Let me make you smile!

Just a quick post to share some Gizzy photos (of course! - what else?) I've got lots to tell you, but have major packing and mailing to do and Christmas cards to write, so I'll catch up with you all later!

Here's litte Gizzy and his big cousins (don't ask!)

(look at his silly expression, like he's stuffed too)

Festive Gizzy!

Wind-blown Gizzy!

(squinting in the sun)

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

The winner for my November Giveaway is...

... Clara of Clara's Crochet Room! Congratulations, Clara, and as soon as you send me your address, I'll mail you the Cross Stitch book with my compliments and best wishes.

If you want to visit Clara, you can also see that she has been a very busy gal crocheting all sorts of cute Christmas ornaments.Again, congratulations and enjoy your book!

I also want to share some honey recipes perfect for gift giving from the National Honey Board that I subscribe to. As you know I'm a big bee fan and love honey bee products.  

Honey Spice Oatmeal Cookie Mix

(Makes 6 dozen)

• 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1-1/2 cups Quaker© oats (quick-cooking or old fashioned), uncooked

To make mix In large bowl, combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves and nutmeg; mix well. Add oats; mix well. Transfer to resealable plastic bag, an unbreakable decorative jar with lid or other airtight container. Store in cool dry place. Ingredients Needed to Complete Cookies 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter softened (no substitutions) 3/4 cup honey 1 large egg To prepare cookies In a large bowl, beat butter and honey with electric mixer until creamy. Add egg; beat well. Add half of cookie mix; beat well. Add remaining cookie mix; beat well. Divide dough into thirds; place each on a piece of plastic wrap and flatten to 1/2-inch thickness. Wrap tightly; chill at least 4 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove one portion of dough from refrigerator. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten to 1/8-inch thickness with bottom of glass dipped in granulated sugar. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, just until centers are set. (Cookies will feel soft. Do not overbake.) Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Tip: Variations Decorated Cookies - Decorate cooled cookies with melted dark or white chocolate, ready-to-spread frosting, decorator frosting in tubes, assorted small candies or candy sprinkles. Thumbprint Cookies - Use thumb to make a deep indentation in center of each cookie dough ball. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until very light golden brown. Remove cookies from oven; press small dark or white chocolate candy into indentation or fill with 1/2 teaspoon preserves. Cool and store as directed.

Rosemary-infused Honey
(makes 1 gift)

• 1 cup honey
• 3/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves

Place honey in a double boiler with water in bottom. Squeeze rosemary leaves to release flavor and place in honey. Bring water to a boil, and bring honey to 185°F and keep at 185°F for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Strain while still warm. Place in sterilized jars and cap.

Holiday Honey Caramels
(makes 30 caramels)

Makes 30 caramels

• 1 cup butter (no substitutions)
• 2 cups honey
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• finely chopped almonds, optional

Line bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with plastic wrap; set aside. Melt butter in medium-sized heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add honey, cream and brown sugar; mix well. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling, stirring frequently, until candy thermometer registers 250°F to 255°F, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla; pour into prepared pan. Let cool completely in refrigerator before cutting into individual caramels with very sharp knife. Roll in chopped nuts or coconut, if desired, and wrap each individually in clear plastic wrap. Store, tightly wrapped in refrigerator up to 1 month. Caramels will be soft at room temperature and firm if kept chilled.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Bake Time: 50 minutes

Serving Suggestion: Drop one into a cup of hot coffee or tea or enjoy this delicious treat on its own.

Honey Dessert Sauces


(delicious over ice cream, fruit, bread pudding, pound cake, pie, decorate your dessert plates with it or give a jar or two to a friend)

Honey Turtle Sauce

Makes 12 servings

• 2 cups Honey Caramel Sauce, see recipe
• 1 cup Honey Chocolate Sauce, see recipe
• 3/4 cup pecan pieces

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into sterilized gift jars.

Nutrition: 139 Calories * 6.4 g Fat Total * 1.6 g Protein * 13 mg Cholesterol * 21.7 g Carbohydrates * 73 mg Sodium * 0.82 g Dietary Fiber * 38% Calories from Fat *

Honey Caramel Sauce

Makes 6 servings

• 1-1/2 cups honey
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine honey and cream in heavy saucepan; cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture reaches 238°F. Stir in butter, vanilla and salt. Cool.

Serving Suggestion: Serve warm over ice cream, custard or pudding.

Honey Chocolate Sauce

Makes 2-1/2 cups

• 1-1/2 cups honey
• 1-1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well. Cover with waxed paper and microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Pour into sterilized gift jars. Keep refrigerated.

Serving Size: 1/4 cup

Nutrition: 336 Calories * 80 g Carbohydrates * 10 mg Cholesterol * 6 g Fat Total * 56 mg Sodium * 4 g Protein * <1 g Dietary Fiber * 4% Calories from Fat *

Fruit-infused Honey Vinegars

(makes 2-2/3 cup)

• 2 cups white wine vinegar
• 2/3 cup honey

Combine vinegar and honey in medium saucepan, then stir in one of the flavor additions below: Apricot: 2/3 cup apricot jam (Makes 2-1/2 cups) Pear: 2 (15 oz.) cans pears, drained and diced (Makes 2 cups) Raspberry: 1 (6 oz.) basket fresh raspberries, mashed (Makes 1-3/4 cups) Fig: 2 cups quartered, dried Mission figs (Makes 1 cup) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool, then pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove any solids. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Bake Time: 30 minutes

Serving Suggestion: Whether served with French bread for dipping or drizzled over mixed greens, these sweet vinegars are sure to be a hit, especially as gifts during the holiday season.

For more delectable honey recipes (such as the featured recipe below) go to the National Honey Board's website and be amazed at the power of honey!

Honey Garlic Focaccia with Rosemary and Roasted Peppers

Let's dance!

For those of you having trouble viewing this clip, you can go directly to the jibjab website and watch us dance there:

Doris and Gizzy got elfed!

Mostly photos from our morning walk!

Last night, I played my fireplace DVD for the first time of the season and I wished I had a bigger TV, but considering I didn't have a TV at all for the past eight months, I'm satisfied for what I have.

and now with the lights off:

I heard on the news that last night was the coldest we had this season (31-34 degrees) and today it was a nice, crisp morning with very low humidity. I love going walking when I can see my breath and feel the sting in my face...brrrr....Gizzy and I followed Smokey (one of our resident strays that I help feed every day.) He leads the way with Gizzy trailing behind, pulling on his leash in an attempt to catch him:

 There's frost on the grass and on the roof tops. I love it - and so does the Gizz:

From the boardwalk at lake Irma, I look down to see the ducks and their guardian Canada goose. She keeps a watchful eye on her "babies" that she seems to have adopted.

On the other side of the lake, I throw out some cracked corn and seeds for their breakfast:

Here's a close-up of Queen Victoria (yes, we named the fowl.)

By now it's about 9:30 and a toasty 51 degrees, which would be perfect for me the rest of the year. I can breathe so much better in this weather and I hardly cough at all...

Walking back home, I find some pretty blossoms along the way:

Tomorrow, is the last day to enter my November Giveaway!

First Sunday of Advent

Tomorrow is Sunday, November 28th and the First Sunday in Advent. Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas. Born and raised Roman Catholic, I was taught to celebrate the advent of Christ's birth. For me, this has always marked the beginning of the festive season, full of excitement and anticipation. It wasn't so much about the gifts, because I wasn't raised in a wealthy environment with lots of material things so I didn't expect much, but it was a time of profound wonder, hope and possibilities - when anything could happen. Christmastime (and Easter) has always been my most favorite time of the year. One of the things I remember doing at home with my parents is sitting at the table with the candle(s) lit, reciting a little children's poem (in German) before having our cookies and beverage.


Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt
Erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei dann vier
Dann steht das Christkind vor der Tuer.

In English: Advent, Advent a little light burns First one, then two then three then four then stands the Christchild at the door.

Funny, the little things we remember! (...and the big things we forget - or at least try to.) Please note that when I grew up in Germany, eons ago, I recall only seeing red candles on the Advent wreaths; however, it is common to see three lilac and one pink candle, each having a significant meaning (and a name) as does the Advent wreath itself. Anyway, for those of you that celebrate Advent (and by the way, it's not just us Catholics that do, but Lutherans, Protestants, Anglicans and Episcopalians, for instance, do also and any church that uses a Liturgy would recognize Advent), I hope you have a wonderful first Advent Sunday. Celebrating with an Advent wreath during the weeks prior to Christmas is a great way for Christian families to keep Christ at the center of Christmas, and for parents to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas. Another Advent tradition that can be very meaningful and fun for children is to celebrate with the Jesse Tree. Although I have never done that as a child, I think it's a great way to divert children's attention away from themselves and their gifts, but to focus on the real reason for the season.

Remember to get your Advent Calendars out on Tuesday, Nov. 30th, so you and/or the kids can open your little windows starting on Wednesday, Dec. 1st. I still have to buy one for myself. Counting down to Christmas by opening a window every day (some of which have little pieces of chocolate in them) reminds me of my childhood in Germany. I established a whole bunch of little Christmas traditions since living alone, like watching "The Grinch" and "White Christmas" religiously, since family gatherings are a thing of the past.

When I first came to the USA from Germany in 1971, Advent Calendars were not as common, but now they are virtually everywhere, so nobody should miss out on the fun. Anticipation is - after all - a big part of the Christmas celebration..

Yodeling Thanksgiving

I spent Thanksgiving with my friends Arlene, the lady who makes those lovely wooden treasure chests and her sister, Marcia. We shared an almost vegetarian meal, because it did involve deviled eggs. It goes without saying that my boy, Gizzy, was in attendance and nibbled on the butternut squash with emphasis on the (real) butter.

(Arlene)

There was more than enough for us three, plus take homes.

After dinner, we moved into the living room for some R&R  Notice the big Treasure Chest on Arlene's coffee table? She built that one from wood coming from an old 100 year old house, making it extra precious. 

(Marcia reading on the couch and Gizzy on the floor)

Meanwhile, Arlene graced us with a little music on her Autoharp. She played a German/Austrian song called  "the Cuckoo" that involved yodeling - which she did! I was impressed! I doubt very many folks got yodeled to this Thanksgiving. 

Both, Arlene and her sister, are very talented in arts and crafts and musical instruments. They play several instruments each. Marcia is a piano teacher. I shamelessly ask for songs whenever I can.

I hope you all had a peaceful and tasty Thanksgiving today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone, whether you're celebrating alone or with family and friends. Enjoy yourselves and make it a memorable day, but please, please remember those who are not with their families because they are in the Armed Forces. Let's pray for them and send them our love.

Let's also remember the homeless (especially homeless Veterans) and pray they have a hot meal to eat and a warm bed to sleep in. Amen!



God bless America!

Happy Thanksgiving!

from Doris and Gizzy