Christmas Countdown - 2015

[MerryCarey]

Good Morning, friends~

Happy Monday!

Some good news- my FIL was released from the hospital yesterday evening. We're praying that he has a smooth transition. Thank you again for your prayers.

And I got my car back!
Adrian was able to get a tip from an Acura dealer on where we could actually get the part locally. After many hoops, he got one, dropped it off to our guys, and we had an appointment scheduled for today. But, they had a cancellation yesterday and were able to fit my car in, we got a call last night that it was finished and that there was a cashier there until 10 o'clock if we wanted to pick it up. Thank God!
Things are looking up. (Knocking on wood!)

Wishing you a blessed start to your week!

View attachment 11946

Very happy that things are beginning to look up for you. I hope the week continues the same!

 

[MerryCarey]

I am off today so tomorrow will see the start to my work week. Checking on the hours of operation for the honeybee farm if I can get there before the rain, I'll be happy. That old country road that's supposed to be a HWY is a bumpy ride at best and slippery when wet with all the winding turns. The sun is shining right now.

Have a safe drive, and enjoy your day off.

 

[snowflake22]

Very happy that things are beginning to look up for you. I hope the week continues the same!

Thank you, Merry!
Hope you have a blessed, and much shorter week!

 

[MerryCarey]

My brother is a BEE nut much like we are with Christmas he even changed his surname to BEE after High School.

Goodness me, what a wild night of goofy dreams and one nightmare to which my husband had to wake me and I thought he was the person attacking me so I let him have it and that woke me up. I was feeling nauseated from hot-flashes so I took a gravol and I'm guessing it prompted some wild brain activity. You know those wild dreams when you're screaming for help, calling out someone's name and they can't hear you because you lost your voice? It was one of those and I couldn't fight the three bad guys because my arm wasn't working, seems I was sleeping on top of it and must have been cutting off some circulation. Whew! Took me over 40 minutes to go back to sleep.

The dream before I woke up was much better, RadioJonD and his wife and I were fishing in a stream. I can't do the fishing thing, I talk too much. It was great seeing them even if the carp I snagged had no taste to it. I got really thirsty and I couldn't taste the RC or the water and when I woke up my throat was stuck together.
Don't think I'll be taking any gravol tonight. My dreams are weird enough without help.

Good heavens, what a night! I hope your sleep is more peaceful tonight.

The mention of RJD and the RC made me smile. Mr. loves it, but it isn't sold around here. Once in a great while we arrange with RJD to send him a 12-pack, and reimburse him for his trouble.

 

[Bradmac]

Good Monday morning, my Christmas friends!

What a busy weekend! I worked all day Saturday on my part-time business, then we went to mom's for lunch after church yesterday. The preacher and his family came out, too. While we were eating, the preacher and I were talking about how much better Christian movies are these days. I told him that one in particular, Facing The Giants, made by a local church, really made a difference in my life. After lunch, we went to the den to stretch out in front of the TV...and Facing The Giants came on! It seemed like a sign to me!

Everyone is back to their routines today. I have to go take a physical this afternoon. I'd rather be shot LOL.

I hope y'all have a great day!

 

[MerryCarey]

WOW! We must be twins, ha ha! I tend to have some really wild dreams and wonder why I dream what I dream. The fishing dream sounds nice, always good to hang out with those from MMC! I cannot even take the all natural melatonin you buy from the vitamin store. I have really weird dreams when I take it and I never take a full dose. I would only take a 1/4 of whatever is recommended and still affects me that way. I just quick taking it altogether and just deal with falling asleep naturally which is hard sometimes! Hope you get a better sleep tonight!

Melatonin affects Mr. the same way---vivid, weird dreams. I tried it a long time ago when it was the next big thing, but it didn't seem to do anything for me. We just take sleep as it comes, too.

 

[MerryCarey]

That's so annoying! It's like the smoke detector says, "Hey, wait until they are asleep to let them know the battery is almost dead"! Seems to happen that way to us too. The smoke detectors are plotting against us!

We bought one with a 10-year battery. We'll see what happens in about 8 years!

 

[MerryCarey]

Thank you, Merry!
Hope you have a blessed, and much shorter week!

Thank you!
Actually, I have today off, then back to work tomorrow. Mr. Is booked to help me out at the office for the next two weeks---we're expecting long hours and work into the evenings. So this week is a four-day week for me, but it will probably be more than a full week hours-wise!

 

[snowflake22]

Good Monday morning, my Christmas friends!

What a busy weekend! I worked all day Saturday on my part-time business, then we went to mom's for lunch after church yesterday. The preacher and his family came out, too. While we were eating, the preacher and I were talking about how much better Christian movies are these days. I told him that one in particular, Facing The Giants, made by a local church, really made a difference in my life. After lunch, we went to the den to stretch out in front of the TV...and Facing The Giants came on! It seemed like a sign to me!

Everyone is back to their routines today. I have to go take a physical this afternoon. I'd rather be shot LOL.

I hope y'all have a great day!

Happy Monday, Brad!
I do believe that is a sign! Wow!
Good luck with your physical today, I'll be praying that it goes well.
Have a great day!

 

[Holiday]

Hello everyone. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Good morning Ryan. "Happy" Monday!

 

[Holiday]

Yes..i think She Rocks,Now i need a Raise & Bonus would be nice !! LOL

You better have a talk with your boss. HA!

 

[Holiday]

This upcoming Christmas will be the last for my wife and me as a couple...as she is expecting with our first child. WE ARE BECOMING A FEW!!! (get it... bad joke). Her "due date" is February 4th. Hopefully the baby won't come on the day of the Super Bowl!!!

CONGRATS!!!

 

[snowflake22]

Thank you!
Actually, I have today off, then back to work tomorrow. Mr. Is booked to help me out at the office for the next two weeks---we're expecting long hours and work into the evenings. So this week is a four-day week for me, but it will probably be more than a full week hours-wise!

I'm glad that Mr. will be helping you!
Hope the hours aren't too long. Prayers!
Enjoy your day off!!

 

[Holiday]

Thank you, Holiday! It is nice to be seen. Things are going well ~ hope the same/better for you! How is Gracie? She remains in my prayers! Have a MERRY weekend!

Oh, Holiday, she is precious! Congratulations!! Beautiful afghans!

Thanks Meceka! Prayers are always appreciated! I'm glad things are going well for you! Gracie seems to be doing fine!! I guess we take it day by day & pray she continues to do well! She's such a (ornery) sweetie!
My niece is looking for someone to snuggle with baby Kate Thursday morning so she can go with her oldest to his school open house. I wish I didn't have to work that day, I would love that job. LOL!
Here is a picture of Kate with her siblings...you can tell by the look on Addy's face what she thinks of her new baby sister.

 

[Holiday]

We went to the Arboretum the other day and they were stringing Christmas lights around the trees preparing for their Christmas festivities that start in November! I was so excited!!!

EXCITING!!! I got an invitation in the mail on Friday to a Christmas lunch with all the "working women" in our town on December 9th. I was shocked to get it so early. LOL! Then I went to Ben Franklin to pick up yarn & the lady there was "fluffing" a Christmas tree behind the counter b/c she had already sold the display tree! We aren't the only Christmas crazy peeps!

 

[Festive Spirit]

Merry Monday all,

Hope everyone had a nice weekend and ready for the week ahead.

It's mum's last week

We just finished watching Nine Live of Christmas. I recorded it last year but never got around to watching it. Thought it would be nice to watch a Christmas film with mum as it's not something we get to do.

Have a great day everyone.

xxx

 

[snowflake22]

Thanks Meceka! Prayers are always appreciated! I'm glad things are going well for you! Gracie seems to be doing fine!! I guess we take it day by day & pray she continues to do well! She's such a (ornery) sweetie!
My niece is looking for someone to snuggle with baby Kate Thursday morning so she can go with her oldest to his school open house. I wish I didn't have to work that day, I would love that job. LOL!
Here is a picture of Kate with her siblings...you can tell by the look on Addy's face what she thinks of her new baby sister.

What a sweet photo!
Priceless!

 

[snowflake22]

EXCITING!!! I got an invitation in the mail on Friday to a Christmas lunch with all the "working women" in our town on December 9th. I was shocked to get it so early. LOL! Then I went to Ben Franklin to pick up yarn & the lady there was "fluffing" a Christmas tree behind the counter b/c she had already sold the display tree! We aren't the only Christmas crazy peeps!

***AWESOME!!***

 

[Holiday]

I have a few stuffed mushroom recipes that I make, I just love them.
These are two of my favorites ~

Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 18-24 button or cremini mushrooms, scrubbed clean, stems separated from the caps
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 small shallots, minced, about 2 Tbsp
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme
• 2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp sherry or chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Method
1 Preheat oven to 375°F.

2 Finely chop the mushroom stems. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped mushroom stems and the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and walnuts and sprinkle with salt. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, herbes de Provence and breadcrumbs. Pour the sherry into a food processor, then the rest of the stuffing. Pulse several times to get a fine mixture, almost a paste.

3 Toss the mushroom caps with olive oil. Fill each mushroom with the stuffing. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over each mushroom and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese browns a little. Allow to cool for 5 minutes or so before serving.


Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• 3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions
Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.
Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.
Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.
Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.
Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.
Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.
Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

YUM!!!! They both sound good. I LOVE stuffed mushrooms! Thanks for sharing! Here are the 2 recipes I make. I normally make the 2nd one - I like it a little better!


Stuffed Mushrooms
12-16 oz. fresh mushrooms (large)
3 Tbsp. butter
¾ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Tblsp. Water (or red wine)
¾ C. soft bread crumbs (3 slices w/ crust removed – break up w/ a fork)
3 green onion, minced
¾ C. sharp shredded cheddar cheese lightly packed


Wash mushrooms under cold water. Pull stems & chop stems. Melt butter in skillet

Over medium-low heat. Add stems & onions. Sauté until tender. Stir in Worch. Sauce, bread crumbs, cheese, salt, & pepper. Fill mushroom caps, mounding over the top. Put 2 Tbsp. water (or wine) in a 9 X 13 pan & add stuffed mushrooms. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes.

This is my favorite:

Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms
20 to 25 lg. white mushrooms, with stems
2 T. butter
8 oz. pkg. cheddar cheese, shredded
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
garlic salt to taste
onion salt to taste
paprika to taste
Carefully remove mushroom stems. Dice stems, sauté them in butter until tender. Set aside to cool. Mix together Cheddar cheese & cream cheese unti whipped. Season with garlic salt, onion salt & fold in the stems. Stuff mushrooms & place on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle tops w;ith additional shredded cheese & paprika. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutse or unti cheese is melted. Serve warm. Makes 20 to 25.
*I also add crumbled bacon bits, diced onion, garlic or garlic powder/salt & a seasoning salt.

 

[snowflake22]

Merry Monday all,

Hope everyone had a nice weekend and ready for the week ahead.

It's mum's last week

We just finished watching Nine Live of Christmas. I recorded it last year but never got around to watching it. Thought it would be nice to watch a Christmas film with mum as it's not something we get to do.

Have a great day everyone.

xxx

Merry Monday, Sam~
Hope you had a nice weekend.
Cherish this last week with your Mum <3
I'll be thinking of you!!
Have a blessed week!