windshield notes...

how many times have you been to a store or mall and come back to find that people have left flyers to promote their business under the blade of your windshield wiper...or (gasp...that they "accidentally" bumped into your car..and it had relayed their information...to you after they couldn't find you...does that happen?) well shannon and kevin were at the mall...and they came back to find a yellow blockbuster ad under the windshield wiper...but they noticed that something had been scrawled on the back of it...



They have a iraq veteran flag on the back of their van and a "proud wife of a soldier" ribbon also...several times we have been stopped by people in parking lots to thank us for kevins service..but to have someone stop and leave a note...was really a wonderful moment!

big hugz and thanks to all the veterans...and their families!

hugz and love til next time

...only in wisconsin...

could we have all four seasons in a 48 hour time period...

wednesday nite it was 3 degrees with a windchill of -15
today it was 55 degrees and the snow is melting away faster and faster...and it's raining...

we wish you a...

RAMBLING...WORDZ...and no pictures...

Been a bit quiet online of late..just lots to do! Then mother nature blessed us with 13" of snow...then...single digit temps...currently we are sitting at 1 degree...BRRRRR....but alas this IS wisconsin...and it IS now officially WINTER!...

Received a couple of mysterious packages in the mail...return addies are SANTA...(geepers...santa lives in different cities!He is truly magical!!) THANK YOU SOOO MUCH...(although packages were placed beneath the tree for Christmas morning opening! and proper thanks will go out...to those sweet santas...soon) It is sooo hard for so many people this year...I'm feeling sooooooo VERY VERY VERY BLESSED that you have remembered us and my babies! Christmas is always such a time of year that I so enjoy giving...and this year it is my HEART i must share...tommmorrow is another day and we've been blessed to have our health and each other and all you LOVELY ANGELS...out there...
I FEEL SOOO BLESSED...soooo blessed...(and it's not because of the packages...oh please do not construe it as that..) i am blessed because i feel the warmth of your love and friendship and presence...oh we are blessed...

I awoke this morning with a gladness and a PEACE that has just wrapped me in a calmness...it is a WONDERFUL FEELING...

goodness rereading this i'm soooo rambling..but know that my warm tears are sweeping down my face...and....

THANK YOU...THANK YOU THANK YOU...FOR BEING YOU....
......This entire country has been in the wrath of unemployment and cutbacks and losses etc...but all in all we have also gained the true meaning of the holidays also...THE LOVE AND KINDNESS AND SPIRIT OF THE WORLD...

LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!!!

HUGZ

thursday....

my sweet friend, debby, (she and I went to high school together in austin...goodness is it THAT long ago? wow...seems like yesterday...well anyway..she sent me this recipe...sounds super easy and yummy and thought i'd pass it along...


Hershey bar Pie

1 8 OZ Hershey Almond bar

Graham cracker (or chocolate) pie crust

1/3 cup milk

1 ½ cup mini marshmallows (or 15 large)

1 cup heavy cream



Break chocolate bar into small pieces and chop almonds

(If desired, save some chocolate pieces to spread on top)

Melt chocolate with milk in a double boiler

Add marshmallows and stir until melted

Cool completely

Whip cream until stiff

Fold into the chocolate mixture

Spoon into crust

Chill until firm

SOUNDS EASY PEASY!!! THANKS DEBBY!

I had to remove my background...on my blog (it was giving people trouble..so POOF...it's gone...) maybe i'll try again in the new year...with another one...

please let me know if you are having trouble reading this...don't know what i'm doing wrong or if there is a glitch in the system..but some people are not being able to read it or the whole blog shifts left...(or was it right)...

have a wonderful day out there! i'm getting ready to head off to work..(til 10:30..) then next week we are open til 11:00...(don't know WHO needs to shop that late..for what we sell...but ya never know...WHEN you'll run out of that bottle of glitter or something...lol


AND to all my sweeties in australia/new zealand...(beware..my baby brother and his sweet wife are visiting there...for most of this month...!) (it's my brother i worry about causing trouble...lol)
HUGZ TIL NEXT TIME!!!

another recipe...happy tuesday...

...we didn't get the 12" of snow...just an inch or two on the ground...BUT...that inch or two is almost solid water...and heavier than a foot of snow...still snowing...which...if the temp drops...will freeze that water and we will have a skating rink on the roads...which isn't a good thing...

here is a quick and easy and yummy recipe!!!

Christmas Crackers


35 saltines (1 sleeve plus a few)
1 c butter
1 c packed brown sugar
1 1/2 c chocolate chips
1 1/2 c walnuts crushed

Line 10x15 pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.

Lay out saltines evenly
Preheat oven to 400
Melt butter in pan, add brown sugar, bring to a boil,
boil 3 minutes (maybe a little longer)
Pour over crackers, covering completely
Bake at 400 for 5 minutes
Remove from oven, and turn oven off
Layer chips evenly over the saltines
Return to the oven until chocolate is melted (about 5
minutes)
Press walnuts into chocolate with a spatula
Cut into 1" squares, and cool completely (I put mine
in the fridge)

(You can use pecans if you prefer)

hugz til next time...off to work..

cookie swap!!!...FINALLY!!!

BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS BLOG TODAY.(goodness doesn't it know i need to post this cookie recipe!!!..JUST WOULDN'T LET ME POST ANYTHING!!! ugh!!!

BUT HERE I AM! with my cookie post!!!

Sweet Scrappy Jessi is hosting her 2nd annual cookie swap and it begins today!!! Hope noone came by earlier....for a taste!!!

Each year it feels soooo good to dig out the family traditional recipes..ones that I save only for this time of year...

There is something soooo comforting to hold the recipe cards that my mom handwrote oh so many years ago...sweet memories....of sweet treats!!! So here we go!

MELTAWAY SUGAR COOKIES!!!

Cream together until light and fluffy;
1 cup sugar
1 cup pwd. sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup butter

beat in two eggs

Add the following ingredients:
4 cups plus 4 heaping tablespoons flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla

Shape in small balls the size of walnuts and place on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten down (this is where I GOT TO HELP!!!) WITH A GLASS DIPPED IN SUGAR!!!

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until light golden brown....

these ABSOLUTELY DO MELT IN YOUR MOUTH!!!!

Tonight we set up the TREE!!!! WOO HOOOOO!!! Then when the babies come over in the morning...the house will be a magical Christmas wonderland!!!

Got more snow...papa was out shoveling...



and shoveling...(after the PLOW came thru and replaces what he shoveled...)


While i snapped pictures..from the door!


Thru the front car window after picking up the babies from school....(oh I so treasure that 4 wheel drive...)


happy holidays and big HUGZ!!! OFF TO DREAM OF MY PINK CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!

barb