Seven Swans a Swimming

Merry seventh day of Christmas! Did you know you are a gift from God and as a Christian, you are gifted in a special way? Read Romans 12:6-8 and discover the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are given to all Christians according to the grace of God and for the benefit of the body of Christ. The seventh day of the carol had seven swan a-swimming. In Christ we are a new creation and through the yielding of our lives to the work of the Holy Spirit we grow and change. No more ugly duckling…..I’m on my way to a beautiful swan!


While in the UK this autumn, I so enjoyed the swans a-swimming the Thames.

So Christian or otherwise take this seventh day of Christmas to examine your strengths and what you can give to another as we stroll through the 12 days of Christmas to Epiphany. May your day be blessed with a mittened hand of friendship extended and clasped by you! Happy New Year’s eve!

Hugs, Mimi

On the 6th day of Christmas...

Happy 6th day of Christmas! Watch out for six geese a –laying coming your way! According to the opinion of some, the 12 days of Christmas carol had a hidden meaning as it was written during a time of persecution of Catholics and others who would not join the Church of England in the 16th Century. The six geese a-laying represented the six days of Creation.
• I don’t know anyone who isn’t grateful for: a good night’s sleep and a pleasant day
• a refreshing cup of water and a beautiful sky at sunrise, noon or sunset
• ground that is fertile and a nearby lake to enjoy in the summer
• trees to enjoy throughout the change of the seasons
• a beautiful star filled night sky
• snorkeling or riding in a glass bottomed boat and marveling at the variety of fish one sees and then stepping ashore and having a flock of pelicans overhead and a group of shorebirds scurrying about
• a dog’s tail wagging in greeting you after a long day of taking care of animals at one kind of zoo or another and a “honey, I’m home” begets a “I’m in the kitchen” as someone who loves you has dinner going.
God then bequeathed the responsibility to care for all of creation to those of us created in His image.
Let this sixth day of Christmas remind you to pause and give thanks for all of creation and take good care of all of it.
And now for a cup of coffee and to watch the night turn into the day.

Christmas under wraps

Curtain Drawn on Christmas Day 2009

The curtain may be drawn on “Christmas 2009” but the heart of Christmas continues to beat. We will have lots of reminders of this happy day by the gifts we received, the memories of the way the day was spent and who we were with, and the photos. Probably our weight is up a pound or two, a case of “What goes up but takes a lot longer to come down.” A treasure that I will put in my scrapbook is a piece of wrapping paper that I ripped off a giftfrom my nieces (pictured)—I only reuse boxes and bows so I really like to let her rip! I love getting gifts early enough to squeeze, shake, and peek through any little rips in the paper. I also enjoy when the gift is given early and I’ve had time to admire its wrapping paper and ribbon but haven’t needed to dust them yet. The outside of this gift was pretty enough but just like folks, it’s what’s inside that counts the most. On the other side of the paper the following words were printed over and over
TREASU(RED) INC(RED)IBLE KIND(RED) ADMI(RED) EMPOWE(RED) ADO(RED) INSPI(RED) SHA(RED) ENAMO(RED)INSPI(RED) CHEE(RED)
These words are the key to keeping Christmas in our hearts all year long; they are also the Red letter words to Livin’ in sunshine. If you want more red letter days in your life apply these words to yourself and others and the blessings will surely come your way,

These words deserve some more “in my face time” so they will become part of my refrigerator gallery! I may turn some of the paper into a few bookmarks, bumper stickers, and pins….but probably not!

Holiday merriment and recipes, too-cranberry salad and rice dressing

What a beautiful sight this morning and as you can see from the photos there WAS enough snow to make a snow angel. Our terra cotta angel from our front porch is at the top of my head. I must confess that my halo wearing is fleeting, as the light only appeared in this photograph. What southwest New Mexico look like with a layer of angels' icing? Something like these pics but you really can't capture the ooooh and aaaaah of it.

Cranberry Salad

Ingredients: raspberry jello, 1 c. hot water, 1/2 c of cold water, i small orange (peeled and segments halved), 1/2 can of crushed pineapple, well drained, a 1 lb. can of whole cranberry sauce, and 1/4 c. of chopped nuts.

Directions: Dissolve jello in hot water stir in cold and chill in frig about 30 min. Fold in other ingredients and then pour into mold or dish and chill for about 3 hours until firm.

Another quick change for jello: replace the cold water with applesauce. Works with any flavor of jello. Why is jello so special to people? It has to be thought of ahead and we love to know we are in our loved ones thoughts.

This next recipe has become a favorite replacing stuffing at our holiday meals.

Fruity Sausage Rice Dressing/Stuffing

Whatcha need: rice(my preference is jasmine), 2 cans of chicken broth, 1 onion chopped, sausage ( I love Jimmy Dean with sage for this dish!), oil, 1 and 1/2 t poultry seasoning1/4 t. of allspice and salt, 1/4 c. of chopped parsley (or parsley flakes) and 7 oz pkg of dried fruit bits.

Howya do it: Saute sausage and oil in saucepan until sausage is cooked. Stir in rice, seasonings and broth. Cook according to directions of label on your rice, about 45 min. Stir in parsley and fruit bits. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. You may make a day ahead and then just reheat in microwave or oven. Great for those who are on a wheatfree meal plan.

Waking up in a Winter Wonderland

My list just got reshuffled for today's "gotta do it" as we awoke to a winter wonderland. I wonder how much snow one needs to make a snow angel? Today is the day to find out such important information so the plan is: finish those few Christmas cards and then bundle up and hit the snow. Stay tuned for a photo!
One of my favorite songs reminds me of something else about snow: "whiter than snow, whiter than snow, wash me, O Lord, and I'll be whiter than snow. " It's based on the scripture of their sins were as scarlet but they shall be whiter than snow. So I may just say a quick prayer as I am snow angel-ing! The hot chocolate afterwards will be extra yummy!
Mazzeltov!
Mimi D

A Gift Not to Miss

Last night we swooped around Silver City in our t’bird and enjoyed the gifts of lights, a tradition with roots back to the Star of visitors that travelled from the East, candles on German Christmas trees, and then helped along by Thomas Edison. Cruisin’ main we noted that many merchants downtown have done a great job with setting the mood of Christmas, even with the absence of snow. Our disappointment with no lights on the courthouse lawn was quickly dispelled by bright beacons of the season on Market and on Black Street. Heading home the long way through the neighborhoods of Cherry Hills and North Loop area our de-light grew bright. The gifts of lights on homes fall into four categories, equally enjoyable:
· those which could be pictured in House Beautiful with uniform designed displays of typically white lights;
· the Christmas tree in the front window for all to enjoy with maybe a single string of lights on the porch or around a window;
· the homes that were decorated in stages where the families woke up on different days with the idea of “let’s add more lights to our yard”, adding to the jollyness of the displays;
· and then the homes that would make Chevy Chase jealous with their lit to the hilt approach, beautifully done, and deserving of several slow drive bys or just park at the corner and walk up to the home to really take it all in.
. “May your days—and nights—be merry and bright!”
Of course the greatest part of driving around looking at lights may be the time spent with your family and away from "Christmas chores", the wrapping, addressing envelopes, etc.
Blessings as we approach the last Sunday of Advent, that of worship.
Hugs from Mimi D

Christmas comes

Christmas comes again and again for me during the holiday season. One of those times was a visit from Nicolas, Jadyn, and their Mommy which turned into a tree trimming party. Yesterday Christmas came as I greeted Walmart shoppers with a Merry Chrismas while ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. My dancing, saxophone playing Santa helped to put folks in a generous mood and I loved it! Experience Christmas today!

Hugs from Mimi D

This delusional drugstore cowgirl challenged

Aaah, the trip to Bethlehem! Saddle up the mule, Joe, and let's get a move on! A couple of hours later....after being delayed by Mary's insistence on some last minute Christmas shopping in the biggest market this side of the Euphrates,the Jerusalem Jamboree....their reservation at The Inn of Bethlehem had been cancelled due to late arrival. After Joseph gave Mary "the look"...

I don't know how you picture the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph but I'm sure that you have a difficult time leaving the influence of your life experiences and really understanding the trip Mary and Joseph made. Maybe it's because we do relate to the paying taxes part.
An article by Malachi Martin,"The way to the first Christmas", set this here delusional drugstore cowgirl back on her heels, with the spurs a spinning!
If you can find the article which was first published in Guideposts Magazine, read it. Highlight include: length of journey 20 days, travelled with a merchant's caravan going through Samaria, no travelling on the Sabbaths, places they were going past that Jesus would visit during His years of public ministry,and they needed an exit visa to leave Jerusalem. And of course, I recommend a fresh read through of Luke 2.
Here's hoping Christmas comes to you today for it comes everyday when we look to the blessings of God's love.
Mimi D

Advent Advances

This third Sunday in Advent, the one called Joy, has arrived. It follows the Sundays of Preparation and Expectation and could be likened to your junior year of high school—past the freshman runt stuff and insecurity of being the babies of the school, beyond the blase of sophomoric apathy with the cheerleaders blocking the view so the end of the tunnel is not in sight; and the senior shakes of "what am I doing with the rest of my life or even tomorrow....?" hasn't hit yet. Junior joy may be experiencing some of the privilege of young adulthood without the full blown responsibility of it. The third Sunday of advent focus is on the joy of the saviour's birth. Forget the stinky barn, Mary's jostling ride to Bethlehem when she couldn't see her own toes much less the feet of the donkey, and an invasion of their space and comfort zone by some unkempt shepherds in the middle of the night. This is the Sunday of JOY! God's provision of a refuge for His Son's arrival. A perfect place for the fulfillment of prophecies. A place for everyone who desires to come is able to do so. It's a 'for God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only Son' kind of place.It's the appearance of the heavenly host!
There's not much pretense in a barn or a cave for animals. In fact to come to the manger is to lay down all pretense that we typically carry. The door is too narrow for people burdened with backpacks of pride to enter. With JOY we may all approach and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This Sunday of JOY is the time to remember the softness of a baby's skin, the sweetness of one so fresh from the hand of the Creator. Advent advances. Embrace the swell of JOY this week...and always!
Mimi D

Great recipe for a group:Southwest Cassoulet

Don't serve this dish without having the recipe available to your guests....because it always brings the highest form of admiration: imitation. It has been rumored that some guests even refused to leave the house of the dinner party until they got the recipe!

Southwest Cassoulet

Ingredients
1 large chopped onion 1 teaspoon of thyme
2 large carrots thinly sliced 1 dried bay leaf
1 small red bell pepper cut into strips .25 t of pepper & liquid hot pepper
2 cloves of garlic,minced 28 oz. canned white beans, drained
1 can 14.5 oz of stewed tomatoes 2 chicken breasts, 1 in. cubes
2.5 cups of chicken broth 1 lb. of Italian sausage, browned

In a 5 to 6 qt. pan over high heat, combine and brown the onion, carrots, pepper, and garlic with 1/2 cup of water. Do this several times until veggies begin to brown. Add tomatoes broth and seasonings. simmer, covered, for 45 min. to blend flavors. Add beans and sausage, simmer uncovered 10 min, Add chicken and simmer gently until chicken pieces are white in the center, about 15 min. Add salt to taste.
Substitutes:2/3 cup dry red wine for part of broth and 1/2 pound turkey kielbasa sausage cubes.
Bon apetit!

Armfuls of fun for Mimi and Grandpa

Beware of the Baboushka Syndrome!

I am trying really hard to not fall victim to the Baboushka syndrome this Christmas season. Who is Baboushka? She is the giver of gifts to Russian children.How she reached that status is the syndrome that I am trying to avoid.
It is said that the wiseman from the East visited her village. Announcing their coming was the star but Baboushka missed seeing it due to "housework that needed to be done" The kings stayed at Baboushka's house and slept that day. They invited Baboushka to go with them but she had to clean her house, promising the Kings that she would catch up with as they journeyed onward. She never quite catches them up and so she is thought to give children still the toys that she had intended to give .The best presents are presence not under the tree but a gift. Take time to spend it with those you love.

Why not fix a thermos of hot chocolate and take a drive or walk and see how the display of lights is coming along?

Blessings, Mimi D

A favorite by Jack Prelutsky

E versions are fine with somethings but give me the old hold in your hand kind of Christmas card! This task is yet ahead of me. I love writing the Christmas letter and selecting the different cards for individuals but this time of year— Santa is not the only one with a list! Enjoy the poem by Jack Prelutsky!

My Christmas Cards

Oh, no one got my Christmas cards,
it's making me upset,
I sent them off two weeks ago,
but no one got them yet.

I drew a bunch of pictures
and I wrote some poems that ryme,
I sent them off two weeks ago,
that should be lots of time.

I mailed them to my cousins,
to my uncles and my aunts,
sent them off two weeks ago
I think they've had their chance.

But no one got my Christmas cards,
not Mommy and not Gramps,
I sent them off two weeks ago...
did I forget the stamps?

Hugs from Mimi D

Reminder about Christmas Cards

If you are approaching the task of Christmas cards or letter, read Jack Prlutsky's short poem and remember "love may make the world go round but a letter flies better when stamped!"



My Christmas cards

Oh, no one got my Christmas cards, i
t's naking me upset
sent them off two weeks ago,
but no one got the yet.

I drew a bunch of petures
and I wrote some poems that rhyme;
I sent them off two WEEKS AGO
That should be lots of time.

I mailed them to my cousins,
to my uncles and my aunts,
I sent them off two WEEKS ago
I think they've had their chance.

B But no one got my Christmas cards,
not Mommy and not Gramps,
I sent them off I sent them off two WEEKS ago...
did I forget the stamps?

I had a blast writing a letter this weekend to go in the cards but haven't stuck any in envelopes and addressed them. I need to think Christmas in July this next year and get my address book on my computer!

Recipe plus

My advent devotional reading reminded me that Bethlehem means "house of bread". Interesting that Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven....and whoever eats this bread will live forever." John 6:51 On a gluten free diet? Jesus and the following recipe can be consumed.

Oatmeal Pancakes
1 cup milk, heated
¾ Ingredient quick cooking oats and ¾ of oat flour
2 T. Sugar
2 t baking powder
½ t. of salt
2 beaten egg yolks
1 T of cooking oil
2 egg whites beaten until stiff
Stir oats into heated milk and let stand for 5 minutes. Combine remaining dry ingredients in mixing bowl then add milk/oat mixture. Stir in egg yolks and oil. Fold beaten egg whites into batter. Cooked on hot, oiled griddle.
Substitutes: applesauce for half of the milk. Add when you add the egg yolks and oil.

Mimi D

Anticipation begins

It's arrived. Finally, it's come—Advent! Today is the first Sunday in Advent, a time of anticipation. There's a lot to anticipate: a busy month, eating too much and exercising too little, overspending, visits from family and the change of pace that goes with it(acceleration of pace is in direct comparison to the number of bathrooms available in your home!), and being around a lot of people who are sneezing, coughing, etc. but are bent on not missing the party. Then why even think about Advent? If you don't, you will 'skip Christmas.'The real Christmas that is. Advent books and devotions abound. Use one of them to keep your focus on the gift of God given to all people, the babe in the manger. Bake your cookies, sing carols, decorate your house and tree, enjoy all of your family traditions. But remember the one who came to redeem us will come again to receive us to Himself. Please don't take my word for it—take God's. John 14 is one good place to start. Advent is a gift from God to be treasured. Open His gift to you everyday and the light of Christmas will shine brighter through you.
Take my Advent challenge for today: Be a seeker. Some folks were looking for the Messiah due to God's promise given to us through the prophets. Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and let its words focus your heart on the only Gift of the season which really matters. Rejoice in our Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God! He's coming our way!
Mimi D

Learning to like Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving is over. well, more accurately, the sun has set on the day set aside for everyone to give thanks. Chalk up another one for the Cowboys!
Before I share my sweet potato recipe with you I must confess that they are not on my weekly or even monthly shopping list. Sweet potatoes should make the monthly one but I just forget about them....oh, well, let's not go down or explore that mental aisle any further...I have matured quite a bit over the years when it comes to sweet potatoes. The first huge monumental step was discovering that they do not come from a can! I was shocked as I experienced a fresh one instead of the sticky-icky let's cover up the taste kind with marshmellowskind that I had to get to before the pumpkin pie was served.. No orange s'mores for me. Many a Thanksgiving paper napkin stuffed with the gooey variety accompanied me to the kitchen to "get more water" when I was a kid. Another real big help in getting over the sweet potato hurdle was eating at my mother-in-law's table as a newly wed who didn't want to offend her. No one else at the table was still holding on to the common childhood dietary requirement made by many parents, that is, "You've got to try at least three bites of everything being served."
The recipe is very tasty, not too sweet, and a zinch to do. I think I'll make it again .....in a couple of months.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples
4 large sweet potatoes

1 cup cinnamon flavoured
Applesauce

¼ tsp salt

½ cup of dried crispy apple
chips, broken tn large
pieces
Scrub, dry and pierce the sweet potatoes in several places with a fork. Arrange on paper towels in microwave and cook on high 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway, until soft when pierced with a fork. (Oven 400 for 45 min.)
Halve, then scoop potatoes from skins. Mash in large bowl, then stir in applesauce and salt. Heat in microwave 5 minutes until hot. Spoon into serving dish and top with crushed apple chips.
Dish made be made one day ahead, just reheat and serve.
This is my favourite way to serve sweet potatoes.
Mimi D

The perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving Feast

Our memorable Thanksgivings are centered around family and the traditions which we have adopted. Ours include turkey, dressing, and fruit salad as part of the menu,a gathering of family at our house or theirs, the Dallas game, and leftovers. A few feasts stand out from the others: eating outdoors in Phoenix and having a hard time relating to the Pilgrims who survived the harsh New England winter; gatherings in Las Vegas, NM, at my husband's Bob childhood home where groups of 20 were typical; and a feast where we enjoyed a 4 year old nephew's expressive rendition of a turkey's progression from the barnyard to the kitchen table and on to his tummy that was way too full (the best part of the song). Now he's nearing 30 and playing in a band.
Of course, there was the trip to the home of my husband's Aunt in Los Alamos where our son eyed a cheese ball served on a platter surrounded by assorted crackers. Meant to be an apetizer it had been placed on a coffee table. Our 19 month-old son picked the cheese ball up and started eating it like an apple. As a first time visitor to their home and a "new mother", I was at a loss as to what to do and very grateful when Uncle Otis, having raised three boys himself, just chuckled and placed it back, nibbled side down.Then there's the Thanksgiving that our nephew who had driven from Tennessee to New Mexico with his wife and 18 month old daughter asked after eyeing the spread, "Aunt Michelle, where are the rolls you always make? I've been thinking about them all the way across Texas!" Oops! You've got to watch the childhood traditions that you start. Maybe I'll serve up some more helpings of Thanksgivings..... after the Cowboys game and before leftovers. Mimi D