ONE DOWN - ONE TO GO

Here's a pic of one of my glass block ornaments. I will have to take pics when I have the tree up, by then the other one should be done too!!

JOY TO THE WORLD

Only a few more days till I can safely put up the Christmas Tree. When you live in a family of "men" it's hard to get everyone into the Christmas spirit early. So usually I can put up the tree at the beginning of Dec. Luckily the boys are taller now and can help with the lights. This year none of the presents are funny shapes, so we should be able to wrap them easily for under the tree. I'm working on some glass block ornaments to also put under the tree - will post pics when they are done. If you haven't ever seen them check out these etsy shops:

http://www.dragonflycraftz.etsy.com/

http://www.countingmyblessings.etsy.com/

http://www.craftyashey.etsy.com/

http://www.northerlakesdesigns.etsy.com/

http://www.maggiemags.etsy.com/


Mine will look a little different, but this is where I got the idea. Also one of the women in the local craft store is selling them too.

New items I've done:


I am having a new giveaway in Dec. It's a cookbook! I've been trying recipes from it since I bought one for myself. Here's one we tried yesterday and is really good!!

CELEBRATION CHICKEN

A simple "dump & stir" recipe, with ingredients from you pantry, that makes preparation and clean-up easy.

Mix together:

1/2 c. ketcup

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. water

1 package onion soup mix

Pour over chicken pieces. Cover and bake for 50 minutes at 375F (or until juices run clear).

THOUGHT:

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!

Oh dear, now what!?! First I'd like to thank Cathy at Home Sweet Home for tagging me (I think). Well here goes nothing!






Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.

Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.

Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.

Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.

Random Thing #1: I love magazines - doesn't matter what - I just love them. I have piles of cooking magazines and also crafting ones. Could look at magazines all day!!

Random Thing #2: My hubby and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary on wed. Doesn't feel like 20 years (that is probably a good thing). We have 2 boys, and a dog!

Random Thing #3: Quading is fun. We found that out as a family a few years ago. It's sometime hard to find something to do as a family as the kids get older - but for us - it's quading!!

Random Thing #4: Trying new recipes is a hobby of mine. Luckily I don't have any picky eaters in the family. When the boys were little we desided that they should learn to eat everything - so they had to at least try whatever I made. Sometime when I made something new they would ask if they liked it and I would say: "Of course you do, it's your favorite!" (even though we'd never had it before) I know - bad mom!! But now they'll eat almost anything.

Random Thing #5: I can play piano & organ. Have also had a few years of singing lessons, though I haven't done any of the above for awhile now. Miss it sometimes.

Random Thing #6: I don't like to talk about my self - would rather hear about other people and what they are doing!!

Okay - who should I tag - let's see. Hm-m-m-m. Oh - I know!!

Char at The Pickled Pepper Patch

Jody at Prim Gals Primitive Palette

Linda at Linda's Kitchen

Lea at Farm House Blessings

Suzanne at Colorado Lady

Gollywobbles!

Okay - I'm done!! WOOHOO!! Now to let everyone know!

Finished Christmas Shopping!!

CHRISTMAS GIVE AWAY 1 POST DOWN!!

Brad (hubby) & I went to the city yesterday to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary (feels more like 10) and to finish our Christmas shopping. We have 2 sons, Luke (18) and Logan (16). Luke always has a list as long as he is, but Logan never wants anything! After telling Logan that if I didn't get something on a list he would get underwear and socks - he finally came up with a very short wish list. But we're done!! That's all that matters.


I've added some give aways from other sites to the side bar - make sure you check them out!! Also don't forget to enter my give away - a little further down.


Here is something I just finished:

It's the weekend, maybe I'll get a few other things started.

FAVORITE RECIPE:

CALICO BEANS

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup bacon, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (15 ounce) can pork and
beans
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans,
drained
1 (15 ounce) can butter beans
1 (15 ounce) can lima beans, drained
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 cup chopped celery

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
2. Place bacon and ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside.
3. In a four quart casserole dish, mix together the bacon, ground beef, pork and beans, kidney beans, butter beans, lima beans, ketchup, onion, vinegar, dry mustard and celery.
4. Cover and bake for 1 hour.

THOUGHT:
"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." Kahlil Gibran