Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Turkey and The Fox

Ha Ha, you thought it was a live turkey, huh?  Not this time.  If fact. We haven't seen the the gobblers in a while.  Maybe they are afraid to be seen around Thanksgiving!  We are not into fresh turkey anyway.  We usually fry or smoke it.  After the purchase and thaw time, the next time I see it, it is fully cooked and ready to eat.  Now, that is easy!  But, we had a different agenda with this guy.
Anyway, my sweet friend Gae always cooks a wonderful, moist turkey.  We had a turkey in our freezer and decided that it would take up less space when cooked and be ready for various dishes.  After defrosting it in the refrigerator for several days, I called Gae to get the instructions.  It is so so easy!  
Gae's super moist, foolproof turkey:
Slather w/ butter
Poultry Seasoning & Garlic or whatever seasoning you want 
In roasting pan w/ 2-3" water, cook uncovered at 400 for 1 hour.
It will brown.
Remove from oven and cover.
Return to 300 degree oven for 5-6 hours for 20+ pound bird.
Be prepared, it will fall apart and the meat will fall off the bone.
Option: put celery in water and cavity.

From the hot tub, we saw the fox eating the turkey carcass.
It was really yummy and he couldn't walk away.
We do love to see him.

Staying with friends overnight in Amarillo was a treat...
in more ways than one.
Sweet Emotions Cookies - YUM,

Friday, December 20, 2013

Project: Sliding Barn Doors and Mini Needlepoint Stockings...

Building doors for the storage garage under the front deck has been quite a project.
Much thought, planning and work have gone into these.
The working conditions include beautiful scenery and an outdoor fire.
These are sliding barn doors with windows.
We are still waiting for additional rails ordered at Tractor Supply.
The ones we have work great.
Double checking.
All good!
Four doors are completed and two others will be finished today. 
Inside, I added a few more decorations.
And I finally found someone to 'finish' my needle point project.  I have been looking for years.  Pat Owen from Canyon TX did a wonderful job.  Four mini stockings down and three to go.  Hopefully, I will get Mitchell's, Brock's and Charlotte's made and finished before they are all grown up!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Christmas in the mountains

Spreading my JOY.  What a cute idea?  Well, as usual, it is not totally original.  I saw a similar idea on Pinterest using a different ornament.  The Longaberger Santa Belly ornament is so much cuter.  Adding a J&Y made it work.
Santa Belly?  Still available at www.longaberger.com/bettyrichardson.
The J&Y?  Amazon 6" brown letters that Mickey spray painted black for me.

We invited the "full timers" in our neighborhood for a get-together Saturday evening.  We served smoked brisket, beans, rolls and a couple of appetizers, cranberry salsa and candied jalepenos on cream cheese.
Cut the cream cheese from corner to corner, then place the two triangles in a tree position.  Cover with  processed candied jalapeƱos, adding a jalapeƱo piece for a trunk and topping with slices.  Our guests brought potato salads, deviled eggs and three yummy desserts.

Drinks are ready.
We offered wine, tea, water and coffee.

As the sun set, I grabbed a picture of the Christmas lights on the front deck.
We had a fun evening with mountain friends.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Return to the Mountains

We stayed in SC for a few more days to catch the performance of three of our grand kids in the youth theatre production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  No photos allowed, but we did get this one of Charlotte in the lobby while waiting to be seated.

Charlotte has a wonderful ballet teacher who was sweet to let us watch her Chrristmas dance.




Just beautiful!

Our neighbor had called to warn us of the tree that was across our driveway after some high winds.
Mickey got busy with the chainsaw on Friday.  The tree was about 50' tall and he brought the top 10' inside.  We are thankful for our "special delivery" Christmas tree.  It is not from the tree farm in NC.  The baggage handlers would surely have protested that.
It holds our 43 years of ornaments and memories.
Our temperatures have been bitter cold, but not too much snow.

Thanksgiving Weekend

For the first time in several years, my family was all together for Thanksgiving.  Because there are two families (eleven of our family members) on the east coast, it only makes since that Mickey and I go there.  Our daughter and son-in-law hosted us all at their home.  Many thanks to them!
Crissy and I have a good thing going.  I make the pie crusts and she makes the pies!
What a deal!  Brock likes it, too!
Our daughter-in-law brought this wonderful chocolate Capital from D.C.
Yum Yum. 

On Black Friday, our son and daughter were up early to shop with Mickey and me.
Crazy, I know.  However, our stops were Home Depot, Tractor Supply and Lowes.
They were not crowded, easy to access, had some fun deals and we had a good time.

After lunch, we took the kids ice skating.
Grant, Will and Brock.
Will, Jack and Charlotte in the center.
Holly Grace.
Mitchell.
All seven together and all still - on ice!

So, the adults headed down the street to the coffee shop.
John and Mickey.
The Scandinavian blonde beauty on the far right is an international university student
who hangs out with Crissy's family and was with us for Thanksgiving.
The other two beauties are our daughter, Crissy and daughter- in -law, Christi.
I don't know who phone-bombed my picture!

Saturday morning, we headed to the Christmas Tree Farm in NC.
Santa told Brock that he has been waiting for him!
So, they had a nice chat.

Time to find a tree!
Cory's family.
Crissy's family.  Yes, the tall guy in the center is Jack!
Grammy and PawPaw.

After the tree is cut, it is tagged, transported down the hill and bagged for the trip home.
While waiting, apple cider, hot chocolate and cookies are served.
There was a great play area that the kids enjoyed.
Oh, and the adults.
Will's swing.
Charlotte's fun.
Christi and Holly.
Stretch, Brock.
Will, what are you doing up there?
The wind up.  
The pitch.  
The hit.
And the snowball dissipates.
Yeah, I snapped this picture!
Just the girls.
Brock, Beaudreaux and Charlotte.

The final torture! Posing fora Christmas picture.

Food Family & Fun~ who could ask for anything more?