about me – Page 6

December 30, 2015December 29, 2015

Christmas Cookie Catastraphy

When it comes to baking, my hubs rocks. He’s my own personal pastry chef. No store bought pie crusts for my guy. He makes his own. His pumpkin pie can’t be beat. It could have something to do with the fact that he doesn’t use canned pumpkin. Nope. He picks out a pumpkin at the grocery store and goes from there.

It probably goes without saying that when my children wanted to bake cookies – it was their father who answered the call.

Now don’t misunderstand the situation – I can bake. I’m a freaking pro when it comes to those refrigerated options – you know the ones where you break apart the squares of cookie dough and drop them on a pan and 13 minutes later – Viola! And don’t forget turtles – they are my specialty. A pretzel, a Rolo and 3 minutes in the oven! Top it off with a pecan! I’m like the star of my own cooking show!

So – as Christmas approached and Hubs was up to his elbows in our bathroom remodel, I stepped up to the oven. After all, I’m a team player and if Hubs could tear out drywall than I could throw together a few ingredients for some holiday treats.

chocolate-snowman-pretzel-craft-sticks-popsicle-crafts- I visited pinterest and found the cutest chocolate dipped pretzel snowmen. I mean seriously, aren’t they just the best? (For instructions, click here)

InstagramCapture_d2ec9fe6-ac84-4b92-8625-d2f905d44c61 Only mine didn’t look so cute. In fact, it was suggested that I make them for next year’s Halloween – something about them channeling Freddy Krueger.

I accepted the truth – Chocolate dipped pretzel snowmen were beyond my abilities. I moved on to cookies. No – I didn’t open a recipe book. I don’t have the patience for that. Instead, I purchased those giant rolls of cookie dough.

I pulled out the cookie cutters, choosing the candy cane shaped ones and explained my plan. No rolling out the dough – nope. Instead, I made little logs and dropped them into the cutters, lightly pressing them to fill the canes. Easy-peasy…

Only not so much…

That batch of cookies were interesting to say the least. Hubs said he’d never seen candy canes look quite like mine. Needless to say, I’ve accepted that some people (me) are baking challenged. And that’s okay because Hubs has promised to man the kitchen next year.

December 22, 2015

Finding Christmas in a Store

Grinch

She stood in front of me, her groceries moving towards the scanner, one child in the buggy, the other standing beside it.

Hotdogs, chicken pot pies – nothing extravagant – not for this family.

She focused on the monitor like a hawk watching prey and that is what caught my attention. Because I can remember watching prices – adding them in my head – making sure I had enough money.

“That’ll be $70.68,” the cashier said.

The young woman swiped her card.

The cashier frowned. “Hmmm. Declined.”

The young woman checked her phone, her finger sliding across the screen.

“Try swiping your card again,” the cashier encouraged.

Looking up, she shook her head. “I need to put some things back.”

“It might be a malfunction,” the cashier insisted.

“No,” the young woman answered. “I checked my balance. There’s just over $50.00.” She glanced back at her phone. “I had $97.00 when I left home. My husband must have used his debit card.”

“Excuse me,” I interrupted. “I’ll pay the balance if that’s okay…”

The young woman was appreciative and I was thankful – thankful for the blessings I’ve been given, thankful for being able to share those blessings (if only in a small way), and so grateful that in the hustle and bustle of a busy afternoon – I found the Christmas spirit in my local grocery store.

December 21, 2015December 20, 2015

Memories

I can’t hear John Conlee singing Rose Colored Glasses that I don’t think of my Uncle Frank. That song carries me back to the early 80’s when CMT was new. I sat on the sectional in his living room – listening to John sing as my family sat at the dinner table. I can see my uncle sitting there. He was loud and somewhat irreverent and oh so funny. He wore British Sterling and smelled like a million bucks.

He loved listening to Floyd Cramer and on Christmas Eve – after dinner had been served – he’d pop in a CD. Some of us would find a comfy spot and talk; others danced. It was wonderful.

I miss him.

My father misses him. Somehow, that makes the missing a little worse.

And during this Christmas Season, we will recall the the epic Christmas Eve Roman Candle Fight between my dad and uncle. We’ll laugh and joke around and we’ll listen to old songs and remember.

November 30, 2015November 29, 2015

Where Has This Year Gone?

Can you believe we are literally one month away from the new year? I’m not sure where the time has gone. It seems like only last month, I was watching 4th of July fireworks… And the past couple of days? Decorating for Christmas. I think the only thing left to do on the inside is to trim the banister with garland. (Sigh of relief)

A lot has been going on the last couple of months. We’ve been remodeling our home and it has thrown my whole life out of wack! Writing on my WIP has come to a stop and I haven’t had a lot of time to stop by and visit your blogs. The struggle has been real…

On the bright side:

Last week, we drove to Fort Lost in the Woods, Misery (Fort Leonard Wood, MO) to pick up our youngest son. He graduated from MP school and is now a NC National Guard Reservist. After driving 2,300 miles in three days – all I can say is -I’m not as young as I once was! That trip kicked my butt.

AND-

We became grandparents! I’m Lolli and my hubby is Pops. Yes, I know – it’s the cheesiest grandparent names ever! But, we don’t care. Not every kid gets the chance to go to Lolli-Pops for a visit! But, if my son has his way, Pops will be called the Dread Pirate LeRoy. (For those who don’t get the reference, you gotta watch The Princess Bride!)

So – that’s what been going on in my life.

How’s things been with you?

November 9, 2015November 8, 2015

My Perfect Day

Perfect days are hard to come by – but when they come along – you gotta dive in head first. Saturday was beautiful – sunny, highs in upper 70’s and a wonderful sea breeze. After being stuck inside all week, I had to be outside. I started with a visit to the river.

The hermit crabs were doing their thing, crawling over the rocks and each other.

While the North Carolina coast doesn’t get to experience much in the way of the changing of leaves, nature didn’t totally forget to paint our little corner of the world. We get wildflowers and berries and on occasion – something other than pine tree needles.

Boaters took advantage of the day, too. And while I’m sure this sailor was disappointed at having to be towed in, I loved watching the activity.

100_1435 — Sailboat being towed – New River

I met up with my writers group for lunch – that’s always a good time.

And then I took a detour – went back to my childhood and visited some precious memories.

I grew up on the water. My father was a commercial fisherman. I spent my summers hanging out at the fish house. After “heading” shrimp (actually de-heading them is more accurate), I’d go home, get into a swim suit and go back to the fish house where we kids would climb onto the shrimp boats and jump off the sides – swimming in the slough.

My father is retired now. My brother, however, is trying to keep the family tradition alive. He works as a school teacher, serves in the Army Reserves and in his spare time is repairing a boat my father and uncle built some 33 years ago.

100_1464 — My father overseeing my brother

There’s still quite a bit of work to do. The outriggers need to be painted, the fish hold needs some work and the wench needs to be repaired. But when they finish, she will be beautiful.