One Last Time On The Line

A perfect day to put a load on the line, the last time for 2011. Windy and clear, the sheets will be dry within the hour.

Maybe less time if the gale force keeps up like this! Unless........

The Line breaks...Oh well, another thing to put on the list for 2012!

Happy New Year to you all, see you on the other side! xxoo

A Happy Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and perhaps are still enjoying some time off with loved ones. Our Holiday was very nice and we were especially happy and blessed with all of the members of the family attending the Christmas Eve service at church and then back to our home for the gathering.

And this is the blessing that brings joy to my heart...Our daughter, Kami, after 3 rounds of chemo, is feeling so much better. Her strength is coming back, the fatigue is gone and the extreme itching is practically a bad memory. We are so thankful that this cancer can be cured and she will see precious Abe and her 3 other children grow up. - It was a Happy Christmas! Praise God!

The Gift

" The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with Us." Mattew 1 : 23

* Photo Source - Library of Congress

Parting Shot

The tree is finally decorated, at least as much as it's going to get this year. I'm off to put the glitter on the city house and excited about all of the joyous events with the family.

A few packages to deliver for some special neighbors and the dogs and I are off down the road and looking forward to the Mr. coming down too, later this week.

A happy Monday to you all. - I forgot to take a snap of the goodies for you but will share what I will be making this week. xo

Begging Buddies

Jack and Frederick, proving that two heads are defiantly better than one when it comes to getting some of Dads lunch!

Hope you all are having a good weekend! xo

Helper

This is it...the last weekend before the main event, are you ready? I have much to do before I leave on Monday for the city house and can not possibly do it all by myself. Above, is a sweet volunteer who said he would be thrilled to come along to give me a hand. He seems to be eager to get going, so I had better gulp down the rest of my coffee and hop in the shower.

I plan on baking some cookies and other goodies this weekend that I will share on Monday before I pack the car. For now, I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

xo

Peppermint Bark Critique

This sweet journey of mine started from a comment made, innocently enough, by Martha Stewart on a recent show. I had just caught the very end of the segment where she said something like "You had better get your peppermint bark while you can, as it isn't around long!" So the hunt was on...It really made no sense how the obsession took over, as I had never had peppermint bark or even wanted it, but just knowing it may be limited made me a crazed woman on a mission. After looking and looking I finally located it....Only 5 packages left, I grabbed them, then put 'one' back feeling guilty for hoarding (leaving one means not hoarding, right?). I couldn't wait to sample it , my taste buds had already decided what it would be like, it must be wonderful if it was so hard to find and only around for a short time...I tore into the package and took a nice bite, with a glazed look in my eyes, lids half closed and a slight smirk, I let it sit on my tongue to melt a bit. It didn't take long before the sad truth set in, the fact that my brain made a better candy than the well known and highly praised Chocolate maker that will remain unnamed. What to do now?

So here we are, after 3 different tries, I do believe that I have the recipe that the brain told the taste buds about. It ends up being the one that I made with the grand kids. The one above, made for hubby to take to work, turned out well but is missing that one little addition that I will explain below.

Proven Peppermint Bark

Approximately 10 small ( the smallest) candy canes - These ended up tasting stronger than the larger ones.

1 package white chocolate chips

Dark chocolate chips to melt for the drizzle

Dash of vanilla

*

This will come together fast so have your baking sheet ready. I used a non-stick but have read you can use veg. spray. Also, take your aggressions out on the candy canes by putting them in a heavy duty gallon freezer bag or double up with a regular one...now take a rolling pin after it until it is in little pieces.

*

Empty the chocolate into a heat proof bowl and microwave for 60 seconds then take out and stir, put it back in for 30 seconds and stir...be careful now...put it back in for 20 seconds and take out and stir, if you have a few chunks left keep stirring and see if they will melt out, you may need to put it back in but be careful not to over melt.

*

Vanilla, add just a few drops, it makes a big difference but can overpower if you do too much! Stir well.

*

Take it to your baking sheet and pour it out, smoothing about 1/8 to 1/4 , I like it thin. Then sprinkle the peppermint by hand to cover.

*

Melt about 1/4 Cup of the dark or milk chocolate in the same bowl but it should take much less time in the micro.

*

I took a spoon and dipped it in the choc. and just drizzled it over...see the photo above.

*

Let cool in fridge for at least 3 hrs. Then break into pieces....Enjoy!

*

Email me if you have a question. xo

Favorite Ornament

It has been a full week but I'm finally back to the Little House and putting the last touches on the tree. When I packed up the car, I grabbed a few boxes of our vintage ornaments to bring back and was pleased to see my very favorite one was tucked inside. This horn was my fathers when he was young and always gets a special place on the tree. He would be pleased to see that it is still being enjoyed.

I am making a batch of peppermint bark today for the Mr. to take to work tomorrow...I will try to remember to take some snaps of it to share in the morning. I made some with the grand kiddos this week and it was a real hit.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend, see you tomorrow!

xo

Christmas Breakfast

About this time every year, I start thinking about Christmas breakfast, contemplating the perfect menu, easy but worthy of the occasion. Up to this point it has just been a thought and sadly, ending up actually nothing to write home about. So now I am reaching out to you, my blogging friends, for some of your ideas and actual menus that you might have. If you have something that works for you, please do share.

Looking forward to your suggestions!

Have a great Monday. xo

Photo - Food Network

Sunday Reflections

Lord, even though there are Christmas lights on the chicken coop, we know you are still "The Reason For The Season".

And the rooster says Amen to that!

Jack Frost Nipping

Happy December everyone and a cold one it is in our neck of the woods! Jack Frost paid a visit to us and it will soon be "Looking a lot like Christmas" around the Little House. Last night we put the tree up in it's special spot, after some minor issues (actually not a pretty scene but we won't go into that) with the Chinese made tree stand, which was totally modified by The Mr.

Off I go to get some different lights for the tree as the new, Tear Drop ones that I envisioned looking amazing on our sweet tree, were malfunctioning before even getting on the tree....Yes, I hear you saying "At least they weren't on the tree!"

Have a great day, hopefully the next time I will be able to show off a bit of the tree! xo

Let The Fun Begin

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a chance to spend time with friends and loved ones. Now that we have polished off the turkey and all of the leftovers, it is time to polish some of our special things that been ignored (obviously) for some time now.

I always look forward to bringing out all of my favorite Christmas decorations and after all of that cooking and dish washing, it is so much fun just feeling like a kid again!



I just love Santa and have started a collection, it is still small but how exciting to keep finding new ones to add to it. This one was from my sweet Mister last year, thanks again honey!

A recent thrift find of yards and yards of these mini glass garlands, I almost made a squealing sound in the shop when I found it..he he!

We have decided to put up a real tree this year in the Little House as the artificial one gave it up last year, its limbs no longer willing to hold the load that I put on them.

We will be off to a U-Cut place to try to find a skinny 7Ft. Noble to fit in the small corner by the window....Wish us luck!

December 1st is when we turn the outside lights on and the Christmas tree will be all done, fingers crossed! I will share some of that soon.

Have a great Monday! xo

Blessed Day

Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

xo

Photo - Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving

Another Monday and the beginning of Thanksgiving week, I hope you all had a pleasant weekend, many probably making preparation for the festivities to come. It will be a busy week for our family like most of yours. I am packing up this morning for a very stormy Interstate 5 drive to the city house, I can see my white knuckles already!

We have a winner for the Bon Appetit subscription and it is "Anonymous"...Congratulations and please email me with your info in the next 24 hrs. . . Thanks!

I must be off, have a nice Monday!

xo

Bon Appetit Thanksgiving Giveaway

The countdown has begun, the last weekend before Thanksgiving is here. These next few days will undoubtedly find us busy as little beavers, cleaning the guest room, making the list for the market and figuring a plan of action.- No matter what you will be doing to prepare, please take a moment to enter this giveaway that I am having to show you how thankful I am for you, my readers. One of you will get a year subscription to Bon Appetit. If you already subscribe then another year will be added on.

To enter, just leave a comment telling us a side dish that is always on your family's Thanksgiving table....that's it.

Deadline will be Sunday night and the winner will be announced Monday morning.

Have a wonderful weekend! xo

Back To Life

When I pulled in from the trip an hour ago, this is what I saw...Miss E's chimney with smoke coming out of the wood stove chimney, yippee, she's home from the Rehab center. No doubt she is happy to be home, even if she needs to be in a wheelchair for a little bit. Perhaps I will take you for a visit in the next few days!

I think I have finally found the perfect time period to travel from the city house to the Little House. I left Vancouver this morning at 10:50 and the drive was great, not counting the downpours for the first hour and a half. When I went through Seattle, the traffic was so light it was kind of spooky...like in the middle of the night. I won't even try to figure it out.

The dogs and I unpacked the car and started off for a walk when Jack sniffed out an escapee...The grass is always greener.....

We have Kami's chemo schedule and I will be going down every other week. Her first treatment is next Tuesday. I have put her blog on the top of my sidebar so that if you want to check there for updates it will be easy to get to. Thank you again for you thoughts, comments and prayers.

With the holidays just around the corner I will have to be very organized and if you know me you are laughing hard right now....Oh well, I can try.

*

xo

A Short Break

The colors this Fall have been spectacular. I don't know if it is my imagination or the strange weather we have had this last year that really has made the colors more vibrant...whatever it is, I am loving it. Are you experiencing it in your area?

On the walk with the dogs this morning, I captured our neighbors barn and some of the colors that I mentioned are here too, with even the dried grasses around the old fence. Can't you just picture a pile of yarn in all these colors?

I am off to the city house and Portland, tomorrow Kami will be meeting with the Oncologist and will be getting the full report on the Hodgkin's Lymphoma and a plan of action. It will be so good to get going on this and hopefully she can get come relief from that insane itching.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and loving comments, it is a comfort to us all. We will keeping our chins up through this journey and will update information as needed.

I will not be making a post until next week but will be checking in with all of you as I can...like as soon as I turn on the computer at the city house...you're not getting rid of me that easily, haha!

Have a great weekend! xo

Thanksgiving Plans

This Thanksgiving, our son and daughter in law will be hosting our feast. It will be their first and will include DIL's family also. Last year a surprise snow arrived and our plans to head to the city house fell through and we ended up having a quiet dinner alone. This year we will be making up for that, I'm sure, with all bringing their favorite dishes to add to the 'groaning table'...(I have always loved the sound of that!).

In years past, we have tried to help out so others might also have a good meal. Our favorite way of doing this is, to either take a turkey or give a donation to the Union Gospel Mission in Portland, where they not only feed the body but the soul too.

There have been reports that all of the programs that offer this meal are underfunded this year for obvious reasons. If you are interested in giving, here is the link www.ugm.org, when I type it in it brings up Seattle, when you do it I bet it will bring up your local one (hopefully). If you have another favorite charity, you can always find the nearest one through the Google or Bing help.

Where will you be celebrating your Thanksgiving, at home or maybe you will be traveling?

Have a great day! xo

Top photo - Country Living.

Bottom - UGM

Sunday Reflections

Thank you Lord that you are always caring for us. -

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with the young. Isaiah 40:11

Clock Reminder

Just a quick reminder to set your clock back an hour before you go to bed. - Hope you are having a splendid weekend.

xo

Miss E. Takes A Spill

It was 28 degrees at 8:00 am this morning. Normally, on a chilly day like today, I would look over across the road to Miss E's and see the comfort of a curl of smoke coming out of the chimney of her wood stove, but there is nothing. Sadly, she had a fall a little over a week ago. It was about 10:30 in the evening and she was preparing the guest room for company that would arrive the next day. Apparently she had a tug of war with a sheet and the sheet won and down she went. She reports that the pain was intense and believed that her hip was broken, but that didn't keep her from scooting slowly across the floor to the kitchen to get that tea kettle off of the burner. "Thankfully it was on the front burner" stated Miss E. Then makes a phone call to daughter and eventually the daughter who lives in town shows up and the paramedics are on the way.....But first, the curlers must be taken out and hair fixed before they arrive. - Can you just imagine the poor daughter worried sick but having to do her mothers hair?!

All this happened while we were asleep, she thought we were down at the city house. Anyway, she didn't break the hip but did fracture the top of the Femur and they had to put two pins in. She is now in a Rehab facility and doing very well and will be good as new in about 4 weeks. I am always amazed at the strength of this 83 year 'young' women. Taking care of herself, like walking everyday, doing yard work (weed eating, mowing, gardening etc...) eating right, always doing for others, really does pay off.

We love you Miss E. keep working hard on your therapy....Remember, you have all those Christmas cookies to bake!

*

xo

Morticia Would Be Proud

Jane at Smallbutcharming, suggested for this months 'Flowers in the house', that we might come up with something creepy, in keeping with the special day. So I said to self "What would Morticia Addams do?" Well, she would make an arrangement out of dead things..How easy was that, a vase full of spent badness!

*

Thanks Jane!

*

Have a Spooktacular day! (I couldn't pass it up) xo

Daddy's Day Off

It doesn't get much better than this... Saturday morning, Jack has Suckee Bear and Maggie gets the lap..All together on the couch.

*

Wishing you all a weekend as heavenly as this! xo

Answer to 'What Is It"

Thanks for all of your helpful and funny guesses, this was so much fun! Abby from My Spotty Pony was the first to come up with it but Carrie at Cottage Cozy and Sherry from The Farm House also hit the nail on the head. It is ......A butter curler and won't I be an impressive hostess at my next large dinner party (what large dinner party?) ! This really was fun, now I'll be on the look out for our next challenge.


*


Have a great day! xo

What Is It ?

When I saw this at the local thrift I just had to have it. Never mind that I have no idea what it is, it just looks handy and I figured that the Internet would tell me all about it.

No luck with that, so I thought I'd give you all a shot at it. Does it look familiar to anyone?

If you know please tell, but if not, a wild guess would be fun.

Even better, a story to go along with it would be interesting too.

Let's see what everyone comes up with.
The Mr. thinks it has something to do with cake decorating, I don't know so much about that.

*

Have a good one! xo

Perfect $5 Gift

Can you think of someone who would love a subscription to Bon Appetit for Christmas? How about really surprising the teacher, boss, or perhaps your pastors wife. What other gift keeps on giving all year long for $5.00? Here's the link and the code number is 7371. At the end of the checkout you should see the savings. I will be adding on to my subscription for the second time which will put me in to 2013...Yea!

Here is another great deal, for Taste of Home, it is only $4.oo for one year (8 issues). Here's the link for this and the code number is 2981.

*

Hope these might help with that Christmas list and be easy on the pocket book!

Have a great start to your week! xo

Choosing To See The Blue Sky

The older I get the more I am understanding all of those phrases we hear through out our lives, one comes to mind this very second as I think of those silly chickens of ours..."The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." Not long ago, the landowners gave us permission to fence off all of the pasture from our back fence to the next pasture so our chickens would be safe and have a large area to scratch and do their chicken stuff. You guessed it, I'm sure, they want to go on the other side of that fence...same field, just on the other side of the fence, go figure.

Here is the phrase that we are living with right now, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" That's it....When we get a bad report of any kind in life, we have two choices. We can run from it or we can face it, and no matter which one we choose, it is still there. So, in our family we choose not only to face it, but charge at it...plow right through it and then continue on.

I have nothing new to report on Kami except that on Wednesday they will be doing a procedure to biopsy a node next to her heart and lung, a bit touchy so she will be in for 4 - 6 hrs. to keep an eye on her after the 20 min. procedure.

Many thanks for the special comments and all of the supportive and loving emails. I can't begin to tell you how much that means when your world falls apart and you can't see straight to even pick yourself up....My heart is full with your kindness.

*

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 .

Prayer Needed for Daughter

I didn't want to say anything until we knew something for sure. Kami was having some problems and Dr. ordered a chest x-ray, it came back abnormal and she went in for a CT scan with dye yesterday and just got word from an oncologist that he looked at the scan and it looks like Lymphoma but said it was the kind that is very treatable with good results. She goes to a thoracic surgeon and he will remove the node and they will also do another scan of the abdomen to see if any of those nodes are involved. By the end of the week we will have a full diagnosis.
*
Prayer is needed, for healing and for strength and for sound minds to face this journey. I will keep you updated.
*
If anyone has had any experience with this, I would like to hear about it.
Thank you!
xo

Vancouver Colors

A quick photo of these beautiful trees that I snapped while walking the dogs near our Vancouver house. I drove down Friday to help our son and his family move from Portland to Vancouver, very near to us...Yea!! Just checking in with you all, now off to take dinner over to the kids new place.

Hope your weekend was a good one!

xo

Keep It Warm

Yesterday, while making my usual rounds to the blogs, I came across a great idea from Joy over at Savvy City Farmer. She posted about what she called a Coffee Butler and encouraged us all to pick up one of the orphans from a thrift and save it from the dump...Yikes, that's a bad word around here. Anyway, I remembered my Mid-Century carafe that I had tucked away and pulled it out for my afternoon coffee.

It did a fabulous job of keeping it warm and no bitterness, which means less waste for me, as I will pour it out and start over with fresh.

I went on Etsy to see if they had any and was pleasantly surprised to find a vast amount and variety for some pretty good prices too. Here is the link if you want to look around.

This morning I made another pot after my shower and here it is, faithfully keeping my brew hot until I need another little pick-me-up, how fun is this?!

*

Have a great day friends! xo

Gifts From Above

We are blessed, or cursed, depending on what day you might ask, to be in a breeding zone for some raptors here at the Little House. Today I am feeling blessed as I arrange these feathers collected by my guys (The Mr. and Jack the dog) on their walks through the fields and hillside on the property. We can recognize most of them coming from the red tailed hawk and believe some of the others are from the 'nasty' falcon, who will actually come down to the chicken yard, or sit right on our fence by the garage!

Just a little something to share with you on this Monday morning. Hope your week is staring out well, have a good one! xo