It will soon be another year...

What does this mean, really? Another date I have to remember as I date things. Our insurance deductible starts over. But nothing really remarkable. In former years I stressed that we should "see" the new year in! Ha Ha Ha...Now, my motto is what better way to "see" the new year in than by being in my super comfy jammies and in my warm bed. Also, the turning of the calendar meant all sorts of pressures put on myself in resolutions! Why do we do this? Who needs the extra stress or disappointment of not living up to a "resolution?" Not me, I've stopped setting myself up like that.

Okay, new paragraph :O) Did the first one make you feel sad for me like maybe I'm bitter over the changing of the date? Don't!! I know that I am so blessed to be able to sit here, comfortable in every way, and share my thoughts with you. I am blessed to be at peace with God who loves me no matter my downfalls. My family is as healthy and happy as we would possibly ask for and I am so thankful.



I pray that you all have a wonderfully blessed new year. Blessings from the holler...

Instant Hot Spiced Tea...

I got a new recipe book this year that has some of my old favorites. My Mom and my Aunt used to make this tea and so now it's become a comfort food for me. It was called Russian Tea when we made it then, I don't know why the name, but this recipe is the same and still just as comforting. Oh, it's also good for a dose of vitamin C so here you go.

Instant Hot Spiced Tea

1/2 - 3/4 cup Instant Tea
2 cup Tang drink mix
2 cup Sugar (I use sugar substitute)
2 tablespoon lemonade mix
2-3 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix up all ingredients well and store in an air tight container. Mix 2 teaspoons in a mug of hot water and enjoy! Blessings from the holler...

Merry Christmas to all...

We are doing the usual Christmas stuff in the holler. I've been baking Christmas cookies, sourdough cinnamon raisin bread, pretzel hugs, etc. I've been enjoying all of your Christmas posts so much. So, since it's a rainy day here I thought I would try to get some Christmasy pictures of the dogs. It was crazy!

Here is Charlie, he absolutely would pose for a picture but absolutely NOT with a hat.



Almost as soon as that picture was shot Scrappy came running up and snatched those flowers and took them to her perch. That little so and so!



Our sweet Daisy didn't mind posing with the Santa hat.



Since Daisy did it Speedbump decided she would take a turn and sit for her Christmas portrait...with the support of friends of course.



There was absolutely NO WAY the sisters, Corrie and Violet, were going to be a part of any of this action. They just don't do cameras as you see in this, my only picture of Corrie. Isn't that a nice picture? I think I'll use it for our Christmas cards next year..hahaha.



I hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas and remember the reason we celebrate it. For unto us is born a Savior, Jesus Christ The Lord.

Christmas blessings from the holler...

One of my new favorites...

I love Christmas songs and sing in a choir most every year. This year one of the songs we sang was Still, Still, Still. I've found a really good video of Manheim Steamroller doing it. Also, I put the lyrics for you. Enjoy. Oh, a warning should accompany this song.....it is a very sweet lullaby--so watch with coffee or blankey in hand :O)



Lyrics to Still, Still, Still :
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.


I hope you enjoyed it and are still awake! Blessings from the holler...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We've got our decorations out and today it started snowing! Corrie was just so glad that I put that tree up for her. Last year, her sister Violet claimed the place under the tree.



It's nice to have special things on the mantle. I collect manger scenes so I enjoy having them out. I even put them in the kitchen window.





Today when I got home it was snowing so hard it was like standing in a snow globe. These pictures of the dogs look blurry but the snow was just coming down too fast!





This is Speedbump's kind of weather. She's smiling inside :O)



Guess what? I'm so thrilled that the bird feeder is being used. Two lady cardinals are in there. It looks like they're talking about the change in weather and how nice it is to eat inside.



Blessings to you all from the snowy holler...

Calling all birds and bird watchers....

I saw this idea in Birds and Blooms, a magazine I get and really enjoy. It's a gallon plastic juice jug made into a bird feeder. It said to cut out bird sized holes on two sides, poked holes in the bottom for drainage, tie a hefty piece of string for hanging, fill with seeds and watch.

I added a little extra to ours by hot glueing some rope at the bottom of the holes so it would be a more comfortable perch, put a piece of chopstick inside for additional perching possibilities, and stickers just for the heck of it. It's so easy to fill because of the twist off cap on top.



So, here it is hanging with our regular feeder and suet just outside the kitchen window. I put some little apple pieces in there with the sunflower seeds. Ohhhh, I hope they like it. It was so easy and will be a fun project for our little granddaughter and I to do the next time she's here.



By the way, thanks to JP for changing the background on our blog. I took some frosty pictures and he made it happen. Blessings to you all from the holler...

Easy Peasy Salt and Sweety...

I made a test batch of these and they're so good they're addictive. I did try both the hugs and kisses in my test batch and prefer the hugs :)

Pretzel Hugs
You will need:
2 bags of Hershey’s Hugs
1 “Pounder” bag of Pretzel Snaps
Big baking sheet
Waxed paper – for easy removal.

Preheat oven to 300
1. Unwrap Hugs
2. Line baking sheet with waxed paper – if you don’t have waxed, use parchment, but I strongly suggest you use paper just for ease. If you don’t have either, just use a non-stick
baking sheet.
3. Lay one pretzel down for every Hug and top each pretzel with a Hug.

4. Pop in the oven for 2 min, just until they are glossy and softish.
5. Remove from oven and let sit for 1 more minute, to continue the softening process.
**This is the only step you can make a mistake on – by laving them in the oven too long they will completely melt and run through the pretzel and all over your sheet and you won’t have a sandwich, just a mess.
6. Now top each hug with another pretzel pushing down gently, so it sticks together.



7. I pop the baking sheet in the fridge for 20-30 min. to cool them off.

You could most certainly let them dry at room temp, it will just take a little longer and trust me, you are going to want to eat these right away!!

Blessings and Pretzel Hugs from the holler...

What are you thankful for?...

Last Sunday our pastor asked us that question and suggested we make a list of all our blessings. There are so many things to be thankful for - our Faith in Jesus Christ, our family, health, the country we live in and liberties we've been given, flowers, rainbows, money to buy food...the list should be much longer. There are so many things. What if we had in our life ONLY the things we are thankful for? That makes me think. I take so much for granted but I want to take this time and refocus. Here are a few pictures I gathered of my blessings.

God's Word--what a miracle.



Family...JP is in this one I think. Yall know that I'm thankful for him!



The beautiful scenery we see out any window we look



Sunsets



Our crazy pack



Flowers



I have only scratched the surface of my blessings; these are just a few. So, tell me, what are you thankful for? Thanksgiving blessings to you all from the holler...

Just one of the perks of a rainy day...

We've had a couple of rainy days here in the holler. We are transitioning into wintery weather. So,,,,,out come my cutie rain boots. They make walking through the puddles in the grocery store parking lot fun. I resisted the urge to jump and splash but it was hard.

That's Daisy checking out this new thing mom has on. She approves :O)



Blessings from the holler...

America's Best...

A few years ago JP wrote this lovely post for Veterans day. Since I couldn't improve on his message I'd like to share it again. Thank you to all our Veterans and their families.

It is no accident that our Republic was established and has endured the test of time until now. It is the result of men of vision and courage, willing to give their all when their fellow countrymen needed them. It is the result of their parents teaching them the importance of liberty, honor, right and duty. It is the result of spouses willing to support their efforts and to keep the home fires burning with love and order during their frequent and long absences when duty calls.



We wish to salute all American's who have served their country with honor on this Veteran's day.

Mrs. JP's grandfather served in the Army in WWI.



Mrs. JP's father served in the Navy during the Korean war.



My grandfather served in the Navy in the War in the Pacific during WWII.



One of my brothers was in the Army and retired after over 20 years of honorable service, including stints with the 82nd Airborne Division and serving as a drill sergeant.

 Our sweet daughter-in-law served in the Air Force and was on deployment in Oman when our son met her.



Our only son currently serves in the Army, and we could not be prouder of him, his wife and his children. Happy Veteran's day, son. We love you and are so very proud of you.





I pray that we would all, as still free Americans, honor our Veterans on this day and thank them wherever we encounter them; that all who call Christ Lord would elevate their prayers on behalf of all of our brave military men and women and their families; that Americans would remember that these folks are heroes, not victims or villains; and that liberty and righteousness are still worth fighting for.



Blessed Veterans day from us in the holler!

Still catching up...

I realized that I have just a few more pictures to show you. They are unrelated but I still wanted to share them so this is going to be my "catch up miscellaneous" post.

One last picture of our cute little visitor Cacique. Scrappy is sharing HER chair with him. She was such a good hostess.



Next, we have a Buckeye tree down by the creek! My neighbor pointed it out and that it had one buckeye hanging way up on top. It became an obsession for me because I wanted it and knew that if it dropped and I wasn't there to retrieve it that it would roll into the creek. So, I threw sticks a-plenty up at it to no avail. By brother-in-law shook the tree (which I had also tried but couldn't do) and I GOT IT!!! Now I have it in my kitchen window so I can look at it daily.



Last but not least, my sweet Charlie is still bringing me his bowl after he eats. He's such a love. For those of you who haven't seen it, we posted this video back when he was eating outside.



Sorry for the creepy eyes, I tried to make that go away but,,,



Well, that pretty much catches me up...I think :O)
Blessings from the holler.

Bad, bad, bad blogger.....

First, let me apologize for not posting in forever. Next, would you like to hear my reasons/excuses? I've been busier than usual, got a stupid sinus infection-cold, and then needed to get ready for company/entertain company when they arrived! Okay, that's all I've got...forgive me?

It's been good to have some of JP's family here. My mom-in-law came from Puerto Rico and my brother-in-law from San Antonio; we had his 50th birthday party and now he has caught the cold I had. I am so sorry about that!

We've had a temporary addition to the pack (brother-in-law's doggie.) His name is Cacique (Ca-see-ka) and he's a Brussels Griffon. We are getting along like peas and carrots. I wonder if I can sneak him out of his car before he leaves..hmmmm. He and Charlie are quite a pair. They are opposite in size but alike in their cute personalities.



It's fall here in the holler and the trees are turning vibrant shades. I love to see God's wonderful creation as it changes in all the season.



Alright then, I'm off to visit your blogs and catch up on all I've missed while I was on my sabbatical. Blessings to you all from the holler...

What takes the edge off turning 50?...

Well, there really never was an edge. I don't mind turning another year older. I am another year blessed! But,it's been fun - we had a family birthday party yesterday and here I am enjoying being the center of attention.



Then, today, I took four of the dogs for a walk and checked the mailbox and there was a box in there with my name on it! Deborah from What Matters Most is Kindness sent me two bottles of lotion and a new ink pen. Thank you Deborah!



JP sent me shopping and I scored some really cool boots and two new dresses. So, now I've milked this birthday for all it's worth and can sigh and say I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, a family who loves me, good friends and most importantly I have Jesus Christ blessing me daily.

Blessings to you all from the holler

We haven't left the holler...

We've just been so busy I haven't had time to create a post here. I've enjoyed visiting your blogs and keeping up with you all though. But, this morning I found the time to take a picture or two. Warning, the next paragraph contains gross dog stuff.



Scrappy, was obsessed with the fence line. She didn't even want to come in for breakfast! When I yell out the back door, "Are you hungry?" That usually starts a stampede of doggies inside. So, I knew this was an intense obsession and went out to break it up. Finally she came trotting down the hill looking like the cat that ate the canary. She was the Scrappy that ate the mouse! I saw it's tail hanging out of her mouth, then crunch, crunch, gulp....it's gone. YUK! EEEWWWWWWW!!! No puppy kisses from her!



On a lighter note, Daisy has claimed her own stick for the ongoing stick game. Now she likes to throw it down in front of Charlie to see if she can entice him into playing with her stick. I'm so glad I could end this post on a lighter note.

Have a good weekend and blessings from the holler...

Wordless Wednesday? No Way!....

Today was the perfect day for working outside. I have been needing to go out and pull up the garden that was pretty much a bust. I pulled up the tomato plants and weeded around some and realized that there is hope for the brussel sprouts (JP has been saying this all along.) So, encouraged in that fact, I kept clearing what I could. It just looks so much better.



The marigolds are blooming and remind me that fall is here.



I kept clearing around the sprout plants and was glad that I'd put newspaper and paper bags around them to keep the weeds down. I noticed one clump that looked like it was rotting so I pulled it back and.....squint to refocus,,,,gulp,,,gasp!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR (my newest exclamation from an oreo commercial) there are little baby bunnies laying in that hole.



I quickly replace the stuff on top of them horrified that I just mowed right beside them. To make amends I went and got an old bale of straw from the dog yard and covered them up. awwwwwwwwww I hope that they are okay and the momma bunny doesn't mind that I disturbed her,,hole?...nest? Whatever the term I hope their heart beats are getting back to normal...mine finally is.

Blessings from the holler...