Late Spring

This will go down as the latest spring we have had in years. We have about 8 inches of snow all over still and the weather report is for snow tomorrow and Monday. In fact, the possibility of 6 to 10 inches! 

James had requested a month off in May. They planned to come home and he would help with the seeding. His request for time off was denied. Probably a good thing, with all the snow we still have, who knows when or if we will get the crop seeded.
These were taken yesterday!

I have been working on a quilt for our granddaughter, Breanne. I am about 3/4 completed with it now. This past week I completed the strips and have sewn them together. Yeah! I started this quilt about three years ago. Sometimes one gets tired of working on something and that was the case with this quilt. In the mean time, I had made a quilt for Bjorn, a couple of table runners and several potholders. It is time to complete this one.

 Reading has been a favorite past-time this winter. With the kindle app and the Overdrive app on my iPad, the selections are wonderful. Right now, I just started reading Firefly Lane for book club.  The site Ereaderiq offer the option of finding a variety of genres and thousands of free Kindle books or purchasing books at a very reasonable price from Amazon. This month's selection is Firefly Lane, it was available on the Kindle for only $2.99. I read it in three days, excellent, worthy of a 4.5. One needs lots of Kleenex when you read it though.

The iPad or Kindle Fire are wonderful for reading. I am awake often in the middle of the night. Being able to dim the screen to read is so beneficial. Sometime,  now that I am retired, it isn't uncommon to read from 2:30 am to 5:30 am. What else is,there to do at that time? If you wake up then too, share what you do. Share what you are reading right now too.

March was my fifth year since my total hip replacement. I am so please with the results.  I could not have enjoyed the many things I enjoy now do without having had the hip replaced. There would definitely not had been a trip to Hong Kong!

We had a church general conference the first weekend of April and I asked some of my church friends to share a favorite thought from one of the speakers. Thank you Judith for shared the following:

"So many great message to choose from this April 2013 weekend. I am selecting the talk from  Dieter F. Uchtdorf about how Jesus shows us the way out of darkness.  There are three steps.  First, start where you are even if you feel unqualified.  Second, turn your heart toward The Lord and plead for support. Third, walk in the Light. He knows you will make mistakes. There are always stumbling blocks. The Light of the Gospel will pave the way. Darkness cannot prevail." 

I was impressed with the President Boyd K. Packer's talk on the family:  "

All are born with the Light of Christ, a guiding influence which permits each person to recognize right from wrong. What we do with that light and how we respond to those promptings to live righteously is part of the test of mortality.

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.”⁸

Each of us must stay in condition to respond to inspiration and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, and to warn us. Each son or daughter of God can know the things they need to know instantly. Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation."

Well it is time to complete my Gospel Doctrine lesson for tomorrow.

Thought for the day: 

Every day may have a challenge, physical or mental, how you handle that challenge will make you or break you. Strive to let it make you stronger.

Home to winter!

After spending two weeks with James, Ashley and little Lance Bjorn in February, I find myself yearning to climb on a plane and visit more family. Farm life is pretty quiet right now and it would be a good time to go but I have a few obligations and want to try and finish another quilt top.

James has had two trips to Sydney Australia and is now enjoying a few days of R&R with the family. When he has trips like this Ashley usually heads to her parents, which is exactly what she did this time. Bjorn has spent a week with grandma and grandpa, giving James and Ashley some quality time together. No Skype for me while he was at their home as Ashley's mother doesn't Skype, she does put great photos on Facebook though, such as these two of Bjorn and Grandpa Lee at a bird sanctuary.

I think he looks a little apprehensive in the second photo, like that bird is almost as big as me!

Ashley had been wonderful to Skype with us when she was at her parents. One day, she came on with Bjorn and for about five minutes he gave me his undivided attention! He recognized me right away and gave me one of his cute little smiles. We played  head and shoulders, knees and toes; looked for his ears, eyes, and nose and sang some other Primary songs before he very vocally told me it s time for breakfast! He grabbed his mother's hand and started pulling her toward the door. We said our good byes, waved and signed off.

A couple of days ago he proudly showed me how he could climb into his new high chair. Ashley said all she has to do it take the tray off and he knows it is time to eat and climbs right up.

Breanne and I were visiting the other day on the phone and every word she said Keria would repeat. Keria will be three this coming Thursday. Grandma had better get her presents wrapped  and out the door. Not today though, it is snowing again.

Quilting and reading

This was actually written before I went to visit James, Ashley and Lance on February 3 but didn't realize it had not been posted!

These past weeks have been cold and often windy and when it is like that, I become a hermit!
So what does a hermit do on days like these? Quilt, read, cook and maybe clean the house. At least that is what I do. I completed the quilt I have been working for our grandson Lance Bjorn. I think it will last him until he decides he want a more masculine one. It is about  50 inches by 50 inches.

 

Time to get ready for the SEASON!

I love Christmas! The music, the programs, decorating, and visiting malls. So you are thinking I like to do my Christmas shopping at malls, right? Sorry, I love to watch the people, listen to music from the mall performers, but most of see mall decorations.
I think Winnipeg is my favorite place to visit during the holidays. Probably because we live only about 100 miles south of the Canadian city of about 750,000. The lower level in Portage Place during the holidays, especially on weekends, often has musical groups perform. So far this Christmas season I have not headed north , but this week I plan to go.

Now shopping in Winnipeg is a different story. I do that at the St. Vital Center more then any other place. There is a huge Borders book store with a Starbucks where one can escape the crowd and have peaceful snack and read a bit in a book you just purchased or the downloaded book on your phone or iPad. The blueberry coffee cake is delish!


Think of the best thing that happened to you today, meditate about it, and put it in your memory bank. Have a great day!
Charleen

End of November 2012

The closer we come to the holiday's the faster time seems to leave us behind. One of the young families in our branch invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. With four little one around, it was a lively and enjoyable afternoon. The food was very festive and delicious.

My brother and sister-in-law had planned to come up the Monday after Thanksgiving. Plans changes due his having just been hired at the hospital in Aurora as a part-time physical therapist assistant. He will be filling in for the physical therapist when she has days off and vacation. Needless to say he ended up working then.They do plan to come up but it won't be for a couple of weeks now.

Looking back over the past month, all I can say, it was busy. On the nineteenth, the Ya Ya Gang Relay for Life time, had our annual Holiday Happenings. This year, we decided we needed a larger place and held it in the back room of Skippy Finns, the old VFW in Badger. It was a great room and even with all that room we were crowded. Our hours were from five to eight pm.

This year we added a "Ya Ya Gang U-Pik Cookies" sale with cookies sold by the pound, this was very successful. All cookies were donated and we had a wonderful variety. There wasn't much left at the end of the night. Micky Slater, Gwen Gross, and I were in charge of the "Cookie by the Pound" and the "Broken Cookie Cafe."

There baskets galore for the Silent Auction!

We noticed the vendors were busy all evening.

As well as those working with the bake sale.

 

Our group is a winner, we raised over $4,000!

Everyone  made the same cookie and I baked eight dozen Pecan Tassies. Yesterday, I baked the same recipe again for next week's Christmas Tea for the doctors, their spoused, the staff and anyone who chooses to stop at the hospital for coffee an' to visit with the staff and doctors.

This is the recipe for the Pecan Tassies. I put a few photos at the end to give one an idea of how to prepare them.

PECAN TASSIES    

SHELLS:

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. flour

Using a food processor or a mixer, blend the cream cheese and butter then add the flour. I like my cream cheese and butter to start out a little on the cool side. Chill the dough for about a 1/2 hour if you start with softened butter and cream cheese. Roll into balls about the size of a walnut in the shell, and press into miniature muffin tins. I have put photos after the recipe so one can see how they are pressed into the pan.

Chop 2/3 c. pecans  and place about 3/4 to a teaspoon of pecans in the shells.

Top with this FILLING:

Mix together:

1 egg, beaten

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. butter, softened

Pinch of salt

 Spoon filling into shells to about 3/4 full and bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 minutes or until the shells are light brown. When done, let cool a bit in the pan, then carefully run a knife around the edge prior to removing the tassies. These freeze well. 

Makes 24 Pecan Tassies.

Press cream cheese base into miniature muffin pan.

Up close example!

Place the pecans in the bottom and then top with the brown sugar mixture and bake.

 Our adorable little grandson, Lance Bjorn, is walking up a storm now. So cute to see him walk like his cousins. He is such a peaceable little boy. Very seldom do I hear that he is crying about something. I haven't seen him on Skype lately but Ashley has been wonderful to put videos and photos on Facebook for us to see.

For the past month I have been suffering with trigger finger in my right hand pinky and ring finger. I had Dr. Schall, my orthopedic doctor about two weeks ago and he told me to try anti inflammatory medication and if that wasn't helping to call his office and he would see me and give me a cortisone shot. After continuing to suffer and having sleepless nights, I called last Friday,when they were closed. On Tuesday, his nurse, Shona called to tell me he would see me on Wednesday the Bone and Joint Clinic in Grand Forks. I had made appointments for Visiting Teaching with two sisters and ended up canceling one so I could get there in time. He gave me shots in both fingers. The ring finger gave me the most grief as it stayed numb and tingled until sometime early morning. Today was like a new day. I could quilt and do anything I had done before the problem. I am hoping it will last for several months. Thank you for seeing me Dr. Schall and for all you do to make my life so much better than it was physically almost five year ago.

Bedtime is calling. The electric mattress pad is on and my feet are cold so that bed is going to feel like heaven!

Winter Weather Warnings

It has been misting out for the past three days so our roads are like ice skating rinks. Last year on the way to work, i stepped out of the house, slipped onto the first step and landed on the sidewalk! A couple of years ago, Ardmore fell on the icy walking to the mail box and couldn't get back up. A neighbor came by and helped him. He ended up in the emergency room and luckily didn't break any bones. He had a huge bruise on his left thigh to hip area which was very sore for a long time. I am praying that he does not fall when he walks into the church or has an driving accident.
I decided not to go to church. I do not want to fall and I know the parking lot is going to be treacherous. This is the type of weather I really dislike!
This past week I completed a couple of potholders for the Ya Ya Gang Holiday Happening sale. I want to do at least 5 more. I like to try different patterns. Here is a photo of three of them.




I am working on several different designs. Potholders give a person an opportunity to try a lot of different block patterns and decide which blocks they like best for a large quilt. Yesterday I received a call that Lance Bjorn's quilt is completed. I am so excited to see the finished product!
Yesterday theYa Ya Gang fried up about 250 flats of lefse. The Holiday Happenings sale will be at Skippy Finns' in Badger on November 19 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Lots of great things are available to purchase.
Decided to make pizza for Sunday dinner.
Pizza Dough
1/4 cup very warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 pkg yeast
2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, I use Penzey's Spices
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, I use Penzey's Spices.
1/2 cup or more water as needed
Place first three ingredients in a small bowl for about 20 minutes.
Mix all dry ingredient together in a medium bowl, add the oil and water, mix together and then add the yeast mixture. Add more water if necessary but you don't want the dough too sticky.
Turn out and knead on your counter until smooth, about 5 minutes. I did not add flour, when he was a little too sticky to knead I placed it back in the bowl to which I had added a little more olive oil, turned, put suran wrap over it and place it in the oven. I set my oven at 120 when I start and turn it off in about 2 or 3 minutes.




Let the dough raise until double. Spray your pan and spread the dough out. Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top of crust.




Topping
1 can petite diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil, add a good pinch of Italian seasoning and blend in food processor until almost smooth.




Top with cooked meat of your choice, vegetables, olives, red and green peppers, etc. top this with mozzarella or a combination of cheeses.




Bake about 14 to 18 minutes at 400 degrees F. Enjoy!








Today I am thankful someone was willing to teach my Sunday School lesson. Thank you Kelly!
Think of the best thing that happened to you today, meditate about it, and put it in your memory bank. Have a great day!
Charleen