Not writing

I have bronchitis.  I am just good, old-fashioned sick.  I don't feel like writing and I haven't for at least a week, so I'll be back soon, when I feel better.

Oh my goodness!

These little things are so good.  Pies in a Jar are my new favorites!  So easy, so delicious and perfect for gifts!!!  My friend Kristin (Our Life Beyond the Game) highlighted the idea on her blog one day and I thought, "now that does look like something I could do!"  Anyone can!

All you need are Mason or glass jars, pie crust and a pie filling.

Roll out your homemade pie crust (or you can use a refrigerated one from the grocery store), take enough to fit in the jar and tuck it in almost all the way to the top.

Fill it with your choice of pie filling (I used cherry).

Then top with more crust (I used the jar lid to cut the circle and then tiny little heart and candy cane cookie cutters to add a little embellishment) and tuck around the top.

Line your jars up on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 25-30 mins. Mine exploded just a bit, but hopefully, no one will mind.

These are so yummy and you can eat them right out of the jar...I find that comforting!  Add a bow, attach a label or tag and you're set with the perfect little gift.

Thursdays of Thanks

Posting a little late because The Apprentice finale was on last night and, well, I was just too sleepy!

In any case, this week and each past week, I have thanked God every day for my health.  I have been so fortunate all my life to be blessed with great health (with the exception of a few annoying problems here and there, but nothing life-threatening) and with each day that goes by, I just feel so grateful to be able to get out of bed, no pain, no medications required. 

I personally know and have known many people who are going/have gone through so many health issues that just seem unbearable.  Recently, a friend found out her husband has a brain tumor...they have a little baby, it's the holiday season.  I just can't imagine.  And, so many others are going through the same thing throughout the year.

I don't know what the future holds in store for me, but today, I am thankful to be healthy.

P.S.  I'm also thankful my "work mom," Patti, got an "all-clear" on her mammogram this week after battling breast cancer!!  She's a survivor!

Creativity at Christmas Time

I lack it.  I long for it, but it's just not there.  That's why I've always hated craft stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann's because I don't even know what to do in there.  I dream of handmaking gifts for everyone I know and impressing them with amazing, original pieces of work I created for them. But, alas, another Target purchase inevitably lies beneath the tissue paper. 

I can not tell you how many things I try and end up on the verge of tears, telling myself I stink because I can not do them.  Or, I do them and they turn out not even close to how they're supposed to (i.e., how they look in a picture or how someone else did them). I've always pretty much wanted to do things right and perfectly or not at all.  I can't shake that part of my personality.

So, this time of year, I have one get-together where I HAVE to give a homemade ornament.  I dread it.  I feel so incompetent.  Like no matter what I do or how easy it seems, it's going to be something that will hang on the back of someone's tree, if even at all, and I just want to make a quick exit to the bathroom or take an emergency call when the people open it.

Part of it is because I normally wait until the day of the event to start the project. Even though I've always wanted to do things as perfectly as possible, I am a major procrastinator, too.  I work best that way most of the time.  But, not when my creativity is put to the test.  I mean, when you don't really have any, waiting until the last minute is not the best way to get something done that is even presentable.  But, sometimes I say, "well, it's going to be pretty crappy either way, so why stress about it a week in advance??"

Let me get to my point.

I recently shrunk a sweater from a men's L to approximately a child's 2T.  For some reason, I did not throw it away and guess what?  I made six Christmas ornaments out of it, some ribbon and a few straight pins.  Now, I know the reality is I will not be getting a call from anyone wanting me to make a special order for purchase and they probably will still be placed toward the bottom back area of peoples' trees who receive them, but I spent two hours making six ornaments and they weren't terribly hard and turned out okay.  I am still certain they could be so much more perfect, but I got them done four days before the party and they're still together.  So, I was moderately satisfied.  I mean, at least I wasn't crying about how domestically challenged I am during the project.

Another problem is I look on Esty.com ALL the time.  I am fascinated how so many people are infinitely talented and originative and I see things that make me say, "I could do stuff like that."  Then I quickly find that I can't. 

Anyway, I wanted some cute labels for some things I would be baking this season, so thought I'd order some inexpensive ones from Etsy.  I get on there and guess what I said? "I can do this."  So, I ventured in to Michael's (aghhhh!), bought paper, stamps, ink, ink pens and made some really cute labels that I am not embarrassed to attach to my gifts. 

All in all, I have gotten to the point of realizing, who I am is not based on how perfectly I do things, especially things like making labels (I mean, who's going to save a label anyway?!).  But, I do want people to know I care so much about what I'm giving them and what they think of it.  I don't want anyone to gush over me, but to know they mean so much to me that I put extra time and (sometimes) tears into producing it, no matter how small or easy it seems.  Success is so much more victorious when you've felt failure!

So, let me get on Etsy and see what else I can do!

Owners of big, messy dogs...

...I am about to write a personal recommendation on some things, so listen up (or, in this case, read on...)!

My sweet little six-month-old puppy Amos has gotten to over 70 lbs. and is growing so quickly, he's limping from growing pains (of course, it took us two vet trips and x-rays this week to figure that out).  Anyway, from the time he was small, it was clear the water and food dishes on the plain floor with a little "place mat" underneath just wouldn't do.  For one, he basically ate up his place mat.  Secondly, he LOVES water and I don't mean drinking the water.  I mean the kind of love where you drink a little, then lay your face and ears in it, then start digging your way to China  in it (little insert for The Office-lovers - "why is it CHINA?") and sling water all over whatever room your water dish is in and then roll in it kind of love.

Slipping in water was not safe, having a constantly wet dog was gross and having to literally mop up water more than eight times a day was frustrating.  After a couple of months we wised up and went on the search for something -- anything -- that would help dial down the water dish madness.

Then we found it - priced to leave on the shelf in an expensive boutique pet store.  So, we wrote down the web site and ordered one as soon as we got home. The NEATER FEEDER.  This thing is the bomb and I'm not even kidding.  It's spill-proof!  I never clean up water off the floor now.  And, it's more "ergonomic" for Amos (if you're in to those kinds of things), so he doesn't have to bend over so far to get his food and water!  Check it out...they even come in different colors so you can get one that coordinates with your decor. :-)

Secondly, in case any water does get on the floor, it will never be known with a Waterhog mat covering the floor.  This we ordered from L.L. Bean and it is absolutely wonderful.  It's great, too, just for rainy or snowy days because it literally contains everything to keep your floors clean. If you're using it mainly for a pet, as we are, then it's best they be potty-trained first, of course, or otherwise you don't want that soaked up in the rug! :-)  It's easy to clean, too, and comes in a variety of colors and sizes.

I just wanted to share these two things that have really been time-savers, to say the least, with owning a large-breed dog!  They're not the most fun, frilly things, but very practical and worth every penny!

Thursdays of Thanks

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving."

Last week, as I was sitting around letting all the food settle, I thought about how I say, and hear a lot of others say, we should be thankful, not just today (Thanksgiving Day), but every day.  Well, of course we should!  But, around Thanksgiving is when we really concentrate on it -- we dedicate the month to lists of all the things we're thankful for and then, for me at least, it seems to fade off week by week and I say thanks to God for random things when I pray throughout the day. 

So, I thought it would help me to keep up the thankfulness each week by dedicating a day to it - not just in November.  So, this December, I am starting my "Thursdays of Thanks."  I'm sure there are other bloggers out there doing something similar, but I haven't researched it to know.  I just thought this would help me and if, by chance, it helps anyone else to focus on all they're thankful for more than just in November, then that will be an added bonus!

So, this first Thursday, I wanted to start with stating my thanks for my grandparents.  I feel I am fortunate to still have three of my four grandparents still living and kickin'! (Maybe not as high as they used to, but still...!)  One of my granny's in her 80s just came through tough, tough surgery and she has survived a lifetime of health issues and pain.  My other granny is, for the most part, in good health and still very active and my papa, although having been slowed down by some health issues, is same ol' papa. 

I was blessed to have two of them at my house Thanksgiving Day and recently saw the other and spoke on the phone that day, and came to the realization of how I am so lucky to be able to spend time with them now, really listening and understanding what they say.  I spent lots of time with them when I was younger, but I haven't realized and understood until I've gotten older some of the things they've seen, gone through, etc., and it is so interesting and enlightening.  I have several pictures of each of them when they were younger that I love to look at and when I see them now, it just comes to light that there is so much I don't know about them, but they are people who were once young, made mistakes, have quirks and are admirable in so many ways. 

I am so thankful for, respect and admire each one of them - and for my papa who is now in Heaven.

Papa Cole at his old school in Alabama.

Papa and Granny Dimsdale



Granny Cole and Ethan.