So Long, 2010!

So here we are on the cusp of another new year. Do you all celebrate this night in a big way or keep it more low key? New Year’s is John’s least favorite holiday so we usually just hang out at home or visit with some family to play cards (I adore playing cards, even though I kinda stink at it).

Tonight we’ll be partying at home with John-Heath. Ren has plans and will be spending the night with a friend, so it’s just the three of us.

I don’t know about you but I always face the dawning of a new year with a bit of apprehension, especially if the year has been a good one. Will 2011 be as kind to us as 2010? We didn’t win the Publisher’s Clearing House or anything like that (though I did read in the paper yesterday where a lady in a neighboring town won $15,000 from them and that was all the incentive my mom needed to keep buying their magazines) but we are still all together, and that’s what matters most.

So on this, the last day of 2010, I thought I would look back and remember the events that made this year special and jot down something new that each of us did this year. And by the way, this will need to take the place of the Christmas letter that I never got around to sending. Sorry about that, people in my address book. I foresee a resolution needing to be made.

John began the process of returning his family’s farm to its former glory. A few years before he passed away, John’s father, in poor health, leased out the land. It went through a few different people. Some were good tenants. Some weren’t so good. But none looked after it like my father-n-law had always done. For the first time in a hundred years no cattle roam our fields. This is a needed step in rejuvenating the land, which was over-grazed. We all are looking forward to the time when a herd at Dunroamin will be re-established.

My daughter Ren became a member of her high school football team, in the form of water girl extraordinaire. She absolutely loved it and can’t wait until practice for the new season begins. About a month ago the school held a football banquet and, as we were making our way to the banquet table, I leaned in and asked John if he could have guessed a year ago that we would be attending a FOOTBALL banquet so soon.

John-Heath began kindergarten this year. He too loves it. I kinda think he already thinks of himself as big man on campus. No wait. He thinks that of himself when he is visiting my school, the middle school. He’s in pretty thick with my bosses and thinks of himself as part of the administrative team, and he’s even got a tie and a walkie-talkie to prove it. You know that scene in one of the Austin Powers’ movies? The one where Dr. Evil creates a clone? Well, that’s what I think of when my son and assistant principal stand side by side (not to say that my AP is evil, though). I shall call him mini-me.

As for me, I guess my one new thing this year would be blogging. It’s become a very enjoyable hobby and I hope to continue. I can’t say it’s brought me fame and fortune, but it has allowed me to “meet” many great gals and, let’s not forget, it did render two sets of gorgeous dinnerware, which was awesome!!!!

I hope each of you has a wonderful, happy and safe new year!

A Few Tasty Recipes for New Year's

This past Tuesday night some of my old teaching buddies came by and visited with my family (minus John-Heath). Nothing like unannounced guests when your house is as turned upside down as mine is post-Christmas. Just kidding, ya'll. This visit was pre-arranged, so there was time to clean.

I had been wanting to have my friends down for some time. It had been a while since we were all together. Now, the best thing about getting together with this group of ladies is that they... can... cook. And I don't. Well, not much anyway. Which is surprising to some because I have a pretty nice kitchen. I digress.

It seems one thing I made was a hit and I've been asked to share the recipe. I can't take much credit, though. I first saw Paula Deen making it on her cooking show the other day and looked it up on her website. Once you pick yourself up off the floor after hearing that I, Tyla, watch cooking shows, you can read on.

I'm also posting a couple other recipes of things I served and my friends brought in case you are needing a last minute idea or two for something to take to your New Year's Eve party.

Tyla's Pecan Clusters

7 oz. marshmallow creme

12 oz. bag of Hershey kisses

2 1/2 c. sugar

5 oz. can evaporated milk

4 tbsp. butter

2 1/2 cups of pecan pieces

Put the creme and the kisses in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Yes, the kisses are a pain to unwrap.

In a heavy saucepan mix the sugar and milk and then add in the butter.

Bring this just to a boil over medium heat.

Reduce heat to med. low and simmer for 8 minutes.

Pour over the creme and kisses and stir until they are melted.

Add the pecans and stir like crazy.

Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper. Let cool for an hour.

I refrigerate mine and then remove about an hour before serving.

Depending on the size you make your clusters, you can get many from this batch.

I have made two batches so far and this last time I only had about 1/2 c. of pecans to add, so I guess they were more chocolate blobs than pecan clusters.

Check Paula Deen's website for more info. on these.

Aunt Susie C.'s Banana Punch

6 cups of water (make some warm so it will dissolve the sugar)

3 c. sugar

3 c. pineapple juice

2 c. o.j.

the juice of 2 lemons

3-4 overripe bananas (blended smooth in a blender)

ginger ale

Mix all but the ginger ale. Stir well. Freeze in a few plastic bowls. Take out of the freezer 3 hours before serving. You want it to be slushy. Pour your desired amount of ginger ale over.

You can double this recipe and keep some frozen to serve at a later date. That way, you can buy the 64 oz. cans of pineapple juice and o.j. and use it all up (or mostly up).

Aunt Susie has always made this punch for family get-togethers and it is sooo good. This was my first year to try it and I don't think I messed it up too badly. In fact, I thought it was pretty good. But, then again, anything laced with 3 cups of sugar tastes good to me.

My momma's Sausage Balls

3 c. Bisquick (or something similar)

1 lb. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 lb. hot sausage

Mix together and form into small balls about the size of a quarter. Freeze. When ready to serve, pre-heat oven to 325 and bake for 25 minutes or so.

Momma has always made these for Christmas and I love them. She made me a batch for my party the other night (aren't mommas great?) and I still have a bag left over in the freezer. I'll be using them tomorrow night.

Debbie's Corn Dip

16 oz. frozen white corn

3 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese

1 c. mayo

1 jalapeno pepper

2 teaspoons Emeril Southwest seasoning (you can find this at Publix)

Mix and bake at 350 until bubbly (about 20-30 minutes)

Serve with Tostitos Scoops.

I had never had this before but I plan on making it tomorrow night for New Year's. It was awesome!!!

Jean's Favorite Cookies

Bag of semi-sweet chocolate morsels.

Follow the directions on the back but, instead of forming them like cookies, put them in a pan as you would brownies. Then while they are cooking give the pan a good shake so the cookies will fall.

I have had these many times and they are delish!!! There is also a neat story behind the name of the cookies. I'll have to share that with you later, if it's okay with Jean.

Bon Appetit!

A Christmas in Pictures - Part 2

Well, here are the last of the Christmas pictures. In looking back through them I realize I will need to vamp up my photography skills next year. I'm especially disappointed in myself that I only took ONE picture on Christmas morning. Can you believe that? ONE! I was recording the morning with my camcorder, but only managed to squeeze out a singular still shot, and not a good one at that (although the subject of the shot was as beautiful as always).

Ren and John-Heath are all smiles for the traditional in-front-of-the-tree picture a couple nights before Christmas.

I probably took fifty of these just to get a few good ones. A 5-year-old is not the most easily manageable participant at times.

Pepper, aka Johnny Ricker, complete with a festive bow, was brought in for a few pictures.

John and the kids.

Ren among some of her goodies on Christmas morning. The older they get the smaller the presents get.

All the family came up on Christmas day. Here's my niece Megan holding (from clockwise) Dylan, John-Heath, and Weston, with Ren leaning in.

My mom and dad (Ma-Ma and Pa Gene) with my nephew Jonathan and his wife Jessie.

My sister and our aunt Shirley, who has spent Christmas day with us the last few years.

Ma-Ma and Pa Gene looking at Ren's gift to them - the handprint tile she made.

Jessie, the seamstess of the family, looking over my new sewing machine. Yep. My sister got me one. Now, I just need to figure out how to use it.

John-Heath with, probably, his most favorite gift of the night...his doctor's coat and medical bag. This was a gift from my niece Megan. She's in nursing school and John-Heath has always been fascinated by all the stuff in her bag, so she bought him his own. He practically squealed with delight when he opened it.

His bag was full of everything any good doctor would need to make a house call, and believe you me, this doctor has already made some - including one to our bedroom bright and early the next morning.

Megan even had his name and an emblem embroidered on the coat. How cute is that? And, who knows, maybe one day he'll be able to wear a real one.

As you can tell, we all had a wonderful Christmas and, more importantly, a great year. The best part was not the gifts, but rather getting to spend it with those we love. Too often we take for granted that each year and each Christmas will be the same. But it won't. As time marches on there will be changes, both good and bad, so we should cherish every moment we have together.

I hope this past year was great for you, too, and that each of you had a blessed Christmas.

DIY Thomas the Tank Engine Play Table

John-Heath loves Thomas the Tank Engine. In fact, he loves any and all things that roll, fly, glide, or sail. Each and every time we visit a local Barnes and Noble he immediately goes to the Thomas table in the children's section. After Christmas last year I regretted that Santa had not brought him one. He, John-Heath, had umpteen wooden engines and cars but none of the tracks and no table on which to put them. I decided that needed to change this year.

Some might say at 5 he is getting too old for a Thomas table. To that I say hog wash. I think he will still get many years of enjoyment out of his table. And when he no longer wants to play with trains he can use the table to build Lego sets.

The only problem we saw in getting him one of the actual Thomas tables was the height. We felt a custom built table would serve him better, so we helped Santa build one. Luckily, we have a very large storage room (which use to be a metals/carpentry class) within our school in which the work could be done in secret.

We picked out paint and lumber (made of poplar) at Lowes. The length and width had to be built according to the dimensions of a Thomas playboard I had ordered from Barnes and Noble, but the height was made to fit John-Heath.

John built the table (using an "up close" picture of an actual Thomas table) and put the primary coats of paint on and then I spent a few hours Christmas Eve night putting on the final paint touches, including a clearcoat on top of the blue.

This is how much John had finished prior to Christmas Eve.

Using black Sharpie Opaque paint pens found at Michaels I drew on some stone on both ends and continued it around the legs of the table.

Then I mixed the darker grey paint I purchased with some water to make a "glaze" (I was out of real glaze) and patted it on using some old socks. All of the outer table (the grey part) was glazed, but I only did a little around the tunnel on the inside of the table.

The glazing is all done.

And, one more time, the final product - complete with the Island of Sodor playboard I had ordered.

I chose not to paint/draw on any of the trains, tracks, clouds and trees on the blue sides to keep it from looking too babyish should he outgrow the trains and decide to use the table for some other projects. I would like to say we got off cheaper by not buying one from the company but it came out about the same, if not a little more costly. Lumber's high, ya'll. I was honestly shocked at just how high. But, it's more appropriate for his size and, I believe, far sturdier so I can't complain.

This has to be our favorite project of the year, because it brought so much joy to our little boy.

P.S. I don't have a pic of this, but the inside of the table is inscribed To John-Heath from Santa. 2010.

P.S. An interesting side story...by the time we went to school to get the table around 10ish that night (after the paint had dried) it had already begun to snow - heavily. As we were in the school a police officer, who had seen our truck tracks in the snow while making his rounds, stopped to question us on our business inside a school at such a time. Thankfully, he believed us when we told him we were both teachers there. He even helped John load it onto the back of the truck.

I'm linking to...

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality Blog

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking

Robin @ All Things Heart and Home

Vanessa @ Southern In My Heart

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday

A Christmas in Pictures - Part 1

It's always fun to look back through pictures of another Christmas season that has come and gone. Now, if only I would actually take my SD card and get these things developed.

We kicked off the season with visits to some local merchants who hosted Open Houses.

And met up with Santa at one.

We also enjoyed a carriage ride through our town. It's a small town so it was a short ride, but nice just the same (even with the occasional gale force winds).

And then on Dec. 4 we met up with a bunch of extended family members from my dad's side for our annual get-together. This party is always full of fun and games for the young and old. John-Heath took advantage of some make-up that was on hand for a beauty contest and added a little facial hair.

All the loveliest "ladies" vied for the title of Miss Turner Station (which is the community from which our family hails).

The little ones prepare to play musical chairs.

Even the big kids get in on the action - lured by the hopes of winning a cash prize.

And there's always a rousing game of Pass the Present.

A family picture.

A few days later John-Heath attended the book fair at his school. In case you're wondering about our son's choice of attire, it was "pajama night".

Santa even stopped by the fair for a visit.

On the 12th we met with my mom's family for our yearly dinner. Unfortunately, due to seriously blizzard-like conditions with lots of snow and ice, not everyone was able to make it and we even had to cut it somewhat short. Remember, in Tennessee it doesn't take a lot to shut down things. We met in my town (which is located on top of a ridge) and all but 3 families were coming from other places. My sister and her family, along with my parents, only live about 15 minutes to the south, but police had closed the road off the hill so their trip home ended up taking an hour+.

But everyone still had fun, especially the kids.

As you can tell, this pic of my tree was taken from upstairs. I wish I knew more about photography and could take better night time shots, etc.

We've had two snows. In fact, we had a white Christmas. It seems the wooly worms have been more accurate in their predictions than the forecasters.

John-Heath played Santa in the kindergarten music program on December 20.

Here he's making a list and checking it twice.

During the nativity portion of the program the kids' attention is turned off stage to someone playing carols on a harp and trombone. John-Heath loves all things music and actually asked for a trombone for Christmas. He looked at us during this time, pointed to the person playing the music, and mouthed the words that's a trombone.

Santa with his elves. Each of them took a turn sitting on his lap.

Santa with Pa and Ma-Ma, Sissy and Meg, and Ren.

Snapping a picture of the Grinch.

And then posing for a picture with him.

The Best Gift of All

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2: 7-11

Merry Christmas, Friends!

Hands Down, A Great Gift for Grandparents

I'm going to take a chance and post something risky, hoping that my mother and mother-n-law don't read this before Christmas. As neither of them has a computer I think I'll be able to get away with it.

I don't know about you but I find shopping for my parents and mother-n-law a tricky task at times. Most, how shall I say this, people of advanced age, generally have everything they need, and in today's day and age the things we want are generally bought throughout the year. Come to think of it, it's getting tougher to buy for anyone anymore.

A couple months back the kindergarten classes at my son's school sold embellished tiles as part of a fundraiser. I ordered one with John-Heath's handprint. The 6x6 tile included his handprint and name (made from Cricut-cut vinyl letters). On the back, in each corner, were felt stickers. I think the cost of the tile was ten bucks. I had originally thought of ordering 2 more to give as grandparent gifts but I decided I could save a little money and have more fun by doing them myself.

I went to Lowe's and bought some small tiles in Rialto Beige (the one I bought from school was Rialto Noce) but you could use the color/texture of your choice. I also bought two larger tiles for Ren's prints but I can't remember the name of that tile just now.

I don't have a Cricut (I was sooooo tempted to buy the one Wal-mart had for sale on black Friday) so I knew I would have to paint his name. My hand is not the steadiest so I thought paint pens would work better than a paint brush.

We made them the other night. They were so easy and very fun to make. With the felt pads on back they can be used as trivets or coasters but I also have included a plate stand/easel so they can be displayed upright.

I used

6x6 tiles for John-Heath's small hand

12x12 tiles for Ren's teenage hands

round felt-backed stickers

(Walmart)

Valspar latex enamel paint in satin black

(I bought half a pint at Lowe's and still have most of it left)

Sharpie oil-based opaque paint marker

(found at Michaels)

If you're in need of one more last minute homemade gift for a close relative this is a quick and simple one to do. And, of course, these would be great for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, and birthdays, too. Happy painting, ya'll.