This has started out as the greatest New Years Day. We had the parade floats lining up directly in front of our house, here in Pasadena. Not only that, but my year was made complete already by getting a picture of Paula Deen. Now I don’t know about everyone else, but to this Butter Princess, that is awesome. To have the Butter Queen of the South passing by right in front of me, well, all I can say is that I am ready for the rapture. I have been to Italy, Greece and now have my very own picture of Paula Deen. Life just doesn’t get much better than this. So not only do we now have a picture of every float that was in the parade, but we were actuall able to watch the floats right from our front lawn….Next year, we have had all our kids tell us that they will be here for the Parade. Randy says that we will be in Hawaii during time. Maybe
if they let him be one of those cute little men on motorcycles wearing one of those
little white suits that guide the floats, he will let us stay here, regardless of how many
people will be staying with us. We already know what we will have for breakfast after the parade next year. It’s a party in the making. This will be a New Years that will go down in history All of our kids, their spouses and grandchildren here, all at the same
time….hum…….maybe we will just go to Hawaii next New Years….that is sounding
better and better. I will begin posting recipes again in a few days. I have just not
been cooking for over a month because of all the packing and moving and we will be
getting all our “stuff” in a couple of days, so we will be leaving the frozen dinners behind and get back to our normal schedule of having home cooking. That brings a
smile to Randy’s face, almost as much as him thinking about us being in Hawaii while
the kids are all here. Happy New Years to all our family and friends we have left in the Butter Belt…

This is so cool! We are in our new condo in Pasadena, sitting in our living room watching people walk up and down, setting up the floats for the Rose Parade in the morning. We are enjoying New Years Eve in an empty apartment, sitting on little chairs we found outside, preparing our air mattress to sleep on for the next few nights before our furniture arrives, all the while, so excited about seeing the parade. All my life, I have dreamed of coming to the parade, never imagining I would be living in the town where you can actually see it from my front living room. This has been the most unusual Christmas Season, and New Years Eve. We arrived yesterday from Texas to begin our new adventure here in California. We ate Thai food tonight for the first time, (actually because it was the only thing we could find this late at night that didn’t require a rsvp) but it was delicious. So this made us think that this will be the year to get out of our comfort zone. Try new dishes, experience things that we had always thought about. As I write this, the very first float of the parade is passing rt in front of our house. This is so exciting, I have tears in my eyes thinking of all the beautiful floats, flowers and bands that will be marching right here in front of us. What an exceptional NY Eve. Happy New Years to each of you as we are headed downstairs to get in the hustle bustle of the parade set up. Next year, I will be baking and handing out goodies to the float drivers. This is going to be a great 2011, I can already tell…..

We are packed and ready to go. The movers will be here in the morning, so we are down to our last night in our house. This will be my last blog for a couple of weeks because I won’t have the computer to write on until they reconnect us after the furniture is unpacked. I want you to know that I went to Costco and bought 30 lbs of butter in case they don’t have any in Calironia. I just couldn’t trust them to have our “golden rich substance” out in the land of sushi and salad. I also loaded my car with Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper, as I know that is almost impossible to find out there, have already tried to do that. Hobby Lobby was on my list of last places to go before we leave town as they are not present in California as of yet. It is hard to imagine living in a land without Hobby Lobby, Diet Dr Pepper or Whataburger, but guess I will be learning about new places. And what about Sam Moon’s, what am I going to do for earrings? Oh boy, as I think of all this, I am really having second thoughts about this move. We will be spending the first 4 nights on an air mattress at our new place, since the furniture won’t be there until the 4th, but we were determined to be out there for the Rose Bowl Parade and our new place is on the parade route where they line the floats up. So we are looking forward to that new experience. Will take lots of pics and post a couple on the blog when the computer is hooked back up. If any of you ever know where we can get our hands on Diet Dr Peppers or a great hamburger in our new home of Los Angeles, please let me know,otherwise, I’m going to have to just have Whataburger and Dr Pepper shipped in.

This time of year, it is just one of my most favorite things to get in the kitchen, bake and watch all the Christmas movies on Lifetime. I cannot help but tear up at each and every one of them. They seem to all have a story that is trying to show us that what is important is our relationships with our family and friends. This year, because we are moving, I am unable to have decorations out. We don’t have a tree for the second time in my life. The first time  was when we had sold our house at Thanksgiving and was living with relatives during the Christmas season and I promised myself I would never do that again. It was just too hard watching all the programs with decorations, friends houses putting up lights and sitting around their trees. But….once again, here I am, during the Christmas season, without all the “things” that normally help get us in the Christmas spirit. But for some reason, I am not sad. Randy and I said goodbye last week for a month, for him to go to California and me to head back here to pack up the house. God is growing me up and continually giving me gifts of His presence. In fact, this morning, it dawned on me that the 3 weeks I was out in California was just preparation for this month. When I was at the corporate apartment, unless I called someone or they called me, I was alone for about 12 hours a day. I realize now that God was getting me used to being by myself since He knew that I would be here in Dallas without Randy. It is those things that cause me to remember that Christmas isn’t really about the decorations, the trees or the shopping. Yes, those things make it pretty, bring back so many memories as we place ornaments on the trees and shop for those we love, but it is a time to reflect on what God gave us; His Son, to carry our burdens, to come along side us when we are lonely, to save us and to perfect us as He grows us up, both, spiritually and physically.  I heard an expression today on one of the movies while making a carrot cake. “Christmas reminds us that we should be grateful of Friends who are like Family, and Family who are our Friends” God has truly blessed our family with just that. We might have our little differences, but most everyday, we would pick them as friends, if they were not already our family. We are truly blessed. Merry Christmas to each of you and remember to make each day count for honoring the Christ Child, who is our reason for this most precious time of year.

We did it, we took Kenley (2 months old) and went to the mall yesterday for her first Black Friday. We were so proud of her. She shopped like an old pro and bought her first coat, her first pair of mittens and some winter hats. She will be going to the Panhandle of Texas for Christmas and will need this items. So Pops and I had a ball looking at all the cute little pink dresses and socks. It made Black Friday for us Pink Friday. So today, Sparkly Saturday, we are headed to Disney to see a life size carousel made completely our of chocolate with 35 hidden Mickey Mouses in it. Plus a life size gingerbread house. So what a fun day this will be. I am just like a little kid when it comes to Disney. I could live there. The lights and sounds, the music and rides, they make it easy to forget the problems in our everyday lives, which we all have sometimes. So this year, because we won’t be moving, we won’t be able to even have our Christmas decor out, as it is all packed and ready for the truck to come pick up. Being able to see all the lights and Disney characters will add so much to help us get in the Christmas spirit. This Florida visit has been so good for us to reconnect with Christi and Tim and get to know precious little Kenley. It is one of the best Christmas gifts we will be receiving.

The Almond Joy Chocolate Cake that I posted a few minutes ago is amazing. I got it from one of Christ’s recipe books she brought to Florida from Lubbock, which proves once again, that Texas is the home of the best desserts…..I am headed back to Dallas on Tuesday. It will be so great to sleep in our own house, cook in my kitchen and have people dropping over. It will be the season of sharing, I am more than ready for that. As I learn more new recipes either from California or Texas, I will be sharing them with you, my friends and family who visit this site…you are all such an encouragement to me. Let’s begin this Christmas Season with a determination to keep Christ in Christmas. Share your story of what He has done in your life with someone. What a blessed gift you will be giving.

We just got up from the talble  and went  for a walk. We are in Florida with Christi, Tim and Kenley and  when Christi and I went to the store, we found two new recipes, so we decided to venture out and try some new things. Now Randy had already decided that he wanted pecan pie instead of pumpkin and Tim and Christi wanted chocolate pie. We also wanted a new squash casserole and a new dressing recipe, so that is what we did. We made a dressing with articoke hearts, parmesean cheese and sausage. It was delicious. We also made a squash casserole with corn chowder, shredded carrots, cheese, garlic-herb butter, croutons, bacon, onion and yellow squash. It was so good. So we have decided that not only is it the traditional green bean casserole, or turkey/gravy or ham that make the day. It is the laughter that you have, everybody in the kitchen, each one putting their own spin on their favorite food to cook. Rememer this, it is not the breaths you take that make your life, it is the moments that take your breath away that makes your life. Thank you Christi and Tim for inviting us and for the sweet memories we will have this Thanksgiving Day….we love our sweet little new princess. It was a very special Thanksgiving Day. We love you, Honey and Pops

I have learned something since moving to California. I admit that I have watched a little more television than I normally do since being here the last 3 weeks, and because I had not seen this certain commercial before, it was just unknown to me that my children were probably hiding resentment toward me for taking potty breaks during those most important days in their lives. After watching the commercial where the daughter looks at her mother with this horrid look on her face for having to go to the bathroom while she, the daughter, was trying on her wedding dress for alterations, and, if the mom would have taken a certain medication, would not have had to miss one minute of this momentous moment, I, with tears in my eyes, began to think of all the memories I probably ruined because I had to take a minute to go
to the bathroom.
So this is my public apology, to Jason, Jamin and Jodi, Christi and Cameron, for the
time I might of been in the bathroom when, in fact, you might have been in line,
along with 300 other children waiting your turn to walk on that stage to get your
diploma from school, or when I left the waiting room during your 12 hours of labor,
just to go potty, never knowing that while I was gone for 3 min, that you, or your
wife, were going from being dilated from a 3 to a 4. Just remembering the time I
left the gym to go to the bathroom, during the 4 hour band and choir concert when
you were 9, well, the lists just goes on and on. It’s just almost to painful to think
about, knowing that all these years, you were holding such painful memories of your
mom, thinking that she didn’t care about you during those special times. The good
news is that at this day in time, if you cannot forgive me, there is a drug for that, and a drug for me to help me forgive you for not forgiving me. Gotta close, it is time
for me to go take my pill that helps me adjust to the change of time of rolling back
the clock.

Ok, my daughter, Christi, just asked me if I had tried the new pumpkin flavored cream cheese? I have not seen it yet, but since I’m in a corporate apartment, with no baking pans, I have not been down the grocery isle, other than the frozen food isle. But if you are able to buy it, do so. You could use it in place of plain cream cheese for frosting on carrot cake, spice cake cupcakes, cream cheese pound cake. Wow, this will open up a whole new world of cream cheese flavor in holiday recipes. Write in and let us know of any recipes you are using it in place of regular cream cheese. Caramel-apple cream cheese dip, yum…..

For newly celebrated cooks who have always been a little leery of cooking a turkey for your relatives, please please try this recipe. It is a no fail and oh so easy recipe that will bring you smiles and compliments this Thanksgiving or Christmas season.

Makes 12 servings
1 whole turkey, thawed (12-14 lbs) fresh or frozen( frozen is always a little cheaper than fresh)
Be sure you take out any giblets package inside of turkey.
1 tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil
2 tbsp rubbed sage
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
Place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Brush with oil. Mix seasonings. Sprinkle 1 tables seasoning inside turkey. Spread remaining seasoning over entire surface and under skin of turkey. Add 1/2 cup water to pan. Cover loosely with heavy duty foil.
Roast in preheated 325 oven for 1 hr. Roast 2 to 2 1/2 hrs longer or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Baste occasionally with pan juices. Remove turkey from oven and let stand 20 min before slicing. Reserve pan juices to make gravy.

I have taken enough time off from posting some fabulous recipes so beginning today will get back to sharing some new recipes you will want to experience this Thanksgiving! Don’t just settle for the same old green bean casserole when there are so many wonderful and new exciting recipes that are just waiting for you to set, proudly, on your beautifully decorated table!
Speaking of table decorations, you don’t have to spend a lot of money! Buy a bag of fresh cranberries and use any clear candle holder. Pour your cranberries into the container and buy one pumpkin scented candle and push it into the middle of the cranberries until just about 2″ of the candle extends out from the berries! When lit, the smell of the cranberries will combine with the pumpkin scent and fill the room will a glorious scent. Place an individual small baby pumpkin at each persons seat with their name written on the pumpkin, with a pretty ink.