Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya......
Yeah, you get the idea. Tomorrow, my bloggeriffic friends, is going to be a good day.
My family is coming to see me! Well, in all truthfulness, they are coming to see Little Man, but that's okay, I love them anyway. :)
Yep, the whole clan (that's not saying much since we're a large extended family, but a small immediate one), my parents, and my sister and brother-in-law.
Am I ready? Emotionally, yes. Technically? No. The house is a WRECK. We still have not recovered from deer season and Christmas, and my floors are begging to be vacuumed and mopped, but I have to remove all the clutter before I can do that tonight.
Ugh, sorry everyone, the house is just gonna be dirty when you get here. The good news is, the toilets are both clean, so at least there's that.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Twenty Days
That's how long it has been since I posted on my blog. TWENTY days. I feel like such a slacker. Really, I could tell you that I have been so crazy busy with the holidays and everything else that I just haven't had time. And it would be true, but no more true than anyone else's life. So, I guess I'm busted. I'm a slacker.
Today is January 6th. A lot has happened since the last time I posted. We have had Christmas, New Year's, and the hubs' birthday.
Overall, the holidays were good to us. I actually got what I wanted! (for starters) The husband is notoriously bad about ignoring what I ask for because he doesn't think it makes a good gift, or doesn't serve him, in some fashion. But this year, against all odds, he listened. And I have the new sewing machine I have been searching for all these years. Now. Ask me if I've used the blessed thing yet. Yeah. No time.
Ty got an obscene assortment of wonderful gifts that he is still thoroughly enjoying. The best purchase this year, admittedly, was M's idea. Ty's favorite gift, by far, is his new Smart Cycle. And that is great because at least he is doing something other than sit in front of endless episodes of SpongeBob. Unfortunately, because M didn't buy his new big screen, as he planned to, which would have freed up a TV just for Ty's room, the darned thing is taking up space in my bedroom, when the whole idea was to get his movies and other playthings OUT of my bedroom. Ugh.
In OTHER news!!! Yay! My family is coming to see us this weekend. Yep, the WHOLE family. My parents, my sister and brother in law, all arriving this weekend. And I can't wait. I am lucky enough to have parents that are willing to drive out and visit every few months, but Sister lives on the east coast and we rarely see each other. Living in the rural hell that I call home, there is not much to do as far as entertainment, so we'll have to be creative, but I have no doubt we'll have a wonderful time. There will be cooking, beading, and other crafts to keep us occupied.
I hope to have LOTS to blog about after the visit. Hint hint, wink wink....there may be a surprise in store for all my readers. We'll see.
Anyway, sorry I've been such a pathetic non-blogging bum! I'll try to do better in 2009!
Today is January 6th. A lot has happened since the last time I posted. We have had Christmas, New Year's, and the hubs' birthday.
Overall, the holidays were good to us. I actually got what I wanted! (for starters) The husband is notoriously bad about ignoring what I ask for because he doesn't think it makes a good gift, or doesn't serve him, in some fashion. But this year, against all odds, he listened. And I have the new sewing machine I have been searching for all these years. Now. Ask me if I've used the blessed thing yet. Yeah. No time.
Ty got an obscene assortment of wonderful gifts that he is still thoroughly enjoying. The best purchase this year, admittedly, was M's idea. Ty's favorite gift, by far, is his new Smart Cycle. And that is great because at least he is doing something other than sit in front of endless episodes of SpongeBob. Unfortunately, because M didn't buy his new big screen, as he planned to, which would have freed up a TV just for Ty's room, the darned thing is taking up space in my bedroom, when the whole idea was to get his movies and other playthings OUT of my bedroom. Ugh.
In OTHER news!!! Yay! My family is coming to see us this weekend. Yep, the WHOLE family. My parents, my sister and brother in law, all arriving this weekend. And I can't wait. I am lucky enough to have parents that are willing to drive out and visit every few months, but Sister lives on the east coast and we rarely see each other. Living in the rural hell that I call home, there is not much to do as far as entertainment, so we'll have to be creative, but I have no doubt we'll have a wonderful time. There will be cooking, beading, and other crafts to keep us occupied.
I hope to have LOTS to blog about after the visit. Hint hint, wink wink....there may be a surprise in store for all my readers. We'll see.
Anyway, sorry I've been such a pathetic non-blogging bum! I'll try to do better in 2009!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Yep, I said Merry Christmas! I know I've been a bit of slacker when it comes to the blogging lately, but I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, or whatever you choose to celebrate.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sick Day
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Shameless plug!
Ok, I know i've been slacking off on the blogging lately, but hey, its the holidays, what can I say? I'm swamped.
BUT! Jaci at Ravings of a Mad Housewife is giving away some absolutely stunning Fiestaware and it has my name on it! Well, at least I hope it does....and I get 3 extra entries in her contest by mentioning it here, so there ya go! Shameless plug.
BUT! Jaci at Ravings of a Mad Housewife is giving away some absolutely stunning Fiestaware and it has my name on it! Well, at least I hope it does....and I get 3 extra entries in her contest by mentioning it here, so there ya go! Shameless plug.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I just gotta say...Its about friggin' time!!!!
Rod Blagojevich id going to jail!! Woo-hoo!!!!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/?GT1=43001
Someone finally did something right. Kudos to the feds.
And yes, I live in Illinois.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/?GT1=43001
Someone finally did something right. Kudos to the feds.
And yes, I live in Illinois.
Monday, December 1, 2008
A Tall Drink of.....
Hello All! And welcome back from a gloriously long holiday weekend! I was fortunate enough to recently have one of my blog posts featured on the SewMamaSew website. This particular post was the one about my favorite Coffee Liqueur recipe.
This is a recipe that I found in a random cookbook years ago at a kitchen outlet store in Iowa. Based on responses to the previous post, I am throwing a couple more out there that are tried and true favorites from the same book. (note: I have copied these exactly as they are in the book, although I tweak them a little) Enjoy, be merry, and THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
From the book: Glorious Liqueurs, Edited by Mary Aurea Morris
(the picture isn't great, I had to round up some of the few remaining leftover droplets and snap some shots this morning! The Blackberry is on the left, in the glass, the vanilla is in the mason jar)
Blackberry Brandy
2 ½ to 3 cups ripe black raspberries, rinsed
2 cups (approximately) brandy
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 TB grated lemon zest
½ teaspoon glycerin (optional thickener – although I’ve never needed it)
Lightly crush 2 cups of the berries with a fork or potato masher; place in a quart-size glass canning jar or any other quart size glass jar that has an enamel-lined lid. Pour in enough brandy to cover the berries. Add equal portions of the remaining berries and brandy to reach the top of the jar’s lip; make sure that all of the berries are covered by the brandy. Pour in just enough brandy to begin a small overflow, then tightly cap the jar and wipe the outside clean.
Label the date on the jar. Allow to steep in a cool, dark place for 2 months. Every 2 weeks, gently shake the jar to distribute the flavors.
After 2 months, gently pour the jar’s contents through a regular strainer or sieve; discard the residue. Follow this by two strainings through slightly dampened cheesecloth. For true clarity and professional –looking results, pour the strained mixture through a large clean coffee filter placed inside a funnel or clean coffee cone; loosely covered with plastic wrap, since the process may take several hours.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Add the optional glycerin, if desired.
Funnel the strained brandy into a glass bottle, the funnel in the sugar syrup through a strainer, to remove the lemon zest. Cover tightly, shake to blend. Let mature at room temperature, or slightly cooler, for at least one month.
Vanilla Cordial
3 cups water
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or ¼ to ½ cup vanilla extract
1 quart light rum
In a large saucepan, combine the water, dark brown and granulated sugars, and the vanilla bean, if used. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.
Add the rum and the vanilla extract, if used. Pour into 2 quart sized bottles with tight-fitting covers. Let stand two weeks, shaking occasionally. Remove the vanilla bean, if used, before serving.
Blackberry Brandy
2 ½ to 3 cups ripe black raspberries, rinsed
2 cups (approximately) brandy
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 TB grated lemon zest
½ teaspoon glycerin (optional thickener – although I’ve never needed it)
Lightly crush 2 cups of the berries with a fork or potato masher; place in a quart-size glass canning jar or any other quart size glass jar that has an enamel-lined lid. Pour in enough brandy to cover the berries. Add equal portions of the remaining berries and brandy to reach the top of the jar’s lip; make sure that all of the berries are covered by the brandy. Pour in just enough brandy to begin a small overflow, then tightly cap the jar and wipe the outside clean.
Label the date on the jar. Allow to steep in a cool, dark place for 2 months. Every 2 weeks, gently shake the jar to distribute the flavors.
After 2 months, gently pour the jar’s contents through a regular strainer or sieve; discard the residue. Follow this by two strainings through slightly dampened cheesecloth. For true clarity and professional –looking results, pour the strained mixture through a large clean coffee filter placed inside a funnel or clean coffee cone; loosely covered with plastic wrap, since the process may take several hours.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Add the optional glycerin, if desired.
Funnel the strained brandy into a glass bottle, the funnel in the sugar syrup through a strainer, to remove the lemon zest. Cover tightly, shake to blend. Let mature at room temperature, or slightly cooler, for at least one month.
Vanilla Cordial
3 cups water
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or ¼ to ½ cup vanilla extract
1 quart light rum
In a large saucepan, combine the water, dark brown and granulated sugars, and the vanilla bean, if used. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.
Add the rum and the vanilla extract, if used. Pour into 2 quart sized bottles with tight-fitting covers. Let stand two weeks, shaking occasionally. Remove the vanilla bean, if used, before serving.
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