happy news times two

We are thrilled that our grandchild count

 Cedar and Ezra

will double in the spring

Lindsay (March) and Amanda (May)

Lucky, lucky us . . . 

the moment in the middle

Hold your breath.

Here it is.

Christmas Eve.

My favorite day 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

decision making

There are two types of decision-makers: “maximizers” and “satisficers.”

A maximizer looks at every possible choice to determine the strongest contender. 

A satisficer goes with “good enough.” 

This article "How to Be a Better Decision Maker"
 in  Real Simple Magazine found that 

satisficers are happier with their choices.

They also have more free time, 

since they’re not laboring over the alternatives.

Are you a “maximizer” or “satisficer"?

folded fabric ornament

Here is a fun "sew and fold" fabric Christmas ornament 

that turned out to be pretty easy.

These will make great little hostess gifts or party favors.

One challenge I had was finding a hanging string.

I ended up using Hemp Cord from the jewelry section.

The second challenge was finding affordable buttons.

I am still looking for some gold ones . . .

I used a 7" plastic plate as the template.

  

For the ones above I used red and green quilting fabric  

and now I have some Christmas fabric for the rest.

Stitch two contrasting colored circles together

 right sides facing leaving a small opening.

Turn them right side out

Top stitch and you are ready to fold

Draw up the centers and stitch together 

 Fold each corner over the edge

Here is a YouTube video with the instructions.

may 2016

My daughter recently posted this
on her facebook page.

We are excited . . . 

cream cheese chicken chili

So simple yet so delicious

Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 chicken breast  halves (frozen) 

1 cup chicken broth

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can corn, undrained

1 can RoTel, undrained

1 pkg ranch dressing mix

1 tsp caraway seeds (or cumin)

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

Directions

Drain and rinse black beans. Place chicken at the bottom of the crock pot.  Pour the broth, can of corn, RoTel and drained black beans over the chicken. Top with the ranch mix and seasonings. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Remove chicken, shred it and return it to slow cooker.  Cook for 1 more hour. Stir cream cheese into chili and serve. 

porch sit

If all goes as planned  . . .

this morning we will be enjoying our morning coffee
on this porch.

We look forward to a relaxing few months
reconnecting with our Florida friends
and searching out new volunteer opportunities. 

I will enjoy a cup of coffee right here

while reading your blogs in the mornings

and then in the late afternoons 

perhaps a cocktail 

and soon - hoping a few

friends and family will join us for a visit 

in sunny Venice, Florida . . .

the guest room is ready

family fun

You are never too old to have

a little fun carving pumpkins

autumn walk

It was a beautiful walk along the canal

 The skies were an amazing blue

thanks for coming along Debbie P.

Another view from Jim and John

wide awake coffee

These are my new go-to cups for my Keurig Coffee Maker

Wide Awake Coffee Single Serve Cups

feature a cool mesh technology

that doesn't use plastic bottoms

They come in a resealable inner bag with a valve 

similar to what bagged coffee comes in.

There are lots of great blends to choose from.

The coffee is dark and full bodied yet smooth.

I love the pods compared to the plastic cups.

The plastic K-cups are not recyclable. 

There is not as much waste with these mesh cups

I have been buying mine at our local Tops store.

They go on sale at least once a month

so you can purchase them for less than 50 cents per cup

wide awake coffee company

woodstock

Two parents, three sons, two daughter-in-laws, 

one dog all under one roof in Woodstock, NY.

Only thing missing . . .

one daughter, one son-in-law,

two grandchildren

{view more photos here}