Recently, I found myself hurriedly walking through the local

Dollar Tree store.  I had a mission with limited time,

and up the third isle I went.  At the end of the one isle,

hanging on a long plastic strip was

something that caught my eye..."lip clips".

I smiled to myself and kept right on walking. 

Even though I continued on my mission, in the back of my

mind, I kept processing the concept of the

lip clips.  I concluded that they would be the

perfect thing for me to purchase at the beginning

of a new year.  With their tiny magnet on the back,

I would place them on my refrigerator, where they

would serve as a visible reminder to me.

I do need reminders about the power of words.  Being one who thoroughly
enjoys any and all conversations, I often struggle with what to say, when
to say it, and even if it should be said at all.  So friends, I purchased my very
first pair ever, of pink lip clips.

I want to share a few quotes I found in regards to this exact thing;

~"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right
    place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
    ~Dorothy Nevill

~"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
    how ye ought to answer every man."  ~Colossians 4:6

~"If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it".   ~Earl Wilson

~"Kind words do not cost much.  They never blister the tongue or lips.  They
    make other people good natured.  They also produce their own image on men's
    souls and a beautiful image it is."   ~Blaise Pascal

With the cold weather in the forecast for the New Year's Eve and Day, and the
possibility of more snow looming in the upcoming days, I wish you all warm moments
of peace and joy as you, along with all of me, usher in a brand new year.

Sounds like the perfect time for a cup of delicious tasting hot chocolate and some
good conversations to go with it. 

Blessings for you as you celebrate the arrival of 2014!  Thank you so
much for stopping by.  I would enjoy sharing a cup of hot chocolate and conversation
with each and every one of you, if that were possible.

Did you ever wonder what to do with your leftover dinner rolls?
Me too?  I just could not throw them away, even though they were a bit past their
freshness barometer.

In my recipe file, I have a recipe from a friend who, many years ago, shared the recipe of a
delicious breakfast casserole that she made.  I clearly remember when she made at least
ten of these casseroles for an event at our girl's school.  She had many requests for the
recipe.  I pulled it out of my file, knowing it called for a box of croutons.  I decided to
cut up the rolls and make my own croutons. 

I browned the cut up rolls in a frying pan, using a bit of olive oil to complete the job.

Using all the ingredients, I finished it, baked it, removed from oven and cooled it, and
then covered it lightly and put in the refrigerator overnight. I did it this way because time
demanded it, but the best way to make this recipe is to complete up to this point, cover
and put in refrigerator.  In the morning bake before serving.

The next morning, it traveled with us to our daughter and son-in-law's home.  My daughter
and I cut it into squares and heated it in the microwave, and breakfast was served.
We all agreed that it was as good as I remembered back the many years to the school's
breakfast.

Oven Eggs...recipe from Sue.

1 stick of butter
1 box of croutons
1 lb. of bacon
1 lb. of cheddar cheese (I used slices of sharp cheddar and 1/2 cup of shredded med. cheddar
7 eggs
2 1/2 cups of milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. mustard

Melt butter in 9 x 13 pan.  Put in the croutons, then cheese as next layer.  Pour the egg
mixture over it all.  Top with cut up cooked bacon.  Refrigerate overnight.
Cover with foil and bake at 300 degrees for an hour.

Look at this little guy's anticipation as he watches his mother cutting up his portion.

I had eight overly ripe bananas on my counter.  I found a recipe that sounded so good, and it
called for eight overly ripe bananas...imagine that!  You can find the recipe here
http://www.howdoesshe.com/10-neighbor-christmas-gift, "Roger and Pam's
banana bread", if you happen to have eight overly ripe bananas, and like moist,
delicious banana bread (buttermilk always makes bread more moist).
I enjoy finding and trying new recipes, especially when
I know I have food that needs to be used.

Slightly stale dinner rolls and overly ripe bananas equals a yummy breakfast.

 We traveled to celebrate Christmas with our middle daughter's family, on
Saturday.  We were met with two excited little ones.

And, it was early enough, that they were still in their Christmas pajamas.  It was a special
day that we spent with them.

As grandparents in today's world, we just are learning to

be flexible in how and when we celebrated our times together.

So we celebrated with one family on Christmas Eve

day, and the next family on the Saturday after Christmas,

and with our youngest daughter and son-in-law, we

celebrated via mail and Skype.

 

Actually, we are learning that flexibility seems to be the general

rule of thumb, in dealing with most of the happenings in daily life.

Would you agree?

 

As you can see, we treasure every memory of it all.

 

Wishing you a good Monday!

 

 

 

Oranges...I was told they were what my father-in-law

received for a gift when he was a young boy.  My

mother-in-law told me the other evening, that he was

a young lad when our country was coming out of the great depression,

and oranges were considered a treasure to be received.

 

Oranges...were a part of our simple celebration too,

on Christmas Eve morning.

They graced the center of the table during the breakfast...

...to being peeled into the kitchen trash can later in the morning.  I can't tell you how this
sight pleased me when I walked into my kitchen later in the morning and found these two.

...with the final detailed peeling taking place on the living room sofa (yes, it was
a special occasion and I was okay with peeling oranges on my sofa).  Who would have thought
that the sweet, little orange fruit would still be a favorite in our life today.  Some things just
never go out of style:)

Just a little something from the celebration we had in our home the day before Christmas.

Were oranges a part of your celebration too?

 I appreciate you all so much!  Wishing you and your family joy today!

Our oldest grandson is missing from this picture, but it is the only current family picture we have.

It is an overcast, rainy day today.

 

It is two days before Christmas.

 

The soft carols play on the radio.

 

There are things left to do, and a few packages left to wrap.

 

But, I decided to take this time to wish each and every one of you who

 

visit "just a little something for you", a

 

special Christmas celebration.

 

I don't know what your Christmas day holds for you this year,

 

but I do want you to know, whatever it is,

 

I appreciate you, your visits, and your kind comments here.

 

Thank you!

 

 

This is a quiet year for my husband and I.   Only some of our family will be here

this year.  But, that is okay, life has times like that.  Last evening they made paper

airplanes together.  Can you think of a better way to spend time together?

There is time to remember the real reason for the season.  This old manger

continues to offer inspiration to all who look at it.  In fact, I must tell you, I found

our youngest grand-daughter standing by it, staring at it, and singing "Away in a

Manger".  I can't tell you how that blessed my heart when I heard her

singing.

 

I wish for you some "Silent Night" moments of peace and beauty.  Some moments

of quiet reflection, and moments of unexpected joy on Christmas Day, even in the

midst of all your day holds.

Thank you for stopping here.

Homemade gifts are special.  Sharing one's "gift" of creativity is equally special.  It is one of the many highlights, for me, in visiting many of your blogs.

I have a thing for trees, but I must admit, I never thought about having a forest as
the centerpiece for our kitchen table.  Now I do, and I am so pleased with it.

Each tree is uniquely created and offers it's own simple beauty.

I like the different sizes and designs.

I thought I would show you how they looked with the flash(on the first picture), and with-
out the flash on this one.

Maybe I will add some greens and some faux snow...maybe not.  But, for now, I wanted
to share with you this unique and pretty gift from my friend Judy.  God has blessed her
with double doses of creative genes:)

Speaking of trees...I brought in red berries branches from the tree out front,
and placed them in my pretty white pitcher.  Another beautiful aspect of trees for this
blogger.

Happy Saturday!

The decorating touches of the season are placed.

The candy dish is full.

The gifts from Christmas past, are placed in full view.

And the ones from Christmas present, grace the side kitchen counter, offering temptation to
everyone who passes by.  Gifts from the kitchen of friends are so special!

A coating of snow is on everything, and the sunsets are more spectacular than ever!

Homemade cards are among the gifts of the season.  Tiny masterpieces of art from those who
sent them, and real treasures to those who receive them.  And yes, there is still "Joy" being
offered to the world, as it was hundreds of years ago in Bethlehem.  "Joy to the World"...
the song continues to fill the airwaves in department stores and car radios. 
Today, I am more thankful for the message of "Joy to the World",  than any
other aspect of this lovely Christmas season. 

"Joy to the World"

Joy to the world!  The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.

~Isaac Watts

No matter what you are facing, and I know many of you are facing huge hurdles in
daily life,  along with the busyness, the time crunches, and the endless decisions
we all are having to make...there is still "Joy to the World". 

The homemade wreath at the front door, welcomed us.  The candles cast their flickering
light on the newly fallen snow.  Every one walking in the sidewalk, to the front door, was
thankful they had been invited.

To the left, inside the door, was a beautifully decorated white and gold tree, with tiny white
lights gracing the fresh evergreen branches.

The hostess of the evening is a florist and the arrangements throughout the room, made
evident the fact that she is skilled in that field.

The dining room table was exquisitely set, including the centerpiece she cleverly designed.

We realized quickly, the love and attention to detail, that this hospitality communicated.

The cranberry jelled salad, was the best recipe I had ever tasted in that category.  She said it was
one of her mother's special recipes.

 

The delicious chocolate black forest cake, was so moist and delicious!

Their youngest daughter made it for all of us.  What a special treat it was! 

 

 

The handsome host of the evening.  He and his wife offered warm, gracious hospitality to
every one of us, along with his uncanny sense of humor, which only added to the fun.

 

 

The lovely, caring, and kind hostess of the evening(left), and me,

one of the grateful guests. 

The two of us have been friends since we were sixteen years old.

I continue to learn so much from her, in her many areas

of expertise.

 

 

 

On the kitchen counter was the cupcake holder I had made for her a few years ago, it's
colors adding to the ambience of the open and spacious kitchen.

Everywhere were evidences of the fact, that this couple's faith, energy, and love went into
welcoming us and making every one feel so thankful to participate in such a memorable
evening.

"Christmas is a time to do special things for people we love.  It is a time for building
and enjoying traditions that, in the long run, bind families and friends together.  It is
a time for mysterious bundles and expressions of love.  It is the time to extend the
warmth of our personal hearth to those who are outside in the cold."
~from "The Welcoming Hearth" by Elizabeth R. Skoglund

My youngest sister is the amazing photographer who so skillfully captured everyone of
these pictures, and shared them with us.  I thought maybe you would enjoy seeing them
too.

So thankful that you stopped by here today.
 
My uncle captured my new header picture recently, and I thought it was too beautiful to
not share it, despite the fact, that try as I may, I could not get it centered as it should be.

Last evening, the snow and ice came.  Quietly, softly, and without much fanfare it came and
covered everything.

This morning sights were breathtaking!

In the midst of the busyness and demands of the season, cancellations
and postponements filled the television and radio air waves.

Another gift of time was
provided for us.  In amateur style, I attempted to capture a bit of the awesomeness
of it all.

Every berry, every branch, limb, plant, weed, and bush were glistening in the morning sunlight.

 

Please forgive me for sharing a few more bird pictures, within a week's time, but I could not
help myself.

The stores are filled with "red and green", but nothing in their shelves and isles, could possibly
compare to what I captured this morning.

Red, white, and green...exquisitely nature exhibits it's own Christmas colors.  That gift
of  beauty cannot be purchased, hung up, or set on shelves for all to see.  No...it is provided
as a simple gift for all of us, to serve as a reminder, that God is the author and designer of
true beauty.

"If you get simple beauty and naught else,

 

You get about the best thing God invents."

 

~Robert Browning

 

Wishing you joy in the midst of whatever it is your day holds.  I pray God provides you
with a glimpse of exquisite beauty today, and in that moment I pray that your heart will
be blessed and your spirits lifted.