Sunday, December 23, 2007

What's Cookin'?

It seems I've been graciously invited to guest host an entry here by Nat.  The topic tonight is Christmas Dinner.  Or what will you be having for Christmas Dinner? 


If you are over 40 you probably remember the Hee Haw show on TV.  One segment they often did was to stop in and ask Grandpa "What's for supper?"  And he'd rattle off a lip smackin', finger lickin' country menu.


So in that tradition and trying to stay true to this journal's purpose, I'm going to share with you all what we are having in Caneyhead tomorrow night for our Christmas meal.  And I'm inviting you to do the same.


* There will be a big pot of dumplin's cooked down with a big fat hen.


* A pan of cornbread dressing.  (I'm not good at that, but my precious sister made me up a pan that all I have to do is bake!)


* A huge bowl of fruit compote like Pete's mama used to make.


* A pot of crowder peas seasoned with bacon grease.


* Brown n' serve rolls with butter on top.


* Jalapeno's stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon for an appetizer.


* And a good ole' chocolate pie made all from scratch (including the crust) for desert.


Yum, Yum!!!!  ;o


Now, don't forget to share you menu with us!  And thanks, Nat!


Posted by: 


          from Life & Faith in Caneyhead.


Tag by Chocolate Cherried Creations



Saturday, December 15, 2007

How do you de-stress over the Holidays?

  I'm writing from Nat's blog this morning... this is certainly a first for me, and I know she will be surprised.


I haven't been following all the feature changes in our journal/blogs. I've been getting the alerts, but not reading them all. I keep thinking I'll catch up over the holidays, which has been my usual mode of operation.


I'm curious about it this new feature of adding entries into other people's journals. Following the tradition of Natalie's question asking and prompting, I do have a question. Not for Nat alone, but for anyone who reads this.


Why do we need the feature to invite others, even strangers, to make journal entries in their own blog? What do you think?


I can think of one, possibly.... if I were to become ill, had an accident, or died, my husband, if he thought of it, could add an entry to let everyone know. But if he could get to my journal in the first place, he could write one anyway... but it would identify him by my screen name, not his. Chances of my husband doing that are nil. Unless I specifically make the request of him. Which I could. Over Christmas. When he asks me what I want for Christmas, I'll say, "Steve, would you please make an entry in my journal if I suddenly die, to let my J-land friends know?" I'm sure he'd honor it if I asked him to.


Another reason I thought of was if someone wanted to add information to continue a topic that the journal author had begun, one could write much more content if it was in entry form, rather than a comment. So in this case, it's another way to write lengthier comments, as I have been known to do.


For instance, in a previous entry, Nat asked the question, "How are your Holidays going?"The more humor, writing, links, frustration and good things,the better!"


I could respond to that here. Not much humor, a sense of frustration, perhaps, and a couple of writing links follow.


Since I've decided not to put up the tree, it's gone amazingly stress free. Although, I don't know if I will feel a sense of panic the day before my son arrives with his girlfriend's family. I had invited them to come visit over the holidays. Perhaps I should decorate, I pondered. I did unpack my favorite Nativity Set and set it out at the beginning of Advent. I've bought Christmas for people on our Angel tree, but I haven't dove into the parts of the holidays that usually wreak havoc for me during those two very short weeks that I get off.


It's holiday time (beginning the 20th for me), which means I get days off, and I get paid. I'd much rather use the time for creative endeavors and introspection and visiting with family and friends than unloading and loading the attic back up again. The decorations do not make Christmas for me. Neither putting them up nor taking them down.


I cherish all the memories of Christmas trees past, with my son who always helped set it up. We put up our first Christmas tree the year he was born. It was always for him. Homemade ornaments, mine and his. Many he had made at school. It's not the same anymore. Not a complaint, just a fact.


I decided to destress my life. When you are in your fifties, you realize that some, nay many, things aren't necessary to be happy, and many more things don't contribute to the order in one's life. As for me, if I sense a state of chaos approaching, I will either get involved to be part of re-ordering it, or I will avoid it altogether. I am re-ordering how I (we) celebrate/experience Christmas, avoiding those things that have caused problems in the past.


I'm going to revisit this topic in my own journal the night before Christmas to consider how I feel about this break-away from tradition. Perhaps I will have regretted it? I don't know. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. I'll let you know.


In answer to Nat's question about the holidays:


My holiday hasn't started yet, but I am looking forward to it. My plan is to make some miniature Nativity sets to give as gifts. I bought several creche's at Wal-Mart last year during their after Christmas sales, various sizes. They will serve as the backdrop for my polymer people. I love making them, but it takes a good deal of time.


You know me from Wanderer. I leave comments in Nat's journal often. The first time I met her was while browsing the internet at 1:30 in the morning back in December of 2005. I discovered my addiction to the internet that night, and a friendship with lurkynat began!


She has been one of my on-line friends ever since, and I just wanted to visit her in her place of writing this morning. She is a very gracious lady, a family woman. I imagine her in her home with her children, raising them, educating them. She is the mother of teens, yes, that's plural, so I can only imagine the trying times she is experiencing these days and years. I say God bless her, and wish her a "Merry Christmas!" And thank you for being a dedicated friend, Nat.


So, what do you think? How do you destress over the holidays?


                    Thanks Nat! I enjoyed writing here!   


 


                  


                                             Tag by Donna aka Nightmare Mom


 



Thursday, December 13, 2007

John Scalzi To Leave Post, But Visit: Write Comments

Our Blogmaster and teacher and Esteemed Friend John Scalzi to Leave
on December 31, 2007.
John writes that he is content to take off, but he will leave By the Way opne for our comments.
I have learned so much from John and his writing and he and his kind family will leave a big hole here. nat
Write comments for John Here and at :By the Way:
Thanks
natalie

Who would like to add entries here? Please describe and leave a link

Who would like to leave entries here? Please describe and leave us your current journal link! Thanks! nat
p.s. volunteers are needed!...you know who you are!:):)

Please List New Bloggers! Add Links!


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Are you a new blogger? Do you want us to come visit you?Please list your blog and put the link here with a description!Older bloggers, please list your new buddies blogs here!
thanks!:):) natalie

I almost lost you


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I almost lost you
air was silent;
earth was still
I loved
each star
each breath
of air...
The chasm
between earth and sky
almost collapsed;
and I was almost crushed
in between
I almost
lost you

have you ever experienced something like this?please let us know and leave your link.
thanks! nat

Death and Dylan Thomas



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"do not go into that good night...
rage, rage against the dying  of the light"...
Have you ever wished that a family member would rage and fight for their life?
Have you ever wished that the person would care as much for herself or himself as you do?
Please tell about this subject in your life and leave your links.
thank you.


Tuesday, December 4, 2007

How are your holday going? Leave your links please


Tags: , ,
how are your holidays going?
Please tell us, leave comment and links!:):)
The more humor, writing, links , frustration and good things, the better!
hugggggggggggggggggggggggggs,nat
ps I am struggling too!:):)


What Do you Do on Christmas?


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Christmas is soon here! It is a blessed event for many!
Please write your own feelings about this Christmas; how it will or will not fulfill your expectations, and what you will do to make ti a nice one!
Creative Aol writers please give us good ideas on what would be fun to do as well!
love you guys:):):):) Hugggggggggggggggggggggggs,nat ....Please leave your links!

Happy Chanukah my friends! Add your thoughts and links!

Happy Chanukah my Friends!

Add your Greetings to All of Our Dear Friends Who Celebrate the Festival of Lights!
Please leave your links and comments about what this holiday means to you this year!

"One Laptop Per Child"

One Laptop Per Child
CBS
Sunday Dec. 3,2007
Sixty Minutes

Negraponti developed a laptop that can be used by the third world classmate. It's called :"the classmate". Americans can buy one classmate now until the end of December only. When one is purchased, a child in the third world will also receive one.Children have ten hours of programming in a battery. then, a child can generate more energy by turning this turnkey over a few times.
The computer cannot be ruined by water or sand. It has been used very successfullyin Cambodia and Brazil and now heis introducing it in parts of Africa. What do you think of this? please remember to always leave your link and thank you

CT exams to add ot cancer risk, New England Journal of Medicine


CBS
Nov.28, 2007

New England Journal of Medicine warns that if you take a CT test you could highten your risk of getting cancer.
Ct gives us rays that are 50-100 times more potent than xray. Our cancer rate has gone up fomr .04 to .02% in the past few years since tis technology has become available.
The Journal says that people may elect to take lower radiation levels tests. They coudl take longer but they are potentially less harmful.
So..will you take the less harmful tests?

Ramsey Asks Children's game boards to exclude fake credit cards


Ramsey Asks us Do we need credit cards in children's games?
CBS
Nov. 28,2007
Life, Monopoly and a Barbie game, plus a McDonald's activity card all give children fake credit cards!What do you think of this?

Wednesday, Nov. 28
CBS
Larry King and Shawn King Cardiac Foundation
Larry King suffered a cardiac arrest before he married his wife, 15 or 20 years ago. His dad died of a cardiac arrest when he was nine.
I was moved to see that he and his wife Shawn have paid for many people to have cardiac surgery.
King wanted people to know about the Foundation. They have a matching grant with the Quaker Oats Foundation.
What do you think of their work?