Odds And Ends

How wonderful it is to open my eyes and know I have been given another day of life. As I always do first thing in the morning upon awakening, I walked to the patio door and opened  the drapes. I was so surprised when they were opened.The fog was so thick I couldn't see farther than my patio. I hated to shut the drapes again, hate the closed in feeling I get. I prefer sunlight streaming through my windows, and want my doors open for as long as they can be left open. Of course now that the weather is getting so cold I'll not be able to leave them open, or my windows either, doggone it.

I hope today is going well for all of you. I hope that as tempting at it may be, you're not, like this cute little guy on the left, hiding out somewhere feeling discouraged and about ready to throw in the towel. It does get tempting doesn't it? To toss in the towel I mean, especially when we are doing the very best we can? We all get tempted sometimes to just quit. But quitting is such a waste.  Sometimes, realistically, we have to give up on something that is truly beyond our reach. But most of the time I think people fail because they give up too easily and too soon.That used to be me. I am so grateful that it isn't me any more.

HOLIDAYS- They arrived pretty quickly didn't they? I wish they weren't so close to each other. Still, I do love how the holidays bring people closer; how it seems to make people more open to sharing with others, which is a wonderful thing.|
    MY son Christopher, like his dad, loves to cook, and now that his dad is no longer with us he has been doing most of the holiday cooking. I miss being able to do all of it like I once did, but am grateful for what little I can still do. What I miss the very most is being able to bake six to eight loaves of  Cranberry Bread.  I always set one aside for my oldest son to take to his barber shop. He used to say if he didn't have one to take there he never got any. That's how it is on holidays. Right? Everybody has their favorites.

   I started this post out early this morning, while  enjoying my morning coffee. But every  time I'd start typing again the phone rang or the doorbell. I finally gave up, decided to watch a little television, and do a crossword puzzle before trying again.
   A few hours have passed since I worked the puzzle, and i stil have a ringing doorbell, and..the phone is starting up again. DRAT!!!Telephones. Can you imagine a world without them? Or a world without all the electronics we have become so used too? A few days ago I was thinking about how many things I grew up without. There were no microwaves, smart phones, computers, jets, freezers, calculators, or televisions; no  typewriters, electric toothbrushes or hair dryers, or air-conditioners. Boy, if we all woke up tomorrow without even half of these things we'd get pretty frustrated. How would you like to wake up in the morning with no telephone or Facebook? I can do without Facebook but I would miss having a phone, even though its constant ringing can be annoying. I'd really miss having one..
 
Tomorrow I'll be going through recipes, looking for something new to make for the holidays. I love trying new things, though now it takes me a long time to do anything. Still, when it comes to cooking I'll keep trying.

 Before closing I thought I'd share a recipe my Johnny really loved. Once he tasted it he wanted me to make it as often as he could talk me into it. I made it a lot, because as you can see, it's not a complicated recipe; is easy, and doesn't require much time.

 
Frozen Cherry Salad
               
1 jar-18 oz., dark, sweet cherries
1 can 11 oz. manderin oranges
1 can- 8 3/4 oz. pineapple chunks
1 pkg - 8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups miniature marshmellows

1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts


Drain all fruit; reserve some cherries and orange slices to use for garnish. Set fruit aside.
In medium size bowl, beat cream cheese till fluffy. Blend in the sour cream, sugar and salt.
Next, fold in fruit, marshmellows and nuts.
   Spoon into an 8 1/2 by 4 /12 inch loaf pan, then place in freezer for six hours.
Unmold and garnish with reserved cherries and orange slices.


Well, it has been a very long day. I am going to fix myself some tea or hot chocolate and relax for the rest of the evening. Good night. May your dreams be sweet.

Love you much.