Baby, it's cold outside....

I like Winter.  It's not my most favorite season (Fall is my favorite! ), but I still like it.  I like feeding my bird friends outside and the squirrels.  I like making sure there's water for them. Pickles likes these critters, too....but I don't think her barking welcome and chasing them is going to make her popular.

It is very cold here today. I drove Emma to school this morning so she wouldn't have to wait for the bus. It was 8° this morning and I was thankful for the warm vehicle we were in. The schools in our area opened an hour early to make sure the schools were warm for the students when they showed up at their regular time. I think very highly of the school district we are on....and I love Emma's school. Some neighboring school districts were closed today due to the cold and issues with transportation,  but it was fun to see how excited Emma was that there would be school today.  She so loves her teachers!

With weather like we are in, comfort food is a must.  I have a long list of comfort food, of course,  but I think our favorite is pot roast. I have finally mastered it, too! The meat comes out so good and moist--you can pretty much shred it with a fork.

Here is how I make our pot roast:

---Pull roast out of your refrigerator,  unwrap and just let it rest on your counter.

---Put in a favorite CD so you can dance and sing as you get your pot roast things together.

---Cut up about 5/6 cups of potatoes,  carrots, onions, and celery. I try to stuff as many veggies as I can in there, but if I decide to add peas, I add them at the end. There is something yucky about mushy peas....

---Throw cut up veggies into the bottom of your crock pot.  I usually turn the crock pot on after I do this, just to get the party started. (I am such a goof ball....lol)

---Grab the pot roast and lightly pat flour all over it.  Get a skillet, turn the heat to high and then sear the pot roast. This doesn't take much time, and I think it is what holds the moisture in. Make sure you sear every side of your meat.

---Place meat into crock pot, nesting it on top of your veggies. Your crock pot will be very full, but as the pot roast cooks, it will shrink.

---Sometimes, I do my own spices to put on top of the meat, and sometimes I cheat and buy the little pot roast seasoning packs.  The seasoning packs are easier, I think....mix 2 packages of whatever seasoning packs you buy with two cups of water.  I usually do these one package at a time.....and let my daughter help.  This is a great recipe to get your child involved in.....and cooking together is so much fun!

---Crank up your crock pot to low and set the timer for 8 hrs.  Usually, around hour 5, I will turn the crock pot to high and just peek at it every now and again. Don't open the crockpot!!!  Leave it be!! When time is almost done, you can open the crock pot and test your veggies and meat. Actually, I call this part "testing" but I just really want to eat some of thus goodness!

---The two packs of seasoning will make a lot of gravy. I have tried only using one package of seasoning, but the pot roast wasn't as tender as I like it, so I have stayed with the two packages of seasoning.

Pot roast really is a great meal for cold weather.....

Stay warm.....

January 6, 2007

Every year, I tell myself that this day will get easier.

Every year, I tell myself that this isn't a day that needs to be remembered.

Every year, I tell myself that she is better off in Heaven instead of being here with me.

It hasn't gotten easier.

I remember this day every year.

And I still wish she was here with me instead of being in Heaven.

Photos....

So many photos.....but each one has become a memory.

Still up....

....and not much progress is being made to pack up Christmas. This is the most relaxing time of the holidays for me; everything is done, gifts are finished,  baking has slowed down and there is no rushing. I love sitting by our tree at night with only the lights of the tree on. So very peacefully quiet and it's a time to reflect on Christmases that have passed. My Mama's birthday is also on Christmas,  and that always makes me smile. I smile and giggle when I remember how I bought her a parakeet for her birthday when I was sixteen. Good memories....

The New Year's celebrations has passed, too. Another year has started. A whole clean slate has started. I pick a word every year to guide me, but this year, my word hasn't come easily. I am learning towards the word "brave"....to remind myself not to be so fearful of life. God is with me, why should I not be brave? I waste too much time being fearful of things that 'might' happen. Spending more of my time being brave would be a better choice.

I also need to do a better job of keeping in touch with my family in Spain. I have done a horrible job of keeping in touch with them. My sister and I are still pretty much at a stand-off, and I rarely hear or speak to my Dad....maybe next year's word should be "communication" for all three of us?  I didn't speak to either my sister or Dad at Christmas,  and it bothered me more than I thought it would. I did text my sister on all of her phones to say 'thank you' for the gifts she sent us, but there was no reply.  I wasn't surprised. Sad, but not surprised. I miss her very much and I know my Mama would not be happy at how we are acting, but, sadly, it is what it is.

My Emme is a delight. She was full of Christmas!  The lights, the trees, the decorations....she loves all of it. She loved baking cookies & cupcakes and taking them all wrapped up to our neighbors. Just being near her, listening to her sing Christmas songs, made me happy. Seeing Christmas thru her eyes truly makes it a wonderful Christmas.

More later.....

A present.....

.....from our newly adopted Grandma DeeDee!  Emma is beyond thrilled, proclaiming today "DA BESTEST DAY EBER!"

Thank you, Deneen.....from the bottom of our hearts!!

A New Year....

....ahh, 2015!  What surprises will you bring? What lessons will you bring? What types of joys and sorrows are in store for us?  Will you be kind to the world? Will you help those who have lost their way by giving them hope? Will you teach us how to be kind and how to love each other better?

The past year was a difficult year for many. Many people lost their homes, their countries, their loved ones. There were protests and killings. Many feel that the end as Revaluations tells us it will be is coming soon.

And yet, in the mist of all of this, there is hope.  Hope that tomorrow will be better, that we will learn to take care of each other, and realize, too, that we are all the same. We may look different, our colors may be different, customs and traditions may differ....but our hearts are the same.

Will this be the year for peace?

Will this be the year we are kinder to each other?

Will this be the year that we love each other a bit more?

I pray that this IS the year these things happen.....please pray with me that in the upcoming year, peace, kindness, joy and love find us all.