Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Saturday, May 12, 2012
5.12.2012
Mom is traveling this weekend, so we had "Mother's Day" today. She got my package and gave me a call so we could spend some time together. My gift this year was small but big in heart. Literally! It's an exact match to the one Mom gave me last Christmas and I was so excited when I found it in the store. I knew it was right. It expresses how I feel about Mom every day.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
9.22.2011
Well it's Hobbit Day again and I wouldn't be a good wife to Mr. Tolkienphile if I didn't help him celebrate those Baggins boys. We didn't have any Lembas bread on hand....
So we settled for Frodo's Pizza. D didn't seem to mind.
Happy Birthday Bilbo & Frodo!
So we settled for Frodo's Pizza. D didn't seem to mind.
Happy Birthday Bilbo & Frodo!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
9.7.2011
Most people grill out on Labor Day but as it happens, someone left a copy of a Food Network magazine in the canteen at work, and I felt compelled to make the Chicken-Chorizo Paella. I knew there was a pound of Chorizo in the freezer and some saffron in the back of the cabinet. The saffron had been purchased by mistake and we had never found an opportunity to cook with it before.
And it seemed as if the stars were aligning when I opened the mailbox and Netflix had sent us the movie Rio - our theme was complete. There was only one slight problem. Paella is a party dish. The recipe said it fed 4-6 people. A quick call and reinforcements were found!
We were unable to find three of the ingredients listed in the recipe. I hopped on Google and found some substitutions: Rosemary for juniper berries, pimentos+a dash of cayenne for piquillo peppers and as we couldn't find real paella rice, medium-grain spanish rice would have to do.
First we made the from-scratch saffron chicken stock and the poaching liquid:
We combined everything together, covered with foil and set it in the oven to bake. After the allotted time the rice was still a little under-done so we baked it an additional ten minutes. It was such a colorful dish! We ate it all.
But the scene-stealer was BBL's chocolate cake. It was one of the best cakes I have ever had. And it was a perfect followup to the paella.
BBL was kind enough to leave some cake here. One of us, and I'm not saying who, actually had seconds of cake around Midnight. The other was disciplined enough to wait until breakfast. It was a wonderful evening - I was so glad we didn't just grill out.
And it seemed as if the stars were aligning when I opened the mailbox and Netflix had sent us the movie Rio - our theme was complete. There was only one slight problem. Paella is a party dish. The recipe said it fed 4-6 people. A quick call and reinforcements were found!
We were unable to find three of the ingredients listed in the recipe. I hopped on Google and found some substitutions: Rosemary for juniper berries, pimentos+a dash of cayenne for piquillo peppers and as we couldn't find real paella rice, medium-grain spanish rice would have to do.
First we made the from-scratch saffron chicken stock and the poaching liquid:
D man-handled the blender for the 'sauce'.
Now we were ready to actually cook!
I sauted the onions & peppers.
D toasted the garlic, peas, olives and rice.
We combined everything together, covered with foil and set it in the oven to bake. After the allotted time the rice was still a little under-done so we baked it an additional ten minutes. It was such a colorful dish! We ate it all.
But the scene-stealer was BBL's chocolate cake. It was one of the best cakes I have ever had. And it was a perfect followup to the paella.
BBL was kind enough to leave some cake here. One of us, and I'm not saying who, actually had seconds of cake around Midnight. The other was disciplined enough to wait until breakfast. It was a wonderful evening - I was so glad we didn't just grill out.
Friday, August 19, 2011
8.19.2011
Sunday we are singing the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and at practice on Wednesday, RK walked us through the message of the song. He was helping us to understand it so that we could find the meaning in the words that we sing.
August 19th is an Ebenezer for me... the anniversary of my adoption. The day the Lord restored to me something that had been taken away. On 'Leandra Day' - as we call it - I spend time reflecting on what my Mom means to me and how her presence has blessed my life. I am so very grateful.
"Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by Thy help I'm come;"
hither by Thy help I'm come;"
RK explained that 'raising an Ebenezer' is when we become conscious of the Lord's intervention in our lives and we mark that special place so that we can look back and remember the hand of the Lord upon us.
Samuel took a large stone and placed it
between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanan.
He named it Ebenezer - "the stone of help'
- for he said "Up to this point the Lord
has helped us. - 1 Sam 7:12 NLT
between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanan.
He named it Ebenezer - "the stone of help'
- for he said "Up to this point the Lord
has helped us. - 1 Sam 7:12 NLT
August 19th is an Ebenezer for me... the anniversary of my adoption. The day the Lord restored to me something that had been taken away. On 'Leandra Day' - as we call it - I spend time reflecting on what my Mom means to me and how her presence has blessed my life. I am so very grateful.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
2.13.2011
Last night D and I had the honor of being guests of BBL and LRL at a Valentine's Day Banquet held at their church. I had never been to one before, so I was very excited about being invited. Many years ago a woman told me that my complexion was not suitable for wearing red. As a result, I only have one item in my wardrobe that is red, a casual t-shirt. I did the best I could and wore a complimentary color - purple. Plus, this dress holds sentimental value to me.
In addition to being our hostess, BBL also did a beautiful job of decorating our table. It set a lovely mood for our meal.
The food was excellent. Baked chicken, green beans, cheesy potatoes, fruit cocktail, fruit salad and a roll. For desert: Red Velvet Cake (of course) - the frosting was so light! As we were finishing up our cake I noticed a man in line who looked familiar. He used to work with us but he was laid off. His health isn't good but I think he did remember us and it was nice to see him again.
I love the genuine smiles on all of our faces. It was obvious we had a wonderful evening together as a family.
The entertainment was also well done. In addition to being regaled by the pastor and his wife, I particularly enjoyed the newlywed game. D and I had fun answering those same questions with each other on the ride back home.
In addition to being our hostess, BBL also did a beautiful job of decorating our table. It set a lovely mood for our meal.
The food was excellent. Baked chicken, green beans, cheesy potatoes, fruit cocktail, fruit salad and a roll. For desert: Red Velvet Cake (of course) - the frosting was so light! As we were finishing up our cake I noticed a man in line who looked familiar. He used to work with us but he was laid off. His health isn't good but I think he did remember us and it was nice to see him again.
I love the genuine smiles on all of our faces. It was obvious we had a wonderful evening together as a family.
The entertainment was also well done. In addition to being regaled by the pastor and his wife, I particularly enjoyed the newlywed game. D and I had fun answering those same questions with each other on the ride back home.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
1.2.2011
D and I were delighted when TEM invited us over for New Year's Eve. She graciously included Feni, so there was no scramble to get a pet sitter. Feni hadn't traveled since he was just a wee pup, so we thought it would be an adventure for all of us.
While the roast cooked and we waited for RDM to get home from work, I got to feed ANM - green beans and applesauce. I told her I had often had the same dinner a few times at CNC.
Despite ANM fighting off sleep, Feni going after Callie and Callie hiding from the fireworks, we managed to play both Upwards and Compatibility. We were all pretty tired once midnight came.
It was so nice not to wake up to an alarm clock. D and I tucked Feni in his carrier, had a late breakfast and then drove to the mall. We got a good walk in before meeting TEM on her lunch break. Afterwards we headed back home in the dreary rain.
While the roast cooked and we waited for RDM to get home from work, I got to feed ANM - green beans and applesauce. I told her I had often had the same dinner a few times at CNC.
Despite ANM fighting off sleep, Feni going after Callie and Callie hiding from the fireworks, we managed to play both Upwards and Compatibility. We were all pretty tired once midnight came.
It was so nice not to wake up to an alarm clock. D and I tucked Feni in his carrier, had a late breakfast and then drove to the mall. We got a good walk in before meeting TEM on her lunch break. Afterwards we headed back home in the dreary rain.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas 2010
Christmas Eve morning started off with a waffle breakfast at our house. We've done it twice in two years - I think we can plan on it becoming a tradition.
Then we hung out for awhile. MCL seemed to think my treadmill was a playground. She would grab the bars like a jungle-gym and pretend that the front bumper was a slide. I had fun playing with her.
Later we went over to LRLs and BBLs for our family soup supper. Lucky me got to sit at the table with these handsome men!
My favorite moment of the evening was having Happy Birthday sung to me in Swedish. LRL and BBL gifted me with a pineapple - my favorite.
This morning we baked Blueberry muffins and gave the fuzzies their gifts. Feni got a squeaky bone. We gave Elora a cat-tree and a mousie.
Our last Christmas together we gave BF a scarf and D liked it so much he later bought one for himself. I couldn't resist a matchy-matchy shot.
During our Christmas dinner.... it began to snow! The last white Christmas in G'ville was 1963.
Then we hung out for awhile. MCL seemed to think my treadmill was a playground. She would grab the bars like a jungle-gym and pretend that the front bumper was a slide. I had fun playing with her.
Later we went over to LRLs and BBLs for our family soup supper. Lucky me got to sit at the table with these handsome men!
My favorite moment of the evening was having Happy Birthday sung to me in Swedish. LRL and BBL gifted me with a pineapple - my favorite.
This morning we baked Blueberry muffins and gave the fuzzies their gifts. Feni got a squeaky bone. We gave Elora a cat-tree and a mousie.
Our last Christmas together we gave BF a scarf and D liked it so much he later bought one for himself. I couldn't resist a matchy-matchy shot.
During our Christmas dinner.... it began to snow! The last white Christmas in G'ville was 1963.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2.16.2010
Last December I really wanted D to take me to see Third Day when they played Asheville. But that trip didn't happen. So I was really surprised when in early January, he told me that they were coming to Greenville. And then he started to sound like a TV pitchman... But Wait, There's More! Not only was Third Day coming here, they were touring with The Newsboys! But Wait, There's More! Not only was Third Day coming here, not only were they playing with The Newsboys, but Newsong was coming too! And it didn't conflict with any orchestra rehearsal, performance, bible study, work training or family event. Woo-Hoo! My three favorite CCM bands together all in one night! I was excited! Enter WinterJam2010...
I had never heard of WinterJam before, which is odd, considering it started here in Greenville fifteen years ago and is now the largest CCM tour in the USA. The number fifteen seems to be popping up a lot this year! How nice that it was Valentine's Day weekend. We didn't want to miss out on the concert, and it was only general admission at the door, so we paid extra in advance for the opportunity to be Platinum Partners (meaning we got in early, had our choice of seating and received a free t-shirt).
It was rotten weather, having snowed the night before. We didn't know it, but they actually considered canceling the performance because of delays in coming from Mobile, AL. Instead, they just opened the doors late. As soon as they got the speakers hung they let us 'VIPs' in, but they still didn't have our chairs down, so we just hung out while they got that ready. It was kind of neat seeing all of their equipment and stage prep.
It was awesome walking into Bi-Lo Center, knowing that you could sit in any seat you wanted. D and I decided that for our auditory health, we didn't want to be any closer than 12 rows from the front. We ended up about row 14, right next to the runway. We were happy to finally be seated and, most importantly, out of the cold!
We saw a handful of lesser-known bands perform. The only one I truly did not care for was FireFlight. But then it was time for the big boys.... Cue the balloons, streamers and confetti!!
Newsong!
Daddy first introduced me to Newsong, so I've been listening to them for at least 20 years. I've seen them live several times. One of the highlights of the evening (for me) was when they performed Arise, My Love. So powerful. It never fails to give me goosebumps, especially when it's live. I couldn't believe they were still performing it on tour, I figured they would do their latest and greatest. What a treat!
Newsboys!
I first heard The Newsboys in 1993 at an outdoor music festival in Kentucky. They also played at Carson-Newman, we think, in 1994. Of course, that was their original lineup, they've since got a new lead vocalist. He was quite flamboyant and used the runway quite a bit. It was odd being that close to a performer (and not always pleasant - he worked up quite a sweat)! The highlight of their performance (for me): He Reigns. Such a great worship piece and it rocked the whole place.
Third Day!
I can't remember the first time I ever heard Third Day's music, but I've enjoyed it from the get-go. They just won a Grammy award, so much of what they performed was from their newest album. It was a thrill for me when they performed Tunnel, which is my #2 favorite of their repertoire. Out of all of their hits I never expected that one. I was very impressed with how Mac ended their set. As the other band members left the stage, he picked up his acoustic guitar and led us all in Agnus Dei and then he just left us singing it acappella. Nice and simple and humble.
It was a great night! And my ears weren't ringing too badly...
I had never heard of WinterJam before, which is odd, considering it started here in Greenville fifteen years ago and is now the largest CCM tour in the USA. The number fifteen seems to be popping up a lot this year! How nice that it was Valentine's Day weekend. We didn't want to miss out on the concert, and it was only general admission at the door, so we paid extra in advance for the opportunity to be Platinum Partners (meaning we got in early, had our choice of seating and received a free t-shirt).
It was rotten weather, having snowed the night before. We didn't know it, but they actually considered canceling the performance because of delays in coming from Mobile, AL. Instead, they just opened the doors late. As soon as they got the speakers hung they let us 'VIPs' in, but they still didn't have our chairs down, so we just hung out while they got that ready. It was kind of neat seeing all of their equipment and stage prep.
It was awesome walking into Bi-Lo Center, knowing that you could sit in any seat you wanted. D and I decided that for our auditory health, we didn't want to be any closer than 12 rows from the front. We ended up about row 14, right next to the runway. We were happy to finally be seated and, most importantly, out of the cold!
We saw a handful of lesser-known bands perform. The only one I truly did not care for was FireFlight. But then it was time for the big boys.... Cue the balloons, streamers and confetti!!
Newsong!
Daddy first introduced me to Newsong, so I've been listening to them for at least 20 years. I've seen them live several times. One of the highlights of the evening (for me) was when they performed Arise, My Love. So powerful. It never fails to give me goosebumps, especially when it's live. I couldn't believe they were still performing it on tour, I figured they would do their latest and greatest. What a treat!
Newsboys!
I first heard The Newsboys in 1993 at an outdoor music festival in Kentucky. They also played at Carson-Newman, we think, in 1994. Of course, that was their original lineup, they've since got a new lead vocalist. He was quite flamboyant and used the runway quite a bit. It was odd being that close to a performer (and not always pleasant - he worked up quite a sweat)! The highlight of their performance (for me): He Reigns. Such a great worship piece and it rocked the whole place.
Third Day!
I can't remember the first time I ever heard Third Day's music, but I've enjoyed it from the get-go. They just won a Grammy award, so much of what they performed was from their newest album. It was a thrill for me when they performed Tunnel, which is my #2 favorite of their repertoire. Out of all of their hits I never expected that one. I was very impressed with how Mac ended their set. As the other band members left the stage, he picked up his acoustic guitar and led us all in Agnus Dei and then he just left us singing it acappella. Nice and simple and humble.
It was a great night! And my ears weren't ringing too badly...
Friday, January 1, 2010
1.1.2010
For inspiration I've been watching DVDs with kings and queens in them. Last night I finished off a disk of The Tudors. I couldn't sleep so around 2AM I plonked back down on the couch and watched The Other Boleyn Girl. The more I learn about the court of Henry VIII, the more thankful I am that I live in this day and age - where I am free to love the man of my choice and live my life without interference.
I still couldn't sleep after the movie so I started reading my first book of the year, Storm Front by Jim Butcher - about a wizard named Harry Dresden. D has just been gobbling up all of Butcher's books. After nearly 100 pages I put the book down, donned my own robe and padded into the kitchen. I got out my new cauldron and began some alchemy of my own. For our first dish in the Dutch oven we chose Julia Child's very own Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Burgundy is so much easier to spell). It's definitely French: bacon, butter, beef and of course, Burgundy. My new name for this dish is Heart Attack on a Plate. D laughed and said "at least we'll die happy."
D was good company for me during the six hours it took to prepare this dish. And he set a gorgeous table. I felt like he had created a beautiful French bistro just for me. And I almost felt guilty about eating such a nice meal in my PJs.
The beef had a very nice and complex flavor. It is braised in quite a lot of wine, but surprisingly, the wine does not overpower the finished dish. Was it worth four sinkfuls of dishes and six hours of my time? Not sure about that. I think we could achieve a similar outcome by just adding some merlot to the crockpot the next time we fix a roast. But now I can say that I have successfully managed one of Julia's recipes.
I still couldn't sleep after the movie so I started reading my first book of the year, Storm Front by Jim Butcher - about a wizard named Harry Dresden. D has just been gobbling up all of Butcher's books. After nearly 100 pages I put the book down, donned my own robe and padded into the kitchen. I got out my new cauldron and began some alchemy of my own. For our first dish in the Dutch oven we chose Julia Child's very own Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Burgundy is so much easier to spell). It's definitely French: bacon, butter, beef and of course, Burgundy. My new name for this dish is Heart Attack on a Plate. D laughed and said "at least we'll die happy."
D was good company for me during the six hours it took to prepare this dish. And he set a gorgeous table. I felt like he had created a beautiful French bistro just for me. And I almost felt guilty about eating such a nice meal in my PJs.
The beef had a very nice and complex flavor. It is braised in quite a lot of wine, but surprisingly, the wine does not overpower the finished dish. Was it worth four sinkfuls of dishes and six hours of my time? Not sure about that. I think we could achieve a similar outcome by just adding some merlot to the crockpot the next time we fix a roast. But now I can say that I have successfully managed one of Julia's recipes.
Friday, December 25, 2009
12.25.2009
I put off posting today because, to be honest, I didn't feel like editing the pictures and text for a long, all-encompassing passage. I told myself I would spread out my Christmas memories over several posts and I instantly felt better.
The brightest moment of my day was getting out of the car and having a snowball land at my feet. It was so unexpected and so whimsical, it made me laugh. TC's truck bed was full of snow from the recent storm. We didn't get any snow in FI and D and I were a little bummed at missing out. Thanks to TC, we got our white Christmas after all.
The brightest moment of my day was getting out of the car and having a snowball land at my feet. It was so unexpected and so whimsical, it made me laugh. TC's truck bed was full of snow from the recent storm. We didn't get any snow in FI and D and I were a little bummed at missing out. Thanks to TC, we got our white Christmas after all.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
12.24.2009
D was asked to lead the congregational singing at the 7PM service at church. I always love singing Silent Night acapella by candlelight. It just stirs my soul.
Afterwards we made a family portrait in front of the tree to remember Christmas 2009.
Afterwards we made a family portrait in front of the tree to remember Christmas 2009.
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