A little ramblin' today...

Good Morning! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Yep...John made it home Christmas morning so that was gift enough for me but of course my kiddo's thought differently...Ely & Liz got me a set of Paula Deen cookware that I've had my eye on and Briar got me a massage! After opening our gifts, I made a big breakfast which my bil/sil joined us for. Then we pretty much spent a quiet day at home. We went in to my other bil/sil's for a short bit in the evening but we weren't gone long.

In the 22 yrs we've been married, this is the first year there hasn't been a BIG Hess family Christmas.

The pets sure enjoyed Christmas....Lucy got a new "bone"...which wasn't solid like I thought and it's pretty much gone she's chewed on it so much.

Harley...yes, he's become and indoor cat too!... found the wrapping paper more fun to play with than their little toys!

Then Clyde played with the little catnip mouse long enough, he finally called it a day and slept all afternoon in this box w/tissue paper as a cover!
I worked for a little while yesterday & ran a couple errands. Today is a quiet day at home...puttering around. John has to go back out...will make a couple runs then be home New Years Day & planning to take a little time off then. It's like a spring day here rather than winter. It was so warm yesterday, we went to bed with a window open but we were awakened sometime in the wee hours by high winds and rain. This morning there were tornado warnings out for the counties just south & east of us! John & Briar just came back from town and said that our road is flooded in parts. The temp is supposed to drop tonight and calling for snow then back up to the 40's tomorrow. Ugh!! Only in Missouri!

So how was your Christmas? What's going on in your world? Making plans for 2009?

Wishing you & yours....

.....and safe travels. Enjoy this time with family and friends. Take lots of pictures and make note of special moments!
Take a moment to sit down and read Luke 2:1-20 as a reminder of what this season is all about! (Can also be found in Matthew 1:18-25.)We all get caught up in the baking, making & buying that we tend to forget the true meaning of Christmas!
Blessings to you and yours this holiday season!

How was your weekend?

COLD! That's how my weekend was!! Enjoyable but cold!
It's been a chore keeping the fireplace going all weekend...it has been SO cold that even having it going, the heat has been setting at 72* and it has still been kicking on! Usually the fireplace alone has us running around the house in t-shirts! It's THAT cold here! You can't hardly see the fire in this pic but it's goin' pretty good!

John got in Friday evening and while he helped some friends cut wood on Saturday, I made what I thought was my last trip in to Wal Mart....wrong! That evening, John and I went to Home Depot where he got part of my Christmas present...an over the range microwave to replace the one we have that went out probably 4 years ago! Didn't get in a hurry to replace it since I had a little countertop model to use. He knows it's not very personal but he knew how badly I was wanting to replace the old one. My bil came down Sunday to switch them out for us....love all the counter space I have now! It's amazing the difference of one small microwave! We did this Saturday because he left out this morning and won't be back home til sometime Christmas morning.
Worked on a little quilting project this weekend...inspired by a few blogs I've been visiting of late.

I started out with a FQ bundle I picked up on my Illinois trip last month...

...work in progress...actually working on two of them...

...And the finished piece!

I became interested in quilting years ago when my quilt shop owner cousin got me involved the the Y2K quilt charm exchange in 1999. I swapped "squishies" or "charms" with people all over the country and around the world. Those charms still sit in their little squishie packets in my hall closet waiting to be pieced together! I've looked at them many times over the years and I become so overwhelmed that they end up getting put back in the closet. I had also participated in other swaps and have pieced some of the squares together but without a finished product in the end.
Then someone introduced me to the Jennifer Chaiverinni's 'Elm Creek Quilters' book series. That did it! I started piecing quilt blocks...but finished them as small quilts or table mats such as this one shown. And I'm content with the smaller projects as such...maybe one day I will actually do a quilt but not too soon!

After getting my kitchen back in order yesterday, I got started on some goodie making and made up some more once I got back home from a couple appointments and yet another trip to Wal Mart earlier today.

So that's been my world this weekend...I'm gonna go hop in my jammies and curl up by that fire and work on some handstitchin'! What's going on in your world?

New tree ornament...

...or so he thinks! I thought the branches of one of my trees looked a little flat, not to mention the ornaments I find layin' around the packages beneath the tree... then today I hear this "tink-tink-tink". So I go to the living room and what do I see? Yep...you guessed it! One of the newbie kitties up in the tree...and I do mean..up in it! About two-thirds of the way up in it!!

Look at him! Too cute not to take a picture of...but of course I had to give him the what for to stay out of it. Several more attempts were made before finally giving up and curlin' up in a chair and goin' to sleep for the afternoon. Clyde...not me!
I stayed home and worked today...and boy did I work! I moved the computer and sewing machines to the spare room. And you know you can't move things like that without some good cleanin'! Done some outside chores. Then I had put it off long enough...I had to do my homework. Everything is done now and I am SO ready to go to bed but I want to build up that fire just a bit more to keep it goin' thru the night. I checked our gas tank today...they still have not been here to fill and we are down to under 10%! Yikes!! They usually just show up whether we call or not! That's pretty low especially in this cold weather! So a call to the gas company and they will be here tomorrow as well as the TV repairman! The big screen has been out for nearly two weeks now!
Not sure if there will be school....we are getting freezing rain tonight! On top of the snow and sleet from Monday! I'll be working here at home tomorrow...and I hope to get out my embroidery attachement to my sewing machine to figure that out to do a few Christmas projects. If it doesn't happen tomorrow I'll have to figure out something else. Lots of other fun Christmas projects to do too!
Hope you all are having a great week!! Let me hear from you!!

Oh my goodness...IT'S COLD!!

Just made a trip down to the pond to bust ice for the horses! Bhurrr!!! Grained them while I was out there & done a couple other chores ... now I'm back in and I'm in to stay for the night! Worked & ran a few errands today... not really feelin' up to par today so I done up the MUST-HAVES for today and brought a suit home to work on tomorrow. I hope to be in for the day and I don't know that I plan to do anything other than work on the suit...although there is PLENTY to do around here.

My sister had her surgery yesterday. I've not had a chance to REALLY talk to her but as far as I know now, everything went okay. She'd told them at the hospital she wanted to go home last night but they talked her into staying over...which I was so glad for. My folks talked to her husband earlier and they were home but she was napping so I'm putting off calling til a bit later. Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.

Our nephew is out of CICU and moved to a regular room now....doing better than he was but still a ways from getting to go home. His regular CF visits are 2 weeks and they are talking longer than that now with this pneumonia. Did I spell that right?

One week til Christmas...are you ready? I not quite there yet....handmades to finish and goodies to make. John won't be home this weekend so I guess I'll stay in where it's warm and dry and be busy!

Well that's all for now. What's going on in your world this week?

Sunday ramblin'...

Nothin' excitin' goin' on here this weekend. I picked John up yesterday mornin'....we hit the Wal-Mart before headin' back home & I bought the needed ingredients for several holiday goodies!
Our oldest youngin' has moved out this weekend...he & his girlfriend. I know.....but there are alot worse things they could be doin' than shackin' up! She's been livin' with us for the past year anyways!
It was so nice today..windy, but nice...I think my Jeep said 64* at one point! The weatherman said that rain would move in around 3:00 this aft...& I'll be darned if he wasn't right on! Not only rain...but temp dropping drastically...it's supposed to be 18* tonight?!! YIKES!!The guys spent most of today cuttin' wood.....we've not been usin' the fireplace the past few days cause the pile had gotten too low so we should be back in business....they got a good amount brought up before the rain started this afternoon!
I'm supposed to take my Mom to an eye appt tomorrow! If it's too bad she'll cancel or John will go along with and drive. We need to go see our nephew who's been put in ICU....Erik, who is a CF patient, was taken to the hospital early early Saturday morning. So...my prayer warriors...add him to your prayer list if you would please!!

I brought home a few things from work...and I've got my goodie ingredients so if it gets too bad, I've got plenty to keep me busy! I've also got that bedroom to fill up! Ely still has a few things in there but there's enough moved out that I've got plenty of space in there to set up a work table or two. Our youngest was wanting to use that room as his extra room for hunting supplies and such, but I've informed him it will be my workroom! I need that bad! That will also make our bedroom larger since I have a sewing cabinet and fabric cupboard back there that can be moved to this room!
Oh...I want to share a link with you...you may have already gotten it thru your own email but I'll post anyways....
www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/
I hope that works! All kinds of Christmas cookie recipes!! Just click on a recipe and there it is!!
Well, I'd better move along for this evening....hope you all have had a nice weekend!!

And the winner is...

Shari!

I will try to contact you thru the comments page so that I get the right persons info!

And...I decided to draw a second name.....and I already have her addy since she's a dear friend!

I will be sending these out by the middle of next week so that you should have them by Christmas!!

Thanks for all the nice comments on my blog! Drop a line anytime...I always enjoy hearing from you!

And to those who have offered up prayers for my sister Marsha....Thank you so much...God Bless You! She will be going in Tuesday at 11:00 for her mastectomy so if you'll make note and send one up at that time it will be much appreciated!

If you are not already a reader of Farmhouse Notforgotten blog, do jump over there and read about the fundraiser she'd like to get started on! www.farmhousenotforgotten.blogspot.com
A "Memories in Cloth" quilt to benefit breast cancer research. Thanks!

A Long Day...

Had a day of work and errands and finally got home around 6! If you've not left a comment for a chance to win a little somethin' somethin'...hurry over to the comment page and leave a little note! I'll post the winner sometime tomorrow!!!

Hope you all are having a GREAT week!! Are you ready for Christmas and have all your pressies bought and wrapped?!! I'm not quite there....but gettin' closer! I do have ideas and if I can find them all and all in my next shopping trip, wouldn't that be GREAT?!!

Y'all have a nice evenin'....talk at ya later!!

Good Morning!...I want to remind you....

.......to post a little comment here between the 1st and 10th for your chance to win a little holiday surprise!!

I'll be working here at home again today! Two days in a row! WOW! That doesn't happen too often! I have a couple little projects I want to finish up & then....my intentions are to bring out my sewing machine & hook up the embroidery attachment to it and figure out that process today! I have a few Christmas gifts I want to use it for so I guess I'm forcing myself to figure it out! I've only had the machine for what? 4 years? 5 years?

I have supper in the crockpot...something a little different that my mil suggested. Potatoes, pork chops and a large can of campbells chicken noodle soup. How's that sound? I'll let you know how it is tomorrow!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Ramblin's of the weekend...

It's been a few days since I last posted! It's been somewhat busy...I've been online off and on over the weekend but not for a very long length of time. Friday was shopping day with the sistas....I didn't take any pics until we got done shopping... and that wasn't all the bags!
Once back home, I cooked my youngest sons 18th birthday dinner!! Tell me, where did that time go?

I spent Saturday decorating the trees and mantles. This is my little german twig tree that I put my primitive handmade ornaments on. Didn't even use them all this year. I decorated our main tree in a more traditional manner...I still need a few more ornaments and a tree topper for it. Was moving pretty slow....been fighting a bad cold for several days now and ended up losing my voice.

Remember the new kittens I introduced you too a few weeks ago? Well here they are! They are making themselves quite at home! They're supposed to be living outside, but John brought them in Saturday so we let them stay in for awhile & I think they slept most of that time! They are SO sweet! Yeah, there are two in that basket...you can see one tail hanging off one side of the basket then the other tail off the other side!


Yesterday, I played hookie from church...Shh...and my sil, Sheila & I went to Columbia to do a little more shopping. Needless to say, I've got some gift wrapping to do today! I can't believe it's the 8th already! Two weeks + three days...two days if you want to count only til Christmas Eve!

What are your plans for Christmas? Do you do the same thing every year? How long have you had the same traditions? Ours has changed over the years as the family/families have grown and/or changed. We always go to church on Christmas Eve for candlelight service. We have our Christmas morning here with our kids...then usually go to the big Hess Family Christmas. John's folks have been in Texas over the past few years for Christmas so no gathering with his immediate family. We gather with my family in there somewhere....either a day or two before Christmas or on Christmas Eve before or after church service. Since my grandparents passing, Mom's cooked dinner for whoever can make it and doesn't have another gathering to go to.

Ely and Liz will be moving out just before Christmas so things will be changing here again.

Well I supposed I've rambled enough....I really need to get busy and wrap pressies and clean up this house a bit!! Have a GREAT day!!

White Chili...& other ramblin's.....

My German twig tree was delivered last night so I put it together and got it fluffed out...brought in our regular tree. It's a prelit tree...got it put together...all fluffed out...and wouldn't you know it...there are lights out on the top, at the bottom and somewhere near the middle! UGH!!! Have you ever taken off a strand of those lights on a prelit tree?! I took the top one off but I WILL NOT do that with the others that are out! I'll just add lights and load the tree down with ornaments so maybe ya can't tell! I'll get back to it eventually today....tonight. Have a few others things to do yet. Right now, I'm havin' a bowl of white chili! Hadn't ever made it before even though I've had the recipe for years and wanted to try it. SO good!I do believe it's a keeper recipe! Thought I'd share it with ya!


White Chili ..... as I made it.....

5 boneless chicken breasts
celery
carrots
Cook in enough water to cover. When done remove chicken and chop in bite size pieces. Strain broth and reserve.
canned chicken broth or use strained broth from cooked chicken (I used half fresh half canned and only used about 32 oz)
4 cans great northern beans, DO NOT drain
1 TBLSP olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
4 cloves minced garlic, I used fresh
1 - 4 oz. can chopped green chili's
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Grated monterey jack cheese
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil. Add chilies, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper. Saute 2 minutes. Add undrained beans and chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and add chopped chicken. I let simmer til ready to serve!
Add grated cheese if you like! As you can see, I did!! Love cheese!
Season to taste with salt & pepper...tases great to me without the s&p!
Enjoy!
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I talked to my sister today...she goes for consultation on the 11th then back on the 16th for a mastectomy. She's been a smoker for years and she did quit a few weeks ago. Before they will do recontructive surgery, she has to be nicotine free 6-8 weeks! Thoughts and prayers are much appreciated!

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Well, much to do around here this evening so I'd better get busy! Y'all have a good night!

Whew! What a day!

I worked the clothing store today. By the time I got there the stack of things to do had grown since speaking with them last evening! That's a good thing though! Plans were to get them done today...didn't quite make it before the stack grew even more and before time to pick up my nephew who wanted to stay with me this evening while Mom & Dad went Christmas shopping! Anyways....the stack has grown even more so will be going in tomorrow!

Got a call from sil who'd gotten a call from our mil, who is in Texas I might add, wanting to know how a cousin-in-law is doing after a car crash this morning! WHAT?! We had no idea...but Mom, being 900+ miles away had learned of it already! SO...I'd like to ask you all to lift her up in your prayers this evening....her name is Trish. And continued prayers for my sister Marsha, who had a lumpectomy a few weeks ago, is still talking with doctors, had an MRI last Wednesday, waiting to hear results of that. Much appreciated!

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I finally finished this little punch needle project....I hope it doesn't take me as long to get it framed....of course the ones I have on hand and ready to use are not the right size! Another item to be put on the sistas Friday shoppin' trip!

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We rearranged the living room this evening with the intentions of bringing in the tree...but it's still in the garage...maybe Thursday when I should be home all day! Maybe then, once it's all decorated, I can sit down with a cup of coffee, admire the tree and catch up on the stack of magazines that have just gotten a quick glance, if even that!

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The snow is melting off but they are calling for rain/snow again tomorrow! Ugh!
Hope your week is going well!!! OH! Don't forget to leave a comment between the 1st & 10th for your chance to win a little somethin'!! Refer to December 1st post for details!!

Secret Santa...

This idea came to me while making a post on a forum in reference to the current secret santa swap going on there. Well I didn't participate in the swap but I want to be a "secret santa" to someone. So maybe the Santa won't be a secret but the giftie will be!

So to help me decide who to send to I thought I'd leave that up to you....
All ya have to do is leave a comment to any of my entries between December 1st and December 10th. I will put all names into a basket and draw the winner on the 11th! The more comments (but only one per post) will increase the chances of your name being drawn! The winner will receive a little somethin' somethin' from Cindy's Homespun...to either open when it's received or to put under your tree to unwrap on Christmas morning!!

I look forward to hearing from you!!!