Baking night

Baking Night 2022

I start a few days ahead and get the dining room table covered with oilcloth.  I bring out all our cooking supplies and recipes from years past.  There are about 10 aprons I iron and display on the chairs ..for easy access to anyone  who  might need one.   The best menu is finger food.. mini croissants, cheeses, meats and fruit.  No need for dessert, but there is coffee and something cooler too. 

We have pictures from long  ago when friends would join us to bake sweet treats for Christmas

This favorite recipe is called stained glass windows

You melt chocolate and then "mix" colored marshmallows and nuts

together, roll into logs, refrigerate

When you slice them, they look like stained glass windows

they are very sweet

kids love them

Adults not so much

This is one of the favorite parts of the recipe 

This year we had some new and delightful additions.  The heart shaped are gluten free and who would guess...they were delicious.  Everyone takes home a basket of cookies... I get to keep some too

The group this year... photographer brought her little helper ...

(   notice the fun oilcloth ...tipsy angel, ..smiles.. )

Little helper brought us treats, but stayed close to her Mama in our kitchen

My little man, the only male this year, pulled out a huge musical toy to entertain Little helper.  She pushed a few buttons and smiled.     Maybe next year she will get into the action.


It was a great year

Every year seems a little different

Blessed with friends and family that work and play well together

I live an exciting life 

Thanksgiving

Something else that happens every year... 

                  ...how much we have to be thankful for.

My son in law enjoys making almost the entire meal 

Some things are pretty cute, even is they are store bought 

And yes there was pumpkin pie and pecan pie and.....

Happy 11th Birthday Tanner 

We watched a funny movie.   We had a very relaxing evening.  Always good to be together with family. And yes, he got to stay in this pj's all day.  

. but tonight I read the following and took the time to think about ...how much we have to be thankful for.

 

An old Thanksgiving piece from Parade Magazine, 2013. Why We Give Thanks

We didn’t say grace at our house when I was growing up because my parents were atheists. I knew even as a little girl that everyone at every table needed blessings and encouragement, but my family didn’t ask for it. Instead, my parents raised glasses of wine to the chef: Cheers. Dig in. But I had a terrible secret, which was that I believed in God, a divine presence who heard me when I prayed, who stayed close to me in the dark. So at six years old I began to infiltrate religious families like a spy—Mata Hari in plaid sneakers.

One of my best friends was a Catholic girl. Her boisterous family bowed its collective head and said, “Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts. …” I was so hungry for these words; it was like a cool breeze, a polite thank-you note to God, the silky magnetic energy of gratitude. I still love that line.

I believed that if your family said grace, it meant you were a happy family, all evidence to the contrary. But I saw at certain tables that an improvised grace could cause friction or discomfort. My friend Mark reports that at his big southern childhood Thanksgivings, someone always managed to say something that made poor Granny feel half dead. “It would be along the lines of ‘And Lord, we are just glad you have seen fit to keep Mama with us for one more year.’ We would all strain to see Granny giving him the fisheye.”

I noticed some families shortened the pro forma blessing so they could get right to the meal. If there were more males than females, it was a boy- chant, said as one word: “GodisgreatGodisgoodletusthankHimforourfoodAmen.” I also noticed that grace usually wasn’t said if the kids were eating in front of the TV, as if God refused to listen over the sound of it.

And we’ve all been held hostage by grace sayers who use the opportunity to work the room, like the Church Lady. But more often, people simply say thank you—we understand how far short we must fall, how selfish we can be, how self-righteous, what brats. And yet God has given us this marvelous meal.

It turns out that my two brothers and I all grew up to be middle-aged believers. I’ve been a member of the same Presbyterian church for 36 years. My older brother became a born-again Christian—but don’t ask him to give the blessing, as it can last forever. I adore him, but your food will grow cold. My younger brother is an unconfirmed but freelance Catholic.

So now someone at our holiday tables always ends up saying grace. I think we’re in it for the pause, the quiet thanks for love and for our blessings, before the shoveling begins. For a minute, our stations are tuned to a broader, richer radius. We’re acknowledging that this food didn’t just magically appear: Someone grew it, ground it, bought it, baked it; wow.

We say thank you for the miracle that we have stuck together all these years, in spite of it all; that we have each other’s backs, and hilarious companionship. We say thank you for the plentiful and outrageous food: Kathy’s lox, Robby’s heartbreaking gravy. We pray to be mindful of the needs of others. We savor these moments out of time, when we are conscious of love’s presence, of Someone’s great abiding generosity to our dear and motley family, these holy moments of gratitude. And that is grace

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Something to think about

Lots more to think about

Lots more to talk to the Lord about

Feeling very blessed

I live an exciting life

.

getting acquainted

 

FOL

Friends of the Library... that is where I volunteer one Tuesday a month.  

We are only open for 3 hours and since neighbors are feeling better about getting out into public places we tend to be busier.

Today was no exception.

Except, It was exceptionally crowded.   

Many extra carts filled the shop and then extended out in to the hall

So many folks came with donations

So many customers

Some very large purchases.   The most expensive book is $3.   They are current publications and they sell almost as soon as we put them on the shelves.   Hard backs $2. Most others are $1.    So, when Beth, who comes about once a month, stacked up her finds, she spent over $200.   Yep, that is a lot of books   And then a few other large sales and many small sales and yes, I did my part.   It was the biggest day ever.
$440.00       ( a good day is $100.) 

But the most interesting part of the day was getting to know my partner.  We always work as a team and I don't remember working with Lady M before.   She worked hard and smiled and was only a little distracted  ( so to speak )          However, what I think I will always remember about her is her family.  One son.  No grandchildren because "he has rats.   They are so cute and smart and they follow him around the house.  You know they are used for testing because they are very intelligent. "

Well, I learned something

and

I live an exciting life

That's my boy

 

or... 

We were already in Spokane when our son texted that he was going to come over too.  Great !

On his way,  with "a 30 minute delay" ... slow  traffic?  late start? I wondered 

Here is what happened: 

There is always traffic on Friday night and he had already driven by three stalled cars.
Here was one more, and just beyond the car,  what looked like a pile of clothing,

but wait, it is moving,  up and then down and

Damon slowed down and realized this could be someone in distress

And it was.  An elderly man was heading out for gas when he lost his balance and could not seem to get his legs to work.  Damon gave him a hand to get back on his feet and then he took the gentleman to a nearby exit and a gas station.

On their return, they found his wife and daughter in the car, waiting, now with a dead battery. The ignition was still turned on and that drained the battery.

At this point the gentleman said he would call his service company ( something like AAA)

And Damon went on his way....wondering now,  how long were his wife and family going to wait before maybe calling for help?   

Well, help was on it's way

and this Mama is feeling proud.   A good proud. Moms can be proud of good stuff that happens

I live an exciting life

  

October 31

 

It happens every year

and it is the only time I can hand out gospel messages and no one says no

So this year I packed up 140 bags.  I found a fun paper with games to play and then the message.

Along with 3 or 4 pieces of candy in a cute bag and tied with a bow

I often wear an old bridesmaid gown...yellow...like Princess Belle, but this year I wore a glow in the dark black spider shirt.  

We were watching as large groups of kids arrived ( some young, some not so young)  So hubby thought we better make up more bags.  With his help, the total became 181.   

When the this fun family came, we hit 180.

They wanted to pose for the photo because they recognized hubby,  he is a traffic patrol man in the mornings for school traffic.   They were very polite 

 

With that...our candy was gone... we turned off the lights. It was about 7:45  Still a few knocks on the door.  
Yes it was a very big night, next year I am shooting for 200 ! 

( need to check with the family two doors down, they served hot chocolate, they might have had more customers than we did...we have a long driveway ) 

a few comments:

(checking the photos from previous years posted on the screen door) 

Oh, I see my friend..oh that's me

I love seeing these pictures

What a great idea

This is the weird house 

(the door opens )

Is this the house with Christian papers?

    Yes, is that ok?   ....no response
Trick or Treat...again and again
and most of the time   Thank You !!

this will probably always be my favorite...

Yes, they won a prize that year... maybe 10 years ago.    Who would not love those boys !?!

I live an exciting life 

Breakfast

 

Probably my favorite meal of the day...

                                       Breakfast 

I know Marti, you made whatever your kids desired for breakfast every morning... not this Mom, but a very nice idea 

Back to my kitchen.

It is a little complicated, in fact, the "problem" is still not corrected

Ok, here is what happened:

Last week we got a post card telling us that the power would be shut off for four hours during the day on Friday.  They told us the precautions...unplug computer, tv and microwave. We did just that. 

We were out of town, but got the email saying
  " due to complexities, we will not be shutting the power off today"

When we got back on Sunday, our houseguest told us that the power was indeed shut off. All the clocks were blinking.  A big noise on Friday right in our yard, the property line on the south. We also noticed lots of bushes had been taken away.

He helped google for fix its... called Puget Power...they said call an electrician...Gordon came on Monday afternoon...assessed the problem and our fee... paid Gordon

Using our amazing microwave egg cooker ( with a quick call to Sharon for the recipe) and Presto.....    eggs for breakfast 

Gordon  returned on Thursday... new assessment called Puget Power...Jay came within an hour...another assessment.... power should be restored by 8:00 in the morning.

Just in case, I am ready with homemade pumpkin pie

Such a sweet gift... Hubby directs school traffic and often the families pass by and chat with him.  This family passed by on Thursday and asked Darrell if he liked pumpkin pie.

Mama said... I will bake you a pumpkin pie.....and she did.

I live an exciting life

annual

 that means, every year

And yep, it happened again this August 

Of course it started months before. We price things as soon as we decide we can part with them. So, when the time comes, the goods are ready.

So, the week of the sale begins. Sheets go up to hide the tools (and clutter) that are not for sale

This year Linda came and helped to get things going.  Not easy when you are not 6 feet tall

Then hubby gets tables from the neighbor and sets them up.

This year we have.....

just a few cookbooks I can part with

Golf balls in abundance

 A little of this a little of that

Electronic and old stuff


Garage sale day is just fun 
We seldom get together for two & 1/2 days
And we just like it
OH, and there is always the intrigue of customers

A few favorites this year:

Benjamin, lives across the street, and he  always comes over several times.  This year, he had all four wisdom teeth extracted.   He was able to swing by and find a nice cozy Stuffy ( I think it was a teddy bear)

Ofra, is another regular. But she lives in Renton.  She has lots to talk about and maybe that is why this year, she came for breakfast. Seems she had not eaten before coming and did not say no to the offer. She told my sister she had never tasted such good French toast. My sister does make very yummy" cinnamon raisin toast "   Her budget was a little smaller this year, but her interests are the same,  her family ( most in Israel) and giving tea parties at the retirement home where she works

Lady with no name, but with an agenda;  She smiled as she came down the driveway and as she began to check over the tables she said she was not familiar with  bargaining.  That however, seemed odd since she asked for a lower price on each item she wanted to purchase.  And, after we bagged up her items, she went back to a little glasses case and with a big smile, asked if she could have it free.
And that has never happened before.

Two nice young men:  they took their time, they liked Damon's shirts, they were polite and even paid a little extra.  And that has never happened before. I think they were my favorites 

I live an exciting life