Country Pleasures

Another look at a farm girl's life, one who loves living in the country and everything is has to offer, good or bad, how else do we grow...

New Years eve.....

    Well, here it is, the end to another year, already! I can't say I'll miss 2005, such disaster, loss, and dispair for so many. Tonight instead of celebrating the tradional New Years eve way, we are having a birthday party for Heath, he's birthday is the 28th, but being so close to Christmas, he gets lost in the shuffle of the holidays and expense, so we usually have the weekend after so it can be more his day and we've gotten the whole gang together, again.  There is now 14 of us since Heath's engagment. He requested my homemade pizza ( smile) but since that would take alot of dough, I'm doing something a little different. Were making our own little pizza's out of pita bread, that way everyone can pick and choose their own toppings, I'll lay out a buffet of toppings and his second favorite dish, rigatoni and stuffed shells.  And then onto dessert, a double chocolate cake with a peanut butter center! Since this is the last day of the year, what better way to say goodbye to the fat food before we all start a better way of eating.  Happy New Year to all, stay safe and well!!

posted by: junebug at 20:20 | link | comments |

a new addition to the family...

   The family stomach bug has struck again, now claiming 9 if us so far! At least it's only a 24 hour virus, but still uncomforable. I"m up and about today, but could be doing better.

   Christmas day turned out to be a new beginning for our true middle son. With 5 kids between us, Heath is the true middle child, with 2 before him and 2 after him.  And he makes the third to take the plunge into marriage. He's been with Stephanie for 2 years now, so we knew it was coming sooner or later.  So, on the way to dinner on Christmas day, he popped the question and handed her a ring, and once at the family gathering, it was all he could do to show off the ring! So, we welcome another daughter in law to the clan, and after this year of two births, a wedding is overdue! Congraduations go out to Heath and Stephanie!!!

posted by: junebug at 19:29 | link | comments (3) |

post holiday rest

   I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, full of family, friends and good food, after all those are the gifts in life that we all deserve. Nothing compares to the faces of your grandkids as they tear open a gift, with three little  sweet ones of my own, this Christmas was extra special, and this time with them is a treasure! My most precious gift was photo's of them all.  Half of the family is sick with a nasty 24 hour stomach bug, I kept it at bay for 72 hours only to get hit this morning, so since our New Years resoluation is to lose weight ( isn't it always) no time like the present, if you can't keep anything down, it's a good time to cut back! So, after the rest, taking down the tree and getting the house back to normal, this girl will start a new way of life so I have more time on this earth with my sweet grandbabies! I'm always thinking positive, now to just get this body in motion, after the stomach bug.......

posted by: junebug at 20:52 | link | comments |

Christmas Eve.......

   I wish you all a very Merry Christmas full of love, peace and happiness. 

posted by: junebug at 21:29 | link | comments (1) |

a hecic haze......

   Apart of me gets more done in this last week before Christmas, and then again, apart of me feels like I'm running a marathon in a maze! I call it the hectic haze........the stores are crowded, I still need a few gifts, not to mention stocking stuffers, plus there's the food to buy and prepare. No wonder we only do this once a year! So, in case I don't get a chance to get on here before Christmas, may you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and look forward to a New Year full of hope and faith.  Merry Christmas to all and a nap for me!

posted by: junebug at 21:24 | link | comments |

gift ideas needed....

   With only days left to wrap up the gift buying, I am stuck on a couple of people. What do you get a maybe future daughter in law that you don't know real well and doesn't wear jewerly or makeup? And a oldest son who doesn't know what he wants or needs? I don't like to give gift cards, seems so inpersonal, I know they are handy and easy, but I don't always opt for easy, I like a challenge and I like to give something that will become a keepsake in most cases. Then theres the sweet hubby who wants everything that the budget can't afford.

   I got a Christmas bonus today from the lady who've I've been cleaning for now for almost 2 years, very generous and a surprise. She is such a joy and I have learned so much from her, she is the ideal " Mom" type, the kiss and hug she gave me as I left will last longer than the bonus.  I feel bad taking money for my service to these sweet people who have become such dear friends, I am blessed....  Got to make more eggnog fudge, I can't keep it in the house long enough to make gift baskets! I think I found a new Christmas tradition!

posted by: junebug at 20:52 | link | comments |

last week rush....

   The weekend didn't solve much gift buying, seems most stores were just rushed and out of alot. But we did enjoy a wonderful late lunch/early supper and the drive was fun coming home, my grand daughter loved seeing all the Christmas lights. I will fight the last week rush like alot of folks and get it done in time, and maybe find some good sales.

   We went to the Christmas cantata at one of my son's church, very nicely done, even if my grand daughter Chloe slept through most of it, but once awoke, she got into the music and spotted her mommy singing on stage, pretty good for a 5 month old. Sad news today, we lost a neighbor, didn't know him all that well, but he would honk every time he went by the house, always brought us excess produce from his garden, and Wes helped him many times putting up his hay. He was a kind man, and the news came as a shock, it was always his wife that was ill. I feel so bad for her, alone now. Losing someone is always hard, harder too this time of year. Two years ago I lost my very best friend in the world, right before her birthday ( this week) and Christmas too. We've been best friends since 1972.  Make the most of the time you have with family and friends, it doesn't last forever.....

posted by: junebug at 20:47 | link | comments |

T.G.I.F.

   Don't we all just love Fridays! I'm ready for the weekend too, catching up on some sleep, my nasty cough has kept me awake the last  few nights and I'm getting a little punchie! Also going to wrap up Christmas shopping, taking my oldest son, wife and the grandkids down to our old stomping grounds for a day of shopping and lunch, should be fun and the drive is beautiful, esp. going over Lake Norfolk. Will sure be thinking about the dam that burst the other day as we drive over the lake, can't imagine losing 1.5 billion gallons of water, it took a brick house down to ground level, sending 3 young kids to the hospital. Another disaster added to the growing list of this year.

   I got a nice email from a fellow " farmgirl" who tried my tea jelly recipe and loved it, she took her first batch to her yoga session and ended up selling it all, and has orders for more, I feel honored and thrilled that one of my recipes helped someone else make a few bucks in a time of need. Thanks Jenn, and welcome to the jelly makers world! I also have to report that the eggnog fudge I made yesterday was a big hit! Got to make more in fact, so if your looking for a quick gift idea, go ahead and steal my recipe, wrap it up in a nice festive tin like I did, and enjoy!

posted by: junebug at 21:06 | link | comments |

oh fudge!

   Now that I am home for the day, laundry in and doing it's thing, and checking the email, it's time to get busy making fudge for my gift baskets that I make every year and give to my clients who I clean for. This year I am trying all new fudge recipes, I'm making eggnog fudge and maple fudge, plus a 5 min. fudge that makes a 2 pound wreath that I got off of Oprah's show that featured her and Rachel Ray entertaining for the holidays.  I thought I'd share my recipe for eggnog fudge with you, and if you like eggnog, you'll REALLY enjoy this fudge.  Off to the kitchen....

Eggnog Fudge

1/8 c. butter, chilled

3 c. sugar

1 c. eggnog

6 oz. white chocolate chips

1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

1 c. almonds, chopped

1/2 t. each nutmeg, cinnamon

Line a 9x9 cake pan with aluminum foil, set aside. Spray sides of a large sauce pan with butter flavored non stick spray. Add eggnog and sugar, bring to a rolling boil over med., stirring. Boil for 2 min. Fold in marshmallows and spices and boil for 6 min., stirring. The mixture will start to turn brown, this is normal but if you see brown flakes trun down heat. Remove from heat and add butter, chips and nuts. Stir till mixed well, pour into prepared pan and cool at room temp. Cut.

posted by: junebug at 20:48 | link | comments |

merry mailbox.....

   Tis the season for Christmas cards arriving!! I just love to open my mailbox to find Christmas cards sent from family and far off friends, some who I only hear from this time of the year, but that is ok, catching up with old friends is worth the year long wait.  My mailart group at the farm ( Mary Janes Farm ) is still cranking out beautiful pieces of personal art, and some of us " farmgirls" are exchanging Christmas cards, plus sending some to special needs friends of friends, who may or may not recieve any cards at all. One lady is battling breast cancer and her spirits have been raised through our cards sent. A simple Christmas pleasure.......

   The fog froze this morning, very pretty, something you don't see too often. A natural masterpiece if you ask me. Always something new from day to day if you choose to look closely. Mother nature may seem tired these last few months, sending us out of normal weather and mishaps, but she will always have my respect, I enjoy her moods. Must be why it was called Mother nature and Father time, they don't have the patience we do... he he

posted by: junebug at 15:07 | link | comments |

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