Happy New Year!

Well, hello! I'm so glad you could stop by to see me on this first day of the new year, 2010!


I do hope that however you spent it, you all had a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve! I'm happy to say that I had a really GREAT New Year's Eve!

During the day, I was a little worried about the weather here. The snow was falling, but it only accumulated an inch.. maybe two, at the most. While there was still a need for caution on the somewhat slippery roads, the kids and I still went out to dinner with friends, and had such a nice time!

Next, we went over to my brother and sister-in-law's house, to count down the final minutes left of 2009, then to toast 2010 together! We watched a movie, played some Guitar Hero, talked and laughed.. I was so happy for fun we had there too!

The ride home was a safe one. In fact, I was rather surprised how quiet the roads were, but I guess that's a very good thing! People are taking better care not to drink and drive!.. Arriving back home again, and calling it a wonderful night to remember, I am reminded of how thankful I am to God for how very blessed I am.

I'm not sure how we'll be spending New Years Day, just yet.. Having dressed up just a bit for last night, I may just spend a quiet day at home, in my jeans, sweatshirt, and slippers! I picked up a brand new skein of yarn, and I'm FINALLY bringing out my crochet hook! I'm going to start this new year by making a new hat to match the new pocketbook I got for Christmas!.. And hopefully, I'll be able to snap a nice, clear photo, to show you when it's done!

Best Wishes, with all my heart, to everyone for good health, wealth, love, happiness, and all God's blessings in the new year ahead! May your regrets be few, and all your dreams come true!...

((Hugs))

How Was Your Christmas?

Did you hear the bells

on Christmas Eve,
from Santa's sleigh?
Did you believe?

Did you hang your stocking,
for when he'd stop by?
As the clock was tick-tocking,
did eight reindeer fly?

Did you leave out cookies,

or some kind of snacks,
So Santa could sit for a spell
and relax?

Did you then settle in

for your Christmas Eve nap?
Were you then paid a visit
by that jolly ol' chap?


Did you wake up to find

your gifts, many or few,
Did you feel like a kid,
a younger, spirited you?

Did you then remember,
a young babe who was born,
a long time ago,
on the first Christmas morn?

He was God's gift to us,

from Heaven above.
Do you share that spirit
of giving and love?

Santa remembers,
then just plays a part,
to spread love and joy
to all kids at heart.

May you hear the bells,
on every Christmas Eve.
May joy fill your hearts,
if you just believe!

Best Beansie Wishes,

to you and your kin...
May God bless you all
as the New Year rings in!

Pics to See, and a Recipe!

O.k. now, first I want to thank everybody for welcoming me back! I loved hearing from all of you, so much more than you know! Thank you! I'm definitely feeling that Christmas spirit!... and honestly, I'm trying my best to KEEP that spirit as I attempt to learn how to use my new camera! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho!


I really do love it, but I'm afraid it took me some time.. TWO DAYS in fact, to LOCATE an owner's manual, ON LINE!.. Now, please tell me.. Is my blonde showing, or is it my age? Why does my NEW camera not come with INSTRUCTIONS?!

Having finally found them, it will STILL take me some time to read, understand, use, AND remember all the features and capabilities that come with my camera. I must say, I certainly did appreciate the info they gave me for maintenance of my camera!.. and I quote, "The digital camera is a delicate device. Please handle your camera with care to avoid damaging it." Period. That was it. Well now! I feel so much better knowing THAT! My camera should last another ten YEARS now!.. Thank Heaven I didn't skip over THAT vital dose of information!.. I mean, my gosh, when I THINK of what COULD have HAPPENED!.. Why, I just "SHUTTER" to think!!


(Sigh) So, anyways.. Do you like this photo?.. No, I didn't take THIS picture.. It just looks like these little guys have a far better understanding of their camera, than I do right now!.. I'm afraid my first set of test shots were not at all worthy of sharing! ALL of them were blurry! I am trying to feel out when to use the flash or not, and when to zoom in or out or not. The lighting is different in this house than it was at the old place. I also need to set up and learn to use whatever editing program I'm going to use too, so all in good time I guess.

My second set of photos look a little better, so I thought I'd share them today, along with a little peek at a few of the Christmas decorations in my kitchen, and then a recipe!

Well, most of you may know I love and collect anything "Peanuts". I love setting up my growing collection of Peanuts Christmas decorations every year! It just seemed right, at this time when I'm spending so much time in my kitchen, baking up batches of homemade cookies, to share a few pictures of some of my favorites. First up is my Peanuts Christmas Tree! It is the smallest of the three trees I have happily still managed to display in my new home! It stands only about 30" tall.. Actually, 33" with Snoopy placed up at the top! I love it! The lights are very pretty, but didn't show up well at all in this snapshot. (Oh.. and look a little closer. I still need to learn how to set the DATE! ha! ha!)


The following two photos are of the Peanuts stockings I made.. oh at least 4 or 5 years ago, I guess. Here you see them hanging on my kitchen hutch!




See my little rooster peeking from behind my stocking?! Does anyone remember him from when Barb, at Bella Vista, hosted the big "Show Us Your Roosters Party"?

Well, next up is a small sample of a batch of cookies I made yesterday! I never realized how many different recipes are out there for "Santa's Whiskers", but I nearly fell asleep on my computer last night, trying to look them all up! I gave up after a while, and just figured I'll show you how I did mine this year.


One thing's for sure.. Dear Son often likes to help, and he often likes to lick the bowl, but he doesn't reach for a cookie as quickly as I do, once they are baked and stored in their proper place! After making these, he ate at least 2 or 3, so that's about the highest form of flattery I can ask of him! I was so happy he liked them!.. and ooooooh, the kitchen smelled so-ooooo good!

If you would like to try MY recipe for how to make them, here it is...

Santa's Whiskers
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the following ingredients..

3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup crisco
1 egg
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup flaked coconut (and some extra to roll and chill the dough)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/3 cup chopped and drained maraschino cherries, stems removed
Anywhere from 15 to 25 maraschino cherries, cut into desired sized pieces (halves or quarters) to place at cookie centers.
Vanilla frosting, either homemade or store-bought will do.

Once dough is mixed, sprinkle wax paper with coconut, and roll dough over the coconut, forming a log. Wrap wax paper closed, then refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours.

Take log out of refrigerator, remove wax paper. Slice and bake on lightly greased cookie sheets for approximately 10 minutes, being careful not to let cookies get too browned. Remove from sheets to cooling racks. When cooled, frost your cookies. I didn't, but you could, if you like, sprinkle the frosting with more coconut. Then, however you sliced the remaining cherries (either in halves, or in quarters), promptly place a cherry in the center. From here, I like to chill these to set, in my refrigerator, then I proceed to store them in my freezer for Christmas. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays! ~Beansie

Changing -N- Rearranging

"My world is changing. I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too?"

What truer lyrics could pertain to me and my family's Christmas this year than these? I know it's been a while.. too long since my last post, since we had to move from our old home, to where we are now. While I thank God for the wonderful people who helped me, this move was NOT an easy one. Injuries were very minor, if any, but various items were damaged, or lost. Some things had to be discarded or given away, as they would no longer fit into the smaller place I had to take at this time. This was difficult, disappointing, and sometimes heartbreaking.


Then, just in the short time I've been here, I have had several issues and incidents where repairs had to be addressed and tended to. I'm hoping that such conditions will not be typical here, but I have to admit the place is clean and and in nice shape for the most part. Most pressing matters at the moment are that both a light bulb and a doorknob need to be replaced. Trying to maintain a good attitude about things, I'm remembering it's o.k., and I can handle this!

I did celebrate my birthday just recently! Dear Daughter and her beau took Dear Son and I out for dinner one night. We had a great night out! It was fun, and I was very excited to get a new camera too! I am trying to acquaint myself with it, to learn how to use it, and I hope to have some photos to share here soon!

Well, back to reality, and everyday life again, things are still not entirely sorted through and organized. Pictures still need to be hung, and I'm questioning whether I'm totally satisfied with the set up. I have no washer and dryer hooked up as of yet. Any crafting and crocheting has been practically impossible!.. And all while trying to get things DONE, I NOW find myself packing things right back up again, to set up Christmas decorations! Oh no!.. But I LOVE my Christmas decorations! Not to be discouraged, and chin up, I figure this is o.k.! This is JUST the thing I need to find my Christmas spirit, right?!

Well.. I sit here, in my new apartment. It doesn't matter who's here, or what's going on around me or not. It matters very little, what time of day it is. My beautiful tree is up and lit. Most of my decorations are up. It's beautiful to me, but I look around, and it is STILL difficult to say this feels like "HOME" yet. I'm with you, Cindy Lou Who! "Where are you Christmas?"

Suddenly, I think of Bing Crosby!.. (a brief detour!).. I'm reminded of the lyrics to another song. You have all seen the movie White Christmas, haven't you? It's one of my favorites!

"When I am worried, and I can't sleep,

I count my blessings, instead of sheep,
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.
When my bankroll is getting small,
I think of when I had none at all,
and I fall asleep counting my blessings."

Well, I am most grateful for the beautiful children God gave me. I am grateful for the roof over my head, in a warm apartment, as I remember not everyone HAS one. We have our good health, and food on our table. We have our family and good friends.. Now my birthday has come and gone, and this isn't about ME anymore! Shame on me, really! This is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior! This all just brings me right back to that Christmas song I love best right now..

"If there is love in your heart and your mind,

You will feel like Christmas all the time..
I feel you Christmas!
I know I've found you!
You never fade away!
The joy of Christmas
stays here inside us,

fills each and every heart with love!"

I find myself drawn back to my computer, back to "Blogland", no matter what work STILL needs to be done, and I remember and visit the friends and places here, that I have missed since the move. It feels good to refocus, and my heart fills with joy and Christmas spirit! It feels good to be back!