taco soup

I have read that it is lucky to eat beans on New Year's Day so . . . .


{photo shows kidney beans but we prefer black beans}

Taco Soup
A family favorite
serves 6-8

2 lbs ground beef
1 red onion chopped
2 - 15 oz cans tomato sauce
2 - 15 oz cans of corn (undrained)
1 - 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
2- 15 oz cans black beans (drained)
1 pkg taco seasoning
black olives

Brown beef and onion in skillet. Put all other ingredients into crock pot and add beef. Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve in bowls - garnish with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and black olives.

engaged

We hoped that this young lady
would someday be part of our family.
Now it is official, he has proposed.
We are overjoyed.

merry christmas

the moment in the middle

Hold your breath.
Here it is.
Christmas Eve.
My favorite time of the Christmas Season.
The perfect moment between all the preparations and all of the celebrations.

All is done yet all is yet to come . . .

"It was a moment of perfection he would probably not find again this year, and he sat without moving, almost without breathing. There was the upside of a garden, when one was digging and planting, heaving and hauling, and then the downside, when it was all weeding and grooming and watering and sweating. One had to be fleet to catch the moment in the middle, the mountaintop, when perfection was as brief as the visit of a butterfly to an outstretched palm.

From the book Out to Cannan (the fourth book in the Mitford series)
by: Jan Karon

homecoming

On Friday
these kiddos will arrive
for Christmas
driving from Fort Collins, Rochester, Philadelphia . . .
{I pray for them ~ safe traveling!}



A true blessing that we will all
be together on Christmas.

a baby for Christmas

Today
this little family will arrive
for a two week visit
{after a 27 hour journey from Cambodia}



A Christmas blessing that brings tears to my eyes
every time I think about holding this sweet little fellow.

the perfect gift

For the last several years Mr. Corners and I
have not exchanged Christmas gifts.
We have a wonderful time shopping for our family
and now don't worry about the perfect gift for each other.



He is such a blessing to me ~ the only gift I need.

happy birthday

Happy Birthday Amanda


Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I pray for her to have a joyful life.
I hope she knows how much she is loved.

celebration

I have a friend from my childhood that is
having a big birthday this year as am I.

To celebrate we are visiting the
"happiest place on earth" with our younger spouses.



As you read this we are enjoying
a fun-filled week at Disney World.

right lid ~ right now

My only "black friday" purchase this year were these
{$6.88 @ Walmart}



In fact I bought two!



I am pretty excited to get rid of all my old containers
{containers that I can never match the tops to}



a simple pleasure indeed . . .

sewing

I have been doing two Chistmas sewing projects . . .

a little something for the boys



a little something for the girls



I guess I can't yet tell you what they will be as
those "boys and girls" read this blog.

downsizing

We live in a five bedroom Victorian house {built in 1865} where we raised four children. Those children are all grown and gone now so it is a dream of mine to downsize.



There is a two bedroom ranch in our neighborhood for sale.
They had an estate sale last week so we went, not to buy anything but to look at the house. We decided that it really is too small for us but we did buy . . .

two swivel glider rockers for our bedroom



and on the way out we bought two hearth and plow rockers for our kitchen.



Somehow this doesn't seem like downsizing!?

as luck would have it

Can you imagine what it would cost to reserve a whole restaurant just for the two of you or even better, a whole rustic lodge all to yourselves? That is what happened to us purely by accident.



I bought a Groupon for a Glamping {glamorous camping} overnight in a town about 2 hours away from home.



We made our reservation for a weekday night, after the leaves had fallen from the trees, and before the winter snows begin to fly {off season}.



As luck would have it we were the only guests at the lodge that night and the restaurant isn't open to the public during the week.



A "better than camping" room with a view {of the forest}



A glass of wine, a bit of reading, a few games of dominoes, peaceful chatting, and a steak dinner all in front of this roaring fire.



Ham and cheese omelet for breakfast made by Rich the friendly owner, proprietor, and chef. In fact Rich was the only other person we saw during our stay.



A morning walk in the woods and then headed for home refreshed, relaxed and pampered.



I would definitely return and maybe bring a friend or two.

{the rest of our photos}

scarves

google image

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!



My favorites . . .
infinity ~ magic trick ~ twist and pull

benson park sculpture garden

If you find yourself anywhere near Loveland, Colorado
a visit to the Benson Park Sculpture Garden is a must.


welcoming crows


lindsay


cooper {afraid of every sculpture}


blaine


wishbone


mary


laughing

Located at 2908 Aspen Drive in Loveland, Colorado, Benson Sculpture Garden has provided a beautiful and unique outdoor setting for showcasing sculpture since 1985. It is here that the Loveland High Plains Arts Council hosts its renowned Sculpture in the Park event each summer. Currently, there are 132 pieces of sculpture on permanent display.

more of our photos

posting queue

I have been pretty faithful posting on my blog every third day. When I think of something to blog about I put it in the queue so it automatically posts on a given date.

I now think I will now change to posting every fourth day.
I don't want to bore anyone!
How often do you post on your blog?



Some blogs I read post every day, some once a week and some on no particular schedule. Some bloggers take extended breaks and I am always glad when they return. Its like welcoming back an old friend.

I find I love reading many kinds of blog posts - crafts, make-overs, sewing projects, faith journeys, family news, traveling adventures, great photos, recipes, seasonal suggestions, book reviews, yard sale finds, crochet ideas, renovations, product reviews, quilting, decorating ideas, and more.

Sometimes I have something profound(?) to share and sometimes just a photo that would really only interest close friends or family. My readers are very kind to keep coming back and I so value the comments they leave.



When considering a new post do you wonder what would interest your faithful readers or do you just blog from your heart and life?

grounded & blessed

Our daughter and her husband have been living in Cambodia for three years.
They both have commitment to service in their hearts and we are so proud of them.

Amanda did a wonderful post on her blog about their time there . . .

. . . our time here has passed in the blink of an eye, life here has been much easier than we expected - filled with such joy, friendships & travel. but also harder too as we've had to un-learn a lot of the things, beliefs, assumptions, cultural certitudes we thought we knew, & we thought were solid docking points & that sort of education can be quite unsettling.

If you have a few minutes, I invite you to read her reflections about this journey in their lives.
we live in all we seek blog

sign of the times

While visiting this museum



we saw this funny sign in the elevator



then off to lunch here . . .

I hope you a Larkburger near you.

garden's end

There is just something appealing about the waning side of a garden that



makes me happy I live where the seasons change with such artistic elegance.



Wonder if I’ll feel this nostalgic in December??

whoo

When Cedar was teeny tiny he used to make the cutest "whoo face".
Now at nine months old he is doing it again . . .



one month old {seems forever ago}

pepper steak {made easy}

Pepper Steak

12 oz top round beef
4 tsp plus 3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine
3 tsp cornstarch
5 tsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced into thin strips
1 bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/2 tsp black pepper

Slice meat into thin strips across the grain about 1" long.



Place beef strips in a bowl and add 4 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of rice wine, 1 tsp cornstarch and black pepper.

In a separate small bowl, mix 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat a saute pan (or wok) on high heat. Swirl in 1 tbsp oil and add the beef spreading evenly. Cook undisturbed for 20 seconds letting the beef brown. Using a spatula, stir meat, cooking another 2 minutes. Transfer beef strips to a plate.



Add remaining 2 tsp of oil to the pan, add peppers and onions and cook about 2 minutes. Return beef to the pan, add the rest of the sauce and stir fry about 30 seconds until slightly thickened.



Serve over rice with a hearty dry red wine.



adapted from:
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Calories: 235.3 • Fat: 8.9 g • Protein: 35.4 g • Carb: 11.8 g • Fiber: 1.2 g