I'm so full of pumpkin pie from the last few days of dinners and leftovers, but I am quite content. I'm happy to be home, sitting at my desk, and not standing in a very long line at a department store. I did that Friday (which is still now, for me because I haven't been to bed), beginning at 5:15 a.m. I wasn't one of those determine folk that camped outside the stores, wanting to be first inside for a chance at the tv's, computers, and gaming devices.
I did feel really crowded, confined, immobile, at some points in time. Some of those shoppers were really honing in on what they wanted, and there was no stopping them from pushing through. I was really sad to read the article in the news about the Walmart worker who was trampled by anxious shoppers. That really sucks. There is no excuse for that behavior. It's just horrible. I feel sorry for that man's family. It makes me wonder about those people who just ran over him. I wonder if they realized what they were doing.
I just wanted some average gifts, like pajama's for my nieces, a few board games, and an *insert electronic device here* for my son. Though he has special needs, he is very bright and completely capable of figuring out just about any electronic device. He is also very capable of reading my blog, and does so, which is why I'm being super secretive about the electronic device in question. There were other items purchased which also shall go nameless.
Oh, and I also braved the walmart crowds in order to gain access to all of those $2 and $6 movies. I came home with 11 movies. Hah! Insane. I only spent $26 on them, so I feel pretty pleased with myself on that. Ten were $2 and the last one was $6. I was really tickled to get "I am Legend" for $6 because I'm a Will Smith fan, and I really like that particular film. I also got M.I.B., several Sandra Bullock films, a Johnny Depp, a Spiderman, Rocky, Angelina Jolie film, Sean Penn film, and several others. I was actually surprised to find movies that I like, because I thought they'd all be really awful films for that price. I'm giving about 1/2 of them away and keeping the rest for my family. Those Will Smith films are staying with me! I would part with it though if somebody had asked for one, because I would feel bad keeping it to myself then.
These are the pajama's I bought for one of my nieces:
I thought they were cute. There were actually quite a few Tinker Bell items. I found a tinkerbell hat, gloves, and scarf. She's just crazy about tinkerbell.
Mama's little baby loves shortnin shortnin.. Mama's little baby loves shortnin bread. Keep reading.
This will be the first in a long line of Christmas Cookie recipes that I am posting over the next 2-3 weeks time. Every year I make a list of recipes that I will be using, I purchase the ingredients, and I make hundreds of cookies. It's one of my favorite things to do. I like to make Christmas baskets and/or Hanukkah baskets, full of cookies and candies. I deliver them to friends and family. It's fun, and it's something I know that I can do to bring a smile to faces of people I know. I also am interested in giving them out to people in need, and hope to be able to do some of that this year as well. I work in the non-profit field, where I am able to gleen information about needy families, but I don't want to be intrusive, so I may give the cookies to community centers that serve low income clients instead. That way people can choose from them and take them home.
Here is the first recipe. It's one that I found online several years ago, for a simple shortbread cookie, and I must say that it is the most delicious shortbread cookie I've ever made. It's so simple that it's ridiculous. When I first found it, I said... "no, that couldn't be all there is to it", but it was, and it's so good. The title of the cookie is "Vel's shortbread recipe", and it belonged to a woman's grandmother. I don't know much more than that, but I could never change the title of it, because Grandma's are awesome. So here's to Vel, wherever she is, and I thank her for the great cookies.
Vel's Shortbread Cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 cups butter 1 cup brown sugar 5 cups sifted all-purpose flour
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until smooth. Sir in flour, and knead by hand until dough comes together. At first the dough will seem dry and crumbly but don't give up, keep mixing. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness, and cut with cookie cutters or press dough into shortbread molds. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on the size of your cookies. Do not let them brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Sometimes I frost these and decorate them, but other times we eat them just as they are, because the cookie has a lovely light butterscotch taste to it, from the brown sugar.
I find that every year I am wanting to be sure to catch the holiday specials on tv, but it always ends up that I have forgotten when they were on, so I missed out. My son and I love to watch the specials, so I'm pasting a list of "what's on" here, both for myself and anybody else that happens along. I'm not sure if I have any readers yet, but I'm enjoying myself just the same.
Holiday TV Specials for Nov 26-30 including channels and times shown:
Sons of Mistletoe ABC Family Nov. 26, 7pm The Christmas List ABC Family Nov. 26, 9pm The Christmas Secret ABC Family Nov. 27, 7am The Waltons: Thanksgiving Story Part 1 Hallmark Nov. 27, 8am The Waltons: Thanksgiving Story Part 2 Hallmark Nov. 27, 9am CBS Thanksgiving Parade CBS Nov. 27, 9am Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade NBC Nov. 27, 9am A Holiday to Remember ABC Family Nov. 27, 1pm Miracle on 34th Street (1947) NBC Nov 27, 2pm Unlikely Angel ABC Family Nov. 27, 3pm Christmas With the Kranks FX Nov. 27, 4pm Santa Jr ABC Family Nov. 27, 5pm Home Alone FX Nov. 27, 6pm Home Alone 3 ABC Family Nov. 27, 7pm Home Alone 4 ABC Family Nov. 27, 9pm An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Hallmark Nov. 27, 9pm Papa’s Angels Hallmark Nov. 27, 11pm Silent Night Hallmark Nov. 27, 1am Mrs. Santa Claus ABC Family Nov. 28, 7am The Waltons (Thanksgiving) Hallmark Nov. 28, 8am The Waltons: The Children’s Carol Part 1 Hallmark Nov. 28, 9am The Waltons: The Children’s Carol Part 2 Hallmark Nov. 28, 10am Snowglobe ABC Family Nov. 28, 11am Little House on the Prairie Hallmark Nov. 28, 11am Silent Night Hallmark Nov. 28, 1pm The Christmas List ABC Family Nov. 28, 3pm Papa’s Angels Hallmark Nov. 28, 3pm The Family Man ABC Family Nov. 28, 5pm Fallen Angel Hallmark Nov. 28, 5pm Silver Bells Hallmark Nov. 28, 7pm The Family Man ABC Family Nov. 28, 8pm A Boyfriend for Christmas Hallmark Nov. 28, 9pm The Santa Clause TBS Nov. 28, 9pm Fallen Angel Hallmark Nov. 28, 11pm Silver Bells Hallmark Nov. 28, 1am Santa Who? ABC Family Nov. 29, 8am Ms. Scrooge Hallmark Nov. 29, 9am Sons of Mistletoe ABC Family Nov. 29, 10am One Magic Christmas Hallmark Nov. 29, 11am Deck the Halls HBO Family Nov. 29, 11:30am A Boyfriend for Christmas Hallmark Nov. 29, 3pm Eloise at Christmastime ABC Family Nov. 29, 5pm Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Hallmark Nov. 29, 5pm Meet the Santa’s Hallmark Nov. 29, 7pm Deck the Halls HBO Family Nov. 29, 7pm Moonlight & Mistletoe Hallmark Nov. 29, 9pm All I Want for Christmas Hallmark Nov. 29, 1am Once Upon a Christmas ABC Family Nov.30, 8am Twice Upon a Christmas ABC Family Nov.30, 10am All I Want for Christmas Hallmark Nov.30, 11am Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Hallmark Nov.30, 1pm Meet the Santa’s Hallmark Nov.30, 3pm Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish ABC Family Nov.30, 4pm A Town Without a Christmas Hallmark Nov.30, 5pm Home Alone 3 ABC Family Nov.30, 6pm The Bishop’s Wife TCM Nov.30, 6pm Elf USA Nov.30, 6pm When Angels Come to Town Hallmark Nov.30, 7pm A Dennis the Menace Christmas ABC Family Nov.30, 8pm Finding John Christmas Hallmark Nov.30, 9pm A Dennis the Menace Christmas ABC Family Nov.30, 10pm A Town Without Christmas Hallmark Nov.30, 11pm When Angels Come to Town Hallmark Nov.30, 1am
Look at all of those! That's just for the rest of November, with the majority of them being shown this Thanksgiving weekend. I'll be dvr'ing a few of those.
Now for December....
Shrek the Halls ABC Family Dec. 1, 8pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ABC Dec. 1, 8pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ABC Family Dec. 1, 8:30pm Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Hallmark Dec. 1, 9pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ABC Family Dec. 1, 10pm Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Hallmark Dec. 1, 11pm The Polar Express ABC Family Dec. 2, 6pm The Polar Express ABC Family Dec. 2, 8:30pm Meet the Santa’s Hallmark Dec. 2, 9pm Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Hallmark Dec. 2, 11pm 12 Days of Christmas Eve USA Dec. 2, 2am Christmas in Rockefeller Center NBC Dec. 3, 8pm An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Hallmark Dec. 3, 9pm Silent Night Hallmark Dec. 3, 11pm Naughty or Nice Hallmark Dec. 4, 9pm Anne Tyler’s Saint Maybe Hallmark Dec. 4, 11pm Home Improvement TBS Dec. 5, 2:30pm Frosty’s Winter Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 5, 7pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ABC Dec. 5, 8pm Moonlight & Mistletoe Hallmark Dec. 5, 9pm A Grandpa for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 5, 11pm Scrooge TCM Dec. 5, 12am The Note Hallmark Dec. 5, 1am Christmas Every Day ABC Family Dec. 6., 7:30am Off Season Hallmark Dec. 6., 9am Home Alone 3 ABC Family Dec. 6., 9:30am A Christmas Memory Hallmark Dec. 6., 11am Home Alone 4 ABC Family Dec. 6., 11:30am Holiday Affair TMC Dec. 6., 12:30pm A Town Without a Christmas Hallmark Dec. 6., 1pm Finding John Christmas Hallmark Dec. 6., 3pm When Angels Come to Town Hallmark Dec. 6., 5pm The Note Hallmark Dec. 6., 7pm The Christmas Choir Hallmark Dec. 6., 9pm Silver Bells Hallmark Dec. 6., 11pm Home Alone 3 ABC Family Dec. 6., 12am Eloise at Christmastime ABC Family Dec. 7, 8:30am TV Land Merry-thon TV Land Dec. 7, 9am Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish ABC Family Dec. 7, 10:30am Anne Tyler’s Saint Maybe Hallmark Dec. 7, 11am Papa’s Angels Hallmark Dec. 7, 1pm Silver Bells Hallmark Dec. 7, 3pm A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 7, 5pm A Christmas Visitor Hallmark Dec. 7, 7pm The Christmas Card Hallmark Dec. 7, 9pm A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 7, 11pm ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ABC Family Dec. 8, 7pm Cranberry Christmas ABC Family Dec. 8, 7:30pm A Charlie Brown Christmas ABC Dec. 8, 8pm Jingle All the Way ABC Family Dec. 8, 8pm Ms. Scrooge Hallmark Dec. 8, 11pm A Garfield Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 7pm A Dennis the Menace Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 8pm A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 9, 9pm A Garfield Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 10:30pm Angel in the Family Hallmark Dec. 9, 11pm Three Wise Guys USA Dec. 10, 11am Mickey’s Christmas Carol ABC Family Dec. 10, 7pm Winnie the Pooh & Christmas Too ABC Family Dec. 10, 7:30pm Macy’s Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in NY NBC Dec. 10, 8pm Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town ABC Family Dec. 10, 8pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year ABC Family Dec. 10, 9pm Silver Bells Hallmark Dec. 10, 9pm Jack Frost ABC Family Dec. 10, 10pm Elf USA Dec. 10, 10pm Fallen Angel Hallmark Dec. 10, 11pm The Bishop’s Wife TCM Dec. 10, 11:30pm Elf USA Dec. 10, 2am Rudolph’s Shiny New Year ABC Family Dec. 11, 7pm The Year Without a Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 11, 8pm The Bells of St. Mary’s TCM Dec. 11, 8pm Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys ABC Family Dec. 11, 9pm Moonlight & Mistletoe Hallmark Dec. 11, 9pm ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ABC Family Dec. 11, 10:30pm Finding John Christmas Hallmark Dec. 11, 11pm The Holly & the Ivy TCM Dec. 11, 8pm The Christmas Choir Hallmark Dec. 11, 9pm A Christmas Visitor Hallmark Dec. 11, 11pm Frosty’s Winter Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 13, 7am The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold ABC Family Dec. 13, 7:30am The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 13, 8am The Little Drummer Boy ABC Family Dec. 13, 9am One Christmas Hallmark Dec. 13, 9am The Little Drummer Boy Book II ABC Family Dec. 13, 9:30am Pinocchio’s Christmas ABC Family Dec. 13, 10am The Story of the First Christmas Snow ABC Family Dec. 13, 11am All I Want for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 13, 11am Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey ABC Family Dec. 13, 11:30am A Garfield Christmas ABC Family Dec. 13, 12pm A Cranberry Christmas ABC Family Dec. 13, 12:30pm Jack Frost ABC Family Dec. 13, 1pm One Magic Christmas Hallmark Dec. 13, 1pm Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July ABC Family Dec. 13, 2pm ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ABC Family Dec. 13, 4pm Christmas in Connecticut TCM Dec. 13, 4pm Frosty’s Winter Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 13, 4:30pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year ABC Family Dec. 13, 5pm Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Hallmark Dec. 13, 5pm Elf USA Dec. 13, 5pm Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town ABC Family Dec. 13, 6.00pm It’s A Wonderful Life NBC Dec. 13, 7pm The Year Without a Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 13, 7pm All I Want for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 13, 7pm A Miser Brothers’ Christmas ABC Family Dec. 13, 8pm ‘Twas the Night HBO Family Dec. 13, 8:30pm The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Hallmark Dec. 13, 9pm The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 13, 9pm Eve's Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 13, 10 A Boyfriend for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 13, 11 Festival of Christmas Shorts TCM Dec. 14, 5:30am Jack Frost ABC Family Dec. 14, 7am Sons of Mistletoe ABC Family Dec. 14, 8am A Carol Christmas ABC Family Dec. 14, 10am Snowglobe ABC Family Dec. 14, 12pm Fallen Angel Hallmark Dec. 14, 1pm Santa Baby ABC Family Dec. 14, 2pm What I Did for Love Hallmark Dec. 14, 3pm Elf USA Dec. 14, 3pm Holiday in Handcuffs ABC Family Dec. 14, 4pm A Boyfriend for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 14, 5pm The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 14, 5:35pm Snow ABC Family Dec. 14, 6pm Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Hallmark Dec. 14, 7pm The Santa Clause 3 Starz Dec. 14, 7:20pm Snow 2: Brain Freeze ABC Family Dec. 14, 8pm Meet the Santas Hallmark Dec. 14, 9pm Snow 2: Brain Freeze ABC Family Dec. 14, 10pm The Road to Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 14, 10pm Naughty or Nice Hallmark Dec. 14, 11pm One Magic Christmas Hallmark Dec. 14, 1am Mr. St. Nick Lifetime Movie Dec. 15, 8am A Hollywood Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 15, 8:30am A Hollywood Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 15, 3:15pm A Song for the Season Lifetime Movie Dec. 15, 4pm The Man Who Saved Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 15, 6pm Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys ABC Family Dec. 15, 7pm Elf USA Dec. 15, 7pm I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown ABC Dec. 15, 8pm A Town without a Christmas Hallmark Dec. 15, 9pm Timepiece Hallmark Dec. 15, 11pm A Very Cool Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 15, 2am The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 16, 9:15am Borrowed Hearts Lifetime Movie Dec. 16, 6pm Mickey’s Christmas Carol ABC Family Dec. 16, 7pm Winnie the Pooh & Christmas Too ABC Family Dec. 16, 7:30pm Miracle on 34th Street (1994) HBO Family Dec. 16, 8:30pm Finding John Christmas Hallmark Dec. 16, 9pm The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 16, 9pm Home Alone 2 Encore WAM Dec. 16, 12:35am On the 2nd Day of Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 16, 2am A Fare to Remember Lifetime Movie Dec. 16, 3:50am The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 17, 6:35am The Christmas Secret ABC Family Dec. 17, 7am Home Alone 2 Encore WAM Dec. 17, 8:50am Stealing Christmas ABC Famil Dec. 17, 9am Deck the Halls Cinemax Dec. 17, 9am The Family Holiday Lifetime Movie Dec. 17, 6pm A Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 17, 7pm Home Alone 2 Encore WAM Dec. 17, 7:45pm Letters to Santa: A Muppets Christmas NBC Dec. 17, 8pm Snow 2: Brain Freeze ABC Family Dec. 17, 9pm When Angels Come to Town Hallmark Dec. 17, 9pm The Christmas Gift Hallmark Dec. 17, 11pm All She Wants for Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 17, 2am A Carol Christmas ABC Family Dec. 18, 7am A Hollywood Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 18, 7:25am Christmas Caper ABC Family Dec. 18, 9am The True Gift Starz Kids Dec. 18, 12:20pm A Hollywood Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 18, 2:55pm A Very Married Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 18, 6pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Movie) ABC Family Dec. 18, 8pm The Christmas Choir Hallmark Dec. 18, 9pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Movie) ABC Family Dec. 18, 10:30pm Papa’s Angels Hallmark Dec. 18, 11pm His & Her Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 18, 2am Once Upon a Christmas ABC Family Dec. 19, 7am Twice Upon a Christmas ABC Family Dec. 19, 9am 2 Dogs of Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 19, 9am North Station Starz Kids Dec. 19, 10:50am The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 19, 5:20pm Noel Lifetime Movie Dec. 19, 6pm A Miser Brothers’ Christmas ABC Family Dec. 19, 7pm The Santa Clause 2 ABC Family Dec. 19, 8pm The Bishop’s Wife TCM Dec. 19, 8pm The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Hallmark Dec. 19, 9pm The Santa Clause 2 ABC Family Dec. 19, 10pm Christmas in Connecticut TCM Dec. 19, 10pm Holiday Affair TCM Dec. 19, 11:45pm Tenth Avenue Angel TCM Dec. 19, 1:15am This Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 19, 1:20am Secret of Giving Lifetime Movie Dec. 19, 2am The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 20, 5:50am All I Want for Christmas ABC Family Dec. 20, 7am Home Alone 2 Starz Dec. 20, 7:35am A Very Brady Christmas ABC Family Dec. 20, 9am I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 20, 11am The Waltons (The Children’s Carol) Hallmark Dec. 20, 11am Snow 2: Brain Freeze ABC Family Dec. 20, 1pm Papa’s Angels Hallmark Dec. 20, 1pm The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 20, 2:05pm The Bells of St. Mary’s TCM Dec. 20, 2:30pm Jingle All the Way ABC Family Dec. 20, 3pm Naughty or Nice Hallmark Dec. 20, 3pm A Christmas Carol TCM Dec. 20, 4:45pm The Family Man ABC Family Dec. 20, 5pm Moonlight & Mistletoe Hallmark Dec. 20, 5pm Christmas Child Lifetime Movie Dec. 20, 6pm Scrooge TCM Dec. 20, 6pm Silver Bells Hallmark Dec. 20, 7pm Christmas in Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 20, 8pm Our First Christmas Hallmark Dec. 20, 9pm Christmas in Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 20, 10pm A Grandpa for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 20, 11pm This Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 20, 11:30pm Jingle All the Way ABC Family Dec. 20, 12am Silver Bells Hallmark Dec. 20, 1am Home by Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 20, 2am ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ABC Family Dec. 21, 7am Rudolph’s Shiny New Year ABC Family Dec. 21, 7:30am TV Land Merry-thon Begins TV Land Dec. 21, 8am Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys ABC Family Dec. 21, 8:30am Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town Starz Kids Dec. 21, 10am The Year Without a Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 21, 11am Off Season ABC Family Dec. 21, 11am A Miser Brothers’ Christmas Hallmark Dec. 21, 12pm The Note ABC Family Dec. 21, 1pm A Grandpa for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 21, 3pm Our First Christmas ABC Family Dec. 21, 5pm Home Alone 2 Hallmark Dec. 21, 6pm ‘Twas the Night HBO Family Dec. 21, 6:30pm Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Hallmark Dec. 21, 7pm Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Hallmark Dec. 21, 9pm The Year Without a Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 21, 11pm A Boyfriend for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 21, 11pm The Note Hallmark Dec. 21, 1am Holiday Wishes Lifetime Movie Dec. 21, 2am Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish ABC Family Dec. 22, 7am Deck the Halls Action Max Dec. 22, 8am A Dennis the Menace Christmas ABC Family Dec. 22, 9am A Very Fairy Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 22, 10:45am The Polar Express ABC Family Dec. 22, 6pm Shrek the Halls ABC Dec. 22, 8pm The Polar Express ABC Family Dec. 22, 8:30pm Moonlight & Mistletoe Hallmark Dec. 22, 9pm Papa’s Angels Hallmark Dec. 22, 11pm The Christmas Wish Lifetime Movie Dec. 22, 3am MGM Parade Show TCM Dec. 23, 5:15am Miracle on 34th Street (1994) HBO2 Dec. 23, 6am The Christmas List ABC Family Dec. 23, 7am Mrs. Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 23, 9am Tenth Avenue Angel TCM Dec. 23, 9:15am Scrooge (1970 Albert Finney) TCM Dec. 23, 12:30pm Bush Christmas TCM Dec. 23, 2:30pm White Christmas ABC Family Dec. 23, 6pm Recipe for a Perfect Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 23, 6pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ABC Dec. 23, 8pm White Christmas ABC Family Dec. 23, 9pm The Christmas Choir Hallmark Dec. 23, 9pm A Town Without a Christmas Hallmark Dec. 23, 11pm Miracle at Sage Creek Starz Kids Dec. 23, 1am If You Believe Lifetime Movie Dec. 23, 2am The Boy Who Saved Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 23, 2:40am
Christmas Eve
A Christmas Carol (1938) TCM Dec. 24, 6:15am A Hollywood Christmas Starz Kids Dec. 24, 6:25am Eloise at Christmastime ABC Family Dec. 24, 7am Christmas in Connecticut TCM Dec. 24, 7:30am The Waltons (The Spirit) Hallmark Dec. 24, 8am Christmas in Paradise Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 8am The Waltons (The Children’s Carol) Hallmark Dec. 24, 9am Home Alone 2 Starz Dec. 24, 10:30am Christmas in Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 24, 11am A Town without Christmas Hallmark Dec. 24, 11am North Station Starz Kids Dec. 24, 11:25am Holiday Affair TCM Dec. 24, 12:45pm Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July ABC Family Dec. 24, 1pm When Angels Come to Town Hallmark Dec. 24, 1pm The Christmas Dinosaur Starz Kids Dec. 24, 1:20pm Deck the Halls Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 2pm Miracle at Sage Creek Starz Kids Dec. 24, 2:50pm Frosty’s Winder Wonderland ABC Family Dec. 24, 3pm Finding John Christmas Hallmark Dec. 24, 3pm ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ABC Family Dec. 24, 3:30pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year ABC Family Dec. 24, 4pm Crazy for Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 4pm Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town ABC Family Dec. 24, 5pm The Christmas Choir Hallmark Dec. 24, 5pm The Year without a Santa Claus ABC Family Dec. 24, 6pm An Accidental Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 6pm The Santa Clause 3 Starz Kids Dec. 24, 6pm The Bishop’s Wife TCM Dec. 24, 6pm A Miser Brothers’ Christmas ABC Family Dec. 24, 7pm A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 24, 7pm Miracle on 34th Street (1994) HBO Family Dec. 24, 7pm It’s A Wonderful Life NBC Dec. 24, 8pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Movie) ABC Family Dec. 24, 8pm A Christmas Wedding Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 8pm A Christmas Story marathon begins TBS Dec. 24, 8pm The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Hallmark Dec. 24, 9pm ‘Twas the Night HBO Family Dec. 24, 9pm A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 24, 10pm Fallen Angel Hallmark Dec. 24, 11pm Undercover Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 24, 12am A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 24, 12am TV Land Merry-thon begins TV Land Dec. 24, 12am A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 24, 1am The Perfect Holiday Starz Dec. 24, 3:55am A Christmas Story marathon continues TBS Dec. 24, 4am
Christmas Day Home Alone 2 Starz Dec. 25, 5:35am Call Me Claus Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 6am A Very Brady Christmas ABC Family Dec. 25, 7am Deck the Halls Cinemax Dec. 25, 7:15am A Different Kind of Christmas Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 8am A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 25, 8am The Nativity WMax Dec. 25, 8:30am Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Hallmark Dec. 25, 10am A Diva’s Christmas Carol Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 10am A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 25, 10am White Christmas ABC Family Dec. 25, 12pm A Grandpa for Christmas Hallmark Dec. 25, 12pm A Christmas Story marathon continues TBS Dec. 25, 12pm The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Hallmark Dec. 25, 2pm Comfort & Joy Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 2pm A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 25, 2pm The Family Man ABC Family Dec. 25, 3pm The Note Hallmark Dec. 25, 4pm Holiday Affair Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 4pm A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 25, 4pm The Christmas Card Hallmark Dec. 25, 6pm ‘Twas the Night HBO Family Dec. 25, 6pm A Christmas Story TBS Dec. 25, 6pm Lost Holiday Lifetime Movie Dec. 25, 8pm Our First Christmas Hallmark Dec. 25, 9pm
In the USA, our Thanksgiving holiday is 30-36 hours away, depending on the time zone. Most people already have their menu planned, with traditional favorites, but I thought I'd share a few of mine, just because I'm having cravings for Thanksgiving dinner already.
My Favorite Sweet Potatoes
6 cooked, peeled, medium sized sweet potatoes
2/3 cup mini marshmallows
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt (you can use regular if you like, but I prefer kosher)
1/3 cup salt free butter
Mix salt, sugar, and butter together. Butter a large casserole dish. Dice the sweet potatoes to bite size chunks... big chunks, not perfectly square. Put one layer of sweet potatoes in the buttered casserole dish, and sprinkle the butter/sugar/salt mix over it. Add another layer of potatoes, more b/s/s/ mix, more potatoes, more b/s/s, until you're close to the top. Sprinkle remaining b/s/s mixture on top. Bake this uncovered 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Add marshmallows, bake another 5 minutes, until they're gooey and melted. Serve it up!
This serves about 5-7 people depending on their size and their hunger.
Change it up by adding 1/4 cup of orange juice to the b/s/s mix, and you've got a delicious orange-mallow sweet potato. Yummers.
Here's another recipe, and this one is for gravy. Now, everbody loves those turkey dripping. They make fab gravy, but they also make clogged arteries, and if you have older folks in your family, they'll thank you for protecting their health. Give this one a try. It contains turkey stock, which is the same as the drippings your turkey makes, but minus the fat. You can buy turkey stock in your supermarket. It's actually really tasty, and a good fake.
Much Better For You Turkey Gravy Recipe
5 cups turkey stock
1 cup water
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp celery salt1 tsp salt
Instructions: Place water in small mixing bowl. Slowly add flour stirring as you add to dissolve flour. Bring turkey stock to a rapid boil over high heat. Once boiling reduce heat to medium low. Add flour mixture slowly stirring as you go. Once all the flour mixture has been added, stir in poultry seasoning, pepper, celery salt and regular salt. Bring back to a boil. Continue boiling until gravy is the consistency you like.
I borrowed this one from Busy Mom's Online. I think it's great.
Now for my mother's favorite, which is not so good for the arteries, but I'm throwing it in here anyway. She loves it, and Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it. She said that the recipe has been in her family for generations, although they didn't use jiffy back then. Jiffy is a very inexpensive boxed mix for corn bread. Many times you can get 2 of them for a $1. Surprise! Surprise! Good food doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, and it doesn't have to come delivered. Check it out.
Easy & Tasty Baked Corn
1 large can creamed corn
1 large can whole kernel corn
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup melted salt free butter (just a preference, but you can use regular butter)
2 eggs
1 box Jiffy cornbread
Mix corns and sour cream together. Pour them into a buttered 13x9 inch pan. Mix butter, eggs, cornbread together and pour over the top of corn mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Buttery, corny, delicious.
Lastly a dessert. My favorite is custard pie. I've collected a lot of recipes but this one, from "all recipes.com" comes back as my favorite of all of the custard pie recipes. So here it is:
Custard Pie
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust 3 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg white 2 1/2 cups scalded milk 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Mix together eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Stir well. Blend in the scalded milk. For more yellow color, add few drops yellow food coloring. Line pie pan with pastry, and brush inside bottom and sides of shell with egg white to help prevent a soggy crust. Pour custard mixture into piecrust. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on rack.
Now for some after Thanksgiving Recipes to use up that leftover turkey:
Easiest one..
1. Open Face Turkey Sandwich
Sliced Turkey
Sliced Bread
Gravy
Mashed potatoes
Arrange 2 slices of bread on a plate, top with a scoop of mashed potatoes, a few slices of turkey, some gravy, and viola. Delicious. It tastes even better with leftover cranberries.
2. Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
1/2 c. sliced carrots
1 1/2 c. sliced celery
1 med. onion, diced
1 chicken bouillon cube for every cup of water used
A few pinches of your favorite savory seasonings
1 large can sliced mushrooms
2 c. egg noodles
2 c. cooked, diced turkey
Put carrots, celery, onions in a large soup pot. Cover with water, add bouillon cubes, and savory seasonings. Cook on medium heat until vegetables are almost tender, about 20 minutes. Then add egg noodles. Cook for 10-12 minutes more, then add turkey and when it looks heated, add canned mushrooms, heat for another 5-7 minutes, and serve.
Really yummy. The mushrooms add something extra to it that makes it really good.
Sometimes being the only one awake in the middle of the night can be very lonely. Not that despondent, dropping into a deep depression lonely, just the realization that there's nobody to talk to, and nobody to listen, at this hour. I'm generally the "listener" anyway, in all of my relationships (friendship, family, etc.), so I'm not sure that I'd know how to function with a real listener. Anyway, here I sit, unable to sleep, thinking about my life.
Blogs are not meant to be diaries, and yet I have seen some that resemble diaries. I read some that become pictures of life events, some that detail every interaction that takes place in a weeks time, and some that ramble on incessantly about personal feelings. I don't want a diary. I just feel the need to say what I want to say about anything and everything, including my own life, minus the true details that would give away my address, and work place. *insert quiet pensive laughter here* I have a lot of thoughts in my head right now, and some are related to the personal, some are related to current events, some involve a hot cup of coffee with a packet of hot chocolate dumped into it. The latter sounds really good right now, and thought it will probably keep me awake even longer, I think that I shall give in to it, and all of the above.
All of the above is a good label to use for this kind of post, me thinks. Therefore, the birth of a new label has come, and shall evermore be used whenever nothing else applies. All of the Above! Capital A's all around, just for my own entertainment.
My monitor is beginning to go on the fritz, or it's trying to communicate with me. It keeps flashing various levels of brightness, and then going dim again. Not always... only occasionally. I don't want to buy a new monitor. I'm attached to this one.
Random thoughts:
I remember being pregnant with my son, and thinking of how wonderful it would be to finally enter the realm of adulthood, because I was becoming a mother. How stupid was I? *insert insane laughter here* When I try to remember how ignorant I was at that time I get a brain freeze. It's too difficult to put my head back in that time frame. I think the chemicals I used to lighten my hair must have caused my brain to forget that the little person I carried inside of me was going to need my undivided attention, and that my venture into adulthood would have to take a backseat.
Skip forward many years later, and now my son is a young man with special needs.... I think about all that I have put into his life, and let go of in my own, and I just let it go with a smile. Nothing in my life has been worth keeping hold of more than the role of mother, teacher, and comforter, for my son. He's still in the becoming phase, where he's learning to separate from me, and we're trying to find out what he is capable of doing to provide for himself. It's a tough time, because there's a lot of emotion all around, both mine and his. It's tough for me, but explosive for me, because he feels so frustrated with life, at present. The hardest part for him is learning to adapt his "routines" to what is necessary for functioning in society. Routines are hard to break for anybody but when you're "special" they're even more difficult to arrange in a way that is healthy. OCD is a part of his disability, and when I say a minor part, that's only because it's not at the top of his diagnosis, however it is with us every single day, in every single way, and can make me absolutely crazy sometimes, for want of being free from the LISTS.
I'm not a list maker. I'm not an appointment setter. I'm not an organizational guru. I'm not unclean, or a horror of a housekeeper, but I'm definitely not Mrs. Homemaker. I'm a cluttered, sort through it later, wash the dishes 4 times a week instead of 7 times a week, spend forever catching up to laundry, oh lord it's time to balance the checkbook again, person. I'm not irresponsible, but I'm not driven to please anybody but me. Problem: God gave me responsibility over somebody that requires intense focus, and the compulsion to be organized.
I once said this to Him in prayer:
"I realize that you never give us more than we can handle, but is it possible that you have confused me with somebody else?"
Said in jest of course, because I know in my heart that if anybody has a sense of humor it is our Creator. Some don't believe in Him. That's ok for them. I don't have the desire to interpret another person's life, nor to direct it. For me, life without a God, is impossible. For me, life in general tends to be impossible on a daily basis.
Nobody tells you when you're pregnant that you may or may not have a perfect little baby who will or will not keep up with the milestones set by whoever designated them as the "norm". Nobody tells you that your baby may grow up and not become independent like those "norm" kids. Nobody tells you that you won't care if they're "norm" or not, because you simply fall in love with the preciousness of the little soul that lives inside, and you find yourself thankful every day, even on the days that have been filled with screams of opposition, fit-throwing, and tears of sorrow, that you are so blessed to be a part of this beautiful child's life. I feel that way. Blessed. I'm thankful. I'm also exhausted... mostly emotionally... partially physically too. It's hard to explain to people who don't have kids that have special needs. They can't get into the same mode of thinking and realization that we (parents of these wonderful kids) can, because they just don't get it. I have some friends and a few family members who do get it, but I also have some who are completely oblivious to what is reality to me... to my son. I'll never forget the day my sister suggested that my son go outside and mow grandpa's lawn, because grandpa was getting too old. My son was 14, has been completely unable to ride a bike because of neuromuscular-skeletal damage, gets freaked out with loud noises, has panic/anxiety disorders, and doesn't comprehend machinery.... and she thought he could handing a driving lawn mower, on a 2 acre lawn. *insert tremendous pause* Ha.
Ok enough of that. Today was actually a good day. I got him to agree to a haircut, and he ate all 3 meals today, with no complaints about texture, taste, etc. *exhale*
Moving on.... and moving forward to another post about holidays and such.
Butcher,baker, candlestickmaker... sort of. Minus the butcher part. I love to bake, and I do love candles, but I've never made any. Baking is a huge hobby, and it's one of the peace-giving gifts I have been given. I collect recipes, cookbooks, baking books, cooking magazines. I'm running out of storage room for them, but I can't stop because I love it. I'm also a crocheter, but still in the beginning phase of that. I learned needlepoint from a grandma, and I still enjoy that a lot as well. Gardening... specifically tomatoes, all kinds. I love tomatoes, especially fresh from the garden, warm from the sunshine, with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. IS there ANYTHING as delicious as a fresh from the garden tomato? I don't think so.
I have sisters, and a brother who I love very much, but who I also have disagreements with from time to time. In otherwords, we're normal. I have never been able to relate to the cookie cutter families who never disagree. How is that possible, unless there is some form of emotionally stunted growth in the mix. For me, I prefer to talk, to reason things out, and to take a break when things get heated. Then we get back together and let it go. I don't believe in holding on to the past, except in instances where it has blessed me, or gives me great spiritual pause (both good and bad sometimes) to think on it.
I love my parents. I talk to them every single day. I'm one of those rare entities who believes in gleening as much from my parents as possible while they are still with me. I don't actually believe that's as rare as it seems, but the media would have us believe that it is.
I believe in healthy boundaries both for myself and for others when they are interracting with me. I like to make new friends, and I'm ok with sharing personal experiences, as well as listening to others share theirs, but I like to choose who I let into my inner realm. I think that's the way it should be for all of us.
I love the idea of freedom, and I am thankful for the freedoms in my country, provided by God and by the men and women who fought for them, and continue to fight for them. However, I believe that I am living in a time where our freedoms are being slowly, and quietly, buried beneath false promises of "good change". I'm not talking about the recently elected president, specifically, but about all of the people in power, both nationally and globally. There's something going on, and it's not good. I'm not closing my eyes to it, and I'm not going to pretend that it's less serious then it seems to be.
I have a lot of thoughts, and sometimes I'll post 10 times a day. I have a lot of interests, and sometimes I'll share them, without commenting more than a little. Other times I may go a day or two without posting. I can't predict, but I do think this will be fun.
I believe that God supplies all my needs, and I am indeed blessed to have all of my needs met. There are things I wish for, including total healing for my son, but I also can see how his special needs are a huge blessing in my life, because I wouldn't be who I am, where I am, or thinking as I do, if it were not for these circumstances. I believe in noticing the blessings amid the difficulties, and so I often point them out to those who are suffering, not to be annoying, but to be uplifting. I need to be lifted up sometimes, and so I try to do the same for others.
I think that's all I have for now, but.... I bet there's more on the way.
Posts
