Show and Tell

Cindy is hosting Show and Tell again; go on over and see what she has in store.

My show and tell this week is this bedspread I crocheted over 20 years ago.  I suppose I was in college or had just graduated.  Those are great memories.

I hope you enjoyed your  visit.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

P.S.  Anni requested a picture of my Bob Crachitt and Tiny Tim, so I am adding that.  This is not a great picture, but they are to the right of the Claus's.

Year in Review in Pictures

Cindy is hosting a year-in-review party over at her blog.  I just got into blogging heavily this year.  This first year mine were mostly my family that I hold dear.  In 2010 I hope to branch out more.  

My son and his 'son"

This looks like a postcard, but I can't believe I took it myself----sunset at the beach 20 minutes from my house on our "local vacation"

These two are in honor of my son's interests----a serpentarium an hour away

My two girls waiting for mom to come home--

A lovely prayer chapel nearby

My girl

My son with our new baby in September

My dad's 82nd birthday in November

Dad and Matthew

Fall on one of the local country roads

The newest boys

I wish for you a very happy, prosperous, peaceful 2010.

Menu for Eating From the Pantry

Since I go back to work next week, my menu will mostly be simple, simple, simple.  These are my main ingredients I will work around:

1.  Steak
2.  Hamburgers
3.  Ragu spaghetti sauces
4.  Betty Crocker boxed potatoes (gotten real cheap!)
5.  canned veggies
6.  brown rice
7.  Chili already made and in the freezer
8.  Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
9.  Cheese:  mozzarella and cheddar
10.  polenta
11.  frozen crab cakes
12.  frozen tilapia
13.  hot dogs
14.  bread dough and pepperoni to make homemade hot pockets for son's snacks

These are some meals I am thinking of for next week:

1.  Hot dogs/Betty Crocker potatoes/veggie
2.  Turkey tetrazzini with leftover, frozen turkey
3.  Steak on the grill w/brown rice/veggie
4.  Sushi (our eat out night)
5.  Cranberry crockpot chicken w/Betty Crocker potatoes/veggie
6.  Chili with Ritz crackers
7.  Burgers on the grill/homemade fries/veggie
8.  Spaghetti and meatballs

I will post the Turkey Tetrazzini and Cranberry Crockpot Chicken recipes as I make them.  I have so much beef and chicken, that some of these recipes will rotate.

Cats on Tuesday

For more cat tales, go to http://www.gattinamycats.blogspot.com/

As you look through these pictures, you are going to think that all my cats do is sleep.  Well, that's true, but here is Snowflake, wondering what this machine is doing.

"Momma, I love this warm machine, but what is that I hear?"

"Oh, Momma, it is spitting up.  Did it have a hair ball??"

All of my boys get along......except Miles.  He is the oldest at 12 and very jealous.  Here, Lovey, Thumper, and Humpty Dumpty enjoy a nap on *my* side of the bed.

I love that I caught Thumper's yawn.

Here: Lovey wants to go on vacation.  I don't know why since his LIFE is a vacation!

Here Miles and Minnie have stolen the new boys' beds.

Meal Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A back view of Thumper's big feet

This is the second of my two weeks off for Christmas vacation, and I am LOVING being home with the babies.  I have taken several naps in the bed, under the electric blanket, with them on my legs/feet or next to me.

Eating From the Pantry Challenge

In January I will be participating in Eating from the Pantry, hosted by  Crystal.  The objective is to eat as much as possible from the resources we have on hand.   I am a single mom with a 15 year-old son, so here will be my goals:

1.  Buy only dairy and produce from the grocery store
2.  Use the money saved to reduce my debt.
3.  Continue to play the CVS/WAGS game so I get most paper products/personal hygiene products FREE.

Here are pictures from my freezers and cabinets to prove that I need to do this:

CVS Moneymaker

I have a very hard time resisting a good deal at CVS.  Last Sunday I armed myself with $19 worth of ECBs and set out to roll them over.  This came to $39, I wrote a check for $20, but got back $28 in ECBs.  I think an $8 ECB profit is a good deal.

Show and Tell Friday: Vintage Elf

For more Show and Tell, head over to Cindy's blog at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

I have two of these elves, this red one and a green one.  I just turned 47, and I have had these since I was a toddler.  They are my absolute favorite tree ornaments.

Merry Christmas!

I have much to be thankful for this Christmas.  I have been cancer-free for almost 2.5 years; my parents are still alive and in pretty good health at 79 and 82; my son is healthy; my pets are healthy; I have a job that is secure.  As I contemplate this Christmas, I thank God he sent his son in the form of a baby to enable all of us who trust in Him and believe in Him, to be with Him one day in heaven.  Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Cats on Tuesday

On Tuesdays, cat lovers unite over at http://www.gattinamycats.blogspot.com/ to write about their feline babies.

"Mother, at least you picked a boy cat who was gorgeous.....like me!"

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Notice those thumbs.  I love 'em so much, I had to show another picture of them.

Snowflake climbs too high for me.  I just hope she can always land safely.

She normally jumps from there to the refrigerator, and then down onto the island.

Blood brothers:  Thumper and Humpty Dumpty:  Aren't they sweet??

They love each other and Momma's bed.  Look how long Thumper's arms are!

What I call, "Peaceful Co-existence":  Notice Miles to the left and Humpty and Thumper at the foot.

Another view of 3 of my 4 boys

I think Thumper's arm on Humpty's is so sweet.