First Blog Year in Review

My blog was born on January 2, 2010, and what a wonderful first year it has been for me!  I've made many new friends and had the privilege of visiting  many of your homes through your posts.  I'm so honored that you have taken the time to come by my place today to take a peek at my simple life.  Please come often, stay awhile, and leave me a comment.  I look forward to spending more special time with you this next year.  Love you all! ~ Sherry

P.S.  And last of all, this is the link to my very favorite post of the year.

This post is linked to Show and Tell Friday, Pink Saturday

Home Alone

Our church services were cancelled today because of our inch of snow left over from yesterday ~ don't laugh my northern sisters, this is Alabama ~ so with pockets full of Christmas money, my guys have hit the icy road to the nearest Bass Pro Shop.  Thus, I am home alone.  I can't decide what I want to do first.  Maybe pull out my long neglected watercolors and make some original New Year's greeting cards to send to friends whom I never got around to sending Christmas cards to~shame on me! Or...

...start the embroidery part of my tea towels.  I've finished up the crocheted edging on both towels and they are awaiting their colorful embroidery. Or...

....maybe I'll just visit the candy bowl while I'm trying to decide.

Christ-mas at our House

This post is dedicated to my daughter, Heather.  We're missing you and Matt on this Christmas day but we're looking forward to seeing you both tomorrow!  Wanting to shorten the many miles between us, I made pictures of our morning.  And to all my other family and friends; I'm so happy to have you join us this blessed Christmas morning!

The living room~ after Santa

Santa even filled MY stocking!

Won't you come into the breakfast room where we'll sit down to made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls, crisp bacon, coffee, and milk?

Oops!  It's all gone...

...but here's what they looked like.  Can you smell them?  (The left-overs are in the fridge.)

Here's the recipe, Heather, and anyone else that might want it.

Now the kitchen's all clean (we'll not talk about the living room :),

We're getting ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's.  The chili's in the crock pot and I just pulled the coconut pie out of the oven.

Here's the recipe I promised you for the pie:

Coconut Pie

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 stick butter, melted
7 oz. pkg coconut

Cream eggs and sugar together.  Mix melted butter with eggs and sugar.  Add milk and vanilla; mix well.  Fold in coconut.  Pour into a deep-dish unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees 40-45 minutes, until golden brown.

That's it!  Easy-peasy and so yummy, and I don't usually even like coconut!

Oh yes, I saved the best till last.  It's snowing!!!!!  We're getting our White Christmas in Pleasant Valley!

Thanks for the Snowman Sharon!

Merry Christmas to my Heather and the rest of my family and friends!!!  May your day be blessed!

This post is linked to Pink Saturday

Is This the Year?

Is this the year for a White Christmas in Pleasant Valley?  The closest we have ever come to a white Christmas was a few flurries early one Christmas morning several years ago.  But!!! We have snow in our forecast for Christmas this year!!! It's iffy right now whether it will be rain or snow for us, but I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas just like the ones I see on our Christmas cards...

I bought myself a gift yesterday...

...just in case I get cut from Santa's "nice" list for some reason. :)

Peace and Contentment...

...my theme for the holidays, and hopefully for every day. With a warm fire in the fireplace, a Christmas movie playing on the TV, my sweetheart in his recliner, and the boys in other parts of the house with their own interests, I settle down into my chair for a happy time of cozy crocheting. 

I'm making tea towels for my new tea cart.

After I finish the crocheted edging I'll start on the embroidery I've already stamped off.  I'm looking forward to many peaceful, cozy warm evenings of stitchy delight because when I finish this one...

...I have another one just waiting to be picked up and made lovely.

Post linked to: Take a Look Tuesday, Transformation Thursday

Pie Maker's Helper

Meet my Pie Maker's Helper.  If you ever see one of these at a thrift store or flea market, snap it up! If you're a pie maker or know someone that is, you won't be sorry. I got mine at a Salvation Army thrift store many, many years ago and I think it must have been pretty old when I bought it.

I'm supposing my little friend was originally from Germany since the name looks German to me.  The pictures on the box tells of its many uses; it juices (Sorry, but I couldn't stand to peel that $1.00 price sticker off this side of the box.  It makes me smile every time I think of the steal I got.)

It separates eggs.

You just remove the little cover and crack the egg right into the separator in the top of the lid.  The white goes into the cup and the yolk stays in the lid.  I tried to get a picture of that, but have you ever tried to snap a picture while separating a slippery egg? 

I saved the best till last.  It makes the fluffiest meringue you've ever seen!

Look at these double beaters.  They whip up egg whites into a frothy meringue in less than a minute.  I add my cream of tartar and sugar right into the mixing cup and give it another whirl...

...and ta-da!  Perfect meringue!

I made this chocolate pie for our Sunday lunch.  My mother has been making this pie ever since I can remember.  You can find the recipe below.

*Note:  Pet milk is evaporated milk, or "canned milk" as we always called it.  I bake the pie for 15 minutes at 350 degrees after adding the meringue.

Please let me know if you try my recipe.  I'd love to hear what you think about it.