It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

At least I’m trying to make it look that way. I try to keep things light on here but it’s been 60 days since I lost my job and I’m really fighting the blues.  Two whole months with no job prospect in sight is really starting to wear on me.  As in I’m either up for three or four days straight with no sleep at all, or I sleep for two days waking only to get something to drink or make my bladder gladder.  And the stress is causing major, painful flares with the fibro.  Sorry for whining.

So, in an effort to occupy my time (and my mind), I’ve been doing a little decorating.  Here’s a glimpse at what I’ve done so far…

The dining room tree

Here’s a close up of the dining room tree:

 

Miss Coco Chanel said one should look at themselves before they walk out the door and then remove one piece of jewelry/accessory so as to not be dressed too gaudy.  Thank goodness that doesn’t apply to Christmas trees! 

Need a centerpiece?  Leftover ornaments and a few holly picks can make your table go from plain to fancy in just a few minutes.

Although the dining room tree is more on the fancy-schmancy side, the kitchen tree is more traditional and old-fashioned.  Yes, I have a tree in my kitchen and it’s filled with ornaments Katie made in school, her yearly Hallmarks, Radkos, Radko look-a-likes, and some old mercury glass balls.

That’s just a little glimpse into the decorations so far.  I hope to have the rest of them up/out in the next couple of days. 

I’ve also been sewing a lot in an effort to keep occupied.  I’ve sewn a tree skirt for one of That Man’s daughters and need to finish his for the tree at The Ranch.  Just in case I haven’t bored y’all to tears yet, here is her finished skirt…

And the fabric for That Man’s…

The beige fabric is unbleached muslin.  The Ranch is decorated a la 1950’s fishing cabin so the plan is to hang some tackle and pinecones on a simple pencil tree.   

Now, if I could only find a way to make money decorating trees.  Hmmmm…ideas anyone? 

What’s Cooking Wednesday

Hey everybody ~ hope you’re all hanging in there, what with all the Thanksgiving preparations.  I’ll be cooking a small dinner at my house but it’s so frantic over here you’d think I was inviting the Duggars over to break bread.  Rest assured I’ve got a few comments on that crazy little situation and don’t think I won’t be letting y’all know about them in the near future. But back to what’s going on here -  I’m trying to get everything cleaned and organized and well, just ready for everyone to come over.  It won’t be a lot of people but let’s face it.  Y’all know me - it could be 1 person coming over and I’d still be going this crazy.
 

Right now I’m taking a break to watch Sons of Anarchy and also waiting for the outcome of a recipe experiment.  I was really wanting a little something sweet to eat and of course had nothing in the house already prepared.  So being the Southern Belle that I am, I decided to make a Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa – but with a few twists.

Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa is an old Southern recipe that calls for 1 cup of Flour, 1 cup of Milk, 1 Cup of Sugar poured over 2 cups of the fruit your choice. To the pantry I went.  Flour – check.  Sugar – uh, only a little over a 1/2 cup.   Checked the icebox – no milk.  Hey wait…I saw a can of evaporated milk in the pantry.   Fruit – bag of mixed berries in the freezer.  Worth a shot I guess.

I sprayed a baking dish (a deep dish pie plate to be exact) with non-stick spray and then dumped the berries in.  Into a mixing bowl went the flour, sugar and evaporated milk.  Now normally I would use an equal ratio of Pet milk to water but tonight I used it full strength. Thought it would help give it a little more oomph since I was short on the sweet.  What could I use to make up for the sugar shortage though?  Then it came to me.  I made pear preserves a couple of weeks ago.  Pears would work well with the berries, so I added 1/2 cup of the preserves to the flour/milk/sugar mix then poured it over the berries. 

Into a 350 degree oven it went.  I placed it on a baking sheet in case it spilled over because I wasn’t even sure it was going to turn out to be some edible and if it didn’t, I sure as heck didn’t want to be cleaning an oven of stuff that was too bad to even eat.  

You would normally bake the dish for 30 minutes BUT because I used the preserves, in addition to the sweetness it also increased the liquid content. I ended up baking it for 45, 50 minutes.  I’m pretty sure had I baked it in a 9x9 or even a 9x13 pan, it wouldn’t have taken so long.

Here’s the final outcome:

And dished up…

Even if it’s not the prettiest thing to look at dished up, it was very tasty I have to say.  I will probably keep this on in file in the back of my mind for those “man, I wish I had a little something sweet to eat” times. 

Have you ever had Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa?  Or better yet, tell me what you can whip up with what’s in your pantry right now. 

For Good

I know I’ve written several times about the wonderful group of friends I have in my life, the JUGs, and today is another one of those posts.

I mentioned there was a 60th Anniversary Reunion for our high school drill team and it was being held during the homecoming festivities, and we were all heading home for the big event.  We began the latest JUGs get together by meeting for some Mexican food and beverages as everyone got into town. 

We finished our lunch and then headed to the school for the homecoming pep rally.  After the pep rally, we ran what errands we might need to take care of and then went to the house where we were staying to get ready for the night.  When all the primping, curling, and make-up retouching was all said and done, it was time to head out to the Social and then go on to the game.  There were about 400+ women who came back home to participate in the reunion, and all of us gathered on the track during the 3rd quarter to attempt to perform to the fight song once again.  One thing about being an Indian - when you hear the drums start and then the band play 'Cherokee', it all comes back to you.  

The Indians won the game and then it was time for gumbo back at the house.  We finally went to bed around 3 or 4 a.m.  

Saturday morning we met for pancakes at IHOP before heading off in separate directions until we meet up again.  After I’ve been with these women it reminds me how blessed I am to have them in my life.  How many people can actually say they still get together with their childhood friends on a regular basis? Not many I’m sure.

That day my Facebook status read, “You know, this crazy world would be a much happier, nicer place if everyone could have a group of friends like I do. How lucky I am to be able to say I still hang out with the best childhood friends in the world!”

I believe that statement with my whole being.  I’ve said it before but I truly believe people are there for a reason – to help write the chapters in the story of your life.  I’m blessed to have such beautiful, talented women writing mine.

Thank you JUGs.  Until we meet again…