Christmas Vignettes from Years Past

While I am in quarantine awaiting my return to the hospital midweek for a  further testing procedure, I have been perusing my photos of the past for Christmas inspiration. The kids are coming to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas the week of Thanksgiving  so instead of waiting til Thanksgiving weekend to Yule up the house, I really need to start , hopefully,  by next weekend! I decided I needed a good game plan! 

So today I am sharing some  vignettes around the house that have helped in the past to add joy and merriment to our home.. And because of covid they would be new to the kids.  I don’t know if you were like me during covid, but a bit if extra creativity was born out of those holiday hours  of separation. 

I really like how those red berry picks stand out against the white mums in the above  planter… I hopeI  can find all those elements! 

That hall cabinet is a relatively new piece of furniture and during covid. I had great fun creating this homage to  Christmas teatime! I actually got the idea for this from my visit at Open Door, Open Window, Pam’s vignette was blue and totally charming!

Again, due to covid, we took time to declutter the basement storeroom and found the boxes containing the Christmas house collection!The grands have never seen them, so they must be on the mantel this year! Note to self, find the extension cords!

One of my favorite decorating escapades of last year was doing a bit in the den, even if it did come together without a lot of planning!  This year after watching so many wonderful vlogs I would love to beef up the garland and also do both windows.. haha last year it seemed fine to just do the north facing window.  Yes, I hope to do both windows this time!  And apply a bit more consideration on making those garlands statement pieces!

And, last, but not least, if I do not get around putting up a tree, I could just resort to this!  I do remember that the tree lights still shone gloriously through the front window,  which for me is pretty important!

 

A Simple, Quick Supper for Family Night Inspiration

When it comes to meal planning my go to inspiration is one of my favorite vlogs, Entertaining with Beth! She serves up exciting, delicious and relatively easy meals. This one caught my eye because of its simplicity and it looks absolutely scrumptious!  I know my family would love this.. a quick,  yummy and nutritious  dinner.. as we will take turns cooking. I’m sure to choose this one to do! It even looks Christmassy!

Serves: 4

Easy Cashew Chicken Recipe

Easy Cashew Chicken Recipe that makes for great leftovers in the lunchbox the next day! A deliciously sweet and salty stir fry sauce makes this kid-friendly too!

Prep: 30 minutes cook: 15 minutes  total:45 minutes

Ingredients

FOR CHICKEN:

2 tbsp (30ml) vegetable oil, separated

1 1⁄2 lbs (680g) chicken tenders, cut into bite-sized chunks 1⁄4 cup (30g) cornstarch

1 tsp (5ml) salt

freshly cracked pepper

1 red pepper, cut into thin strips

1 green pepper, cut into thin strips

FOR SAUCE:

1/4 cup (60ml) hoisin sauce 

2 tbsp (30ml) soy sauce

1 tsp (5ml) rice wine vinegar

 1⁄2 tsp (2.5ml) honey

3 garlic cloves, minced

1⁄2 cup (100g) cashews

2 scallions (white and green parts) sliced

Instructions

1.,Whisk together the cornstarch, salt and pepper.Add chicken and toss to coat..

2.Whisk together the Ingredients for the  Sauce .Prep the peppers ,and the scallions and measure out the cashews.

3.Haveallyourcomponentsreadytogo,andthenheat1tbspofvegetableoilina large non-stick pan or wok. Cook the chicken in batches (add fresh oil each time) until the chicken is golden brown on both sides and almost cooked through. Transfer to a bowl until all the chicken has been browned.

4.Theb place the cooked chicken  back into the wok,add the peppers and the sauce, continue to cook until chicken is cooked through.

5. Toss in cashews and scallions.Stir to combine and warm.

6.Transfer to a large serving platter serve with rice or steamed broccoli drizzled with toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds.

Notes

The peppers and the sauce can be prepped ahead of time and refrigerated. That would make this recipe even quicker!

P.S.  So funny, Lynn came downstairs with a printed copy of the recipe, saying, “ When are we making this?”  He was totally salivating. I think we will definitely doing a dry run on this recipe one day soon!

And Then There’s the Dining Room

It really does help to inspire me to go back through the years and review what was done around the house. 

The side table is always an easy fix …will just have to be sure to have the toppers ready to go! 

Once the boxes are upstairs  I can sit and create some arrangements… I always love to put things together!

So I think it is decided.. I will be using the red transfer ware.  It can always be changed up just by adding the black Christmas  salad plates. Yes, I love that look!

If I do use the red transfer ware then the Christmas Tree plates do look great on the hutch.  And I remember during covid I used my Susan Branch books as part of the decor. I think the girls would enjoy looking through them and  pick out a cookie recipe or two!That’s a plan!

Oh, yes, last year I did a play on the red truck theme.. I never bought a red truck.  Too expensive, but we used one of Lynn’s little trucks we saved.. a little blue pick up. I created a tree farm with twinkle lights and a truck to tote the tree home.   The girls would have fun creating this tables cape!

It looks like  the dining room is a cinch, but I must put going to the Country Store on the list.  We’ll need a few of their gorgeous poinsettias!

 

Living room inspiration

 To put up a tree or not put up a tree!

One option is to simply decorate the small seasonal tree and  really do the rest of the room with lights and festive decor!  That way the furniture can all stay in place!   I am really leaning on this!  

Otherwise to put up a regular tree, means moving furniture, but I’m not so sure it has that much impact!  

Well, let’s look at other years…

When we do not move the gate leg table

 When we do and put up the large tree…

Ok, this is going to take some consideration!

Inspiration is All I Can Handle at This Time

 

Ok, so I appear to be skipping Thanksgiving. BUT, when life throws you a curve ball you sometimes have to switch lanes and go with the flow. So I lie here in bed now bored out of my gourd while visions of sugar plums dance in my head! Meanwhile my life is passing me by and I am in waiting mode , in quarantine until next Wednesday when I return to the hospital for my second endoscopy to very hopefully resolve my bile duct blockage and receive the much awaited good news that there is no C related to my situation!  I am so very expectant of good news and a huge swing back toward feeling good again and allowing this ole gall bladder to heal itself so soon after Thanksgiving it can be surgically removed!  That is the plan!

Of course, this is the year we were assigned to travel to New England to combine ourThanksgiving and Christmas with the kids, that just isn’t going to happen And I’m really sad not to be celebrating with them in their home.. we haven’t been there since covid in 2019 and , well, we are not getting any younger.

It is so great to visit our daughter and enjoy the fruits of her homemaking talent!

Thankfully the kids are coming here during the week of Thanksgiving, and we will celebrate both with them.. It is better to plan a turkey dinner but have our home Christmassy…oh, how I wish I had the strength and fortitude to get right at it, but alas, no. But I do love to plan… so I am using my blog to gain my inspiration about everything!

Meanwhile it is Lynn and I against the world!  God bless him for his help and love! 

Tuesday 4

October Thoughts

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Hosted by Annie!

This week, let' talk about October. Toni sure enjoyed facts about the months and questions on that topic too.

1. What are your feelings about the month of October? Does it bring anything special to mind for you? Do you have memories to share?This October has been different from all others in my life. Beginning October 8, I  developed a wicked bacterial infection which was wrongly diagnosed as  a UTI.  I  was  insanely  ill and I don't think I ate more than 2000 calories the whole of that week.  I was on a very strong  antibiotic  which I could keep down, but no food whatever. After a week, I returned to the lab  to check the urine which was fine, but the technician noticed I was jaundiced. Neither Lynn nor I had picked up on it! I  just looked ill! Thus began phase two of my October.

2. We were  encouraged to rush to the Er  which to our sorrow was like a war zone. There were hundreds of people everywhere -some in beds lined up against the hallway walls  others  dragging  their IV poles after them  sitting or lying in the waiting room. We arrived at  about 2:30.We  were not triaged until after  midnight.  I could barely hold my head up. All this disarray was due to the ravages of covid and the  terrible depletion of  nurses, doctors and other staff who have left their positions.    We were shocked to see this and hear the plight of so many    dedicated  servants!  We  were so grateful to be taken to a triage room where we spent  that night.I  was poked and prodded and  taken for  a cat scan and  ultrasound. Soon after  teams of doctors were  piling  in-  one set of oncologists and another team of  regular   hospital  surgeons.  There was some debate about what the results of my  tests  were  showing,    but I will tell you I wasn't about to accept what the oncologists were saying after two   tests. By morning I was ensconced in a room upstairs and there in began 4 days  of some delirium, more prodding and poking  and  wondering if I would ever be given a bite of food again. 

3. I must say I was glad  to  be where I was and the care I  received was  wonderful.  The debate continued  until  on Wednesday I had  an endoscopy which showed much light on the topic.  I had a very diseased gall bladder  due to a 3cm stone blocking  the duct to my  liver and another  duct Im not sure where. Stents were administered and antibiotics were pushed  through the iv  continuously   for the next 3 days.There were MRI s, exrays, more blood tests than anyone should ever endure.  My arms were pincushions and  all bruised.The oncology team backed out. praise God and a surgeon came on the spot to  tell me I had to heal  my gall bladder before  surgery so Im looking down the road at that sometime before Christmas.  Another    event that changed my life was  I was awakened on Thursday with a nurse running around because my blood sugar had crashed to 40.I actually volunteered the nurse's name who  came to the rescue  at 5am and brought me tasty food   and drink to  bring my sugar back up to 116 in 15 minutes  for a commendation for services rendered  above and beyond! After the  determined  amount of antibiotics had been administered I was released Friday night   to come home  and continue  strong antibiotics here e  and  try to recover from  my ordeal. This week the phone has rung off the hook  with more  appointments and  procedures to prepare for my next endoscopy   which will definitively rule out cancer and    destroy that  stone.There is more to the tale but  you probably had had enough!  I know I have! But here is my praise . My dear team of physicians  listened to me cry  that my  holiday plans  for November  were coming  up and please can I see them through.. This is the year  we  see the kids for Thanksgiving and do Christmas at the same time.  The other branch of the family  celebrated at Christmas time. Praise God the surgeon said it would be best to wait until after Thanksgiving to do the surgery.. then all should be healed and I would be stronger!   Glory to God!!!

4.Autumn is not the same as Fall. Fall is the time when the leaves are actively falling.  What activities of Autumn/Fall do you enjoy?  Do you decorate your door or home for the season? Well, I am so far off base with Autumn.. but   here it goes. Lynn and I did all our  gift shopping online  and paid for all on Saturday from my bed.  For if we are doing Christmas here  during the week of Thanksgiving  I needed to get Johnny on the spot. Today I have been  copying and pasting   recipes  from my favorite sights online  .. recipes that are  festive and easy.   Entertaining with Beth is my  recipe  guru.. Check out her vlog!!!!YAYAYA! I have shared  my home as it it is decorated for Thanksgiving,  but since I will only get a week of the kids coming to us instead of 2 weeks as we had planned before  when we were going to them , We will cook for Thanksgiving, but decorate for Christmas.  I'm not really up for doing much as of yet.. Hopefully after  Nov 3 , following the endoscopy I will be feeling much stronger..  But  I will be planning   my decor and  gradually getting things  started,  but  I think the girls would love to help do the major  decorating and  we'd make new memories at Gaa Gaa's house!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Hosted by Joyce.

1. What obligation do you believe you have to your country? My family was taught through the generations to serve this great country.  Even with its flaws it has been blessed by God to do great things. Therefore, we give back through service. We have had many of our men March off to war, or serve in the Cold War to maintain the balance of powers.  Two of my young cousins in this generation have served,.. one on an atomic sub, and another is in Ranger School. Young women in our family have served as teachers, entrepreneurs,  and nurses, while other young men have served their community volunteering with rescue and fire departments.  Perhaps most importantly we must stay abreast of our nation’s political situation and vote responsibilities thinking of what kind of nation our grand children will have .. therefore, Lynn and I meet to pray for the nation every week with others who are seeking a nation that returns to Biblical standards of right and wrong.

2. October 12 is National Farmers Day? Do you know any farmers? What do they farm/grow/raise? Are there any farm stands where you live? Do you shop there? My favorite farmer was my grandfather who owned a large dairy farm in SW Va. …spending time on the farm helped me in the formation of the person I am today.  We live at the foot of a mountain that leads right up into farm country and a few farm stands from up there set up shop near us.  We shop there right much for good, fresh summer produce. 

3. What's a skill you think everyone should have? Tell us why? I think everyone needs to be taught the value of money and to develop the skill for providing for themselves and their family. They need to understand  monetary principles , banking,  mortgages, etc.and  should be taught the importance and integrity of work  which is the means for  their needs and wants.

4. Favorite thing you've purchased this year? Our new car, 2021 pearl white Subaru.

5. What's your favorite place to visit in thefall?  I have to name 2.  Nearby we can drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the beauty of fall. Of course, we also love driving to New England…to see the kids and enjoy autumn there, as well. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  I am somewhat jealous of our daughter who while shopping at Whole Foos happened upon one of all time favorite Star Chefs..Ming Thai, who was promoting one of his new food items. Ming does have a fabulous  restaurant in Boston,  This in a community A bit further out where Amanda 

Tuesday 4

Blogging

Hosted by Annie, 

 1.  How often do you blog? What helps you blog.. what hinders you? I try to blog every day. I like to join a meme every day of the week except Sunday. Sometimes I miss Thursday and Saturday because of time restraints.

2.  What benefits do you get from blogging? Are there any?I enjoy blogging. Many days it is the only writing I do and I find writing very pleasurable. I think of my blog as an online album of life events. 

 
3.  Have you ever changed your blog theme?  No. 

4. Where do you get your ideas for blog posts?   From the various memes I follow and also the Holy Spirit has led me to topics now and again. I do wish for my blog to be inspiring and to honor God. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hosted by Sandra over at Dairy of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather 

Monday sunny, 72

Tuesday cloudy, 76

Wednesday  sunny, 73

Thursday rain, 64

Friday  sunny, 63

Saturday cloudy, 54

Sunday Partly Cloudy, 53

With  a bit of running around to do this week,  it is nice  to have  more pleasant weather!

On my mind

After almost a month of suffering with this  gall bladder problem,  I am finally  in a mend, enough to get some Christmas decorating done.... even if very slowly.. Being  so  poorly for a month has  made me weak with a  terrible  lower back.. But    if I keep moving it gradually improves!

On the breakfast plate

Coffee, 2 eggs, and a small bagel.  I have to watch my dairy intake while on this particular  antibiotic!

On my reading pile

Nothing.. at this time

On my tv

Hallmark movies and and Christmas vlogs!.

Interesting youtube vlog I saw this week:

I really love  Entertaining with Beth.  Her food is amazing and to watch her it seems  fairly simple!

On the menu this week  Yn is  doing most of the main cooking  ..  so ???

Monday -Split Pea soup and  a bit of leftover brisket

Tuesday -  

Wednesday - soup and sandwich 

Thursday- 

Friday -  baked cod, and spinach salad.From the Camera an   Looking around the house

From the camera and Looking around the house

I created a new look on the hall cupboard  I am pretty happy with it!!!

 I , also, got some table top arrangements done today!

Since we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas at the same time, essentially, during one week, I took a fall arrangement and added a bit of red  while removing the sunflowers...  I rather like it!!!

On my to-do list

• appointment with the  surgeon who will eventually remove my GB
• follow up appointment with ophthalmologist who did my  laser treatment is coming up soon
• Straighten up the guest room
• Intercessors for America
• Study group  study of the minor prophets
• Bible Study of Hosea

To relax this week 

Listen to Christmas music, Bible Study, vlogs,

Prayer and devotional

Praise for the election results here in Virginia!!! 
Prayer about the influx of illegals into our nation,
everywhere that persecution is taking place...

Our government leaders to seek God, and for the fear of the Lord to

 spread among all people.
For healing of the sick,
 salvation of the lost,
 deliverance for the hurting,
the supply, food, and building shortage problem: may it not  become

 a huge crisis  
Churches to arise and pastors to  preach according to our times and

 this days.. very vital!
protect our children from the ungodly teachings and protect them

 from ungodly people who wish them harm for their own purposes. 

Especially for  people to turn or  return to God.   Only He can

 save..  There is no other way to God except through the shed blood 

of His son! I cannot imagine negotiating these days  without knowing

 that  God has my back.  Otherwise, I would be a basket case. He is in 

control ;even  the  terrible things He is allowing for his own purposes

 and it may be for the judgement of America. A nation cannot kill 63

 million babies and think God doesn't notice and care.  His judgement

  may be  right around the corner,  but His people  will go through it 

 in the palm of His hand. Please  turn to God through Jesus Christ.  

Theodosia Writes

             

A Woman of God and for His Glory

 Last week I started a short series  on  the life  and works of  Anne Steele.  Anne lived in the 1700's and is known as the invalid poet..   due to  her frail and sickly disposition..   Matters grew worse when her fiancé' suddenly drowned on the day of their wedding.  She  became quite reclusive and more invalid. But in her  morose and inward domain of heart  the Lord met her  and she became quite  the writer, penning  many poems that  were later  transposed into hymns, under the name of Theodosia! Sometimes famous hymnists  took phrases to augment their own writing. All of her writings are found here.   A careful perusal will bring forth many titles known as hymns by other   hymnists  from the 1800's, including Angels from the Realm of Glory and All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, to name a few!

I would like to share one  that moves me in my own praise of the Lord!

How lovely how divinely sweet,

Oh, Lord, Thy sacred courts appear!

Fain would my longing passions meet 

The glories of Thy  presence there.

Oh, blest the man, blest their employ

Whom Thine indulgent favors raise

To dwell in those abodes of joy, 

And sing Thy never ceasing praise. 

God is a sun: our brightest day

from His reviving presence flows;

God is a shield through all the way, 

To guard us from surrounding foes.

O Lord of hosts, Thou God of grace,

How blest, divinely blest, is he,

Who trusts Thy love  and seeks Thy face 

and fixes all His hopes on Thee.

Thinking about Christmas Shopping... Some recommendations

   When I received my catalog to Christian books  I started thinking about Christmas shopping   and I thought why not make a few recommendations that I think    would be great for  us  grandmothers to give to our  grands and   families. I don't k now about you  but I have a hard time thinking of something they would like!  

1.  I think one of  my favorite items would be this  book which   I am hearing about at church and  our daughter bought for her  girls.  My Sunday school  teacher would read from it to add  to our  classes and we all  fell in love with it. Even though it is for children it   was cherished by we women in our class as well!

The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of all is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. From Noah, to Moses, to the great King David---every story points to Jesus. He is the missing piece to the puzzle---the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together   the  true picture of who Jesus is!  $9.99

2.  For younger grand children I highly recommend  this  wonderful Christmas nativity!

Fisher Price Little Nativity

Little hearts will love the Fisher-Price ® Little People ® Nativity Set! Engage your toddler in the joy of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas with their own nativity set, complete with chubby, child-friendly figures and all the key characters that bring to life the story of Baby Jesus' birth.

 At $29.99    I  cannot think of a better    toy for your  toddler  than this  set.  using it to retell the birth of Jesus    and  children love  setting it up and retelling it to themselves, over and over again.  It is just right to  facilitate their understanding   and  they will enjoy playing with it for years to come.

3.  If you struggle about what to get your daughter I know of no other book that moves the heart than this one!

A grace-filled invitation to leave the parched ground of pride, fear, and white-knuckle control behind---and immerse yourself in the depths of God! Poignant and poetic, Voskamp's gentle reflections teach you how to biblically lament loss, be transfigured by pain, intentionally embrace radical gratitude, and abandon yourself to God. Anniversary edition features a new introduction. 240 pages, hardcover from Nelson.  What an offer at$5.00

Most women who  have this book enjoy journalling  about it or  beginning their own list of 1000 gifts  they experience   in their day..  it fosters such a heart of thanksgiving! So I would include a beautiful new journal in your gift!

4.  For the Bible study    person in your family   this is  a wonderful gift..  I am putting it on my wish list!

I love to mark in my Bible. I have one that is all marked up  because as I reread through a passage it helps me to  really remember what I have learned. These pens are marvelous..Pack of 5 Bible study marking kit including, 4 Bible gel highlighters and 1 Pigma Micron pen underliner. Vibrant color smooth gel ink highlighters in pink, blue, yellow, and green with black fine point underlining pen. No bleed through, Bible safe ink.  $7.99  The fine line of the   underliner  is wonderful for writing notes in the margins!

Check out the website.  There are so many other great ideas there..  Family movies on DVD, great  music CD's, wonderful books   including great fiction books. Also,  now they have their gorgeous Christmas cards on sale!  You might get to  get your Christmas shopping done without leaving home!  I think Im going to get a lot of mine done!!

Friday's Fave Five

Hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story!I have been blessed this week!  Let me tell you about it! I am thankful that  I  have  wonderful doctors and health care to  take care of my medical needs. I  admire my ophthalmologist..  a great, caring doctor and  Christian, as well. Unfortunately he will be retiring soon.  But I just got my eye laser treatment to    correct my glaucoma just in time..  and it  was  almost painless, praise the Lord. I had dreaded it so, as a correction I got during my cataract surgery was  hideously painful! I am praying that my eye pressure will fall and stay within the healthy limits he set  at 15  tops.

I, also,  got my mammogram done  for another year. I do dread this one every year, but do try to stay on top of  getting  them  done   exactly  one year apart.  I think that is the part I should play in  staying healthy in that area.  

I love our ninja air fryer  5 in 1  unit.  I think I could use it every night.  Last night I made the best chicken tenders..  they were so juicy and tender..  not dried out at all!    Even though I did over cook the second batch  and  they got up to 185 temp.  The trick for juicy tenders is in the marinade.  I mixed up 1/2 c of mayo,  with  some garlic powder , and a little dijon mustard.  I placed the 9 tenders in the bowl   and  stirred them around coating each one..  Let them sit in it while you get the next step ready.  Toss together 1/2 Panko,  to 1/2 dry bread crumbs,  and some shredded parmesan cheese.  then preheat the fryer.  Coat the tenders in the  crumbs  and place about 4 or 5 in the fry pan.Do not over crowd.  Spray with oil.    Cook at 400  for 4-5 minutes on each side..  or until 165 degrees.  Truly yummy!!!!

This has been such a hectic week of  going out and about to  appointments and  rushing around  to schedules... it feels wonderful to look at the calendar and realize I have nothing til next Monday when things start up again! But the most  serious items were checked off  this week.  Now I have time to   just do some things around the house. Today we purchased  a tight closing tub and  a bag of bird seed.  All this year the bird feeders have been quite away from the house and I couldn't enjoy    seeing the birds.  Lynn isn't that happy because "the birds make a mess!" he  complains!  Well, this fall and winter  it is my turn to  have the feeders  closer to the sunroom window and  placed where it is much easier to fill the feeders in bad weather! I do look forward to our birds!!!!

It seems that  observing the birds  instills in me a much more   creative point of view that  I  ordinarily have. I love to   paint them, and write  poetry in my journal.. So I have hopes of  spending time being  bit more    intentional and doing things  that  feed the heart and soul!

I am also baking a  from scratch pumpkin pie for Lynn.  This is his very favorite and I love the aroma..  

It's a good thing I thought to  get a photo..  Lynn is a pumpkin pie fiend!!  But it is  so  very good..  I used the recipe on the back of the  Libby  pumpkin can  and it is not too sweet, and the consistency is  very custardy!  Yum!!

YUM! Think I'll go light a candle..  I bought a luscious  fall candle today at Home Depot!  FUN!!