Happy New Year!

Wishing You A Very Happy New Year!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... Wednesday, December 29,2010

Outside my window...It is a dark, gray cloudy day.  It is
raining and has been raining off and on since about 1:00 a.m.
A cold wind is blowing about 15 mph and it is currently
32 degrees F., colder with the wind factor.  The rain is
supposed to change to snow later in the day and temperature
tomorrow for the high should be about 21F. By the weekend
we will be about 5F for low.

I am thinking...  I will head downstairs to continue sorting
some personal history papers.  Now that two of my
children have their books, I need to continue working on
mine.

I am thankful for...My sister.  I am so thankful she is
still here with us and is doing so well. Thank you for your
kind thoughts and prayers!  She has been released from the
hospital and is back at her apartment where she is to rest
for a week.  I am thankful for the good and caring doctors
she has had.  We still do not know what will happen in
regard to their mission.  She is hoping they will be able to
continue because as she told me, "Kohler's are not quitters!"
(Our maiden name)

From the learning rooms...  Make each day count and
not take our health for granted.  I am even more
determined to work on my health after her scare and
my bout with cancer.  Sometimes I become way too
complacent.  So, one of my goals for the NewYear
is to take better care of myself.

From the kitchen...Tuna fish sandwich, yogurt, carrots
and milk for lunch.

I am wearing... Levi's, tan shirt and long-sleeved flanned
shirt, comfy socks and slippers.

I am creating...  A new workspace downstairs.  Have
taken my old computer down there where I can write
and work on my history.  Also, am creating new file
folders to hold writings, clippings, cards, etc. until I am
ready to use them. It is taking a lot of time, but I think
will make things easier when it is finally organized.

A thought I am sharing..."Year's end is neither an end nor

a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that

experience can instill in us."  ~Hal Borland

I am going...  To continue cleaning and organizing my
sewing room.  Honestly, I can't believe how quickly it
becomes cluttered.  I want to start some new projects
but can't until it is straightened up.  How is it that it
gets so out of control?  Anyone else have a problem
with a cluttered sewing area?

I am reading...  Just finished, "Love Finds You in Paradise,
Pennsylvania" by Loree Lough.  A delightful read! Perfect
for those days after Christmas when I want to relax a bit.

I am hoping...  To write my "Year-End Gratitude" Journal
Entry in the next day or so.  I have been thinking of the
many good things I have been blessed with this year and
that have come to our family. So I thought I would
calendar them and add some pictures where applicable
in a small journal.

I am hearing...  Quiet.  Even the clock's ticking seems
quiet.  No soft music playing in the background which is
unusual. 

Around the house...  Christmas decorations waiting to be
taken down and packed away.  Blankets needing to be
folded and put away plus a few scattered toys from
the grandchildren's visit as we watched "Despicable Me."

One of my favorite things...Microwave Caramel Popcorn
Quickly made some to munch on while we watched the
movie.
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 qt. popped popcorn (I air pop mine)

Combine margarine, corn syrup, sugar and salt in large
microwavable bowl.  Microwave on high until mixture
begins to boil.  Cook 4 minutes, stirring 3 times.  Add
baking soda and vanilla.  Stir well.
Put 4 qts. popped popcorn in brown grocery paper bag.
Pour caramel mixture over and stir.  Cook 1 minute in
microwave, shaking sack hard or stirring every 15 seconds.
Pour into bowl or on lightly sprayed cookie sheet.  Can
add nuts last 15seconds.  Drizzle melted chocolate over
if desired.
or stirring popcorn hard every 15 seconds so doesn't burn

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Take down and put Christmas decorations away
Continue working on projects downstairs
Spend time with the family
Possibly attend city's New Year Eve activities if it
isn't too cold
Church
Here is picture for thought I am sharing..
My sister (left) and me                               


















Happy Wednesday,

Nola

Thankful...

Today I am thankful to be with my children and grandchildren enjoying
this beautiful, festive time.

But, today I am most grateful to have my sister still here.  She is in
Texas with her husband serving a mission for our church.  She
suffered a major heart attack yesterday and had emergency surgery
to place a stint in three of her arteries.  Still in ICU today.  Hopefully
we will know more about her condition in the next day or two
and if she will be able to continue serving.
Missing her and wishing I could be with her.

Please enjoy your families today (and always) and express your
love to them.
Nola

Merry Christmas

Wishing your and Yours a Merry Christmas

Nola

Grandma's Special Day

Woke to snow this morning.  Yeah, no rain!  The fresh snow
covering the brown earth really helped set the mood for
Christmas cookie and candy making with my grandson's and
daughter today.

With the fresh and light snow falling, it felt like Christmas!
With cookies baking in the oven, it smelled like Christmas!
And with brightly wrapped gifts under the tree and Christmas
music playing in the background, it seemed like Christmas!

It was such a delightful day having my grandson's here. 
We had so much fun rolling out the cookie dough and
then cutting out the cookie shapes.


 











Ty, almost 9 months, wasn't about to be left out!

Once the cookies were baked and cooled it was time to
decorate them.

Adding frosting and colorful sprinkles requires concentration!

The boys did a great job and we had so much fun!

After the cookies were done my daughter and I quickly
rolled and dipped our traditional chocolate truffles which
had been chilling in the fridge.

Then this evening plates of goodies were delivered to friends
and neighbors.

Today was one of those wonderful memory making days.
What a fun time we had!  Let's do it again soon!

Nola

Rain, Rain Go Away...

...Come again another day.

We have had rain now for a couple of days and our snow is
gone here in the valley. Lots of snow in the mountains
which is good.  Can't decide which I prefer, snow or rain.  At least
we don't have to be outside shoveling.  Looks like we will
have more rain for two days and then it should clear in time
for Christmas.  Hopefully, Santa will not have problems
getting here without snow as the weatherman says we will
be having a "brown"Christmas.

It felt good today to finish up Christmas and the packages
under the tree look so festive. Purchased some plastic
storage bins for my kids books I  finally completed.  Thought it
would be nice to have a place to store their baby books,
photo albums, memory books and scrapbooks.  They
barely fit in the containers.

It has been fun wandering down memory lane as I've watched
them grow from a baby to a young adult these past few
months.  So many things had slipped my mind.

Now it will be my turn to work on my personal history.
Also want to write a little about my parents and add to
their histories.

Quilting projects have been calling to me for sometime
now, but they have had to take a back seat while I
worked on Christmas.  Can't wait to get back to sewing.
and all my projects I purchased this year but didn't get to.

Tomorrow my grandson's are coming and we're going
to make cut out cookies.  I can hardly wait!

Think I'll go warm up some cider and read a Christmas story.

Nola

ChocolateTruffles

A traditional treat we enjoy around the holidays is homemade
truffles.  And, since one of my co-workers requested the
recipe, thought I'd share it since I was typing it up for her.
It is SO easy!

Chocolate Truffles

3 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar
1 8oz. package Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (12 oz) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chocolate
    chips, melted
Flavorings to taste
Add 3 cups powdered sugar gradually to cream cheese,
beating with electric mixer on medium speed until well
blended.  Add melted (slightly cooled) chocolate.  Mix
well.

Flavorings we enjoy:  (do to your taste)
2 tsp. orange extract
about 2 tsp. peppermint extract
2 tsp.raspberry extract
vanilla extract

Divide into thirds and add flavorings to each third.
Mix well.  Refrigerate several hours (at least two)
Shape into 1 inch balls.  Roll in nuts, cookie crumbs,
powdered sugar, cocoa.
We like to hand dip them in chocolate coatings,
chocolate and white

Makes about 5 dozen

Keep unused portions in fridge while doing one
so mixture doesn't get too soft. 

Enjoy,

Nola

Twas the Night before...

Got this in an email and thought I'd share it:

Twas the Night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The only one sleeping was Quilter's dear spouse.
The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed,
"Just a few stitches left, "our sweet quilter repeated,
"Then I can hang them and head to off to finish
The pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish
For something "quilty" to put on her couch".  As she pricked her

poor finger, our quilter yelled, "Ouch!"

                                                 

When from out in the kitchen there arose such a crashing,
She sprang from her work, and she dropped all her sashing.
Away to the doorway she flew like a plane,
Wondering just what was happening and who she could blame.
When what to her wondering eyes should appear, 

But Old Mrs Claus and her bag of quilt-gear....  With her elves 

bearing gifts,  through the kitchen she came,
She directed and pointed and called them by name.
"Now Elna, now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking,
The Hoffman and Mumm should be just to her liking.
To the sewing room - there, it's just back the hall,
 Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"                                                             

 

"My Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called),

There really is no need to worry at all.
Your projects will all be completed this night,
I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright.
Sit down. Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see.
My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee.

She thought she was dreaming, our Dear Quilter did,
In fact she quite feared that she'd near' flipped her lid!
But the flash of the needles and twist of the thread 

Soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.                                              

They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing.
How the work went so quickly she had no way of knowing.
The stitches, how tiny! The corners, how straight!
This Claus-woman's talent was awfully great.
They finished the pillows, then started a quilt.
 Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!...                                                        

 

Now old Mrs. Claus, she knew quilters real well,    
And she knew they'd need help on this night most of all
So she said to our quilter, "Just move over, dear,
I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear.
I told dear old Santa about what quilters do.
How they plan all these projects but have other work too.
So he taught me his magic for doing things fast.                                                 

There, that pillow's done. Now this is the last."                                                                 

 

 
They tidied their thread snips, and picked up the scraps

And chased our dear quilters six cats from their laps.
They left behind gingerbread (just to be nice)
And the whole house smelled sweetly of Christmas and spice.
As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming

Dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming.
"Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball!
Relax and enjoy. Happy Quilting to all!"

Nola