Something new

This year Jay & I spent an evening again making coated crackers for give away.  It started out as something I used to make to give to the employees and last year I was in the throes of packing to move and said I didn’t have time to make them.  Jay offered to help cuz he thought it was something we should continue to do – and it went so much smoother with an extra set of hands – especially in our small townhouse kitchen at the time.

But this year he seemed to automatically assume he was helping again – and who am I to turn down help?!?

So I gathered my supplies.

And I also decided to try melting my chocolate in an old crockpot.  I’ll be doing THAT from now on.  Perfect temperature and a whole lot less of a mess.

Jay spread the peanut butter and marsh mellow and I coated them. 

It was cold outside so it was way too handy to carry them out to the screened in deck to the cold glass top table to quickly cool and set up.

Jay wanted to try something new for us this year – chocolate covered bacon.  Now I love bacon – it’s high on my favorite list – especially the bacon that Jay makes.  And I love chocolate – Hershey Kisses and Wilbur Buds need to be scarce around here because they are a major source of temptation. 

BUT…..

mixing two of my favorite items together?!?!?  Just didn’t ring my bell.  But anyone who knows Jay very well already knows that he doesn’t put a lot of stock in a wrinkled nose without at least trying it.

So he laid out bacon on a baking sheet and baked a few pounds of bacon in the oven.  A full tray took about 1/2 hour.  He laid it out on paper towels to absorb the grease and cool.

When I was done coating our 255 crackers I started with the bacon.

At first there just seemed to be something so wrong about these pictures…

 

But chocolate covered bacon is now added to the list of things to keep scarce around here because it is REALLY DELICIOUS.  It’s a salty sweet.  And everyone who wrinkles up their nose but is brave enough to taste has soon become a fan like me.  I have yet to find someone who doesn’t like it. You’ll just simply need to try it yourself.

 

Another new thing this year was a new place to decorate.  It took me three times as long to decorate because I needed to figure out how I wanted to do it. 

I decided to put the tree at the top landing and love it there (except for the one string of lights that stopped working 3 days after I had it up – grrrr – thus the bald spot). 

I had to go out and buy some garland because this is the longest open step railing I’ve ever had and it was something I’ve always admired in others homes.  Finding a new place for the stockings was difficult.  In years past I’ve used a wrought iron stand with hooks but the growing number of stockings made that idea way too crowded.  At first I wasn’t sure I liked the idea to hang them along the shorter railing but it’s grown on me and I think it will be handier there.  So far the grands haven’t bothered too much with them.  The railing is just long enough to comfortably fit our 14 stockings – soon to be 15.

So that means we’re still waiting on our next new thing – Little Missy should be here soon and we’ll welcome her love and excitement.

I Love new ideas, new recipes, new food tastes but I especially love new babies.

And how grateful I am that God saw to it that His plan of love of us was to bring us eternal salvation in the form of a New Baby.

And His mercies are new to us each morning.

A Merry Christmas to you all.

A December day

Saturday I had the whole day set aside to play in the kitchen.  It was cold outside but sunny, nice and warm inside.  Christmas music playing, extra boards in the kitchen table – so much nicer working in this present kitchen.  My previous kitchen left me often feeling grouchy til I was done trying to make things – especially baking.
So with plenty of supplies sitting at the end of the table I was ready to get started.

I made fudge this year for the first time.  I gotta move it out as quickly as possible – it’s my biggest temptation in the chocolate department.  I used the recipe from Classy Treats.  I first used her tip of using a warm knife to cut the fudge and then switched to my pizza cutter - worked wonderfully.

A favorite – pretzels, Hershey Kisses and M&M’s – a great sweet, salty bite.

With a few more baked things I have the start of an assortment of things to put a tray together whenever needed the next few days.
But the favorite part of the day was later – much later - that evening when things were all cleaned up and made a trip out to the retrieve the mail.  When I turned around to head back to the house the moon greeted me…

Silent night, Holy night, All is Calm, All is Bright.

Christmas Tree

Our lives have changed so much in the past 10 years.  Two new home addresses, different church body, becoming empty-nesters, adding in-laws and grandchildren,  tripling the number of employees and on and on.  But two changes have our entire family learning to develop new Christmas traditions – no more retail food and no more deer processing.  Traditions that previously were simply not possible because of our business involvement in retail sales and deer processing are now possibilities and we’re learning to create them for ourselves.  If you’re in retail food every holiday is demanding and leaves little time to create holiday traditions that others are used to. Being involved in deer processing consumed ALL of December.

As our children were growing up any and ALL Christmas decorations were put up the weekend after Thanksgiving because there would be no time to do it after that weekend.  We compensated for the lack of normal Christmas traditions by doing our own emphasis at Easter.  Sending Christmas cards was replaced by sending Easter cards and an occasional family letter.  Making Christmas cookies was replaced by making peanut butter eggs.

Last Christmas I did no decorating because I was busy packing to move in January.  So this Christmas season after having 11 months to settle into our home I was so looking forward to decorating and all the things that the season brings.

This weekend Jay & I did something we’ve never, ever done before – went for a Christmas tree together.  AND we decided to try a stab at possibly a new tradition for us and take all the grandchildren along.

So Jay headed out to one sons home to pick up their three children and I headed to the other sons home to pick up their three children and we set out to bring home a tree.  After a pizza supper the kiddo’s helped Pappy drag in the tree.

During the tree trimming Jay commented about nothing like waiting until you’re past 50 to string lights on a tree.  =)  Some changes in life bring about some new and fun things.

When we had the lights on, bead garland strung and decorations hung they gathered for a picture. 

Baby Caleb was inside where it was warm – didn’t have a warm place for him to be crawling around.  And Jessie is presenting her version of ‘smile for the camera’.

And then it was inside for some cocoa.  We’re hoping as this tradition grows to have a sleep over the evening we go for a tree with the grands.  So many new possibilities…..

I think I can quickly get used to new Christmas traditions.

 

************

Dad update:  He has had a very good weekend.  Some strength has returned although he still tires quickly.  He is eating more and more and talking has become a little stronger.  Visitors have increased and he has enjoyed those but it’s still best to call and see how his day is going before stopping in.  And keeping visits short (10 minutes)is best as he tires easily.  He is grateful for all your care and prayers.

Answered prayer

Today Jay and I stopped in to see Dad and it was like Dad had finally returned.  He was much, much brighter.  His mannerisms were his.  His appetite has returned.  He is still a little weak but is much more comfortable moving around on his own.  He himself even recognized that he was feeling more like himself.
THANK YOU JESUS for answered prayer.  I recognize that this journey with Dad will bring a roller coaster of good days and not so good days.  But we are basking in the enjoyment of a VERY good day today. 

Thank you to all who have sent cards, commented on FB and other ways to assure us of your care and prayer.  Your prayers are felt and appreciated.

Happy Birthday

Sending out birthday wishes to my only daughter.  She brings lots of sunshine to my life and I’m eternally grateful the Lord blessed me with a daughter. 

Happy Birthday, Betz.  I always enjoy the days when we can hang out together.

We Thank Thee

I’ve spent some time lately thinking back over things that have meant much to me in growing up with Mom and Dad.  Each Sunday morning Mom would put a record in the stereo and the music would wake us kids and signal it was time to get up and get ready for church.  All three of us kids have a special liking for the same record – Jim Reeves “We Thank Thee”.  We each have our personal favorites from the album and mine is the cover song – We Thank Thee.
I decided I need to have a copy of my own and placed an order through Amazon and this weekend my order arrived.  I put the CD in and had a bit of a nostalgic melt down as the memories flooded in.
Being awakened by music on a Sunday morning is added to the list of things I’m so thankful for – we were blessed beyond measure to have been raised in a godly home.

Thankful

Although we didn’t all go home for Thanksgiving (no roasht) as previously planned yesterday it was a good dad for Dad.  He was much brighter and ate better then he has for some time.  At some point in the day we all stopped in to see him and Mom so their day was full.  It was the first time in two weeks that I didn’t cry when I got in my car to go home.  It was a good Thanksgiving day.

Happy Anniversary

Today is my parents 54th wedding anniversary.

I have learned much these past few weeks as Dad walks through this journey with cancer.  I’ve watched Mom lovingly care for Dad and Dad appreciatively accept her care.  He says he picked a good wife. 

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.  I have been most blessed to have a godly heritage and parents who remained faithful to each.  That is indeed priceless.

Dad - update

As slow as things seemed to be the last three weeks while we waited to meet with Dad’s oncologist this week things moved rather quickly – much quicker than we were anticipating or hoping for. 

We learned from his stay in the hospital the end of October that he has a klatskin tumor – a bile duct tumor.  We were hoping to obtain a biopsy – since the doctor who did his ERCP procedure didn’t get a tissue sample during the procedure – so that the doctor would know the name of his cancer and then know the proper chemo treatment.  These treatments would be aggressive but hopefully would allow future removal of the remaining tumor but that surgery would have been major and massive – and even then no guarantees to provide length of days that would have quality.

From the beginning Dad has been reluctant to agree to any further procedures but we were hoping for some middle ground.  With Dad’s rapid decline in strength and his desire to not go through any further treatments the doctor now is afraid the chemo’s would hurt him rather then help him.

So our family has come to a decision to agree with Dad in his choices.  None of us want him to have more days of feeling lousy then are necessary. 

Dad is weak and growing weaker.  His hunger level is quite low.  Clear liquids must be slowly sipped in order for him to keep them down.  Walking is still possible but again he continues to grow weaker.

And so now we do as much talking about the important things as we can.  I’ve had some wonderful, loving conversation with Dad and will cherish them the rest of my days.  We cherish each moment we have together. 

Hospice and his oncologist make up his team and support for our family.  We are immensely blessed to have both as part of our lives for this journey.  We don’t know the time frame that God will allow us to have with Dad but we’re grateful for each day.

For now Dad has almost constant discomfort but not a high level of pain.  And so we count the blessings as God gives them to us.

Thanks to each of you for your care and prayers.

Happy Birthday to my firstborn

Today my firstborn turns 30!!!!! 

Where, pray tell, have all the years gone?????

30 years ago my dream came true and I was ecstatic to become a Mom.

Happy Birthday, Mike.

I am immensely grateful for you and so very proud of you.

My dad

Life has taken on a new twist and a new focus.  My dad hasn’t been feeling quite himself this summer and has been doctoring but just couldn’t seem to get to the root of things.  Two weeks ago Mom called me and said she was taking Dad to the ER.  I was minutes from walking out the door to attend a funeral for one of Jay’s uncles so he went his way and I went mine that day. 

After spending the day in the ER they admitted Dad.  He spent the next week in the hospital following a ERCP procedure where they put a scope down his throat and wound its way to his liver, bile duct and pancreas.  They put a stent in his liver because something was obstructing his bile duct.  We learned later that week that he has a tumor around his bile duct.  His liver and pancreas levels were very high (pancreatitis) and his remaining time in the hospital spent trying to get his levels down. The following Monday he was discharged.

The plan for treatment at this time is to start chemo to get the size of the tumor to a size that would be safer to attempt to operate and remove it.  Currently the tumor is either involving or too close to a major vein and artery and much too difficult to try and remove.

Dad still struggles with some pain at times and some nausea – feeling nauseous has been something he’s been dealing with for months and is quite weary of this constant sick feeling.

Dad is far from the top of his game at the moment and hasn’t been open to visitors but tonight expressed a slight interest in possibly having some company on occasion.  Should you choose to visit please first call Mom to see how Dad’s day is going and whether he would be up to visitors.  It’s of vital importance to keep your visit short and quiet – he is very sensitive to loud talking.

But most of all we covet your prayers as we walk through this stage of life.  It is early in this stage and wisdom is needed for decisions that need to be made. 

Well when I was little….

I’m sure we all have ways to finish the sentence that our grandparents or parents used to let us know that we had no clue how easy and nice we had it in our generation.  You know the line -- “When I was a little girl we used to have to walk 5 miles to school in snow that was 2 feet high”, etc….

Well, this post will give my own finishing touch to that sentence. 

Our home sets across the road from a cemetery where I can to see the preparations that need to be made for a burial.

Now this isn’t new to me because growing up we lived in a home that was across the road from the church our family attended.  My parents were also custodians of the church along with keeping the cemetery mowed and trimmed nice and neat.  Dad was the one that was contacted to see what burial plots were available in the cemetery.  He was given a set amount he could use to have the grave dug and also covered.  While he would arrange to have the grave dug by someone with a backhoe he decided that money could be saved if we ourselves (Dad, my two brothers and I) would see to covering the grave by hand – with shovels. 

During the summer months Dad used these opportunities to give us kids some work.  So we would sit in the living room and watch out the window to watch and wait for the last person to walk into the church for the usual meal that followed a burial.  Then we’d hurry across the street with shovels in hand and start shoveling dirt.  And the race was on because we’d try to see if we could get all the dirt from point A (the pile) to point B (the hole in the ground) before the fellows who were working to take down the tent (this was before pop-up canopies), carpets and chairs had their things loaded and driving out of the parking lot.

So one day this summer I happened to look out my window and watched one man do in very short order what took three of us kids to do in not-so-short-order.

This gentleman used his fancy green tractor, with the perfectly sized bucket on the front, to carry a few loads of dirt and cover the grave.

 

The only time he used a shovel and a rake was at the very end when he needed to level off the top.

I watched this fellow (who appears older then me) do his back breaking work while I sat and drank my glass of ice tea and I couldn’t help but think….

Wait for it.

You know what’s coming.

Yep, here it comes.

“Mister, when I was a little girl I used to have to shovel the whole pile of dirt by hand from start to finish”.  “And oh yeah, there was a time or two when even in the pouring down rain we needed to shovel mud – which doesn’t merely fall off the shovel, you have to shake it off, each and every shovel full".

We obviously lost the race with the other fellows on those days.

So.

What is the ending to your “I’m-old-you’re-young-and-you-don’t-know-nice-you-have-it” sentence?

Goodness – my grandchildren will never take typing 101 classes on a monstrously heavy manual typewriter……  We didn’t get to use the electric, daisy wheel typewriters until Typing 102.  And my grands just touch and slide the iPod, iPad and games appear.

But then as one wizenheimer said -

Back then we used to eat in and go out to use the bathroom.  Now we eat out and go in to use the bathroom.  I’m glad I was born in the generation that I was.  We had it pretty good – shovels and all.

Thanks, Dad, for teaching us how to work.

Happy 1st Birthday

This past Saturday my youngest grand, Caleb, turned 1. 

I stopped in to visit the little guy to wish him a very happy birthday and to, of course, deliver his birthday present.  When I arrived he was quite contentedly watching Mom and Dad wash the car. 

 

First we pulled on the ribbon and had great fun with that.  Then a few tugs on the paper.  The ribbon was still a great draw so the paper itself wasn’t too tempting.  With a little work we soon had the contents of the package out and he was glad to chew on his pretzel snack that I had brought along while playing with his truck.

What I wasn’t able to capture with my camera was the moment that he suddenly looked at me and gave me a huge smile from ear to ear that seemed to say “Thanks, Grammy”.  His daddy and I just laughed as we shared the little guys joy.

Smiles from the littles are priceless indeed.

It was a stromboli kind of morning

This summer my husband was playing with food again.  He mixed up a batch of minced bologna and salami and both turned out great.  Sure beats the stuff I’ve been buying at the store and yes, I’m biased.  Soon after he had accomplished his food play he wondered when we, scratch that, I could make stromboli for lunch for the employees.  It looked way too big for me at the time so we settled for making hoagie sandwiches one day.  But I knew stromboli was still on the to-do list.  So today was the day.
All of the meat ingredients were made and processed at our meat plant – ham, salami, minced bologna and hot sausage.  I purchased grated cheese, white american cheese and frozen bread dough.  I also rounded up some extra baking sheets from my daughters-in-law.

I’ve assumed everyone knows how to make stromboli but here’s my version.
Ingredients for 1 stromboli:
1 frozen bread dough, thawed
6-8 slices of ham
9 slices of salami
6 slices of minced bologna
3/4 pound of hot italian sausage - cooked, drained and cooled
4-5 slices White American cheese
2 cups shredded cheese – your choice
softened butter
oregano

Thaw out a frozen bread dough.  They were still pretty cold this morning when I started so I put them in the microwave for a short    1-2 minute spin at Power 4.  Warmer, softer dough is a little easier to roll out. Half the work in making stromboli is getting the dough rolled out to size.  I aimed for a rectangle that measured approximately 18” x 9”.
I start with a layer of ham.  I layer it in a way that when I’m done I’ve actually doubled up on the ham.  Put your first piece of ham close the edge, lay the second piece so that it covers half of the first piece and repeat.  I used about 6-8 pieces and then tore another piece in 1/2 and used at both ends so that the ends also had a second layer.  My goal is that the end pieces have just as much meat and cheese as the center pieces.

Then I repeat the same steps with salami.  I used 9 slices and tore the last slice in half again for the ends.
Next came a single layer of white american cheese.  This took 4 1/2 slices

Then a good layer of shredded cheese of your choice.  Mine this morning was a mild yellow cheddar.

Next layer is a generous portion of hot Italian sausage that has been cooked and cooled.  You can use any flavor of sausage – my gang likes things on the spicy side.
Top with another layer of shredded cheese – I used a 4 cheese Mexican mix.
And the last layer is minced bologna.
You’ll notice that things are spilling out every where but it will all get neatly tucked in the sides as you pull the dough sides up and together.

If the dough is warm and soft enough it will stretch easily as you pull up one side…

and then the other.

 

The ends will naturally have extra dough but I try to tuck the edges in and around..

and then pull out and up…


and back over.


It’s really nice if your stomboli stuffins’ stay inside where they belong while it's baking so make sure to seal all the edges together.  Here again softer dough makes this step easier.
  
Place the finished stromboli seam-side down on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  I ended up moving the stromboli’s closer to the outside edges so they wouldn’t touch each other and bake together.

To finish the boli’s I use my fingers and coat the tops and sides with softened butter. 

I’ve tried melted butter but found that it tends to run down the sides and onto the pan and then it sends the smoke alarm lady off on a tizzy. 
The last step before ready for the oven is to sprinkle oregano over the top.

Here’s my 12 stromboli’s all ready for the oven.  My son arrived and helped to deliver two pans each to each daughter-in-law to bake in her oven.  What was nice about this taking extra time this morning was that the stromboli’s had time to sit and rise a little before putting them in the oven.  Letting them rise a little makes a boli with a softer, dough-ier dough.  We like them best this way.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until it turns a golden, yummy colored brown.

I discovered that ovens are very different.  One DIL’s gas oven had her 4 stromboli’s baked in about 1/2 an hour.  The other DIL has a convection oven (I’m so jealous) and it took about 20-25 minutes.  My 4, however, took about 45 minutes in a gas oven.  So bottom line is too bake ‘em til the look ready to eat.  It’s best to take them out of the oven and let set for a few minutes – other wise the melted cheese and all the yummy juices run out.  Til we all got our stromboli’s pack in the car and delivered to the shop and served they were perfect.
Oh – and 12 of them were more then enough for our lunch gang.  We gave some to a few customers who showed up over lunch and to a neighbor at the shop (it’s good to keep your neighbors happy).  We also noticed that they’ve started to work at repairing the stonebridge that has been closed since the damage it received from the flood.  A quick look-see down the hill said there were about 5 guys working so my son, my husband and I loaded up a pan of slices and delivered it to the guys.  It’s fun to do things unexpectedly and out of the norm.  Making enough food to share is always so fun and a great blessing.
So now things all cleaned up at the shop and at home and it’s soon time to figure out what to make for breakfast for the gang tomorrow morning.  The bridge crew said they may back ‘er down a few notches so they’ll be around tomorrow morning.  =)