Twelve Month Tree

Good Wednesday morning!

Brrr! Today's Gallery pics are a hodge-podge. The first one is from our windshield yesterday morning. Don't worry. I was able to see very clearly through part of the windshield. (It was Austin's job to warm up the big gold van last year, and I'm about to transfer this honor to Josh... beginning today.)

I've also included a few pictures of a new craft I'm trying. I'll have more details below.

NOTE TO DEBBIE - Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it very much. Always feel free to add ideas to the blog any time you want. I know you have a million of them.

NOTE TO CARMEN - I do NOT have a good dressing recipe. My mother and grandmother have a good dressing recipe, but they are the only ones who make it each year. My sister and I have not yet been invited. However, I can give you a deviled egg recipe (and I will do so next Tuesday, I think). Thanks for the link. I'm going to check it out, and I'll probably be sharing it Thursday with Blog Linkage.

NOTE TO PATTI - Yes! I want your Christmas cards! Thank you for thinking of me.

I've decided to add a few more random thoughts today. My mind is not at all focused since school has started. Perhaps it will get better as the week continues, but between you and me... I doubt it.

RANDOMNESS #1 - I love walking in the parking lot of Target in the bitter cold, and when the doors open feeling that blast of warm air. LITTLE SECRET - Sometimes I come out, stand there a few minutes and then walk through the doors again... just for fun!

RANDOMNESS #2 - I've decided The Boy cannot come home for Spring Break or Summer or Christmas Break again. It's just too horribly painful for me when he leaves. I haven't told him yet, so don't say anything until I give you the "okay."

RANDOMNESS #3 - I went to Target yesterday and checked out their $1 bins. (And walked in and out of the store to feel the burst of heat.) They had silicone heart-shaped ice trays AND muffin trays. The pictures above are of the muffin tray. I filled each heart 1/3 with water. I added two drops of red food coloring. I then put a Christmas tree ornament hook half in the water and half out. This morning, I am going to pop them out and hopefully, they will be beautiful red, heart-shaped ice ornaments for the tree beside my deck. Or not. It's an experiment, and I will let you know how it turns out.

Good News - If it does turn out well, the ice ornaments will last for several days because the temp is not supposed to get above freezing.

Bad News - No one really cares in the Faulkner Five because they are not five years-old any longer. I'll be pretty excited... and maybe Sparkle and Copper will show a little interest, but that's about it. I'm doing this for all the people out there who have little ones. You know me. I'm a giver.

Wednesday Wisdom - I found the sweetest quote about snow. I loved it, and will share it with you now.

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?" J.B. Priestley.

Do you love it? It so describes a snowfall (of any kind) in Alabama... "a magical event." We'll see... we'll see.

Twelve Month Tree

If you have a small table-top tree or a pencil tree, why not keep it up all year long and decorate according to the month?

January - Snowflakes
February - Hearts and Valentines (The ones your children receive at school would be great.)
March - Shamrocks
April - Silk Flowers
May - Butterflies
June - Flip Flops and Miniature Beach Balls
July - American Flags
August - Pencils, Small Books and School Supplies
September - Sports Tree (Football, Soccer or Volleyball paraphernalia)
October - Fall Leaves and Pumpkins
November - Turkey Feathers and Miniature Turkeys

Of course, leave the twinkle lights on. Leave the tree in a place where the family can enjoy it all year long, and always allow the kids to help decorate... even if it isn't perfect.

Have a lovely Wednesday. Today is the day I go to Wal-Mart for my milk and bread, so I'll probably see many of you there. Tomorrow I have a lot of Blog Linkage to share, as well as a fun winter date. Until then, stay warm and cozy.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

Snow Cream

Good Tuesday morning!

The Gallery Pics today are of food prepared BEFORE I received my new cookbook. Tomorrow, I'll have pics of some of my new dishes. Fascinating!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Today Josh and Roxie went to school. They didn't go willingly or excitedly, but they did go. I made them tell me one thing they were looking forward to today DURING school... Josh is looking forward to Athletics and Roxie is looking forward to Basketball and Visiting. Not exactly the scholarly answers I wanted to hear, but I'm also glad they didn't run into the frigid cold yelling, "Hurry up, Mom! I've got to get away from here!" I take what I can get.

RANDOMNESS #2 - You know the movie Julie and Julia which I talk about occasionally (Code for EVERY DAY) on A Simple Life? Well, I'm on the way to writing my own screenplay called "Belinda and Ree" or "The Enchanting Belinda and The Pioneer Woman." The first four days of the new year I have made Eggs in the Hole, Prune Cake (delicious, by the way), Chocolate Sheet Cake (more delicious, by the way) and Macaroni and Cheese (unbelievable, by the way). My people are calling Amy Adams' people to see if she'll play me in the movie version. And I'm hoping The Pioneer Woman's people see all of this as a giant plug for her wonderful cookbook and do NOT sue me.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Austin's college roommate, Kris, came to dinner last night (and enjoyed the mac and cheese and chocolate sheet cake... with some other stuff). I couldn't have hand-picked a nicer roommate for Austin's first year away from home. Polite, funny, personable, mature and did I say polite? We all liked him very much. After dinner, he, Austin and Josh played X-Box and watched football (until Josh has to excuse himself... school, you know).

My favorite part of the entire evening was when Roxie (out of the blue) asked Kris during dinner, "Are you a smoker?"

We already knew he was not a smoker or a drinker or any of the other things you don't want your kid or kid's roommate to be, but he answered, "No. I just don't see the point. You know?"

To which Roxie nodded in approval, and said, "I know." Is she going to make a great mom one day, or what?

RANDOMNESS #4 - Since Austin and I have one more day before he heads back to school, we're going shopping for a couple of shirts, out to eat for lunch, and I'm making Eggs in the Hole for dinner tonight because he missed it when I served it the first time.

RANDOMNESS #5 - In preparation of the beginning of the last season of Lost, I am renting the DVDs and watching last year's season once again to try to get my brain in gear for what I'm assuming is going to be a "bumpy ride." I will officially begin tomorrow when the house is totally quiet, and I will iron and watch until I get it. (I should be totally caught up with my ironing by the end of the second day!)

Let's learn a little more about our Special Guest, Robin, shall we?

21. How many times have you moved since you've been married?

Five times.

22. Are you a "glass half-full" person or a "glass half-empty" person?

Half-full, I think.

23. What is your favorite stage of a child's life (baby, elementary or teenager)?

The inside-out stage... inside the womb OR out of the house. (Good answer.) I am only kidding. Each child has a different stage that I like best, so I better not elaborate in case they read this. (Hmmm. I may have to give her a call, and get an answer in private for this one. I'm curious.)

24. Name one of your top five embarrassing moments.

When we first married, Allen worked at Dawson Memorial Baptist. This was during the time that Dr. Landrum Leveall was interim pastor. Well, his wife, who was always meticulously and impeccably dressed, held a Sunday night session for wives, and I anxiously attended. I arrived dressed in my limited newlywed wardrobe and sat down on the front row. As she began her session, I looked down and was horrified to find I had on one navy shoe and one black shoe. (I'd like a show of hands of anyone else who has experienced this... myself included. My hand is definitely up!)

25. What would your dream job be (if education and talent had nothing to do with it)?

Trophy Wife, which really requires no education or talent. Okay, okay. I would love to write children’s books and have Adam illustrate them. Seriously.

26. If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be?

Beach Volleyball. They have killer bodies. (Oh, but the sand in the teeth! I couldn't truly appreciate my killer body with all the sand in my mouth.)

Robin added this question herself... and I liked it.

27. What is something most people don’t know about you?

I was in a garage band in high school. (How cool is that? I am uber impressed.)

Thank you for being my January Special Guest, Robin. You did an outstanding job... as always. Your picture will remain the rest of the week, so enjoy your notoriety for a little while longer!

Snow Cream

Again, in preparation for the "Winter Weather Event" due Thursday and Friday of this week, I am posting a simple Snow Cream recipe. When you run out tomorrow to buy your milk and bread, pick up these ingredients as well.

You will need:

1 gallon fresh "clean" snow
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar OR 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup half-and-half

Mix and stir all ingredients well. Put into freezer until firm. You can also add chopped nuts, chocolate chips or chocolate syrup for taste.

I used this recipe for two reasons.

1. It did not mention avoiding "yellow" snow one time. It used a little class and just emphasized "clean" snow.

2. Some of the recipes use raw eggs. I'm thinking since we're in Alabama in a snow storm and EVERY road is closed... Well, it might not be the time to be eating anything with raw eggs included. But that's just me.

Have a great Tuesday. Tomorrow I have a Winter Seasonal Tradition to try, as well as a little Wednesday Wisdom. It will be a relatively short post because I have to get my milk and bread, and that will be a big time-consumer tomorrow.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda