I Think Our Relationship Is OVER!

My Dearest Packing Tape~

First, I want to tell you how AWESOME you are and that I have used you for many years. Actually, you could say I LOVE YOU! You have been a life saver to me on so many occasions.  You have held together ginormous, HEAVY boxes when we moved all our junk precious belongings here back in 1989, and also when our rug-rats beloved children got married and moved away......(sniff, sniff)......and you have fixed many torn ones as well.  Especially right after Christmas when I have had to perform many a surgery on all those gift boxes the kids so selfishly tore apart, without any consideration as to how those poor boxes felt.  They were just trying to celebrate the holidays right along with us and that's how they get treated?.....Oh, the HORROR!

During our relationship, you have helped me mend my broken nails so I could polish them oh so prettily to get out of dinner dish duty for an evening....(sorry, honey, I can't clean up or do the dishes...I just polished my nails!  :  > )  And lets not forget the countless times I have rolled you around my fat petite, little fingers as a make-shift lint roller.  Having three cats, two dogs, two chinchillas, and seven chickens.....one tends to get very hairy, you know!  Well, not from the chickens because they don't have hair or come in the house. Well, except that time when I was raising the peeps and they were living in a crate in the living room, but we won't get into that right now.  

OOOOH, OOOOH, OOOOH, and remember that time you held up the hem up on my pretty blue skirt for me when that really cheap thread I bought at Wal-Mart . . . .the five-n-ten didn't? Awww.....such sweet memories we have together that will last a lifetime!!

However, at the moment I am saddened and at a loss by your performance and not sure if I will be able to make it through the rest of my day.  But alas, poor Urich.....I must try.  But first, I have one question for you.......If you can do such a FANTABULOUS JOB on so many other things.................

WHY CAN'T YOU HOLD MY READING GLASSES TOGETHER? GEEZ, LOUISE!!! 

Sincerely,
Perplexed, Confused,
and DEEPLY Hurting in VA

Homemade Christmas And Etsy

This Christmas, we are making just about all of our gifts for friends and family.  To me, there is nothing that says "I LOVE YOU" like something made with your hands and from your heart!

We enjoyed a quiet evening last night, sitting together as a family, getting a jump on the gifts and getting some things ready to put in our Etsy store.

 

It was very relaxing and a lot of fun.....well, at least for ME it was 

I like being able to spend some time with my two favorite men and it did my heart good to see them having some special father-and-son time as well.  My guys sure know how to handle foam paint brushes and a can of stain!  WOO HOO!

It was so much fun, even Kitty wanted in on the action!  lol

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits Recipe

I don't know about you, but I just LOVE me some Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Hey, isn't that the real reason you go there too?  If we could afford to go, we would, but since it is rather expensive to take our family, we opted for the next best thing.....HOMEMADE!!!

We have been making these biscuits for quite some time and everyone just goes nuts when we do.  They are delicious and much cheaper then actually having to go to the restaurant to get them! 

For this recipe, you will need:

2 cups Bisquick  mix (for my homemade Bisquick mix, click HERE
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

Preheat oven 400* degrees. Combine Bisquick, buttermilk and cheese. Mix until well combined. Divide dough into 12 equal portions (about 3 tbsp) and spoon onto sprayed pan. Flatten each biscuit slightly. Bake 18-20 minutes. Combine butter and Old Bay Seasoning.  Heat mixture in microwave 30 seconds, then brush a light coating over tops of biscuits.

ENJOY!

Scripture & A Snapshot

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God!”
Psalms 20:7

I am linking up today with Katie Lloyd Photography for "Scripture & A Snapshot."  If  you would like to participate . . . . .

1.  Select a photo

2.  Add a scripture to it

3.  Put the Scripture & A Snapshot button in your post

4.  Visit Katie Lloyd Photography by clicking HERE and add your link to your POST!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

I absolutely LOVE making my own homemade things. Whether it be a purse or some other craft project, laundry detergent, baking mix, or brown sugar.  If you really love a product, you will more than likely be able to find a recipe for it and make it yourself.   My friend G-Girl, has been making her own vanilla extract for YEARS and absolutely LOVES IT!  She says the flavor is just AMAZING so you know I just HAVE to try it!  

Making your own vanilla extract is very easy to make and it's fun to watch how the extract changes color the longer it sits.   Commercial vanilla extract usually has simple syrup (sugar water) added to the extract to give it a sweet aftertaste. You can do this if you want, but if you are using the vanilla for baking, there really is no need.

To make your own vanilla extract you will need:

• 3 vanilla beans to every 1 cup of vodka or bourbon
• glass jars with tight fitting lid
• sharp scissor or kitchen knife

*Use kitchen scissors or a sharp paring knife to cut lengthwise down each vanilla bean, splitting them in half, leaving an inch at the end connected

*Put vanilla beans in a glass jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid (mason jars work well). Cover completely with the bourbon

*Give the bottle a vigorous shake everyday for the first two weeks, then every few days after that. Store in a dark, cool place for 4-6 weeks or longer to infuse the vanilla into the bourbon.  The longer your extract sits and infuses, the stronger and bolder the taste.  The beans in your vanilla, can last up to 7 years in the bourbon, so just keep replenishing!

After you use a couple of tablespoons, replenish what you have used again with bourbon, give a good shake, and store in your baking closet.

You can also make vanilla sugar by putting a split vanilla bean into a jar of white, granulated sugar. Great way to infuse the sugar with vanilla flavor for baking.

 

Here we are at the liquor store. 

Now THAT was an experience!  lol

The first time around, I bought vodka

Supplies needed

Slice the beans from about 1/4 inch from the top to the bottom,

slicing all the way through the beans so the bourbon/vodka can 

get the flavor from the beans

This is the first day when a made a full bottle using vodka

Three beans to one cup

Fill with bourbon/vodka

Cover tightly

I made little jelly jars for gift giving

The bottle and the jar on the right were made with vodka 

at the end of September.  See the color difference from the 

beginning of this post? The bourbon on the left, is 

what I just made last week.  As you can see, the color of the 

bourbon is dark to start with

Store in a cool, dark place.  Don't forget to sHaKe

vigorously every day for two weeks

These are ready to go.  Mmmmmm, they smell WONDERFUL!

Time to get baking!

ENJOY!!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

I’m Thankful for You  Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let’s be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I’m thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!  By Joanna Fuchs

Words To Live By....

I've Gotta Have These

The hen for me.......

And the rooster for Skippy! 

AWESOME!!!

My Grandmother's Recipe Journal

My grandmother, Foxy, was an AMAZING cook.  I absolutely LOVED her macaroni & cheese and her apple tarts.....DELICIOUS!  I can almost smell it baking in the oven......oh, the memories!

One of my most prized possessions is a recipe journal that belonged to my grandmother. Some of the recipes are newspaper clippings, some from boxes, and some from recipe cards, but my favorites are the ones that are hand-written by Foxy.  It is so awesome to me, knowing that my grandmother's hands have been all over this book, inside and out.

The date on the inside front cover, when this book was started,
is 1926.....AMAZING!!!

You can see how much these recipes were used.  

Oh, the stories this journal could tell!

I love the title on this page

The American Weekly.....Housewife's Food Almanack

I am so going to try this doughnut recipe this weekend and when I do, 

I will be thinking of my beloved Foxy!

Scripture & A Snapshot

I am linking up today with Katie Lloyd Photography for "Scripture & A Snapshot."  If  you would like to participate . . . . .

1.  Select a photo

2.  Add a scripture to it

3.  Put the Scripture & A Snapshot button in your post

4.  Visit Katie Lloyd Photography by clicking HERE and add your link to your POST!