Friend Makin' Monday

I am linking up with Amber @aefilkins for her Friend Making Monday today.  Her challenge is to share an embarrassing moment.  Since I just had one last night this topic rang close to home for me.  So here goes.  I was at my granddaughter's family birthday party and afterwards went to leave so I found my black coat on the stairs by the front door. When I put it on I realized, even though it looked like mine, it was too big.  So, I took it off and went looking for mine.  Assuming the coat was my son-in-law's, I said to him, "I just put on my coat and decided that I had lost a lot of weight!".  He looked at me for a moment then said, "Oh, you got the wrong coat?"  Just then his mother said, "Oh, did you  put on mine?  It was on the stairs".  What could I say?  I was so embarrassed.  I said nothing and walked out the door. (with my foot in my mouth!)

Have a great day and think before you speak!!

If you want to know that other people are just like you and make mistakes and are embarrassed too, click here to read more.

Christmas Comes in a Book

I am sure you have been doing the same things that I have the last week--helping all the pumpkin decorations and their friends pass the Christmas tree lights in the hallway as they are making their way back to their storage place for the next year.  My house looked like it had been raided with everything out all at once and the glitter from ornaments, fake snow and Fruit Loops from the grandchildren having a grand time on the floor.  The bed linens are still being laundered but Christmas is taking over the decorations now and I love it. I have finally gotten out my old faithful--my Christmas book.  It is where I keep all my ideas, notes, card list, menus, cookie recipes, that help make the worldly Christmas what it is to me.  Of course, the real meaning of Christmas cannot be put in a book because it is in my heart but this is one of my favorite Christmas items.

I made it about 20 years ago and have used it every year since.  It has paper sack pages which are nice because each page is a pocket to keep items.  I began with very nicely printed labels on each sack but have since just printed with a pen other categories as they have been needed.  Some of the categories are:

Holiday Tips-Organizing Christmas

Menus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

Christmas Prayers

True Stories

Gift Ideas for Those Who Have Everything

Christmas Eve Program

Favorite Cookies and Candy recipes

Decorating Ideas

12 Days of Christmas

Games and Quizzes

Summary of Happenings Year by year

Craft Ideas

Tips for Photography Christmas

As I find ideas in magazines, or see something I like I put the ideas in this book. If I was a perfectionist, everything would be in a pocket, but over the years I have just stuck things in and not "filed" them so it is a bit messy.  The best part is I remember what I have put in it!  So it works for me. If you haven't yet started a place where you can put your favorite ideas to use at Christmas, I would suggest that this year would be a good one to start a book.  It could be a big binder that you buy with see-through sleeves that you can add as you need  or a commercial book that is made for this purpose.  Mine has been a wonderful book that I cherish and use each and every year.  May we each enjoy this special time as we prepare our homes and hearts for Christmas.

Quick Thanksgiving Banner

I know many of you are already decorating for Christmas, but if you are looking for a last minute simple, easy way to add to your Thanksgiving decorations here is a cute "Give Thanks" banner to make. Here's how to make it:
Punch out 16 circles from fall colored printed scrapbook paper (these are 1 1/2" in diameter) and 16 circles from coordinating plain paper (these are 2" in diameter and are a tan color). Cut out letters from tan  plain paper.  Glue the patterned circles to the plain circles.  Then glue the letters on top of the two attached circles.  Glue the circled words (mine says "GIVE THANKS") to a ribbon the length you want, leaving two circles at the beginning, two at the end and two between the words.  Then this banner is placed on top of the burlap one which reads ENJOY and held in place with tiny clothespins.  The banner could very easily be used by itself too.  It is a fast project and one children could do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... November 23. 2000

Outside my window...Freshly fallen snow from last night.  The forecast had been for rain so I was surprised when I saw snow when I went to bed.  It is beautiful, of course.
 
I am thinking... what a miracle my friend is, having survived breast cancer radiation, two bouts with pneumonia and a brain infection that put her in the hospital for 4 months--all in this last year.  I visited her yesterday and was glad to see her almost back to her normal wonderful self.  It took a lot of faith and patience to get where she is today and a major miracle!  No one can tell me that God doesn't hear our prayers.

I am thankful for...the blessing of living on this beautiful earth and all the people who influence my life for good.
I am wearing...black corduroy pants, charcoal T and gray wool vest with my friend's pewter creche necklace.  I want to make one like it so she lent me her's to help me do that.

I am going... to have lab work done this morning for a physical that is scheduled soon and then it's off to the dentist.  I hope I have a good bill of health for both of them.

I am reading... The Pioneer Woman Cooks  and Blissful Blogging that I received from my daughter last week. Lots of great photography and good hearty food in the cookbook and her fun humor comes through too.
I am hoping...  to pick up And there was Light by Jacque Lissarian from the library today and get it read in this next week before our book club meets the week after Thanksgiving.  Wish me luck!

On my mind... thinking of my grandchildren who will come this week and fill the house with laughter and love. 
From the art studio....  Lots of Christmas sewing by my granddaughters and me-sh-shush Christmas presents so I can't say exactly what they are.  Also some crafts going on there also.  I am making the glass jars filled with Hot Tamales for lunch favors later in December.  Also making ribbons from leftover fabrics.


Noticing that...I will need to get a few more things in the house ready for my Thanksgiving company.

Pondering these words..."It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

From the kitchen... darling little maple acorn muffins from my new muffin tin I got in the mail last week.

Around the house...I was pleasantly surprised by 5 little notes on my pillow from my grandchildren.  It was such a heart-warming time when I read them.

Picture image to share

To read more day books click here.

Foodie Friday-Chicken or Turkey Crepes

Today's recipe is Chicken Crepes and is a good one for that leftover Turkey that we will be having next week. I just substituted turkey for the chicken called it for. The recipe is from a local restruant , The Lion House,  that is known for it's wonderful food.  Crepes are easy to make, they just take patience and time.  You can make them ahead and refrigerate them well covered.  Just let them return to room temperature before using for best results.

Crepes

3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3 T. melted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
Combine all ingredients in blender container; blend about 1 minute.  Scrape down sides with rubber spatula and blend about 30 seconds more.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.  To cook:  Heat frying pan on medium-high heat just hot enough to sizzle a drop of water.  Brush lightly with melted butter.
 For each crepe:

To begin start with a small nonstick frying pan if you don't have a special crepe pan (which I don't).

Pour in just enough batter to cover bottom of pan, tipping and tilting pan to mover batter quickly over bottom.  If crepe has holes, add a drop or two of batter to patch.

Cook until light brown on bottom and dry on top.  Remove from pan using a fork to lift edge and then pick it up with fingers, but be careful it will be hot.

I like to use these pre-cut wax paper squares for ease, or you can cut your own.  Stack on plate as each one is cooked.  Makes 12-16 crepes.

Filling:

2 cups turkey, cooked and cut into pieces

1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 (15 oz.) can pineapple tidbits (reserve juice)

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/3 c. pineapple juice

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Mix chicken, cheese, pineapple and almonds with chicken soup and pineapple juice.  Add thyme and lemon pepper; mix ingredients together thoroughly.  Place 1/4 cup mixture in center of each crepe and roll.

Place crepes with seam-side down in oiled baking pan.  Cover with aluminum foil and heat in oven for 30 minutes.  When ready to serve arrange 2 crepes for each serving.  Spoon glaze over crepes

Glaze:

4 T. butter

4 T. flour

3 c. chicken stock

1/4 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1/2 tsp. rubbed sage

Melt butter in heavy saucepan.  Add flour and stir into paste.  Add chicken stock and seasonings; cook until thickened.  Enjoy! (Because I made these ahead and froze them, I don't have the after photo to show-sorry)

To check out other great recipes visit Michael at Designs by Gollum who is our host for Foodie Friday.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thursday Tablescape-Breakfast on the Banquette

Thursday Tablescapes
I want to thank our host, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this event every week.  Be sure to visit her to see many beautiful posts of tables set to perfection.

For today's tablescape I decided to set my intimate breakfast table at my banquette.  This would be a morning breakfast or brunch.  I wanted it to be a happy start to the day so I began with a fun red runner that is edged in bright yellow, turquoise and chartreuse pom poms.

Next I added texture with my natural woven place mats and the hammered-look dark green chargers.
Then comes chartreuse plates and then these new green and white patterned plates that I found half price at World Market.

I like the look of the napkins going across the chargers that so many of you do, so these are green striped ones that pick up all the green colors of the plates.

I used different colored bowls at each place that are the colors of the ball fringe-yellow, chartreuse and orange.  Little clear glass juice glasses help visually by not taking up space.

Now I need your help with the next item.  I found just 3 of these darling little glass divided plates at the thrift store.  They are only 6" in diameter.  They are like the old fashioned ones that were used for cake and punch.  I actually used those kind at my wedding reception (so many years ago).  These are so small I don't know what their intended purpose was.  I did use one, the large part for gingersnaps and put the pumpkin dip in the littlest section for my granddaughter last week for a snack. If anyone knows more about these I'd like to know.  They fit perfectly on these green and white over sized salad plates, but did not show up in the picture there so I have them to the side.  I think they are just adorable.

This little table is really too small for much of a centerpiece so I just used a glass candleholder with a white candle and added a striped ribbon in the coordinating colors of the table.
Now, the table is set and I can envision a little fruit in the bowls-maybe half a grapefruit, then bacon and eggs on the new plates and perhaps waffles on the larger plates.  I had better stop here or there won't be room on the table for all the dishes!  I hope you've enjoyed your little breakfast with me today and that you'll come back tomorrow for some Chicken with Pineapple Crepes.
To see more tablescapes click here.

Giveaway

For all of you Twilight fans I am linking up to Tatertots and Jello today because she has a great New Moon giveaway!  Visit her today and read about her weekend in L.A. where she just happened upon a big promotion for New Moon and saw Janet Jackson up close and personal.  You may be the lucky winner!  Good luck.