cheers!

Looking for a cocktail

to close the old

and ring in the new?

Apricot Stone Sour

So simple to make

equal parts

apricot brandy

orange juice

sweet and sour mix

Whip together in a blender

 Pour over ice

Garnish with a slice of orange

Drop in a maraschino cherry

Get on with the fun...

Happy New Year!



a crafter's heart

Two scenarios.

On second thought...

three.

One.

You caught the bug

You've knitted

 baked

sewn

to create

and now your hands

feel idle and listless

Keep those hands moving

with this crafty

use of the leftover

foil wrap

Christmas cards

bottle tops

...

to add shine to your

New Year's Festivities

Two.

You wanted to make things

for Christmas

but time wouldn't

allow it.

Now's the time!

Trade out

the pine garland

center/mantel piece

for time pieces

gathered and grouped together

in one place

set to chime at...

midnight!

A party wouldn't be a party

without a fun hat.

My sister Mary would

make hers from

newspapers...

reusing before it was

hip...

then she would make

confetti

again from newspaper

to throw

at the countdown's

destination  to

Happy New Year!

(mom would find little pieces

of newspaper on bookshelves

and plants in August!)

Three.

You really don't enjoy crafting.

You know you should

if you believe the

press.

But. You. Don't.

Leave everything as is.

Tree twinkling red and green?

Pretty.

Store bought wreaths on the door?

Homey.

Fuzzy red stockings with glitter names?

Fill 'em up!

Works on two levels!

Sit back.

Relax.

Enjoy a game that really

gets 'em fighting...

Battle of the Sexes works well

each time.

Let others around you

get their Martha on

while you sip and smile

and get rosy

all over!

:)



last lines

Merry Christmas

 to All

and to All

a Good Night!

God Bless Us...

Everyone!

We Wish You a

Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year!

Sleep in Heavenly Peace...

sleep in heavenly peace.

And heaven...

and heaven

and nature

sing!

Look, the virgin shall conceive

and bear a son

and they shall name him

Emmanuel.

God is with us.

Glory to God

in the highest heaven

and on earth

peace

 goodwill

to men.

amen.

give a rub

There's
still time
to make an edible for
gift giving

All-Purpose Spice Rub



Once again we turn to
Martha
for a stocking stuffer idea
catered to the older set
or any chef on
your list

I discovered the rub
back when I was
experimenting with
All Recipes
website

Recently
I passed some along
to Josh and Sara who love
fish
since then
they've been back twice for refills
each time saying
we need to make it
together
someday

I will confess
I'm not too good with
someday...
it's best to nail me down
with an exact day and time
in ink on the
calender
right from the start

Otherwise
someday
may never come

OR...

  

Make a batch
to give as a gift!

One that I know they'll enjoy.

My pick...

Blackened Tilapia
With Secret Hobo Spices

from allrecipes.com

The how...
Go to Martha's site
for the packaging labels
then take a detour
to all recipes
assemble
put in a pretty recycled
jar
(a small canning jar works)
slap a Martha Label on it
and you're
good to give!

Now I ask you...
Who wouldn't like a little rub
for Christmas?

(double entendre
intended)

;)

still time

Whether you're

listening to the radio

watching a Hallmark Movie

visiting your laptop

watching your child tear a green

link from his chain

glancing at a calender

 December Countdown

is nearing its final days

No need to panic

no need to rush about for

those last minutes

(you'll regret them anyway)

no need to begin your

next year I'm going to do things

differently

soliloquy

Martha's
got your back
with simple
I swear you can make them
bake them
knit or crochet them
ideas



Gifts from the kitchen
with packaging
how-to's
and label print-ables
on site

Holiday cheer
in the form of
Peppermint Swirled
Marshmallows
with hot cocoa mix
Baily's Irish Creme
and a candy cane

I really do
Love It!




Get the kids in
on the action (and fun!) with
tons
of craft ideas using
supplies from around the house
like skating
Frosty

Make today
 Make It Day
because
there's
still time.

:)


sorry...but

I don't know about you

but I'd like

about ten copies

one for each room

in case those who enter

missed it on their way in

Oh I can fool you

on the blog

with

close-up

just right

angles

of a family room

mantle

with stockings

hung with care

lights glittering

on an heirloom tree

cleverly 

side-stepping 

the surrounding view

of a leg-flex machine on

the coffee table

a husband snoring on his

temporary bed

 a recliner in a previous life

piles of important hospital

papers and rehab exercises

on every flat

surface

Ah heck...

who am I foolin'

those posters are needed

even when there

isn't a man

sleeping

on my couch

Now

if only I can

tap into my inner

Roseanne

and be at peace with it

After all

I find I am most

comfortable

when I visit others

with real-life

used like

crazy

paper piled high

kids stuff cluttered

we

live

here
 homes.

Aren't you?



lists

wake up

compose a list

cross off wake up

autumn decor down

Christmas decor up

make breakfast for two

eat together
dispense meds

wake boys

sing Let it Snow

rehab at home

laundry

dust
nap

sweep

(in that order)

walk Dog

read

prepare lunch
give meds

shop

misc. errands

rehab again

rest awhile

have a spot of tea

make spaghetti and salad

eat
meds again

watch tv

pop some popcorn
doze off

find fun

 laugh often

sip on bedtime tea

go to bed

cross off

compose a list

such are the days of convalescing
at home



~this moment~

 

 

ahhh...

exhaling with joy.

 

 

celebrating Rudy's second knee

replacement...

the patient is doing wonderfully!

Yes...

we have a few challenging

weeks ahead...

but we are keeping our eye on

the long term...

hiking

biking

dancing...

enjoying life! 

 

Thank you

Lord.

 

amen.

 



cut and paste

 

We learned it in
kindergarten

Along with...
yes
the glue smells yummy
but trust me don't eat it.

I had to
challenge that one... 

but alas...
tis true
it gave me a bellyache.

School had that effect on me
in general.

And now I
school at home...
connection?

I wonder.

My favorite way to
learn is at home...
with You-Tube tutorials...
a friend or sister stopping by
to share their knowledge...
or with a good old fashioned book.

I am sharing this find with
you
right in time for the holidays!

Organic Body Care Recipes
175 Homemade Herbal
Formulas for
Glowing Skin and a Vibrant Self
by
Stephanie Tourles



You'll be concocting

Salt of the Earth Body Scrub
Bubblicious Herbal Bath Foam
Tropical Creamy Body Oil
Feelin' Fresh Foot Powder
Strawberry Tooth Brightener
Ruby Red Romantic Aphrodisiac Herb Tea
Luscious Lip Balm
Herbal Decongesting Steam
Minty Soap Lover's Face and Body Wash

All while learning herbal
properties and uses...
with confidence.

Stephanie removes the mystery
and opens the door to
the world of
natural beauty.

She has even included
gift-giving ideas.

What's stopping you?

Go to the library and check it out!

As for cut and paste...
well
you can't keep a
good woman down.
Plus!
No storage required.

(read previous posts
if you're feeling lost)

Thanks for visiting.

Now I have some
elving to do!

:)



today's trouble

 

where blogging is concerned...

still no answer to my

picture uploading

ability

or

lack there of...

 

thank you

for hanging in there with me

 

as for other areas...

well

I tried to get out

of bed this morning and my

low back instantly

retaliated

 

I had a twinge occur

over the weekend

and babied it for a while

but then as it subsided

I went about my days as usual

 

today I must be

very intentional about each

and every

move.

In fact

I must accompany each said move

with an inhale 

in anticipation

and an exhale

with the effort.

 

What's that about?

 

Could it be that exercise has

become a foreign

concept?

 

Hmmmm...

 

I could say I don't have time...

funny

I seem to have plenty

of time to watch

television

each and every

night.

 

I have time to peruse my

favorite

sites on the computer.

 

Just no time for me?!

 

(a brief *pause* while

I prepare my back for

a sneeze...)

 

"excuse me"

 

Where was I...

oh yeah

telling the tale of how

I can't find time for

me...

yada-yada-yada.

 

And so my back hurts...

A string of lights went out on the tree...
My throat feels scratchy...

Rudy is having his second

knee replacement on Thursday...

 

But Wait!

 

That's not today.

 

I will listen to what Matthew

has to say about that...

 

"...do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.

Today's trouble is enough

for today."

amen?

 

To which Charles Spurgeon

would add...

"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow

of its sorrow but only

empties today of its

strength."

 

Strength.

I'm feeling a New Year's

resolution

coming on.