Yes or No

So, I forgot to ask this in my post last night. Does anyone else do black eyed peas for New Years Day? I grew up with that tradition, going to my Grandma's having black eyed peas, cornbread and fried potatoes. Ummmm Ummmm GOOD! I love them and fix them often. My guys are not too crazy about them, I could eat them every day. My husband never heard of such thing, I couldn't believe EVERYONE didn't do my tradition!!! Nothing better than a nice bowl of peas and watching the Rose Bowl parade..another thing my boys really dislike! Oh well.
Just curious what other traditions are, or if my State Line upbringing was the only one that involved Black Eyed Peas!!!

Wonderful Christmas

Whew! It's been a busy one since I last posted. But it has been all Good! Had a wonderful Christmas everywhere we went and good times with family. Those kinds of things just can't be replaced! My family was blessed with many nice gifts and love from family as we celebrated the birth of Jesus. I am so thankful for all the many clothes we all received...but oh my gosh! The LAUNDRY was BIG! The boys got some money for Christmas and wanted to go and spend it the day after Christmas...I agreed to take them WITH the stipulation that their rooms be totally cleaned out, sweeper ran, etc. We weeded out toys, clothes etc that are no longer being used and took a nice load to the Goodwill store on our way...what a wonderful feeling I had after that! The boys just don't understand it!

I got a new sweeper from my folks...YEA! LOVE IT! My sister and her husband got one too! We just had a great week, I didn't have to work Wed-Fri and it was great. We just didn't have to hurry around and that was so nice. Did chores, doctored a few sick cattle, took the boys to shoot their new rifles and had a blast Christmas day. It was windy as heck but warm. We shot many a hedge apples that day!

I officially only want to wear my sweats...as jeans are now uncomfortable. YUK! I hate that. With the new year comes the thought of spring/summer on its way, my white, fat legs will be showing...ICK ICK ICK!

Today, I worked until noon. Was planning on tackling my laundry room/mud room. It's in a real need for some organization and cleaning. It was workable when the boys were little, but now that they are older, we all have coveralls, coats, boots, etc, etc, etc AND the laundry which never seems to be caught up. EVER EVER EVER...anyway I proceed to start clearing it out, moving stuff and mix up my pine sol water and start scrubbing the floor, which led to wiping down walls that had cobwebs on them, which led to I really hate how my laundry room looks and it needs painted, which led to the garage where I found some Kilz which led to a paint roller and brush which led to me shakin the tar out of that can of Kilz which led to, yep, you guessed it, I'm painting. I'm such a spaz! Oh well, I got half the room done, got it dry with the help of my fan and have applied a coat of paint and I'm feeling much better about life! What's the sense in organizing and re-arranging when it needed a coat of paint?!?!?! Huh? Huh? Exactly, It just needed to be done. So now I have laundry strung all over the place, paint brushes, paint cans...yep it's a sure fire disaster! Thank the Good Lord, my boys have gone to MeMe and PaPa's for a few days...maybe I'll get this done before they get home. If I ever build a house...the kitchen and laundry room will be TOP priority for me. I'm not sure who designed mine, but they had to be....well, not into big laundry rooms!

I hope that Santa left you something fun in your stocking and may you receive many Blessings from the Good Lord!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve to all! I wanted to share another quick recipe that is Delish! I just finished making these little jewels and wanted to share...if you can't make them for Christmas...do it for New Years!

Water Chestnut Appetizers

2 cans whole water chestnuts
1 1/2# bacon, cut into fourths
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. ketchup
1 tsp. chili powder

Roll bacon around water chestnuts and stick with a toothpick to hold. Place on a rack--I use a
9x13 pan or sheet cake pan and bake for 45 mins. Mix brown sugar,ketchup and chili powder and pour over baked water chestnuts and then place back into the oven for another 25 mins. You just well plan on a double batch...these are great!

Gotta run, pie dough to roll and presents to wrap!!!

A new Recipe

I told Brenna I would share this recipe awhile back...I nearly forgot until just now, I ran across it! Enjoy!


Tortellini Soup

2# Italian Sausage
1/2 cup sliced onions
2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh zucchini
8 oz cheese tortellini
3 (14oz) cans chicken broth
2 (14oz) cans stewed tomatoes
3 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Brown sausage in a skillet, drain off fat. Set aside on a paper towel to absorb excess grease. In a large pan, add onion, garlic & zucchini and stir fry for 5 mins. Then add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes, water, salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 15 mins. Finally, add the cheese tortellini and sausage and simmer for 20 mins or until tortellini is tender. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve with Italian or French Bread.

Pretty easy huh! I hope that you enjoy this soup and it warms you on these cold winter evenings!

Holiday Swap Box from Georgia!

Lookee, Lookee what I got today!! I received a very cool box from my very cool cousin, Erin. I LOVE everything! I love to bake cookies and love Taste of Home recipes. Perfect, can't wait to try these out! Decorating sprinkles, a snowflake spatula and a whisk, Taste of Home Christmas cookie recipe book, a candle--evergreen scent, Michael Buble cd, rolling pin, cookie decorator set and last but not least...awesome slipper socks!

I couldn't take them off for the picture...I was too busy enjoying them!

THANK YOU ERIN! I love it all and can't wait to try it all out, believe it or not...I have been wanting the decorator set for awhile now...just never got one, don't usually decorate my cookies, but now I have NO excuse! And of course, it dawned on me once I opened my box and read your great little letter enclosed, I FORGOT to enclose my letter....duh! Oh well, all those things are favs of mine and hope you enjoy it all! Love Ya~

Ok, is anyone else on a serious crunch for Christmas? He..lll...oooo....it's only 6 days away!

I'm sooooooo NOT ready!

First Snow

Well, we received our first snow on Tuesday and it really came in with a bang! I have gotten to the point that when the weather men/women start in several days before the storm comes with their warnings, I completely tune it out! Blah Blah Blah. But...this was a real live snow storm out of the south west...kind of like a thunderstorm..when it comes from that direction, get ready for a little action!


It really snowed and blowed on Tuesday. Of course on Monday it was 68 with serious WIND....By Tuesday it's 30 and dropping and just as windy! We ended up with 3-4 inches I guess. But it was nice and icy underneath...even at a crawl in the van, I could hardly stop. Last night coming home, JB got rear-ended by a teenager in an SUV....JB stops traffic at one of the busiest lights in town and gets out...it looked as if our hitch got hit(not bad) and maybe saved our bumper...the kid never got out, asked if anything was ok----NOTHING! Oh well, His momma would probably not be proud. Thank God no one was hurt and no damage was done.


My boys were soooo excited about the snow...CB even played in it for awhile last night in the dark! Tuesday they couldn't wait to get home and sled...it was such a wet snow, it didn't work out like they planned, but they had fun.

I am participating in another swap...my cousin in Georgia organized this one. A Holiday swap. So I've got my box together and going to mail it in the next day or two...Erin, be on the lookout!

JB and I are hoping to Christmas shop tomorrow...not sure if its going to work out..but we're getting into a time crunch and I really dislike shopping in the big city this late---it's sooooooo busy and people are not always the nicest. They have totally forgot the reason for the season.

I have not yet done my Pass It On challenge...I will, God will show me what I need to do and I'm patiently waiting for the opportunity! Have a great day!!

Quick Post

Don't have a lot of time this a.m. Running Late...
Anyway....yesterday had a great trip to OKC to the Dr aaaannnndddddd.............
Met up with LeAnna! Oh my gosh, it was wonderful! She is more beautiful in person and sportin that little baby quite well! We sat and visited for 2 hours and I thought the time just FLEW by! I had a Wonderful time meeting my new friend. Looking forward to my next trip down....as there will be a baby Flowers in tow! We took pics, mine are not too great...I'll wait for LeAnna to post hers, a very nice lady took it for us! Praise the Lord for new and great friends. We never lacked for anything to talk about. Thanks LeAnna....it was fun! And THANK YOU for the new goodies...love it!

A wonderful day...ZB and shopped, really got nothing done except get him a new pair of shoes that were badly needed. Got home and was tuckered out. Going to have another shopping spree today, its our work party, we're headed to Wichita to eat and then disperse to shop....going with my 2 shopping buddies, Lisa and Jennifer...Look out Wichita...last year we did this and got home at midnight! Whew! Actually. I just hope I get some Christmas shopping done. Have a wonderful weekend!