Resolution to get more organized and HP Printer Giveaway

Just in time to make your resolution of “I’m going to get more organized come true”

An HP Printer GiveAWay

HP is giving away two (2) of these brand new Photosmart eStation e-All-in-One Printers. These are the slick new web-enabled printers loaded with apps that allow you to print directly from the Web completely independent of a host computer.

To enter this giveaway, just shout out your favorite holiday recipes/dishes in the comments section of this post. Feel free to simply name the dishes (roasted turkey, monkey bread, Yorkshire Pudding, etc) or, better yet, link directly to your favorite online recipes. I will randomly select two entries — each one will win a fabulous printer

Check out this great give-away on The Pioneer Woman at:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/special-offers/2010/11/name-your-favorite-holiday-recipes-and-enter-to-win-a-printer/

New Year's Resolution

Do you have one? 

Care to share?

January's Gift

If you are lucky enough to have snow at Christmas,

Then you are lucky enough!

TShirt to Market Bags.....................

Not hot tea,  not iced tea, but t-bags just the same!

Time to up-cycle.  Join me in making a decision to not discard your favorite old t-shirts because they don't fit anymore, or they have paint all over them, or the design is far too embarassing to be shown on your person in public.

Let's turn them into tshirt-bags.  Here's how............

Material List:

• Sewing Machine or needle and thread (basic sewing)
• Scissors
• A bowl or plate
• A t-shirt

Start with your t-shirt ..............say goodbye now

I like to iron first, but that's optional 

then, flip your shirt inside out (now right sides together)

Pin the bottom of the t-shirt closed and stitch well across the bottom.  You may want to double stitch since you could be hauling home groceries, wine or beer!!!

After you stitch closed the bottom, it's time to cut the shirt up.   

 Right sides still together, take a bowl, plate or other large round object as a template for your cutting marks.  I used the lid of a taurine.

 Using the rounded edge of the plate or bowl as a guide, mark the rounded edge over the neck hole of the t-shirt on the wrong side of the shirt with a washable marker.

 Then I repeated the same markings over the arms of the t-shirts.

 After all the markings are complete, I begin to cut.

 Sleeves cut-off, next................................ off with the neck!

 Now the neck section of the shirt is gone.

 Iron and flip it to the right side!

 Here it is!   Formerly a shrunken t-shirt, now converted into a washable market bag, knitting bag for whatever bag!

Enjoy!!!!

Great idea for old college t-shirts or team jerseys that you can't bear to throw away, but keep in a box in the closet or basement! 

They make great laundry bags, because you can throw them into the wash with your dirty clothes!  If you do use them for laundry, I suggest using Large or X-Large to hold as much laundry as possible.

Today we have snow

WOW! 

Let it Snow

Let it Snow

Let it Snow

I LOVE IT!!!

16-18" and it's still coming!

Here Comes Danaclaus....Here comes Danaclaus

Here comes Danaclaus and of course he arrives on a BMW F650..........

Holiday Popovers

Holiday Popovers!  One of our favorites.  We are lucky enough to enjoy prime rib at home on Christmas day and we like Popovers with our dinner. 

Let me share the recipe with you it's super easy!

Here's the list of ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of cold milk

1 1/2 cups of flour

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons of butter for the pan(s)

1/2 - 1 tsp kosher salt

4 large eggs

You will need either a popover pan (like the one I use, or you can use a muffin tin if that's all you have).

Pre-heat your oven to 450.  Put cold two tablespoons of butter divided between the muffin tin (popover) cups and place the tray in the oven with the butter to get heated up.

Melt the other two tablespoons of butter in either the microwave or on the stove top and set aside.

In a mixer (or easy to do by hand):

Mix together your flour, milk and salt.

Mix in the melted two tablespoons of butter

Now start your mixer on low to get the ingredients combined.   

 Once the initial ingredients are combined start dropping in your eggs, one by one while the mixer is going.

 Make sure your oven is up to 450 degrees.  If it is, open the oven and take out your tin with the hot (may be browned) butter.  pour the mix into the cups.

I have a popover tin, and I fill the tins up about half way (as you can see, neatness is not important).  Place the tin back in the over and turn on your timer for 20 minutes at 450.  After the first twenty minutes, turn your oven down to 350 for another 20 minutes - But don't open the oven.  The popovers should pop in the first 20 minutes, then for the second 20 minutes they bake.  If they didn't pop try refrigerating your mix before you place it into you hot pan.

Here's the secret:  Your pan has to be super hot, and the grease in your pan has to be super hot.  The mix has to be cold or at least cool (hence "cold" milk).  You can make Yorkshire pudding by using the grease drippings from your meat, but I have to warn you, I've never had good results from grease. :-( 

When you pull them out, you should be ready to eat, because you won't be able to wait! 

 YUM, warm and crisp......Here they are.

 The fun is in opening up the steamy popover and adding butter so it melts immediately.  If you like you could add jam or preserves.

Here's Dan breaking into his - can you see the steam?  Have to go, dinner is served!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!

AN IRISH CHRISTMAS BLESSING

 

The light of the Christmas star to you

The warmth of home and hearth to you

The cheer and good will of friends to you

The hope of a childlike heart to you

The joy of a thousand angels to you

The love of the Son and

God's peace to you.

 

Happy Christmas Friends!

Granny Panties

This is what the Urban Dictionary has to say:

1. granny panties

1)A term to describe the kind of women's underpants that are considered "uncool" if you're under the age of 60, or something. In this aspect they are similar to tightie whities for boys. Granny pants are usually high cut, with a highly elastic waistband that will come up to at least your belly button. They may also come in floral patterns, pink patterns, or other "old lady" looking styles- just like any other type of underwear, actually, anything's possible stylewise.


People who wear granny underwear usually wear it because


A) their mom bought it for them


B) they don't like thongs or bikini cuts


C) they're playing some kind of sport (oh, c'mon, you don't seriously think that all female athletes wear thongs, do you? Most "sporty" girls underpants are NOT thongs or really low cut.)


D) they just like them and don't care what others think.

There they are!  One giant Size XL Granny Panties.  That's what my sister got from my mom for Christmas!  Yep, my sister Peg (not an XL at all) but she got an XL size White pair of Granny Panties! 

 

Party on Peg!

IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE

Living for today.

You may say that I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

and the world will be as one

GURLZ

Enjoyed a Girls weekend.  My sister Peg, my nieces, Colleen (Goddaughter), Trisha and Maggie!!

We had such great fun, I just wish it lasted longer..........................................


I love you all and miss you already!

Had to Share

Sometimes I see a photo that speaks to me  ...........................



My husband spent a couple of months in South America and tooks thousands of amazing photos.  This is just one.  Look at the Mountains in the background of this photo.  Amazing.



Turkey Blues are over!

In Quechee - What fun!  and just for added interest we had a dusting of snow!

But now, what do we do with all the leftover turkey?  Here's an idea for you I saw on a daytime cooking show (I call it recycling recipies).  

One dish meals - gotta love this - under a half hour to prepare!

I started with sweating some onions and celery in a cast iron frying pan.  I used a piece of the skin of the turkey leftovers for the fat to flavor the onions and celery.  I turned the Oven on to 400 to preheat.

While this is going on, I take the time to cut up about two cups of chopped turkey.  I used a blend of white and dark meat, but you are welcome to use whatever part(s) of the turkey you like!

 Then, I added some Bar-B-Que sauce.  I would normally make my own, but a friend from St. Louis (Kelly, you know who you are) sent me this and I think it may be the Bar-B-Que sauce I've ever (ever) tasted! YUM. 

 Here's the website if you are interested in ordering some.  Kelly sent me the Sweet and Spicy, but I looked and I think they offer four or five different types.  And the prices are very reasonable!   http://www.bandanasbbq.com/html/Merchandise-products.html

 So mix in a bit extra to Bar-B-Que sause t ocarry the dry topping, just be careful to not overdo it too much!  Then I mix up a batch of Corn Bread.  (Here's a hint, I add a tablespoon of honey to my cornbread to keep it moist and add some sweetness - I use local Vermont honey, but use whatever you have).  When you mix up the batter, make sure not to over mix and try to keep the batter on the dryer side so it doesn't seep into your mixture.

Take your Turkey with the Bar-B-Que sauce added and put it in the skillet.  I also added a bit of stuffing, but you can add some leftover veggies if you like or whatever......

Pour your Cornbread mix over the top of everything.  Then moving quickly - take your whole skillet and place it in the over at 400 degrees for about 22-25 minutes (depending on the oven).  You want your cornbread browned but not overcooked!

 And when it comes out of the oven yo will have a sweet yummy meal - all in one dish!!



FUN IN THE SUN!

 CANCUN!  What a great time of the year to travel to the coast!  This is obviously their low season and I felt like we had most of the beach to ourselves.  The Water was sooooo warm, and the sun was out every day!  We stayed in the hotel district and I'm happy to share my experiences with anyone who is interested!!    I feel like this picture captures the beach the best.

The seas were very active while we were there and getting in and out of the ocean was a workout, but well worth it.

Here's my hubby catching a few zzzzzz's on the lounger.

We spent a day on Isle Mujeras and learned about the giant sea turtles and their struggle for survival.  This poor little guy couldn't make it past the giant surf and that makes him a great target for pelicans and other prey. So the life guard offered to put him back in the ocean at night when the surf is lower and he's less of a target.

 This is the view from our veranda, and I'm missing it already!!

Can't wait to make another trip back to the warm weather and ocean, but for now, I have to tough it out in the freezing temps of beautiful New England. 

Adios Mexico!

Mom Bleepin Said What????

"I can't come for Thanksgiving, I'm too old to drive alone."

Okay, I understand.  What did you do today.

"Oh I drove to New York City, then to Long Island, then I went to the Bronx, then I came back home [to Connecticut]."

Seriously??????????

**BLEEP** My MOM Says 2

from one of my sisters (sorry to whomever I accidentally deleted).......

We took my mother to an interactive dinner theater show called Finnegan's Wake. People write a short (hopefully) eulogy about Finnegan and then a lucky leprechaun calls you up to read your eulogy in front of the whole crowd. We sat halfway to the back of the room - stage left.

Announcer (large leprechaun) stands up and says "I'm having trouble reading the name here.........."
Mom yells, that's me....
I say "No, mom your name's not Doris"
Mom yells again, "that's me...." and makes her way through the crowd.
I say "No, mom not you............"   but she doesn't listen
gets to the front, rips the paper rudely from the large leprechaun's hand and stares at it for a few seconds and steps up to the microphone and says,

  "Oh, this is not me!! "


Leprechaun mouths the words    " W T F"

Thanks Ronnie - great memories!

HELLO DOGGIE!

I'm a Dog Person............

 And these two ..........

Are People Dogs!

**BLEEP** My MOM Says

Okay, I want to fix up my single mother with Justin Halpern's Dad. Justin is the author of the Twitter account called "shitmydadsays". Now a sitcom on CBS Starring William Shatner as the no-filter, careless papa. Well, my mom could give him a run for his money.

Personally, I'd love to lock them in a room together and have a hidden camera running just to see who can keep up with the Jones.

Now I will say; Justin's dad has a mouth that could make a sailor blush, and my mom is more like a hallmark card (a wrong, disfunctional, but sometimes funny hallmark card).

So I'm asking my brothers and sister to join me in this quest to publish and hopefully keep for our future gens the "shitmymomsays". Cause she can be, well, funny sometimes.

Let's start with my sister Peg! Peg is my slightly older sister. Easy going, lots of fun, working mother of four and always heartily laughing

Mom says:

"Oh My God Peg! What happend to your face. You are all wrinkled up, you look terrible! I don't have any wrinkles at all, what the hell happened to you?"



Dudleytown 1990 - A haunted Halloween

Dudleytown, Connecticut - 1990 - Do you remember?
A haunted ghost town in Northwest CT.
For Halloween that year, we decided to take a trip, lucky for us, our friend John had a comfy couch in the back of the pick-up.
Yes, when I was younger, you could do this..........and not get pulled over.

Rumor has it this was the site of a 1660 settlement where everyone died. Legend has it that if you remove anything, a twig a rock or a leaf from Dudley town, bad luck will find you!

When you are there, it is erilie quiet! If you are superstitious, only go during the day time. Watch out for alters of satan worshipers and satan sites other visitors may have left behind.

Blair Witch has competition. Here's the picture! Enjoy

HALLOWEEN

By Now you know

I love

Halloween

REALLY

LoVe

HALLOWEEN

But where I live,

if I get one trick or treater

I'd think Trick not Treat

This makes me sad

I made these luminaries many years ago,

AND

Every Year

They sit lit on my porch

B E C K O N I N G

To any little Costumed

GOBLIN or GHOST

willing to stop in

WE GIVE OUT BIG COOKIES

AND BIG BAGS

of White Cheddar Popcorn

HOW VERMONT OF ME???

Oh well, there's always next year...........

HOCUS POCUS

Actually all the witches are in.  Take a look into our crystal ball to see what magic we encoutered recently on our trip to Salem Mass.

It started out harmless enough, the three older witches (look a bit like Hocus Pocus?) and our two young apprentices (Maggie and Trish).

We sat around the caldron casting some spells and sharing Wiccan humor, but the night was turning out to be a bust................. 

So we all hopped on a broom (conservation and all) and took a quick spin over Salem Mass for the family holiday celebration (Halloween).  That's when things started to go downhill...............

 First we let Peg steer, had we known what she was up to earlier in the evening........... Here she is with the Black Cat,  drinking some of her witches brew.................. 

 Ronnie gives me the bird (get it?)

 The apprentices found the Glog Stash...............

 Meanwhile we were flying under a full moon.....................................whith Peg at the helm.

It was a fun night all in all, but when the WFA (Witches Flight Association) gets a hold of these pictures, Peg's broom will probably be taken away for another sixty days!  DARN!

 Let's just say, we weren't flying right!

S

 Note to Self:  Make  more Brew!