Goodbye November

Goodbye November.

A Christmas Tree of Sisters

 
I set up this tree in the kitchen with every intention of decorating it with all things kitchen-y - cookie cutters, mini whisks, aprons, kitchen angels, mini baking and Bundt pans, and rolling pins.
 

As I was sorting through my Christmas decorations I came across a small box...

As soon as I saw the box I forgot about the mini kitchen tins, aprons, and rolling pins and immersed myself in the sentiments of the contents of the little box.

The scribble, GLU Ornaments 2008, may not mean much to you but it means so much to me.

You see, several years ago I met the most wonderful group of women through a message board and over the years we have formed friendships and a sisterhood. We gather through a private message board where we share our recipes, crafts, lives, and our hearts.

We have even gathered, across the miles, in each others homes.

In this little box are my sisters who were by my side when I decided to leave the comfort of my family and the town I had lived in for 20+ years to start a dream life, alone, in a tiny country town states away. In this box are the same sisters who shared in my crazy adventures. The beautiful women who prayed with me when my dad was diagnosed with cancer, who left silly birthday wishes on my nephew's answering machine while he was at school, and sent encouraging emails and get well cards to the children's hospital where my niece lived for weeks after fracturing her arm.

I am so blessed to know these wonderful women.

My Christmas Cocoa Mug Runneth Over!

Re-Post from The Podunkian Post Gazette

I jumped on the Polar Express this morning and it is full steam ahead to the North Pole!

I have a Crooner's Christmas in the CD player (and I don't even mind the Clay Aiken song - remember this post) and my home looks like it has been ransacked by a bunch of mischievous elves. There are dozens of  half emptied bins of Christmas decorations strewn through the house with stockings, lights, jingle bells, candles, and Christmas what-nots everywhere.

This is my first Christmas in my new home and have no idea how I'm going to decorate or where to put my trees. But you bet your sweet sugar plums and candy canes that I will savor every holly jolly moment of making it all Christmas cozy!

Sigh.... Remember the Christmas in July post..... Sigh....

Free Grungy Stockings Pattern

You can find this adorable pattern at Homespun from the Heart.

Country Fried

Good Happy Saturday Morning Y'all!

Before I head for the fields to help finish cuttin' beans I wanted to share some fabulous news with you...

Country Fried is back!

Ok, well, not back yet, but I'm working on it.

For all of my new friends - Country Fried is a little whatnot store I opened a few years ago. However, one day I up and decided to chase some crazy country livin' dream  and had to make the difficult decision to close the doors while I was chasin' that dream. Now that made that dream come true I'm ready reopen, sell it all, and get new stock! So for now I leave you with a little sneak peek of some of the goodies I still have. There is more inventory to add so stay tuned...

Have a blessed weekend my friends!

Words of Wisdom

Repeated frustrations and disappointments

are always a reflection of repeated

misunderstandings and presumptions.

GIVEAWAY

Firecrackerkid Primitives is hosting the most wonderful Christmas Holiday Giveaway, a lovely Farmhouse 3-pin Rolling Pin Rack!

 Firecrackerkid Primitives Christmas Holiday Giveaway

You should head on over there and check it out.

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD

Amazon is offering you one free music download from any of the CMA Awards nominated artists!
Click on the link below to redeem your free music download!

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD

Lovely Quote

Stay, stay at home, my heart and rest;
Home-keeping hearts are happiest...

                             -Henry Longfellow

Dumplings in a pinch

I am a from scratch kind of girl. I am not much on short cuts, box mixes, or instant anything and anyone who knows me would gasp in disbelief at the little secret I am about to share with you.


I love dumplings. I love my dumplings big, fat, and noodle-y. I don't like the kind that has been undercooked and bread-y on the inside. I love my dumplings from scratch.When the idea of using whomp biscuits (canned biscuits) as dumplings was brought to my attention, I turned up my nose in disgust and exclaimed, "As if!"

Now I've been humbled. I gave the whomp biscuit dumplings a try, because as brutal fate would have it my kitchen lacked the eggs and milk I needed to make them from scratch, and I must say that they were pretty good.

Here's what you do:

Open a can of whomp biscuits.
Tear, cut, or pinch into pieces.
Drop into salted boiling water.
At this point you have to watch the dumplings carefully.
The dumplings will puff as they boil then shrink - if you like your dumplings noodle-y all the way through drain them as soon as they shrink. However, if you like them bread-y on the inside drain them shortly after they puff.
DO NOT over boil as they will turn to mush.

Since trying this for the first time I have bought several different types and flavors of biscuits - the ones I find that work and taste the best are Pillsbury Buttermilk or Country Style biscuits.