Oops --- Water Issues

CRAZY, CRAZY rain today.  It just keeps pouring and we have rivers flowing down the street.  As I glance outside, the water in the street seems extra special strange to me and I call to my sweetheart to come and peek. 

It is moving down the street in milky waves.  I've never seen anything like it.

1st Annual Ornament and Cookie Exchange

I'm just going to say this right out -- the holidays are tough for me.  Most of my family is a long ways away and it makes it impossible for large Christmas gatherings AND even if we could, they need to be in their own homes enjoying this time of year.  The facts don't change though -- it's hard.  It's the only time of year that I really wish I could go back in time and have littles all over again.  Oh the magic of it all and the fun I had with traditions.  It's that word, tradition, that made me think this year.  Perhaps, new traditions need to be put in place.  New gatherings.  New joy in the season.

Cherry Eggnog Tea Bread

Here is today's second tea bread recipe and I have to tell you that I have NEVER smelled a batter as divine as this one.  Please don't let the initial pictures scare you off, I really didn't kill anything, honest.

Cherry Eggnog Tea Bread (also Pampered Chef)

Preheat oven to 325°F.  Spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Chop maraschino cherries to measure 3/4 cup.  Place on paper towel to drain.

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread

It's Baking Season!!!  Why don't I do this more often?  The smell in the house is divine and I do so love working with dough.  Today I am making a couple of tea breads and will share them in separate posts.  They are both old Pampered Chef recipes and available for free on their website, so  no worries here.

First up is Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray a loaf pan with vegetable oil.  In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Christmas Spirit in Every Room

Every so often I have chats with myself.  Well, if I'm totally honest, I talk to myself all the time, BUT that's not what I mean here.  Some reevaluation needs to take place now and then, thus resulting in a self-chat.  This year, I made the decision to bring the Spirit of Christmas back into my home.  I have struggled a great deal with this since moving to Texas, but I am determined to bring back the love for this season and ALL it brings.  One of the ways to do that is for me to not over-plan.  Not over-do.  Not over-spend.  All of those lead to stress and hurry and worry.  None of those conditions lead to the calm and peace I am looking for.  I want to bring my "home" back into play and wish for it to stay that way all year.  No, I do not have to wait until January for changes to take place --- NOW is the perfect time to start.

Mister is a gem and soon has all of the totes down from the attic.  No, that is not a dead body wrapped up as a friend suggested, it's simply part of the tree.

With the tubs all down, we both work together and soon the outside is sparkling from lots of little lights.  Yes, this is a good start.  I usually leave this to my sweetheart while I work inside, but together is much better.  It's all part of my refocus on "home" and time with my sweetheart.

My First Trip to the Girlfriend's Christmas Party - Their 32nd

I have been invited to attend "32nd Annual Girlfriend's Christmas Party."  It's being held at Pinot's Palette and a gift exchange will occur.  This sounds like so much fun and a chance to meet people I don't already know.  I've looked at the roster and "think" I may know one person other than whom I was invited by.  Oh that's terrible grammar but I just can't fix it as my brain won't wrap around it right now.

The party is at 2 so Mister and I decide to do some shopping for the morning and work our way that direction in time for the party.  I have bought an Ott-Lite for the exchange and it's wrapped and ready to go.

Upon arrival, my childhood comes racing back in.  The tree is a silver one and all it is missing is the color wheel that I remember oh so well.  Talk about a trip back in time.

Red Hat Holidays

December has arrived and with it comes another opportunity for me to attend a Red Hat gathering.  Today is a dress up Christmas luncheon, except I didn't really absorb the whole "dress up" part until rereading the email yesterday afternoon.  Hmmmm.  I am still just barely building a purple wardrobe and most of what I have now are tops and leggings.  Believe me, nothing qualifies as dressy.  Now what?

Oh wait a minute.  I picked up a lovely saree at October's retreat in the hopes of making a pair of pants and a vest or jacket.  Where did I put that?  AND, I know I bought a pattern too.  A little bit of hunting and I found both items.  I got it all laid out on the bed and was ready to pull an all-nighter making this outfit when I remembered that I need a new serger needle for my machine.  Ugh.  I was just too tired to deal with it at that point and gave up, thinking, "I'll get up early and give it a go."  Off to bed.