After spending two weeks on the road helping/visiting Jordan and Claire and their adorable families, it was time to get home and get to work. We loved traveling with Andy and Chelsea and having lots of time to visit (more on that later.) They are such darling newlyweds and we love having them in town so that we can do some things together.
Luckily Rick and I had put up the outdoor Christmas lights on our house before leaving town. That last Monday, December 2, we put the finishing touches on the lights on the outside bushes and then wham...snow came fast and furiously and the temperature dropped dramatically. We were so happy we got the outside work done when we did. Then it was on to decorating inside. I had the help last year of Janet and Mary Ann who came to down to help me. I couldn't help but remember what was going on this time last year. I received my 6th and last chemo treatment on December 5. I was very worn down by it all and feeling pretty weak and tired (not to mention in pain, nauseated and rung out). It was so wonderful to have my sisters who weren't working come and lend a hand. I also got a fresh Christmas tree delivered by my nephew Dustin and honestly, that whole week of kindnesses will NEVER EVER be forgotten.
This year, I was feeling energized, far from nauseated (to the contrary) and ready to go. I love getting my Christmas decorations out! I love the feeling they bring into our home. I love setting the stage for a month of remembering Christ.
hand carved from Mongolia
hand carved from Zimbabwe
handmade from Alaska
from Peru
From Portugal
From Japan
second from the bottom from Venezuela
Olive wood hand carved from the Holy land
Kid friendly from Fisher Price
I made this ceramic set when we were first married
from South Africa
From Venezuela, Mexico, New Mexico and other places
Willow Tree store bought
Stitched by Jordan
A nativity advent calendar that is 33 years old made by friend Ginger
Little Thomas was born on 11/12/13 to Jordan and Jacob. He had three anxious big sisters waiting to greet him at home. He will be well cared for and his momma and daddy are so proud of him. I love it when new babies come. I really enjoy going to help out the family with their new little one. I spent a whole week with this darling family and had a great chance to help them out for a few days. I got to drive the girls to and from school, make lunches, make dinner, bake bread and make cookies with Ada, pick up toys and lend a hand whenever it was needed. Of course we got some sewing projects in as well. Jord and I even went to see Catching Fire and Jake took us to lunch at at fantastic restaurant where I was introduced to guacamole with pomegranates in it. Wow!
I got to see my brother Paul and his wife DeNae, shop at Last Chance, take the girls on an outing to pick out fabric for Christmas pillowcases and to eat out with them for a school fund raiser. I went to eat school lunch one day with Ellie and another day with Lauren. I even witnessed an indoor snowstorm and got to help clean it up afterwards. I got to hold Thomas and rock him and smell his fresh newness. I loved to look at his perfect little body and be present for his first bath and unfortunately for his circum...... It was a joy to be with this sweet family and I love them all so much. It was hard to say goodbye and there may or may not have been some tears. Until next time my dear ones...
I've always loved Lion House Rolls. On Thanksgiving, I mixed up a batch, but I wasn't quite sure how to roll them out to get the same size and shape of the famous Lion House rolls. Then I discovered this video! Hooray! They are fantastic rolls and not that hard to make if you know the trick shown in the video.
Lion House Dinner Rolls
2 cups warm water (110 to 115° F)
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup butter, shortening, or margarine
1 egg
5 to 5 1/2 cup all-purpose flour or bread flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
In large bowl of an electric mixer, combine water and dry milk powder,
stirring until milk dissolves. Add yeast, then sugar, salt, butter, egg,
and 2 cups of the flour. Mix on low speed until ingredients are wet.
Increase mixer speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups flour;
mix on low speed until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes at medium
speed. (Dough will be getting stiff, and remaining flour may need to be
mixed in by hand.) Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix
again until dough is soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff. (It is not
necessary to use the entire amount of flour.)
Scrape dough off sides of bowl and pour about one tablespoon of
vegetable oil; work oil all around sides of bowl. Turn dough over in
bowl so it is covered with oil. (This helps prevent dough from drying
out.) Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in warm place until
doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle cutting board or counter
with flour and place dough on floured board. Roll out and shape as
desired. Place on greased or parchment-lined baking pans. Cover lightly
with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place until rolls are doubled in
size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Bake at 375° F for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned. Brush with melted
butter while hot. Serve with honey butter or raspberry honey butter.
Makes 1 1/2 to 3 dozen rolls, depending on shape and size of rolls.
Note: You can freeze shaped rolls for later use. Simply double
the amount of yeast used when making dough. After the first rise, shape
the rolls but do not rise again. Instead, place rolls on a baking sheet
and immediately place in freezer. When dough is frozen solid, remove
rolls from pan and place in a plastic bag, squeeze excess air out of bag
and seal. Rolls can be frozen for 3 weeks.
