Mery Cristmas And Ney Year Wonders: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

The True Meaning of Christmas

At Christmas time there was a man, who looked so out of place. As people rushed about him, at a hurried sort of pace. He stared at all the Christmas lights, the tinsel everywhere. The shopping center Santa Claus, with children gathered near.

The mall was packed with shoppers, who were going to and fro, Some with smiles, some with frowns, and some too tired to go. They rested on benches, or they hurried on their way. To fight the crowds for purchases, to carry home that day.

The music from the stereo, was playing loud and clear. Of Santa Claus and snowmen, and funny nosed reindeer. He heard the people talk about, the good times on the way. Of parties, fun and food galore, and gift exchanges that day.

I'd like to know what's going on, the man was heard to say. There seems to be some sort, of celebration on the way. And would you tell me who this is, all dressed in red and white. And why are children asking "him" about a special night.

The answer came in disbelief, I can't believe my ears. I can't believe you do not know, that Christmas time is here. The time when Santa comes around, with gifts for girls and boys. When they are asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys.

The man you see in red and white, is Santa Claus so shy. The children love his joyful laugh, and twinkle in his eye. His gift packed sleigh is pulled along, by very small reindeer. As he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there.

The children learn of Santa Claus, while they are still quite small. When Christmas comes "he" is the most, "important" one of all. The stranger hung His head in shame, He closed a nail pierced hand. His body shook in disbelief, He did not understand. A shadow crossed His stricken face, His voice was low but clear. "After all these years they still don't know." And JESUS shed a tear.

By Author Unknown

" CONNEMARA " Home of Carl Sandburg

FOR THE 100th POST of THE WRITERS PORCH BLOG

A VISIT TO CONNEMARA in FLAT ROCK , NORTH CAROLINA

CARL SANDBURG 1878-1967

He was a Poet/Novelist/Minstrel/Biographer/Public Speaker

In 1945, Carl and Lillian Sandburg were in search of a new

home. A place where he could write and a place where she

could continue to raise her expanding herd of champion goats.

They found it in Flat Rock, NC at a place called Connemara.

July 22, 1967, Carl Sandburg died in a downstairs bedroom

at Connemara with his family around him. His funeral was

held at St. John In The Wilderness

Church near Connemara.

In 1968, Congress authorized the Carl Sandburg Home

National

Historic Site , making it the first national park to honor a poet.

The house was left exactly like it was the day he died. All contents

are still there, including the paper in his his workroom wastebasket.

I assume it is the first to also honor a herd of goats.......

Champion

Goats that is.......................

In 1940, Carl Sandburg was awarded the Pulitzer Prize

for his 4

vol. biography of Abe Lincoln titled " The War Years"

In 1951, he was again awarded the Pulitzer Prize

for "

Sandburg's Complete Poem's "

His workroom at Connemara is two small, west

facing rooms on

the top floor.......................

From the Flame Azaleas that greet you in the

parking lot

to the multiple Rhododendrons that surround the

grounds, beauty is everywhere.

Now this is a Sun Room.....................

With a view of gorgeous flora and fauna

The walking path to the dairy barns is a walk

through

nature......like this Hummingbird Vine

Wonderful farm buildings along the

path.....................

What an inspiring place to write!

The garden is still planted, tended and watched over by the scarecrow

Carl's wife Lillian was as famous for her herd of

prize

winning, champion goats as he for his writing........

The dairy house is still as it was......

I've forgotten the

name of this machine......

This was the cooler where the milk, butter and

cheese made at

Connemara Dairy was kept...

This was the cream separator , I think.....

The Sandburg's farm equipment and vehicles are still

here in

this garage on the left.................

This is the entrance

to the dairy.....

The herd of goats still at Connemara, are descendants of

the

original herd raised by the Sandburg's..................

This

is the sister.............

Of these two little guys.......a set of triplets !

These guys and girls " have it made in the shade "

Connemara has it's own Chickens and Eggs too......

I want to thank all of you for sharing mine and Sherry Austin's tour of Connemara and for being such great commenters and wonderful friends for the past 99 posts.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Christmas Elf Name

Christmas Elf Name

My Christmas Elf Name is

Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

What Part of Christmas Are You?

Go to Jokes Unlimited to answer the six questions to see what part of Christmas you are.

Naughty or Nice List

Christmas Naughty or Nice List

Christmas Naughty or Nice List

You are on the The Nice List

After checking the North Pole database we found you had :

1,537 nice entries

628 naughty entries

Check your name on the Christmas Naughty or Nice List at JokesUnlimited.com

Find Your Secret Santa Present

Secret Santa

This year your Secret Santa bought you :

A Life Time Supply Of Hemroid Cream

Find out your Secret Santa present at JokesUnlimited.com

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Which of Santa's Reindeer are you?

Santas Reindeer

Comet

Like Comet you are always happy. Nothing seems to get you down and you can always put a smile on people's faces

Find out which of Santa's Reindeer you are at Quizopolis.com

Christmas Trivia - Ornaments

Early Christmas trees had real fruit and flowers and candles as decorations, it looked good but was very heavy on the branches.

German glass blowers began producing glass balls to replace the heavy decorations. These became known as Blubs.

In the 1800's the women's publication, "Godey's Lady Book" popularize the making of homemade Christmas ornaments & decorations.

18 Baking Tips for Cakes and Cookies

1. Add a pinch of baking powder to powdered sugar homemade icing. It will help it stay moist and not crack.

2. If you have time, freeze the layers of your cake before frosting. It makes your frosting job much easier and no crumbs.

3. Frosting will look more professional if you first frost with a thin layer and let it set. Then apply a second coat of frosting.

4. After adding batter to your cake pans, tip slightly from side to side to level the dough and put a little on the sides of the pan. When the cake rises, it will make a flatter layer.

5. Form drop cookies by dropping them on a cookie sheet and then press them with the bottom of a water glass dipped in sugar.

6. Preserve the creamy texture of frozen cheesecake by thawing it in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

7. Dip your cookie cutter in slightly warm salad oil for a cleaner cut.

8. Quick frosting can be made by adding a little chocolate syrup to prepared whipped topping (Cool whip type)/

9. Sprinkle powdered sugar on each layer of your cake before filling or frosting. This will keep the filling from soaking through the cake.

10. Uncooked spaghetti is great to use instead of toothpicks for holding a cake together while waiting for the icing to set.

11. Uncooked spaghetti works well to light birthday candles.

12. Substitute two egg whites stiffly beaten for each whole egg in a recipe for lower cholesterol.

13. Add a pinch of salt to the sugar and your icing won't become grainy.

14. Use cocoa instead of flour to "flour" your baking pans so your cakes and cookies won't have that floury look.

15. Trace the bottom of your baking pan onto waxed paper and cut it out. Use this in the bottom of the pan and grease the sides like normal. When the cake is done, it comes out easily and the paper can be removed while the cake is still warm.

16. Roll the dough directly onto a greased and floured cookie sheet. Cut the cookies out and then pick up the scrap for thinner crispier dough.

17. Cookies wills stay moist if a slice of bread is placed in the cookie jar.

18. A pinch of salt added to chocolate dishes enhances the flavor.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 5/30/09

A Soldier's Christmas

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?," I asked without fear.
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am

.I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,

I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked,
"or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.

"Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,"
Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

~~ Michael Marks ~~

"Creations From The Harvest "

Yesterday you saw that we are harvesting from our garden.
I cooked supper last night using some of that harvest.

Fried Green Tomatoes/ Shrimp& Creole Sauce....

Garden Harvest Salad................

Supper's On !

I'm going to start with the shrimp and sauce as you can
make it, cover and set aside. This picture should have come
after the next one. You can cook your own shrimp or use
the bought cooked, which is what these are. (med.size)

Creole Sauce......................................................................

1 Tabl. liquid crab boil
2 Tabl. butter
1 pound Shrimp(peeled,deveined & tail less)
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tabl. creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's )
1 Tabl. Worcestershire sauce
1 teas. paprika

We like it a little spicy and this is but if you want it
hotter add hot sauce to taste.

Saute shrimp in crab boil and butter till pink.................

( if you're using already cooked, till good and hot)

Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.(prev.picture)

Add the remaining ingredients to crab boil & butter.

Reduce by half over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

When reduced to half, add shrimp, cover and set aside.

This is two med/large green tomatoes sliced.................

Take 1 cup of buttermilk and 1 egg, salt and pepper to taste

and whisk together in a bowl. I let my tomatoes sit in this

while I make the Shrimp Sauce.

For your breading you can use 3/1 flour or cornmeal.

We like cornmeal so I use 3/4 cup cornmeal 1/4 c. flour.

Add salt, pepper (to taste) and 1/2 teas. garlic powder

to mixture and stir.

I use a black iron skillet and 1 cup EV Olive Oil...........

Dredge tomatoes in dry mix and put into HOT oil.....

Should take about 2 minutes on each side............

They should look like this when done........................

When ready to serve...spoon Shrimp and Sauce on top.

I serve it with Garlic Cheese Toast.............

This salad is my own creation......................

1 good size Yellow Squash ( I use two smaller)

1 good size Zucchini Squash

1 large ripe Tomato or 1/2 cup of Cherry Tomatoes

1/4 cup of grated Red Onion( I process mine in dressing)

1 cup sliced Strawberries

Dressing.....................

1/2 cup Ken's Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette dressing

2 Tables. Creole or Dijon mustard

2 tables. Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 cup EV Olive Oil

salt and pepper to taste

puree in food processor or blender

pour over salad mixture......refrigerate

doing several hours ahead makes it better

This is a different way to enjoy the garden harvest!

After this wonderful supper last evening....................

I took pictures of the sunset................

These clouds seemed so close to the tree tops..............

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE !

TOMORROW IS MY 100 th POST !

We're going to visit CARL SANBURG 'S HOME !

Friday, May 29, 2009

" Moments of Pleasure "

I thought I'd post today about things that give me pleasure

For the past two or three months, I'm not sure just how
long I have been watching episodes of the awesome BBC
series, The House of Elliott. It ran for three seasons for a
total of 31 episodes. I got it through Netflix and so it was
spread out over a period of weeks. I LOVED this series!!
The ONLY thing I didn't like was that season 3 ended in
a cliff hanger that will never be resolved.......

Beatrice ( Stella Gonet ) and Evie ( Louise Lombard ) Elliott
are sisters left penniless upon their father's death who use
their talent for designing and making clothes to start their
own London Couture Clothing Establishment! The clothes
and hats they wear, will leave you breathless!!