Monday, November 26, 2018

Merry Christmas!


Thanksgiving was such a good holiday this year. We invited a dear friend and enjoyed the usual, traditional fare. I love to cook, so it was just peaceful and lovely. And then on Friday it began...


Not sure that things will stay in the spots they've chosen, but I am focusing on boxes/totes...  They cross in the night, those unorganized, unmarked plastic totes of fall, Americana, Spring, Halloween, and now Christmas. I always swear I will fix this mess, but I made it worse. With renovation and shuffle I just cannot find some things... We shall see if they surface this year or next... or ever. I have things that have just wandered off and crawled in the wrong boxes... Oh well...  Forgive me! For a minute there I"almost" was talking about "stuff" again.  Almost.


Capturing the blue hour at evening is harder for me, but I did it today.



Full moon at my window this month, the Beaver Moon they called it. My friend and I saw it rise, and the size and color were fantastic... I love that old moon.


 My kitty waits in the window from about 4 o'clock until my son gets home... or it turns dark.


I hope to bring you completed holiday results very soon. In the meantime, here is a casserole I have made twice. I varied from this recipe a little, so I will tell you at the end. It was pronounced a success by my "boys."






TACO CASSEROLE BAKE


READY IN: 45mins
SERVES: 6

UNITS: US

INGREDIENTSNutrition
1 1⁄2lbs ground beef, cooked and drained
1⁄4cup of chopped onion
1(8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1(15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1⁄2cup water
3tablespoons taco seasoning (1 package)
1(8 ounce) package cornbread mix
1 can fried onions (the green bean casserole kind)
1-2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS

I use a 9 x 13 pan and omit the water, taco seasoning, and onion. Instead I use 3/4 cup salsa.

After cooking and draining the ground beef, add the onions, tomato sauce, corn, water, and taco seasoning.
Spoon into a greased 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
Prepare the corn bread according to the package directions. Add in 1/2 the fried onions and mix. Pour over the beef mixture.
Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until the cornbread is done.
Top with cheese and rest of fried onions and bake 5 more minutes to melt the cheese.
Enjoy!








Thursday, November 22, 2018

Blessings!





Whimsy and Hugs!

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Bountiful...

Here's to a really blessed Thanksgiving week...
We have been having a lovely fall, such typical cold weather, already some snow...



We are celebrating in a very traditional way with yumminess. 
I have left the Autumn decor up, but my little fingers are ready.
Christmas boxes piled up just out of sight, ready for Friday...



Enjoy your families and friends.
May your spirits be content.






Thursday, November 8, 2018

Sweet Harvest

The Pumpkin

Oh,greenly and fair in the lands of the sun, 
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run, 
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold, 
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold, 
Like that which o'er Nineveh's prophet once grew, 
While he waited to know that his warning was true, 
And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain 
For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain. 

On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden 
Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden; 
And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold 
Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold; 
Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North, 
On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth, 
Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines, 
And the sun of September melts down on his vines. 

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West, 
From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest, 
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board 
The old broken links of affection restored, 
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more, 
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before, 
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye? 
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie? 

Oh, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling, 
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling! 
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin, 
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within! 
When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune, 
Our chair a broad pumpkin,—our lantern the moon, 
Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam, 
In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team! 

Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better 
E'er smoked from an oven or circled a platter! 
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine, 
Brighter eyes never watched o'er its baking, than thine! 
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express, 
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less, 
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below, 
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow, 
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky 
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!





Whimsy and Hugs!

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Ready for the next one...


She looked for trick-or-treaters...


Here they came!


It was fun!


We had Chinese takeout!!!!


Now the holiday is Thanksgiving....    I usually wait on Christmas!





But ... I still have a couple sacks left.... Smell my feet! lolol




Whimsy and Hugs!