Ready for New Years Eve dinner

I'm almost ready for our New Years' Eve dinner tomorrow evening; most of the food is prepped, the pork loin is marinating, and the table is set. Let me tell you, I did a test run of the spinach salad and it is DEEEEEEELICIOUS!!!!! I got the inspiration from the salad served at Mitchell's Fish Market in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a mixture of baby spinach, Granny Smith apple, goat cheese, and red onion drizzled with an AMAZING maple bacon vinegarette. I've included the recipe below, and I also made fresh croutons for an extra crunch. Can you tell I'm excited company's coming over?!?!?! I'm the hostess with the mostess.

Spinach Salad with Signature Croutons

The table is set. I've got plaid placemats and cinnamon-colored napkins with my trademark rooster napkin rings. I found some place settings on clearance, I'm using the plates and my milky white salad bowls. My favorite is Cameron's seat though, he's got a big-boy plate and his very own utensils!!!

Dining Table

Place setting

Cameron's spot - his utensils are adorable!!!

Say a little prayer

I'm asking for extra prayers for my aunt, Kathy. She had lap-band surgery a week ago and is having serious complications with stomach inflammation and naucous. She's been in and out of the hospital since Christmas Eve, and my other aunt, Georgia, is taking her back to the hospital this afternoon. I pray that whatever is wrong will be healed. We're praying for you Aunt Kathy, we love you! And thanks Aunt Georgia for taking care of her. :o)

I love my good and wonderful friends, Neama and Steph, but sometimes Neama just needs a swift kick in the nads - - - that would be the ball sack, the boys, or testicles for anyone confused. He's the cheapest man I know. When he flies, he does so via stand-by. Granted it's cheap, but DAMN my time is worth more than sitting at an airport for hours on end. Neama, Steph, and Cameron have been at Pittsburgh's airport more than 12 hours trying to get on a flight back to Dallas. I'm saying a prayer for them, for safe travel and patience with a 20-month-old!!!!!!!

It's beginning to snow again, we're supposed to have "wintry mix" the rest of the day and night, maybe 1-3 inches of accumulation.............Good luck, Monajami's!!!!!!!!

Before (@ 2:00)

After (@ 4:30)

I've surfed the web, folded laundry, and read until my eyes are almost crossed and my butt was going numb...what else to do on a snowy day? COOK! I made buckeye balls this afternoon. Yeah, so much for this diet I'm supposed to be on. Oh wait, I don't think Oprah uses the word "diet," but rather lifestyle change. Oh well, it's not 2010 yet. They're really tasty though, and 100% dairy-free!!!!!!!

Mmmmm!!!!!

8:15 pm - - Neama, Stephanie, and Cameron are en route to DFW Airport; Kevin and I are going to pick them up at the airport about 10:30 tonight. What are friends for?!?!?!

I'm prepping for a big New Years' weekend at Ropin' H Ranch too. I'm having dinner New years Eve with Neama, Steph, Cameron, and Heather - a friend originally from KY who now lives in Houston. We're going to have a ton of fun playing cards, board games, and watching the big ball drop in 2010. On New Years' Day, Kevin is roping in Alvarado. Heather is a single lady - all the single ladies!!! - so we are going to find her a cowboy, preferably a header teamroper!!!! hahahaha

New Years Eve Menu:

Spinach & Apple Salad with Maple Bacon Vinegarette

Spice Rub Marinated Pork Loin

Sauteed Green Beans and Potatoes

Yeast Rolls

Orange Juice Bundt Cake

Brownies

Buckeye Balls *see recipe below!!

BUCKEYE BALLS (makes about 7 dozen)

16 oz. creamy peanut butter

1 cup butter, softened
16 oz. powdered sugar
12 oz. chocolate chips
2 Tbsp shortening

With mixer on medium speed, combine peanut butter and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar until blended. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls; place on waxed paper and chill until firm, about one hour.

In double-boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and shortening, stirring often. With a toothpick, dip each ball in the chocolate until partially coated. Place on waxed paper; chill until set.

The painting is officially COMPLETE!!!!!

I woke up this morning with a pretty extensive to-do list that I wanted to accomplish, including: touch-up paint in entryway and dining area, laundry, and clean dining area and table. I'm proud of myself, I've successfully completed 90% of the list, and the washer and dryer are still going. I must say, the dining room looks amazing - you haven't been able to see the top of the table for over two months!!! It's the necessary evil in any normal household though, as soon as you walk in from the garage, it's the first place to sit your purse, the mail, and whatever junk you don't feel like dealing with at that moment. It's the catch-all place for us! And it annoys me when the junk and crap and clutter piles up.....so I get into a cleaning frenzy.

I started with the laundry and then moved on to the touch-up paint. When Kevin and I painted the dining area, we taped too high on the wainscoting so there was a white line visible that needed the new paint color. I took the smallest angled brush I own and finished the painting for good: WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! Once the paint was dry, I started dusting and polishing the furniture so my very strong and adorable husband could move the furniture back into place. I went as far as polishing the grooves on the chairs, under the table, and the little nooks and crannies on the buffet tables and china cabinet - it was long overdue, hold the accolades. For the New Years Eve dinner I am planning later this week, I still need to finish the to-do list and set the table. I have the placemats and napkins ready, but I'm considering buying new place settings to keep on the table indefinitely - perhaps that would prevent the table from becoming cluttered with our everyday items.

YES - you can see the top of our dining table!!!

If you look close enough at the photo above, you can see the new interior wall color, and the ridiculous wallpaper that was in the dining area is gone. For the past two months, Kevin and I have painted the entire interior of our home. We had professional painters come to the house during the summer but their estimates were out-of-this-world: more than $4,000 for the interior ONLY, they wanted an additional $4,500 for the exterior. We decided to bite the bullet and do-it-ourselves. And so the sage began, our first DIY project as husband and wife. The paint color was selected, it's called Stoney River, and depending on the light it can look khaki or olive. But the color looks wonderful with our white trim, light wood floors and kitchen cabinets, and furniture - we're happy with the finished product.

Living Room - curtains will be up soon!!!

I still need to finish tidying up before our New Years dinner, including hang the curtains in the living room, vacuum and dust, and - of course - cook some food! I haven't decided to if I want to do a standing rib roast, brisket (for a corned beef dish), or pork loin. I guess I should finalize the guest list while I'm working on my menu. Speaking of  menu, I also made hand-breaded chicken strips for dinner tonight...not bad for a day's work!!!!!

Back to laundry..........the clothes in the dryer are finished and our bed sheets are in the washer.

Four corners...one at a time

How do you eat your sandwich? No, really, how do you eat it? Do you start at a corner and go straight across, repeating until gone? Do you eat the crust first? Do you eat the crust at all? I'm amused at my sandwich eating strategy because I've done it my entire life: I start by biting the top-left corner, moved to the bottom-left, across to the bottom-right, and then finish at the top-right. When I've had four bites, I've got a "cross" shape. Then I repeat the process until the corner pieces are all gone and I'm left with a perfect square again. With another square, I start the four-corner process all over again until the sandwich is completely gone. It's quiet strange, I admit, but I've always eaten sandwiches this way. I try this strategy with a round bun, but the process has to deviated a bit to compensate for the shape. Why do I do this? I think it's because I do not want the bread, meat, or toppings to touch my cheeks. Weird? Yes. Do I care? No.

Here we go with the sandwich...

I told you, I eat the four corners first!!!!

Back to a squared shape.

Last bite!

I took a nap this afternoon and feel refreshed; not that I will get anything accomplished tonight, but I'm not as exhausted! We went to bed much later than usual last night, and then I woke up before the alarm sounded for church this morning. I need more than six hours of sleep to function properly. But my two-hour-nap brought me to an even eight hours for the day, I should be good until bedtime arrives later tonight. :o)

Ready for more football tonight, I missed two hours worth this afternoon with my nap. The Cowboys play the Redskins, let's hope for another "W" in our column. Living in the DFW area, it's like a family member has died if the Cowboys lose a game. The attitude around town is negative and people are just moping around with their heads hanging low......I'm not a huge Cowboys fan, but I'll cheer for the home team if it means people will be nice, cheerful, and smile!

My 2010 resolution

I PROMISE MYSELF


...to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

...to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

...to make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

...to look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

...to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

...to be just as enthusiatic about the success of others as I am about my own.

...to forget the mistakes of the past and to press on to the greater achievements of the future.

...to wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living thing I meet.

...to give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

...to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble.

...to think well of myself and proclaim this to the world; not in word, but in good deeds.

...to live in the faith that the Lord is on my side, and I am true to the best in me.

Retail therapy...and Cameron

The alarm went off at 8:00 a.m. and I layed there thinking, "Do I really want to get out of this warm cocoon and fight the shopping crowds?" Hmmmm......I changed clothes and put my shoes on. Here goes nothing:

I drove by Target I was surprised because there weren't too many cars. When I get to Kohls, I honestly thought I was too early and the place was still closed. But the doors were open and so I entered. It was strangely quiet for a retail stores on the day after Christmas, where is everybody??? Seriously, there had to have been less than 20 people in the entire store - it was like I had the place to myself!

I purchased a collection of photo frames (enough for the entire year!), summer clothes for Cameron, pajama pants for myself, and candles. The frames are for the family wall in the living room and entry but they make great gifts throughout the year for friends and family when I have photographs. I'm already thinking about birthdays and anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day and grandparent's day. I also have professional pictures from Olan Mills (for the church directory) that I will send to my family in Kentucky with a frame.

Olan Mills photography

Cameron's clothes were hard to find but well worth the search. Kohl's had very few spring/summer items available, but what they had in size 2T was just what I was looking for. Cameron will have several outfits from Aunt Nicole and Uncle Kevin for a late Christmas and early birthday present. I also found him sports-theme jacket hooks for his bedroom. It's a super cute set that includes a baseball, basketball, and football.

I guess I should introduce Cameron. He's the son of our wonderful and dear friends, Neama and Stephanie, and was born March 23, 2008. Cameron is truly like a nephew to me, I love him so much. I was so excited when Stephanie announced her pregnancy; I jumped and screamed for an hour! Having the opportunity to be a part of Stephanie's pregnancy was one of the most incredible experiences of my life; and I will never, EVER forget the night Cameron was born. I cried, I laughed, I jumped for joy, and then I cried some more. I'm just a "little" partial, but I think he's one of the cutest kids on the planet!!!!!!!

Cameron lounging in Mexico - 16 months old

Cameron - 5 months old

Hutchison Christmas

I had intended to make this post early this morning but I'm so glad I didn't because my attitude was fowl, my mood was Grinch-like, and I was not thinking positive thoughts about the current weather conditions. For the first time in 83 years, North Texas had it's first white Christmas - that's right, we had nearly two-inches of SNOW and quite a bit of ice. I went to Christmas Eve service at church last night and the roads were nasty; luckily, I only live about a mile away. At 8:30 this morning, the sun was shining bright and the ice and snow were glittering. Why didn't I take a couple snapshots? I'll never know...believe me, it was gorgeous!!!

Fast-forward an hour or two: Kevin and I loaded the Dodge and headed for East Texas, Point to be exact. We left later than planned, but better late than never for Christmas celebration with the family! The roads and interstate were mostly clear, except for the overpasses and shaded areas. In fact, it was very annoying when we were going 65 mph and then cars in front of us would slam on their brakes as we approached an overpass - - LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

We made it to Kevin's parent's house in Point a few minutes after noon and, wouldn't ya know, they were finished eating - - what the heck?!?!?! They told us they were eating a noon, so much for that! After warming up leftovers for me, we sat at the table while the rest of them stared at us. Ahhh......I love family meals!

Kris, Lisa, Cason, and Lauren arrived from Lisa's family celebrations and the kids were anxiously awaiting the time to open more presents. I took tons of pictures, but I'm sparing you the time and only sharing a few:

Lauren and Uncle Kevin opening presents

Cason's new wheels: Radio Flyer Scooter

Cason's facial expression is priceless!

Chad's housewarming gift: cookware!!!

MaMaw, Cason, and Lisa

Uncle Chad and Cason opening the big John Deere tractor!

Lauren really likes her M&M dispenser!

Proud Paw-Paw with Cason

Tickle her!!!!! Cason with MaMaw

This is absolutely my most favorite time of year: the Christmas story, family, food, and lots of laughter. Besides, "National Lampoon Christmas Vacation" continuously plays for like 48 hours and it's awesome!!! A big thank-you to Kevin's parents for the great presents: gift cards and clothes. Cason and Lauren made homemade ornaments, they're precious and adorable and perfect!

Now, for the big question of the night: do I dare get out of my warm bed early tomorrow morning and fight the lines and overcrowded retail shops for some post-holiday shopping??? Hmmmmm................

It's snowing at Ropin' H Ranch

Texas climate is a strange thing. Yesterday's high was 75, today it is 30. It's also blistering cold with a 40 mph north wind, plus it's SNOWING!!!!!!!!!! Amazing...

This is pretty crazy, I never thought we would have a white Christmas. The weather forecast for tomorrow is the same: cold, windy, and chance of snow. The horses are tucked in the barn with their blankets on. Curtis is the only smart one, he's been inside all day. Blue, on the other hand, had to be tricked. That horse is strange, he'll stand out in the snow or pouring rain, but he rarely uses the "penthouse" barn available. With the high winds and blistering chill, Kevin corralled Blue in the barn so he could eat and dry off. That's the last thing we need, a frozen horse!!!!

I'm almost ready for our trip to Point tomorrow. With my food allergy, I have to prepare my own meal. For tomorrow, I'm taking chicken strips and green bean casserole (that's our dinner for tonight!) along with pasta salad and shrimp cocktail. I made the salad this afternoon and the shrimp is boiled, peeled, and deveined ready to go! I put extra cayenne pepper in the shrimp, a little extra spice for Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve Eve

I'm watching "The Nativity Story" and in awe of God's wonder and magnificant grace. The birth story, how beautiful it is; the more you learn, the more to know, and the more there is to understand.

Kevin and I enjoyed a very lazy day at home on this Christmas Eve eve. We finally got out of our pajamas this evening for dinner at SpringCreek BBQ and a trip to Tractor Supply and Home Depot. I was glad to get back home to shower and wrap in my Snuggie! The temperature today was 75, tomorrow's high is 35 with a 25 mph north wind and wind chills in the low 20s to high teens.....BRRRRR!!!!! But it's Christmastime, it should be chilly even if we don't get any snow.

Tomorrow I have to get off my lazy bones and finish laundry, fix dinner, and prepare for Christmas Eve services at church. I also need to wrap presents before we head to East Texas for Christmas Day lunch with Kevin's family. With my food allergy, I have to take my own dishes to eat for lunch. I'm thinking about a chicken dish or perhaps a pasta salad with fresh vegetables. I also have a bag of shrimp in the freezer that would be perfect for shrimp cocktail. Hmmm.......decisions, decisions!

May the true spirit of Christmas be with you and yours, many blessings for a season of joy and thanksgiving.

Mrs. H

Roper's Wife Tale

Country music. Team ropers. Dirt flying through the air. Click, clack, click, clack of horseshoes. Just another evening at the roping pen...

It's Tuesday evening at the Four Horse Arena in Burleson and the guys are practicing before they start a round-robin jackpot competition. If you are not familiar with the sport of team-roping, let me give you the five-cent explanation version: one roper on horseback ropes the steer's head, another roper on horseback ropes the back two feet, and the quickest time wins.

I must be a magnet for old men because one sat beside me all night at the roping pen. I didn't get his name but he told me he had been married more than 56 years, lost his $4,000 set of false teeth yesterday, got stepped on by a horse this morning, and he has male urinary problems. What did I ever do to deserve this kind of conversation?!?!?!?!

The night didn't fare too well for Kevin either. He had 10 runs with 1o partners and seven of the headers missed in the first round, the other three runs dropped in the second and final round. Not a good night for Ropin' H Ranch - - - and so the saga continues.....

After two hours, I came home to my warm Snuggie and "National Lampoon Christmas Vacation." There's nothing like the humorous Griswold family Christmas adventure!!!!

Peace and good cheer

I've done a very good deed today: shared the peace of Christ with my neighbors. I baked four dozen chocolate chip cookies and distributed them to the neighbors around our house. I also included a handwritten invitation to the Christmas Eve service this Thursday evening at church, I pray they will experience the love and peace of Christ, if they attend church or not. And if they do not attend church, I hope they will accept my invitation to attend First United Methodist Church of Joshua. Since the family moved into the new house we have had our issues and our relationship was very rocky, to say the least. They've insulted us, been extremely rude towards us, and even damaged the fence on our property. Needless to say, I've been praying A LOT for this relationship to be restored to a peaceful place.

"Live in peace with each other...be patient with everyone...always try to do what is good for each other and for all people." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 13-15

I pray for each of these families to have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful Christmas holiday and blessed and happy new year. My prayer is that our relationships will be strengthened and perhaps we may even develop friendships. I come from a place where neighbors are as close as family, and I would love to have that at our home too. I can honestly say that I wish my neighbors would ask for a cup of sugar - I would give them two! As an ambassadors of Christ, I must love my neighbors as I love myself and God. I am reminded of God's commandment of love; and His Word says,

"Love is patient and kind...Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others...Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong. Love never ends." - 1 Corinthians 13:13;4-8

So much for label reading....

Five years ago I was diagnosed with an allergy to cow's milk (dairy). This is NOT the same as lactose intolerant. Needless to say, I have learned to read ingredient labels like a professional. From bread to cereal to pasta to salad dressings and even deli lunch meat, it's amazing which products contain milk, milk proteins, or milk derivatives. Fast forward to yesterday...I went to Walmart to purchase groceries because the pantry shelves were empty. I need the bare essentials (bread, eggs, milk) plus some extras. I am running through the aisles like a chicken with its head cut off. One: I didn't want to get out of my jammies; Two: I was comfy on the couch; Three: it's the last weekend prior to Christmas; and Four: all the crazy people shop at Walmart on Saturday afternoons!!!! Opening the dairy case I notice that Walmart carries its own brand (Great Value) of soymilk, plus it's about 50-cents cheaper than Silk. I grab the GV!!! The one time - oh heck, I'm sure there have been others! - I don't glance at the soymilk carton's ingredients label is the time I wish I had. I look at the carton this afternoon and wouldn't-ya-know, GV brand contains milk and a milk protein......GO FIGURE!!!!! (sigh) Looks like I'm headed to Walmart again tomorrow. Hopefully the crowds won't be too bad - it'll be Monday.

Reason for the Season

It's a few days before Christmas and I just celebrated 26 years on Earth, life is pretty good. Of course anyone who dared to walk into my house would not know it was Christmas because there is not a single decoration out and about. I started talking about the tree trimming and stockings and snowmen (my Christmas obession!) back in September, I guess I should have gotten in the attic then. I didn't feel motivated to decorate once I returned from Kentucky. So...for the first time, Kevin and I have no Christmas tree adorning our living room, no stockings on the mantle, and there's not a snowman in sight. AHHHHHHHH - what's wrong with me?!?!?! Actually, it's been very humbling. What's the reason for the season? Why do we celebrate Christmas? Jesus's birth. J-E-S-U-S. Name above all names. But at the beginning of this Advent season, Rev. L began a series of Sunday morning sermons that has really made me appreciate the Christmas spirit even more. I'll explain: Have you ever thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and what her life was like? No, I mean really thought about her? A young Jewish girl, engaged to be married to Joseph, and approached by the angel, Gabriel, saying, "Favored one, you have been chosen." What on earth would you say in that situation? An angel sent by God to tell you that you are favored, and you've been chosen to give birth to the King of Kings. Holy cow!!! But go a bit deeper: Mary was a virgin and engaged to be married. She was in a pickle of a situation, she could be stoned. But what did Mary do? She was patient. She was hopeful. She was trusting. She decided, as I am painstakingly learning, to LET IT BE. Mary surrendered her heart, her soul, and her mind to God's will. She recognized God's work and simply allowed his will to progress. Mary was faithful, full of grace and love, and a vessel of new creation. Isn't that the reason for the season? For us to also give birth to Christ in a brand new way allowing others to see His love through our words and actions? Jesus is growing and developing in me, I want to share His miracle with others. Think a moment about Joseph. Who was Joseph? Often the forgotten man but truly, the miracle of Christmas completely rested on his decision-making. His wife-to-be was pregnant...and not by him! Joseph's story is one of my favorites because it solidifies the concept that Rev. L speaks of so often: we don't have to understand God's plan, to be a part of His plan. Joseph could have decided to leave Mary on the curb and go find someone else, but he didn't. Instead, he took his pregant fiance to Bethleham to his family, extended an immense amount of compassion, courage, obedience, patience, devotion, and above all, love. Again, another little piece of the miracle of Christmas! One thing I love about the Jewish faith is their willingness to accept everyone who enters their home without reservation and complete hospitality. The same is true with Joseph's story. He arrives in Bethleham with a pregnant fiance and his family welcomes them with open arms - come in, you are family! I am on a mission to share the miracle of Jesus' birth with my neighbors and friends by inviting them to Christmas Eve services at my church. I have cookies and personal, handwritten invitations ready to deliver. Even if they decline, I pray the Holy Spirit will flood their hearts and homes during this joyous, blessed, and wonderful season. I am more in love with Christmas than ever before. It's simply amazing how clearly I now see the nativity story. I am compelled to know even more and my passion of reading has been fueled to holy levels!!!!! Thank you, God, for your perfect plan and for allowing me to be a part. Even though I do not understand the "big picture," I'm honored to be a part of the cast.

Snuggie is a great invention

Whomever decided to add sleeves to a blanket and call it a "Snuggie" is one incredible genius...I received a bright pink one for my birthday (last week, 12/17) and I absoltely love it!!! Though I look like I've over-dosed on Pepto-Bismol, it's perfect for lounging, web-surfing, and grading papers. Thanks Monajami's for the gift, it's perfect. :o) So this blog thing, I'm sorta new to this but I'm excited to share and explore whatever comes to mind. I have another blog at Thoughts.com but it's a bit confusing to navigate and frankly, I like Blogger.com much better. So here we go...

About Mrs. H

About Mrs. H here.