Fun Finish to the Day . . .

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."
-- Charles Kuralt

"Barnum was wrong - it's more like every 30 seconds."
-- Unknown

"Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths."
-- Bertrand Russell

Dinner Prep in PIctures!

Showing off my dinner workings of earlier in the week. All I had was tomatoes, canned chilies, some chicken, flour, and cheese . . . and I was able to turn it into dinner. The fun part was presenting a dish where I had made my own tortillas. Yes, a bit of effort but tastier and cheaper than the ones from the store . . . and I didn't have to make a trip to the store to obtain them. I posted that recipe and it is easy and a fun one to share when the children want time in the kitchen with you. My husband got one plate of leftovers before my son finished off the rest!

A culinary clue: When I made the sauce, I braised the cloves of garlic in a bit of olive oil until they were soft and golden and then ground them into the tomatoes before setting it all to simmer. It seems to take the bitter edge off the garlic and bring out the taste. I do that when I make garlic spread for bread, too. No vampires visiting our house! :-)

Completed Project!

My reason to 'be' is confirmed . . . I finished a long-standing project without mishap or mistake. Initially, I miscalculated the amount of fabric so had to shelve the project until coupons, sales, and a payday arrived and gave permission for a trip to the fabric store. Mission completed!

This is a Christmas tree skirt. You know, something to lay around the base of the tree to look pretty along with the gifts and to avoid that bare look when there is no longer any gifts sitting there. I decided to incorporate Our Lady of Guadeloupe into it. The colors on the 'showing' side just came together with the deep red contracting with the dark green and gold highlights here and there. I've always wanted to make one and finally took the time and effort to fulfill my ambition. Nope, not going under our tree. This is being offered on my Yahoo site. My sewing habit is supported by my sales.

Back to work now. I have a pile of quilts that need various stages of attention and it isn't often have a relatively free day in which to 'play' with my ideas and fabric. A Blessed Day!

A Fall Evening Meal . . .

We had one, crisp morning and I'm already getting excited about pulling out sweaters and getting to wear some of my cooler weather clothing. I'm tired of jeans, tee shirts, and sweating! I'm even more excited about it being comfortable enough to warm up the kitchen with hearty hot meals and bread baking in the oven. This is one of those meals that is usually popular and goes great on a cool, Fall evening. Hey, in California, if it goes down to 70 degrees at this time of the year, we start looking for sled dogs and parkas! :-)

Mexican Bean Soup
Vegetable oil (I prefer olive oil, myself)
1 large onion, chopped
6 peeled cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped
1/4 cup flour
1 packet your favorite taco seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups of chicken broth
2 cups frozen corn, defrosted (You can use fresh corn if available)
1 1/2 cups canned white beans (usually come in 15 ounce cans), drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup canned diced chilies (hot or mild, your choice!)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 cup cilantro

Heat a bit of oil in a large pan and cook the onion and garlic until tender. Stir in the flour, seasoning mix, and gradually add in the milk until blended. Add everything else except the cilantro. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce to a simmer and cook until thickened. Add the cilantro and serve.

Ideas . . .
Some grated cheddar or favorite Mexican cheese on each serving is good.

Culinary endeavors . . .

When my daughter was twelve, she devised her own culinary list for Christmas 'goodies'. Today, at age 21, she is an excellent cook and, hopefully, has not used any of these ideas in recent meals!

Pine Tree Ice Cream - sharp and fresh.

Reindeer Roast - It was going well until the humane society came.

Chocolate-Covered Partridge - It was okay until you bit into the bird.

Plum Pudding - Due to an error in our holiday cookbook, we had to pay for stomach pumps.

Turkey Surprise - Do you know how bad burnt feathers smell?

Christmas Stuffing - Did you know it’s not always made of cotton?

Summer Squash Pie - An interesting change from pumpkin . . .

Cranberry Sauce - Leftovers from last year . . .

Smashed Potatoes - Stomped by foot.

Mashed Turnips - The bitter end!

If Jesus Came Back . . . Author Unknown

Would you have to change your clothes
Before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines,
And put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you hide your worldly music
And put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in,
Or would you rush about?
And I wonder if the Savior
Spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing,
The things you always do?
Would you go right on saying
The things you always say?
Or would life for you continue
As it does from day to day?
Would you take Jesus with you
Everywhere you go?
Or would you maybe change your plans
For just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him
Meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they stay away
Until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay
Forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief
When He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know,
The things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person,
To spend some time with you.

From Blessed John XXIII

It often happens that I wake up at nights, begin to think about a serious problem, and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and realize I am the Pope. Pope John XXIII

Cute Quote . . .

Argue not with dragons for thou art crunchy and go well with brie.

When do you want your retribution?

As we grow from childhood, there is an almost certain given in our lives . . . the times we have to make up for a wrong done someone. Unless we approached sainthood at a very early age, there isn’t a person among us who is completely faultless in our dealings with others.

Children like to squabble among themselves and sometimes feelings are hurt or tender egos bruised. However, the arguments that were uppermost at one recess are easily forgiven by the next playtime. Hearts are soothed with a brusque ‘sorry’ or a share in a candy bar. The circumstances are not usually serious but everyone feels better when the disagreement are resolved by word or action.

Growing up encompasses exposure to more and different groups of people. We work hard to either fit in or co-exist peacefully. Problems occur and as mature adults we try to cope with them as they happen, being forgiving or offering forgiveness as needed. In a perfect world, our straying from the accepted social path would be minimal and making up for transgressions would be simple. If we took something, we would pay it back. If we hurt someone’s feelings, we would be sincere in our apologies. If we caused material damage, we would offer retribution before it was exacted from us.

We don’t live in a perfect world. As Christians we have to care as much for our fellow human beings as we do for our own welfare. Most people do try to make up for words or actions that cause pain to another. People do not, however, realize that words can reach a point of no return. Once words leave your mouth, they are independent of your control and the public has access to them as well as their own interpretation. Think about a single Dandelion. One good puff of air will send every one of its fluffy seeds flying. Try getting them back. And each seed will land somewhere and grow as much as it’s environment will allow it.

Words work in exactly the same way. Inspiring words can plant a seed of inspiration in another’s mind. Words of encouragement can give a needed boost. Spoken kindness will soothe a tired or harried heart. Words of gossip can destroy a reputation and place unneeded doubt into the souls of others. Retribution can be accomplished in many instances. A broken vase can be replaced. A borrowed book returned. Can a reputation be so easily repaired? Making up for our shortcomings in dealing with others is very possible, but taking back the words that can destroy another person’s well being cannot be as easily accomplished.

We can’t enter the Gates of Heaven with imperfections on our soul. Perhaps a considered thought now will keep us from suffering retribution after this life.

"Such as ye have sown must ye needs reap." Lydgate 15^th century.

Where Charity and Love Prevail . . .

“The servant of Charity must go to bed each night so tired from work that he will think he has been beaten!” ~St. Louis Guanella