The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Part 5

Because some days you need more than others!

And in the spirit of "keeping it real", here's a look

at what's been going on around here lately.....

1. Our bed broke...again...but worse this time! One last jump from Spencer and the frame broke in two. Of course, it happened late at night when The Mister was still at work! When he got home, because of the late hour, we slid three buckets under the broken side to hold up the slats. More on this later, as it deserves a post of it's own! LOL!

2. The electric can opener died over the holidays! Would you believe we didn't have a manual one either? Not willing to make a special trip to the store on a holiday, we made do. Thank goodness for kitchen boning shears, pliers, a hammer and a screwdriver! LOL! It's not pretty, but we got it open! When Harry asks for his green beans, you gotta get the can open somehow!

3. The windshield wipers in the van have developed a mind of their own! They go fast when I set them on slow speed! They start up on their own when it's sunny outside! And this week, they wouldn't stop when I turned them off! Here I am at our mailbox at the entrance to our neighborhood. The van is off. The keys are out of the ignition! They just kept on wiping!

4. Earlier this month, The Mister and I celebrated our 26th anniversary! A couple of days before, the power steering went out on the van. So, in lieu of gifts, we had the van repaired. It also needed a water pump. I had to choose between power steering or the wipers. Of course, I opted for power steering! LOL! So, Happy Anniversary to us! We did go out for a nice lunch and actually had few hours of quality time together. Very nice.

5. Conversation this week...Taylor ~ Mom, this old van is really starting to look cruddy! When are we getting a new one? Me ~ After we get you through college! Taylor ~ Oh. .....thanks, Mom. :)

And...haha...yes, I'm laughing, so please laugh along with me! It really is the best medicine, isn't it? Hope we're done with the catastrophies for a little while, though! :)

While Contemplating a New Year...

Erma Bombeck's wisdom came to mind~~

"If I had my life to live over...

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realised that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's" ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God has blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone. I hope you all have a blessed day. "

Braided Cinnamon Bread

We had this deelish braided cinnamon bread for

breakfast while we opened Christmas gifts.

It's my Braided Butter Bread recipe except I

rolled the 'ropes' in cinnamon before braiding

and omitted the egg wash before baking.

Then glazed it after it baked and cooled.

We liked it so much I may have to do it again

for New Year's Morning!

I bet chopped pecans would be yummy sprinkled

on the wet glaze. I'll let you know! :)

“There is no delight in

owning anything unshared.”

~~Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

**googleimages.com

Won't You Join Me?

My super dark chocolate three layer cake

covered with ganache...and festively

decorated for a Christmas party...or two.

I'd love for you to sit down and

eat a piece with me!

For the recipe, click here.

No traveling for us this year as we host

his family Friday and my family Saturday!

(well, those who haven't pulled the plug on me!)

Merry Christmas, dear friends!

A Christmas Tradition

Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol

first edition, 1843

" I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book,

to raise the Ghost of an idea, which shall not

put my readers out of humour with themselves,

with each other, with the season, or with me.

May it haunt their houses pleasantly,

and no one wish to lay it."

" I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year!"

~Scrooge

~~~~

"My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him."

-Charles Dickens

Chicken Minestrone Soup

Since so many of you are getting snowed in,

I thought I'd give you the perfect soup

recipe to warm you up!

It makes a lot and the leftovers are great, too.

Chicken Minestrone Soup

2-4 c cooked chicken

4-6 c chicken broth

1 can chopped tomatoes

2 onions, chopped

2 t dried parsley

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 c ketchup

4 ribs of celery, thinly sliced

2 bay leaves

1 t dried oregano

2 t dried basil

1 T salt

1 t pepper

16 oz bag frozen mixed veggies

1 1/2 c broken pasta

Place all ingredients in soup pot.

Simmer one hour.

(I used 1 can each of sliced potatoes, carrots,

green beans and corn to replace the frozen bag)

And this is what happens when you get your camera

too close to the steamy pot! LOL!

Stay warm!

Snowflake Jewelry

Well, I seem to be a little obsessed this

season with Wilson Bentley (1865-1931)

the American farmer and snow crystal photomicrographer.

I did a post on him earlier this month and showcased

several of his beautiful photographs. You can also

see some on my sidebar. Gladys happened

to comment on that post that Harry Winston had

created some jewelry inspired by snowflakes. So,

I had to check them out! Here's one of my favorites!

Although not as expensive or fancy, I do have

two tiny snowflake pins of my own! They are

quite old, but still fun to wear on my sweater!

We've had our first two snowfalls so far this

season! Maybe we'll have a white Christmas!

Sepia Saturday = Grandpa in the Box

This sweet little guy is my paternal Grandfather!

Chester L. Hanna, 1917

When I was given this picture of my grandpa, I

immediately thought of my son, Harry!

'Cause, you see....sitting in boxes must be in the genes!

We have over a dozen shots of Harry ....

at various times in his childhood... sitting in boxes and baskets!

Apparently it skips a couple of generations. :)

To see more bloggers who have joined Sepia Saturday, click here or on the link on my sidebar!

Christmas Cactus

So, my desk was needing a little

Christmas cheer!

This will do just fine! :)

Theme Thursday = History

antique time piece, googleimages.com

"Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

That's why we call it the 'present'."

~~Eleanor Roosevelt

********

"You must live in the present,

launch yourself on every wave,

find your eternity in each moment.

Fools stand on their island opportunities and

look toward another land. There is no other land,

there is no other life but this."

~ Henry David Thoreau

• How
• I
• See
• Today
• Others may
• Remember
• Years from now.

No Bake Sweet Gifts

Here's what's happening in my kitchen today....

Swirly peanut clusters, for that sweet & salty treat...

White chocolate and pstachio dipped pretzel rods..

Packaged up in a festive way, they make

wonderful little gifts.

If you want recipes click here...

peanut cluster recipe

****

dipped pretzel rods

****

I feel like one of Santa's elves! :)

Attempting A Christmas Card Picture

An Early Christmas Gift

He hasn't taken his eyes off the thing in days.

It even comes to bed with us!

Gee, I wish MY name was Kindle! LOL!

End of the Semester

Taylor's bedroom floor.

Seems the college guy finished that last exam and

in one motion stepped out of his clothes and bookbag...

and fell into bed. Oh gosh..remember that feeling?

The next time it comes back, you have newborns

and night time feedings! LOL!

First exam already came back...with a B..not bad!!

Sepia Saturday = Martha Sampson

This is Martha Sampson. She is The Mister's

maternal grandmother. The photo was taken

in 1916, her high school senior year.

You may remember, last Sepia Saturday I spoke of

her second cousin, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson.

I also shared her bracelet with the

scenes from Denmark on it, which is where

her family originally came from. They resided in

Washington State and owned a farm.

I think she's lovely!

For more Sepia Saturday participants, click

on the sepia picture on my sidebar!

Deck the Halls...and the Water

Even the Evian is looking festive these days!

At $1.00 a bottle, (Big Lots) I couldn't resist

buying a few for the Christmas buffet.

Theme Thursday = Snow

Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) was an American farmer and snow crystal photomicrographer, who during his lifetime captured some 5000 snow crystal images. More than 2000 were published in 1931 in his famous book, Snow Crystals, which remains in print to this day.

“Quick, the first flakes are coming; the couriers of the coming snow storm! Open the skylight, and directly under it place the carefully prepared blackboard, on whose ebony surface the most minute form of frozen beauty may be welcome from cloud-land. The mysteries of the upper air are about to reveal themselves, if our hands are deft and our eyes quick enough.”

~~Wilson A. Bentley

"They say that every snowflake is different.

If that were true, how could the world go on?

How could we ever get up off our knees?

How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?"

~~Jeanette Winterson

• Sparkly,
• Nippy
• Occurrences of
• Winter.
• Frozen,
• Light, and
• Airy
• Kisses...on my
• Eyelashes

Cranberry Salad

A Thanksgiving tradition that spans several generations

back to my great, great aunt. I don't normally care for

Jell-o salads, but this one is delish...and sentimental! :)

It's sweet and tangy...perfect with all the traditional fare.

Cranberry Salad

1 small cherry jello

1 small lemon jello

(I've substituted any red jello for the cherry)

juice from canned pineapple (below) and lemon juice

added to make a total of 1 cup of liquid

1 and 1/2 c cold water

1 lb. pkg whole, fresh cranberries

2 large apples

2 c sugar

One 8.25 oz crushed pineapple, drained..save juice

Dissolve both jellos in boiling pineapple/lemon juices.

Add 1 1/2 c cold water. Stir and set aside.

Buzz cranberries and apples with skin in

food processor until coarsely chopped.

Stir into sugar and crushed pineapple.

Pour jello over and mix well.

Chill until set. Stir before serving.

I'm the Lucky Winner!

I was one of the lucky winners of a drawing on Susan's

blog, Between Naps on the Porch! It was a creation

from Lisa Leonard Designs!

This beautiful silver leaf and pearl accent

is really an ornament.....

....but I have visions of it on a long leather cord

around my neck! For the personalization....I had the

names of "my five men" placed on the front.

The Mister's name will remain a secret. :)

I'm sure both ladies would appreciate a visit!

Thank so much Susan and Lisa!

The Elmer Fudd Hat

When The Mister and I were in college, we would have

thought wearing an Elmer Fudd hat would have been

so very nerdy! Apparently, they are in style

and ever so cool. Of course, I think Taylor would

look good in just about anything. ;)

Still, I crack up every time he walks in the door

with that thing on! LOL!

My Little Business

I made twelve of these baskets this week!

All ordered from the same person...they certainly

have their gift list finished early!

They were so fun to put together...

and even more fun when they were finished! hee!

They certainly look cheery lined up and

ready to deliver!

Sepia Saturday = Rear Admiral Sampson

William Thomas Sampson

Rear Admiral, United States Navy

1840 - 1902

Best known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War

He was appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1857, and graduated at the head of his class in 1861. He subsequently earned an LLD degree from Harvard in 1899.

He was promoted to Master, 1861 and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1862. He was Executive Officer on the ironclad USS Patapsco when it was blown up by mine in Charleston Harbor. He was blown into water, but then rescued.

Advanced to Lieutenant Commander, 1866, Commander, 1874, Captain, 1889. He was Superintendet of the Naval Academy, 1886-90. An expert on ordnance, torpedoes, etc. With Lieutenant Joseph Strauss, he devised-perfected superimposed turrets introduced into the Navy in 1898. He was President, Board of Inquiry as to cause of the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, 1898, and after a declaration of war with Spain he commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with the rank of acting Rear Admiral. Promoted to Commodore, 1898, Rear Admiral, 1899.

During the Spanish-American his command numbered 125 vessels, the strongest ever organized for hostile purposes. His fleet captured many Spanish merchant vessels and blockade runners and finally defeated the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera. Appointed, 1898, one of three commanders to Cuba. Resumed command of North Atlantic fleet, later that year. Commandant, Boston USN Yard, Oct 14, 1899.

In 1865-67 he served on the USS Colorado in European Squadron, advancing to Lieutenant Commander, 1866. Again at USNA 1868-71, and, after service on the USS Congress in 1872 and European station in 1873 and promotion to Commander in 1874, he returned for third tour, 1874-78, as head of Physics Department. 1879-82 he commanded USS Swatara in the Asiatic Squadron, after 2 years as Assistant Superintendent of the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, during which time was delegate to International Prime Meridian Conference, 1884, he commanded the Naval torpedo station at Newport from 1884 to 1886. In 1886 he was named Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

Promoted to Captain in 1889, he left the Academy in 1890 to command the USS San Francisco. 1893-97 he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, where under his leadership much progress was made in such matters as introduction of smokeless powder and improvement of gunnery training. In 1897, he was given command of new battleship Iowa, joining the North Atlantic Squadron as senior Captain. During February-March 1898 served as president of the Naval Board investigating the sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor. In the latter month he was advanced to acting Rear Admiral, and named to succeed the ailing Montgomery Sicard in command of the North Atlantic Squadron.

On declaration of war against Spain in April, he proceeded from Key West to institute a blockade of northern coast of Cuba, his own plan to attack Havana directly having been overruled by the Navy Department. In May while location of the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera was yet unknown, he made a cruise east to Puerto Rico and on May 12 bombarded San Juan. He then returned to blockade and joined by "Flying Squadron" , who, though technically his senior, was placed under his command for the campaign.He sent Schley to reinforce the blockade of the southern coast, particularly at Cienfuegos and Santiago. Schley was tardy in movements, and Cevera slipped undetected into easily defended harbor at Santiago. When he was finally discovered there, Sampson concentrated his forces outside the harbor. He supported landing of Shafter's army at Daiquiri, June 22, and the capture of Siboney next day, and the subsequent advance to Santiago. During September-December 1898 in Cuba he served as 1 of 3 US commissioners. He was made permanent Rear ADmiral in March , and resumed command of his squadron until October 1899. He commanded the Boston Navy Yard until October 1901, until his retirment in February 1902.

He died on May 6, 1902 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Elisabeth Susan Buring Sampson is buried with him, as is his son, Commander Ralph E. Sampson and Ralph's wife, Marjorie L. Sampson and his son, William Thomas Sampson II, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army.

*****

Rear Admiral William T. Sampson is the second cousin to

Martha Sampson Johnsen, The Mister's maternal grandma!

The picture hangs with many other ancestors up the

staircase to The Mister's loft office.

A Christmas Cloche Party

**IF YOU ARE HERE FOR THEME THURSDAY

SNOW DAY, PLEASE CLICK MY HEADER TO

REFRESH. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

MR LINKY HAS THE WRONG URL TODAY.**

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life is hosting

A Christmas Cloche Party so you can show

off your cloches ( if you have any!) I have one....

The cloche and ornaments are from Home Goods. The Restoration Hardware tin Christmas plate was a steal for 49 cents at the thrift store! Happy Decorating!