Mamma Mia...here we go again!

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. ~Voltaire

In After Years When You Recall.....

February is a busy month....

It has Valentine's Day .....

Our Anniversary.....

My Mother's Birthday....

and is a time to look forward to Spring and Chocolate....

So today we spent preparing and celebrating February....

We decorated.......

We baked Heart Cakes....

We decorated them with OOOOODLEs of cinnamon hearts....conversation hearts and of course M&M's

We enjoyed an unexpected day at home together.....

Think of Me

In after years when you recall;

The days of pleasure past;

And think of joyous hours;

and all have flown away so fast;

When some forgotten air you hear;

brings back past scenes to thee;

And gently claims your listening ear;

Keep one kind thought for me.

 Valentine Poem circa 1910

Sunshine after Rain

Last night it rained....

not just a nice umbrella ...rain drops are falling on my head type rain...

Hard driving rain, with wind, thunder, lightning...a house creaking

batten down the hatches type rain.....

I curled up in my room by the fire with my new book and enjoyed the sounds

I relish in weather....when I can listen to it from the comforts of hearth and home..

and last night the weather had matched by mood...

dark, cloudy, stormy...

This morning schools were delayed, creeks and rivers overflowed and the destruction of the storm was evident everywhere you looked......

BUT the sun was glorious, the air was fresh and crisp

and the earth begins anew.....

as have I

IRISH BLESSING

'May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain,

tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you,

those you love near you

and all your heart might desire'

A Few of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

AHHH...favorite things....just thought I would share some of MY favorite things this year.....I am not talking about the non tangibles.....cuddly puppies, time with family, newborn babies and raindrops on roses....I will leave that for another post....right now I am just talking about things that I thought were pretty cool.....

-My first favorite thing this year was my new Tobi Steamer....no more ironing for me...saved me a ton on dry cleaning and I LOVE to steam....when I watch TV...so easy to do and everything comes out beautifully...probably comes from a retail job I had in high school where we had to steam everything with a commercial steamer as we received shipments...this steamer is inexpensive and FABULOUS....http://www.tobisteamer.com/ I got mine at Costco....

-Speaking of Costco I can not have a list of favorite things without listing Costco...I love everything about that store....I love their croissants, their $100 chickens, tires, gas.....if Costco doesn't sell it ...you don't need it!!http://www.costco.com/

Check out this blog devoted to the love of Costco...I thought it was fabulous and will be following http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/09/12/raise-your-hand-or-blog-if-you-love-costco/ She has a picture of a Sherpa throw that I bought at Costco and LOVE...of course went back to get another one...and OUT...one thing about Costco you gotta jump on it when you see it!!

-Another of my favorite things....Taste of Home Cookbooks...the one and only cookbook you would ever need...I have every year now going back to 1999....incredible recipes...easy and delicious http://www.tasteofhome.com/

-See's candy....oh I miss them so.....thankfully received a box from some family in California...if you are out west I strongly recommend stopping in for a sample!!! http://www.sees.com/ (Chocolates and Variety are my favorite...wink wink nudge nudge ;) )

-Auto start on my new car....never had it before..never missed it.....however, in this cold snap it has become one of my MOST favorite things!!!

- The Singing Machine Karaoke....we have had such fun with this http://shop.singingmachine.com/IW_Products.m4p.pvx?;ITEM?company=SMC&ItemCode=ISM1010

-Hounds tooth...for the second year in a row....I am loving me some hounds tooth.....gloves, scarves, jackets....

- Charlotte Half Off....for those in the Charlotte area...this is a must DO...some great 1/2 restaurants, spas, beauty....in this economy this is WONDERFUL !!http://charlottehalfoff.mediawebconnect.com/

- Rocky River Coffee....my FAVORITE coffee shop.....(when I am not in Canada and can't have my Timmie's) http://www.rockyrivercoffee.com/ Sorry folks....I just can't stomach Starbucks...and I like this guy's motto....Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Corporate Coffee.....also he has REAL NY bagels ......he has the dough shipped in frozen and thaws and bakes them on the premises.....SOOOO good....owner is a genuine nice guy as well ....

- Loaded Questions...got this board game for the kids for Christmas and I haven't laughed so hard in a LONG time...great for kids or adults...just a FUN game....http://www.loadedquestions.com/loadedquestions.html

_ Charms Blow Pops....cause first it is candy...then it is gum.....it is the PERFECT treat!! :) http://www.tootsie.com/products.php?pid=119

So remember...

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad ;)

RIP

RIP

In loving memory

of my brand new mustard suede boots

Only worn 20 minutes

before they were taken out

by a reckless serving

of Taco Beef Soup

on Christmas Eve

(photo above taken prior to attack)

Perpetrator Still at large

Has been described as incredibly tasty and delicious

Detailed description below:

Taco Beef Soup

1lb ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cups water

2 16 ounce cans stewed tomatoes cut up

2 16 ounce cans dark red kidney beans

2 8 ounce cans of tomato sauce

1 envelope of taco seasoning mix

2 small avocados, peeled, seeded and chopped

Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream and Frito Chips for individual garnishing

In large saucepan cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned, drain off excess fat, add water, undrained tomatoes, undrained kidney beans, tomato sauce and taco seasoning mix. Simmer covered 15 minutes. Then add avocado. Pass cheese , corn chips and sour cream to top each serving....

Beware known to attack random footwear!

Enjoy!

Apple Cider and Tortellini Soup

Time is getting short.....list has been made, remade and checked twice....just a few last minute things to wrap up before it is time to put it all away and enjoy the labors of the season. Spent today at the mall, missed out on a few days and had to do some quick catch up. Then home for some of this delicious and SIMPLE Italian Tortellini Soup. Now curled up on the couch with my peeps enjoying some hot apple cider, fire, Christmas lights and great company......
Italian Tortellini Soup
4 uncooked Italian Sausage Links
(I used Sweet, but can use Mild or Hot depending on taste)
4 Cups water
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) Italian Stewed Tomatoes
1 can condensed French Onion Soup (undiluted)
2 Cups Broccoli Coleslaw mix (found in the produce section of any grocery store...I found it easily at Super Wal-Mart)
1 Cup Frozen Cut Green Beans
1 (9 ounce) package of Buitoni three cheese tortellini (in the refrigerated section) or substitute any refrigerated or frozen tortellini (or other pasta of your choice)
Fresh grated parmesan cheese
Cut sausage into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces; brown in dutch oven. Drain, add water, tomatos, soup, coleslaw mix and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer approx. 20 minutes (until veggies are tender). Uncover; add tortellini and cook for 4-5 minutes until tortellini is tender. Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese.
YUM!!

To make you smile....

Crazy week for Mamastress....not one that I want to repeat .

In the chaos of this week I managed to find some things that made me smile...

One of my favorite blogs http://milk-moon.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-wish-i-had-river.html (which always makes me happy) had a great link that I would like to share with all of those with children.....it is a very personalized video message from Santa. Check it out I think you will agree it is unlike anything you've ever seen. Very well done, unlike some others...your kids will love it. Even has options for teens. Here is the link http://portablenorthpole.tv/home kids of all age will be delighted...I also pulled out one of my favorite recipes. It is for "Best Ever Peanut Butter Cookies" I got this recipe many years ago from one of the best cooks I have ever met....(so if she says they are the best I was SURE they would be...). Not only was she one of the best cooks she was also one of the most pleasant people you could ever meet. So when I made this yummy cookie recipe this week I smiled and thought of her....here's hoping that no matter what is going on with you this crazy time of year you can find something that makes you step back and smile....and Carleen where ever you are ...these truly ARE the best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever....

CARLEEN'S BEST EVER PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1 CUP SHORTENING

1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER

1 CUP BROWN SUGAR

1 CUP WHITE SUGAR

2 EGGS

2 & 1/2 CUPS FLOUR

1 & 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

Mix well. Roll into balls and press with back of sugared fork to make criss cross.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.