showers bring May flowers.” Do you enjoy Spring rains? No. We’ve just had so much rain!
4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker’s face on their bodies. I can’t imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why? My daughter Katie. She passed away at the age of 6.
5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring? Neither one.
6. Do you have any special plans for Easter? Yes. I am cooking a big dinner for family and friends.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs? Cadbury!
8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of? My dackel, Arnie.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one? I’m still not able to read much because of my detached retina. But I check out People Magazine each week.
10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning? Taking the curtains down, washing them and putting them back up.
11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own? One.
12. Which color makes you happiest? Sky Blue!

Sunday was a wild day. I had planned a Valentine’s luncheon with my Hubby, my cousin Janet, and our friend Michele. We dined on Lobster, broccoli and homemade macaroni and cheese. You should have seen me in the kitchen this morning! I made a white sauce, and then added the three cheeses, whisking constantly to make the sauce for the macaroni! I felt like Julia Child! I had Hubby taste the sauce and he pronounced it totally unlike boxed Mac & Cheese, so I knew I had scored, as he really hates that!

I knew there would be a lot of dishes later on, so I actually did two sink-fulls of cooking dishes, as I had almost used every pot in the house to make this delicacy! Then I set the table, and all during this time I was letting dogs in and out and walking Bogey too.

Janet and Michele arrived and we sat down to our feast! It just doesn’t get any better than Lobster! The conversation was great and we joked and laughed and had a super time. At the end of the meal, Michele brought out her contribution…the most wonderful cupcakes ever!

Bogey’s parent’s arrived shortly afterward, just missing out on the cupcakes! They were so happy to see Bogey and he was sooooo happy to see them too! They came in and told us all about their trip, which included some truly amazing experiences along the Costa Rica coastline and through the Panama Canal!

Best of all they remembered that I love the Costa Rican coffee and they brought me two bags full! They also brought us the best, smoothest Rum that Hubby and I have ever sipped. This is not the sort of thing you want to mix with coca cola. It is a premier Rum that is best for sipping like a liquor!

Soon they scooped up Bogey, and all his stuff and then off they went. Janet and Michele stayed a little bit longer and then, they too departed.

After everyone had gone, Greta, Arnie, Anneliese and Fritz all settled down, and Hubby and I sat down in our chairs and the house was quiet! It was in that moment that I realized just how tired I was.

However, it was a great day all around and I realized that what the Beatles sang in one of my favorite songs, was so true….

“and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love….you make”

I wanted to share some of my Christmas decorations with you. Needless to say, they have mostly dackels in them. In any case, here they are.

I was incredible today! Really incredible. I finished printing all the Christmas letters, corrected and printed up a new address book and printed up Christmas address labels too. Once I was done with all of that, I brought it all out to the kitchen table and put everything down in neat, sorted piles.

I was so happy to get to that point that I immediately sat down and started writing, addressing, stamping, and putting labels on. I worked for about an hour until dinnertime. Once I was done serving up a delicious Yankee Pot Roast, with onions, celery, carrots and potatoes, eating it and then cleaning it all up, I wasn’t really in the mood to sit back down and work on the cards. So they will have to sit like this until tomorrow.

I will get to work right after breakfast and will spend most of the day writing. I love to write the cards and I love sharing good wishes during this time of the year.

I also love to get cards. Do you know what I do with them? As each Christmas card arrives I take it and decorate the doors in our family room. It gives me such a warm feeling looking at them all during the month.

I’ve got to get out a few things to decorate the house with tomorrow. Just a few things. I was going to put up the tree, but since we are going to be away for 11 days and the dogs will be here with the house sitters, I’m thinking it just might be easier for them not to have to deal with a tree and four dogs! However, I do want some decorations up, so I’ll have to get a few things down from the attic.

Yeah, I love Christmas!

After three days of planning and cooking, I finally laid my table with all the vegetables and turkey and stuffing and we sat down to eat.

Everything came out well with the exception of the apple pie, which I was not pleased with. My chestnut dressing was, I think, the best I have ever made. Grandma would be proud of me!

I tried to portion out my food, but I have to tell you that by the end of the meal, all I wanted to do was unhook my pants and have an Alka Seltzer!

Our friends were truly enjoyable company and we didn’t stop talking all through the meal. Perhaps if I had talked more, and eaten less I would not feel so over stuffed now!

I’m making broth for turkey soup, and we have enough left overs to feed an army. Every year I swear I will not do this, and every year I end up with way too much!

Below you will find another recipe.

Happy Friday!