String Quilted Stockings

When Marci and Mack were just tiny, I learned to do Counted Cross Stitch and quickly became addicted. A friend of mine gave me the Christmas Alphabet pattern to cross stitch the cuffs for Christmas Stockings. That was 20 plus years ago and String Quilting was really popular.
I made four stockings one year and as each new baby came along I'd pull out the cross stitch pattern and make a new one adding Kayley, Scott & Hope. The stockings have been a consistent tradition hanging on the mantle every Christmas from California to New York. When Marci was pregnant with her first baby, she mentioned that she would love to have the same kind of stockings. So I made one for Ella and sent it to them for her first Christmas. The counted cross stitch is on 22 count hardanger fabric. When I made our stockings years ago I had no problem with that, even four years ago when I did Ella's stocking I did okay. Well, I don't know what happened...hmmm....but now I need to not only have glasses on but wear a lighted magnifying glass around my neck to do the small count. That kind of makes it tough to take your project to soccer practice and the doctor's office. Talk about making a spectacle of yourself. Besides, I had a book to read.


I have Addie's cross stitch started but I knew there was no way I was going to get it done, so I went ahead and made her a string quilted stocking that we can add the cuff to. Marci and I have decided that I need to teach her how to do counted cross stitch. I am a little worried about her addiction problem. Hopefully it won't be as bad as Twilight!Ella & Addie Christmas 2008

Girl's Night Out

Saturday night was so fun. My mom, me, Marci, Kayley and Hope all went to see the movie, Twilight.It was the first time for my Mom and Kayley -who had just finished the first book and has now already finished the second one.

I know ... it's scary. Mike took care of the little girls so Marci could go. It was great and I must say I enjoyed the movie more this time around.

I still have to see it one more time with Mark. He read all four books ... my Hero ♥ .

Thank You Thursday

Thursday was Christmas and I would feel remiss if I didn't have a "Thank You Thursday"post.
I love the Christmas Season and of course am most thankful to our Heavenly Father for giving us His Son, and for the gift He gives of Hope and Eternal Life. I'm thankful for my family and the time we are able to share together. I'm thankful that Kayley and Scott were able to get a break from school and join us for the holidays and I'm thankful for Mack who drove a long way for a short trip. We loved every minute of having him here. Love you guys!

Christmas Morning

Other than the fact that it started toooooo early, Christmas was wonderful! Scott and Hope were up at who knows what time and waited until 4:00 a.m. to wake us up by singing Frosty the Snowman. I was in such a deep sleep I thought I was at some school Winter Concert or something. Well we were awake at that point so we shared presents and then Mark and I went back to bed. I didn't wake up again until 9:00 so I was under a little pressure for our 11:00 Christmas Brunch. Scott called everyone and changed the time to 11:30. That was the least he could do, don't you think.It was a fun morning with the cute little ones and most of all having everyone there. Marci took some pictures of the table for me. I really need to get better about having my camera out and ready. She's my role model for picture taking. Thanks Marci!Every Christmas Eve part of the menu is:

24 Hour Salad

Ingredients:

• 6 Cups lettuce chopped
• Sugar, Salt, Pepper
• 6 Hard Boiled Eggs, sliced
• 1 10 oz. pkg. Frozen Peas thawed
• 1 lb. Bacon , cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 C. sliced green onions
• 2 Cups( 8 oz.) shredded Swiss Cheese
• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream

In a large salad bowl, place 3 cups lettuce. Sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper. Layer in order the eggs, peas, bacon, remaining 3 cups lettuce, green onions and cheese. Combine mayonnaise and sour cream, spread over top of salad. Cover, refrigerate 24 hrs. Toss before serving.

Puff Pancakes

(Kayley's Favorite)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cube butter (not margarine)
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup Milk
• Cup Pancake Mix (or Bisquick)

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees. Place butter in a 9 X 13 inch pan. Put in preheating oven until butter is melted. In a blender, combine eggs, milk and pancake mix. Pour batter into baking dish. Bake for a bout 15 - 18 Minutes until pancakes are puffy and lightly browned. Do not open oven while pancakes are cooking. Top with sifted powder sugar.

Serve with warm maple syrup or fruit toppings.

Mexican Quiche

Marci's Favorite

( I stole this picture from her Menu Blog)

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Ore Ida frozen hash browns (I like the shredded potatoes)
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1-2 c. diced ham
• 4 oz. Jack cheese, shredded
• 4 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 eggs
• 1 c. milk
• 2 cans green chilies (4 oz. each)
• Goya or Lawry Seasoning Salt( to taste)

Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan and spread hash browns (we always let them thaw first). Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.- Layer ham, cheeses and chilies on crust.- Combine eggs, milk, and seasoned salt. Whip really well ( I use the blender) and pour over top.- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with sour cream and salsa.

Overnight Egg Bake

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 Cups Seasoned Croutons
• 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Jimmy Dean Sausage Roll (we like spicy)
• 8 Eggs
• 3 Cups Milk
• 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Grease 9 X 13 inch pan. Layer Croutons, cheese and cooked, drained sausage. Beat eggs and 2 1/2 cups milk. Pour over ingredients. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, Mix mushroom soup and remaining 1/2 cup milk. Pour over eggs. Bake at 300 degrees 1 1/2 hours until brown.

Later we went to movie and of course played SCUM...a must for our family.

Christmas Eve

Today went by so fast. We have a tradition of playing the board game Risk every Christmas Eve. (Mark and the kids that is) Mark, Scott, Mack and Hope all went to Marci and Mike's house today to play. Mike was the winner. I stayed home to make rolls for Christmas Eve dinner and some cinnamon rolls to take to some of our friends.

We had Christmas Eve dinner at my parents. It was our traditional menu- staring with the poppers~and then: Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, 24 Hour Salad, Creamed Corn , Mashed Potatoes and Rolls. It was so delicious.

(Thanks for the pictures Marci!) We exchanged gifts and visited. It was a great time. Afterwards Kayley and Scott came over and we watched the Nativity on TV.

I'll post some recipes in the next couple of days. Miss Santa still has a few things to do.

Can't Believe It

Can you believe it is December 23rd? Time is just flying! We are having so much fun with Kayley & Scott and Mack in town. Marci, Mike and the girls will be back from San Antonio later today.

Earlier in the month (seems like yesterday), Nana and Ella had a baking day together. We did a gingerbread house that Ella deacorated all by herself and baked and frosted cut out cookies.

Decorating Table awaiting Miss Ella

Ella in her Applique Apron

Artist at Work!

Didn't she do a great job!We were exhausted by the end of our bake-a-thon!

Back to Blogging

Wow. What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. Mind you, I'm not complaining, they have been wonderful. I just love this time of year when the opportunities to serve abound all around us and the gift of charity brings joy and hope to so many hearts! There is so much to catch up on. I guess I'll start with the pictures I promised ages ago of our house at Christmas.

The "thermostat hiding" shelf.

Sunny kitchen window

The Tree

The stockings

I'm going to catch up over the next few days and share my pillow project, Addie's String Quilted stocking, making a gingerbread house with Ella and Hope's Winter concert. Stayed tuned.

Check it Out

Pineapple Hill is doing another give away!

It's at Bella Valentina Photography.

It's one of my favorite items .... these adorable snowman measuring cups. They look

so cute sitting on the counter and so handy too. Cute and Practical...now how great is that?

Thank You Thursday

Last Thursday on Thanksgiving, I decided every Thursday I would acknowledge things to be Thankful for.


Today I'm thankful that I live in Houston, Texas not very far from the Houston Temple. Mark and I are going this morning to join friends from our Ward. Today is the Nottingham Country Ward Fill the Temple Day! The Houston Temple is even more wonderful to me now because August 8th Kayley and Scott were sealed there for Time and Eternity. I'm so thankful for Eternal Families.

Etsy Frames

I love Christmas time! Tomorrow I'll take some pictures of the house. Things have been busy at church etc, so I've been a slacker about posting. I've been making these decoupage frames for gifts and decided to add some to the Etsy Store. Today I worked on my lesson for Sunday & made Addie's Christmas stocking (hopefully Marci will take a picture, I forgot to).

When I was going through my files, I came across this funny letter. I forgot all about it but found it just as funny as the first time I read it, so I thought I'd share it:

Hi Erma,

This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to. Since it snowed last night, I got up early and made a sled with old barn wood and a glue gun. I hand painted it in gold leaf, got out my loom, and made a blanket in peaches and mauves. Then to make the sled complete, I made a white horse to pull it, from DNA that I had just sitting around in my craft room.

By then, it was time to start making the place mats and napkins for my 20 breakfast guests. I'm serving the old standard Stewart twelve-course breakfast, but I'll let you in on a little secret: I didn't have time to make the tables and chairs this morning, so I used the ones I had on hand.
Before I moved the table into the dining room, I decided to add just a touch of the holidays. So I repainted the room in pinks and stenciled gold stars on the ceiling. Then, while the homemade bread was rising, I took antique candle molds and made the dishes (exactly the same shade of pink) to use for breakfast. These were made from Hungarian clay, which you can get at almost any Hungarian craft store.

Well, I must run. I need to finish the buttonholes on the dress I'm wearing for breakfast. I'll get out the sled and drive this note to the post office as soon as the glue dries on the envelope I'll be making.
Hope my breakfast guests don't stay too long, I have 40,000 cranberries to string with bay leaves before my speaking engagement at noon. It's a good thing.
Love,Martha Stewart

Response from Erma Bombeck:

Dear Martha,

I'm writing this on the back of an old shopping list, pay no attention to the coffee and jelly stains. I'm 20 minutes late getting my daughter up for school, packing a lunch with one hand, on the phone with the dog pound, seems old Ruff needs bailing out again. Burnt my arm on the curling iron when I was trying to make those cute curly fries, how DO they do that?

Still can't find the scissors to cut out some snowflakes, tried using an old disposable razor ... trashed the tablecloth. Tried that cranberry thing, frozen cranberries mushed up after I defrosted them in the microwave.

Oh, and don't use Fruity Pebbles as a substitute in that Rice Krispie snowball recipe, unless you happen to like a disgusting shade that resembles puke! The smoke alarm is going off, talk to ya later.
Love,

Erma