Pick Up Sticks

Back to Reality

Jan. 2, 2009

Well it was a rough morning getting up today and heading back to work.  After a long New Year’s Day, I struggled to get moving.  I hate to have to head off to work when my hubby has the day off – it just seems so unfair!  But he has a busy day planned.  He is heading off to Best Buy to pick up a new 42” TV which was a surprise present for our new room from my parents.  He is also installing a new faucet in the kitchen along with an under-the-sink water filter.  He is going to finish cleaning up after our party…most everything was washed and put away last night before we went to bed except two crusty crockpots which were soaking and some glassware that needs to be put away.

 

The large crusty crockpot held a family favorite – not one I’ve made before but one of my hubby’s Aunt’s recipes – Cottage Potatoes.  Actually for years she has brought it to family gatherings and I have never tasted them…they always get eaten within 15 minutes by everyone else.  My niece often makes them as well and I tasted one small bite at our family’s annual Memorial Day picnic last year.  So I decided to make them for New Year’s and doubled the recipe since they always go so fast.  Believe it or not there was one small bowl left at the end of the day – probably because our youngest son wasn’t there to eat his portion.  The recipe is an interesting mix but surprisingly good – although very fattening.

 

Aunt Barbara’s Cottage Potatoes

6-8 boiled potatoes (cubed)

1 med. onion (diced)

1/2 lb. velvetta cheese (cubed)

3 slices bread (cubed)

1/2 cup melted butter

Parsley

salt and pepper

Toss all ingredients into a greased baking dish.

Top tossed potatoes with 1 Cup milk and sprinkle corn flakes over all.

Cover and bake at 350 for 30-45 mins.

Uncover and bake 5mins or more to brown. 

We usually make this ahead of time and then put in a crockpot for family.  If the potatoes get a little dry you can always add more milk to the mixture.  They are so yummy!

 

The other crusty crockpot was my Little Dipper.  I had never used this before but saw a recipe for a Pizza Fondue/Dip that sounded interesting and was so easy.  I used 1 cup of chunky tomato sauce, 1 cup of shredded cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella, parmesan and sharp cheddar) and about 15 slices of pepperoni – diced.  You just put this in a small crockpot and let everything melt together and then serve with whatever you want to dip…the recipe said crackers, breadsticks or tortilla chips.  I sliced up a crusty baguette and people loved it...I actually made 3 or 4 batches of it through out the day – heating it up in the microwave because it was faster – and then adding it to the crockpot.  By halftime of the game we were out of baguette slices and I cut up some of the crusty rolls and people used those.  It was a hit and so super easy and adaptable to your tastes – whatever kind of sauce or cheeses you like or had on hand.

 

We have lots of fun family gatherings as my hubby’s family is large – 4 boys and 10 grandkids –also known as the “cousins” – 9 boys and 1 beautiful young lady – although the boys are quite a nice looking bunch as well.  They range in ages from 30 down to 19 – the youngest being our youngest son.  They are a great group of kids and all get along very well and are very close – which is so nice.  Now there is a mix of wives and girlfriends - and one boyfriend -  and they get along as well.  They are a protective group and look out for one another even though they are spread out across the country – from PA to OH to CA. 

 

Love being a part of this family!

A New Year

Jan 1, 2009

The New Year was brought in quietly by just my hubby and me.  We went out to dinner – braving the bitter cold and high winds – and then settled in for a silly movie and a quiet evening.  Our youngest son was in NY visiting his girlfriend and he called after midnight to wish us a happy new year.

 

New Year’s Day had us up early cooking and getting ready for a houseful of family and friends for the Rose Bowl.  The game didn’t start until around 5 pm but people started coming around noon.  Lots of good food – hubby smoked 2 roasts and some sausage (which was delicious!), my sister-in-law brought her famous wings, and my brother-in-law brought the pork and sauerkraut.  We munched away all day and had so much fun – good times!  We even used our new room – in it’s unfinished stages with only subfloor and minus some moldings and siding.  But despite the extra room people still congregated in my tiny kitchen!  Sbove is a picture of the die hards - those of us who stayed until the bitter end of the Penn State game.  We are in our new room - notice the lovely floor and other unfinished bits!

 

My plan for the day was to put out the food and then curl up on the couch and relax, visit and knit.  Needless to say I didn’t sit all day!  There were too many people to visit with – moving from room to room – drinks to fill and hugs to give and receive.  We are a hugging bunch of people – even all of the cousins – who are mostly boys and now all but one in their 20’s (our youngest is the baby of them all at 19).

 

It was also a time to reflect for our family – one nephew wasn’t there as he is in the PA National Guard and will be deployed very soon so is in Ft Dix.  One young man at our gathering is in the Air Force and learned he will be deployed to Afghanistan in March.  He dates one of my nieces and we really have enjoyed getting to know him.  My nephew Chris is in the Marines and was home for the first time in years this Christmas – with his new wife.  Another nephew is in the Navy.  So much to be thankful for that they are all safe right now – and we pray for those leaving soon – for their safety and safe return – and an end to this war.

So a great start to our new year.

Sadness

Last night our lovely neighbor for the past 20 years passed away.  He and his wife were like extra grandparents to our family.  Our sons grew up following Bob around the yard as he gardened and worked around his house.  He always followed their sports and scoured the local paper for news of their sports and school accomplishments and then went out of his way to let them know he was proud of them. 

Bob and Millie had been married 66 years!  They fell asleep every night holding hands and did everything together. He was 90 years old - amazing!

We took Millie to the hospital last night - following the ambulance - and waited with her until her family arrived.  Soon after we received the news that he had passed.

We will miss him  dearly.

Glorious Day

Today was a glorious day with family, good food and wine.  We met our oldest son and daughter-in-law as well as their friends and our younger son at Adams County Winery near Gettysburg.  They were having  a concert at the winery with free tastings.  We all brought food to share and drank lots of good wine.  The band - Complete Circle - was wonderful.  The food was great.  The weather was gorgeous.  The company was superb!

My DIL (in the middle) and Son

  

My hubby, Jill and Tim.

 

My Silly DIL!

Me and my boys...I NEVER get my picture taken...so this is BIG - and so am I :(

Journals & Valentines

As I have talked about in the past my sister is very sick.  She has been battling - and I mean battling - her cancer for a little more than a year.  Right now she is in rehab hoping to regain her ability to walk after two  surgeries  since Thanksgiving to remove tumors from her spine.  She is amazing.  So many times she is hard on herself - too hard.  She apologizes for taking a nap after 4 hours of physical therapy or if she has a bad day and cries.  I always tell if she can't cry with all she has been through who can.  I cry after a bad day at work.

My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer last Spring.  She is done with treatments and is doing well right now.

These are two of the most important people in my life - the bestest of friends.  They have never met - but always ask about each other and pray for each other.

Last week I bought 3 journals - one for me, one for my sister and one for my friend.  In each of theirs I wrote a note - to Dream, Draw, Imagine, Journal.  While the notes gave the same message, each was written from the heart and personalized for each.  I told my sister to use hers to write about her joy and anger, her hopes and  dreams, her highs and lows, to plan her garden, to design her family room, to doodle and to have fun.  I mailed my sister's to her in a Valentine's Bag with candy hearts, sparkly goodies, colored pencils, regular pens and pencils and lots of colored sharpies. My sister hasn't received hers yet.  I hope she likes it and has fun with it.  I'll be visiting her this weekend so I can get her reaction.  My friend received hers as well wrapped up with the same goodies.  She loved it! 

I've started my journal.  I use it for ideas, thoughts, good quotes, pictures of things I covet - like clothes from J Jill which would never fit me, iron trellises for my garden - a recipe for hypertuffa containers for the garden.  I've doodled and pasted in my bits and pieces of things I've cut out.  I even have started carrying a small zippered bag with my journal that holds my colored pencils, wite out tape, a glue stick and pens.  I keep this and my journal with me all the time - just in case.

Have I said before that I love Valentine's Day?  Our oldest son - who will be 23 next month - was born on Vaentine's Day.  Since then I love to celebrate it.  This year I found lots of heart goodies to give as presents and to decorate my office. I found the Love Swag at Target for $1 and plan to use it in my home office/craft room swagged accross a shelf.  I also found cute t-shirts at Target for my daughter-in-law and younger son's girlfriend as well as some cute heart shaped measuring cups and spoons.  These will go to my son and DIL for their new apartment.