Saturday, December 27, 2008

Nothing like the Smell of Home Made Bread

90 Minute Bread

5 cups warm water
5 Tbsp. yeast (6 pkg.)
1 heaping tsp. salt
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
5 Tbsp. shortening
8 – 9 cups Flour (I needed more)

Dissolve the yeast in water. Add shortening, salt, sugar and ½ of the flour. Continue mixing until batter is smooth. Add rest of the flour until there is a soft dough but not sticky. Put in a large bowl, cover and let rise for 15 to 30 minutes. Punch down and knead on a floured surface. Divide dough into four loaves and place in greased bread pans. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove bread from pans immediately after taking out of the oven.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Second Challenge #2

JCS 2001 Christmas Special Issue

The Sweetheart Tree

Designer: Sandra Cox Vanosdall

Stitched on 14 Ct. Aida

DMC Floss

Challenge # 2












Michaels Free Project Sheet

12/30/02

Stitched on 14 Ct. Aida

DMC Satin Thread and Metalic Floss

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas 2008 Pajamas


Grandpa was even surprised to get some PJ's this year. I think the kids liked matching Grandpa and each other.

My Christmas Memories


This year, Ashley and Marissa gave me a book that had all the kids Christmas pictures with Santa in it and all or their favorite Christmas memories. This was priceless to me sense I had been feeling like no one cared what I did each Christmas. So with this in mind, I did this:
Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. If there are boxes I usually wrap but if there are odd sizes or small things, bags work great.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Now that we live here in Arizona I have gone artificial. I do miss the real trees and going to Carnation to cut it ourselves.
3. When do you put up the tree? First weekend of December. If it is real, we wait a bit later because it gets so dry here in AZ.
4.When do you take the tree down? Sometime after Christmas. Will keep it up for Marissa coming on the first this year.
5. Do you like eggnog? I used to but got tired of it over the years. (store bought)
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Spirograph. I loved play with it.
7. Hardest person to buy for? SIL.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Marissa, she needs a lot being on the East coast.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, Many.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Still working on it for this year.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don’t really remember but I did get a few things that I have wondered what were they thinking.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Christmas Box. (I love the book, The Christmas Jar)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I don’t like to shop so I am looking all year long for gifts. Most of the time, I make gifts and I work on them all year long.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, usually a white elephant type party.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I like the Eggs Benedict Christmas morning that DH fixes. It is a special treat and a wonderful tradition.
16. Lights on the tree? Small clear lights that come with the artificial tree.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like the Hymns but enjoy Faith Hill’s Christmas CD.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at Home. I’m the grand ma and they come to me.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Most of them, I just try and sing the song. LOL
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Normally it is Christmas day, but this year we did it Christmas Eve because of our Children’s schedules.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The commercialism and crowds everywhere you go.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? No specific but ornaments that I have collected from all the places we have traveled over the years and the ones I have made.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A prosperous New Year.
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? I usually put an angel but this year I couldn’t reach the top so it is bare.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Traditionally we have Turkey.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Blessings of Having the Internet

I was sent this by a special friend and thought I would add it here. I had been thinking these last few days how nice it is to stay connected to family and friends when we aren't able to be together. It has even enable me to find family that I haven't seen or talked to for many years. When doing Family History, I have felt a bond to my family and greater sense of bridging the gap between past and present. The other blessing is the opportunity to have access to geneology records. Marissa has been a wonderful example of doing Family History and I appreciate her helping me catch the vision of the work that needs to be done. So here is to all my family and friends that I am able to be with, even if it is only on the Internet.

To God.com
Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:
God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.
Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord..
You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits 'send'.
When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to GOD.com
AMEN

Monday, December 1, 2008

Preparing for Christmas

I saw this and thought I would use this to get ready for Christmas. Sense this year I wanted to put more emphasis on the real purpose of the Holiday. I like this because it goes along with the 12 days of Christmas I did for Seminary/Missionaries.
Here are Scriptures for the Month of December:

1 1 Nephi 11:14-20
2 Matthew 25:37-40
3 2 Nephi 9:21
4 Isaiah 9:6
5 Enos 1:5-8
6 Moroni 7:33
7 Helaman 5:12
8 3 Nephi 13:19-20
9 D&C 88:7-11
10 Alma 7:7
11 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
12 Mosiah 3:5-6
13 Ether 3:14-15
14 2 Nephi 33:10
15 Mark 10:44
16 Matthew 18:20
17 3 Nephi 1:13
18 Mosiah 15:1
19 Alma 36:18-22
20 2 Nephi 26:24
21 Matthew 24:42
22 2 Nephi 31:20
23 Matthew 11:28
24 3 Nephi 1:13
25 Luke 1:10-11
26 John 1:45
27 Mosiah 3:20
28 Acts 1:11
29 John 14:14
30 Luke 2:19
31 John 14:18,27