Huge News and a Give Away

Welcome, thank you for stopping in to hear our exciting news! Doug and I have been struggling with a huge decision and we are finally at peace with our choices. Some may know this already. Doug lost his job in March, 2009. We have been struggling and frankly scared to death with the uncertainty we were facing. My health does not allow me to work, and we all know the state of the economy.

With employment opportunities looking bleak here, Doug has been looking for employment out of country. We knew all along that I would not be able to join him and we would have to be apart. My health was a big part of our decision, I guess our niece said it best when she said, "But Aunt Nette who is going to take care of you?" He is in talks with an American company but working in Saudi Arabia. We have been assured the villa he will be living in is very secure. He will be working with airplanes, his passion. It is a one year contract. They are negotiating his trips home now. He is trying to work out 3 visits a year. We know he adores his family but his October visit has already been confirmed. Can we say Talledaga? LOL

While I am afraid of being alone, it might force me into some independence that I have given up over the past few years. It will be a challenging time but we have so much exciting news. First, the precious daughter of a dear friend is getting married! Excited, oh yes I am. She has asked me to give her bridesmaid luncheon. That is such an honor. Oh my stars, I have been shedding tears of joy for almost 3 weeks.

I talk about the fact that I adore the staff at my pharmacy. They are so good to me. In fact we named our precious puggle after one of the staff members. Well, drum roll please........she (our friend not our puggle) is having a baby in August. I will be giving her a baby shower like I have never given in my life. I have been searching blogs for ideas since before she got the ultrasound!

And just because we are having so much excitement in our lives, I am going to have a giveaway. I don't know if this kind of giveaway has ever been done before. Here is the scoop. My husband has a booth in a local antique mall with vintage dishes, decor, linens, clothes, and various goodies. He is giving a $50 gift certificate. I will post pictures of some of his things when we start the giveaway on the 16th. I will contact the winner with a general list of things he has. The winner can choose anything up to $50. Just chose from the photos up to $50. That is $50 total, we will spring for the shipping separately. Cool huh? In fact, he is at an estate auction right now. I can't wait until he brings home all the treasures. He has a good eye and always finds really cool stuff. This is a picture of Uncle Doug's Treasures from December so most of the stuff you see is long gone but I wanted to give you an idea of things he has.

That is our huge news, I don't know what direction the blog will take but am anxious to find out. I treasure the friends I have made and look forward to making new friends. So, what do you think, huge news or what?

Happy Birthday Taylor

Happy Birthday Taylor!

We love you so much!

Aunt Nette and Uncle Doug

I didn't do it!

While wonderful hubby and I are struggling with one of the biggest decisions of ours lives, our precious grandson pops in for a second. With all the emotion involved in making a huge decision, our darling grandson takes all that structure and stress and turns it into a spaghetti noodle. Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank you for caring so much during this difficult time for us. We would love it if you would leave a comment.

Snowy Night in Georgia (not so much)

Welcome to our blog! I was so worried about the snow that was headed our way. A few years ago we looked out our window and saw this so we knew it was possible. But alas, this morning we looked out our window and it was just deary and gray and miserable. I knew I had to do something to jump start the folks we care about and make this a toasty, warm day. I have only been reading blogs since this past summer. Susan from Between Naps on the Porch, Kathy from Life in the Slow Lane, Gordon Gossip, Pioneer Woman, Christy from Southern Plate, Designs by Gollum were some I was passionate about. Then Kathy from Life in the Slow Lane designed this wonderful place for me to make incredible friends, share treasured recipes and stories, and visit with the most amazing folks on this earth. Today I want to share a recipe I found on Southern Plate. I have made it a couple of times, including today and it is wonderful. This is Lane, Christy from Southern Plate's nephew. That smile made me know this was a cake I had to bake. I made this in 3 disposable pie pans, hey it was all I had. My sweet husband delivered them this morning. He took a pan to the local post office, my pharmacy, and a local antique mall. I was able to warm the tummies of those special folks. Here is the recipe:

Honey Bun Cake
1 box plain yellow cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
Filling
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Glaze
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 t. vanilla
Mix all ingredients together for cake. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Grease and Flour 13×9 inch pan. Spread batter into pan.
Mix dry filling ingredients. Sprinkle over cake batter. Drizzle honey over those. Pull a knife through batter to swirl filling into it. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes or until tests done.
Sift confectioners sugar. Mix all glaze ingredients together. Drizzle over warm cake.

So what are you doing to stay warm? I say get under a blanket, get a warm beverage and check out some fabulous blogs..... DeeDee at d dzine has Art Work Friday going on. Etiquette with Miss Janice is one I really enjoy. I am new to Southern Hospitality but am really enjoying it. I have joined Stonegable in her eating from the freezer/pantry challenge. So I am staying warm and busy. Tell me about your blog or ones that you really enjoy.

Incredible Beef Stew

Welcome, with the Georgia weather reports saying snow is in our future; I had to find some warm comfort food. Many years ago my sister and I went to the Victorian Tea Room in Warm Springs, Georgia. It is now closed but was known for its wonderful food. My sister bought this cookbook and of course I had to take possession of it and try some of the recipes. Yes I wear out a cookbook, don't I? This is the best recipe for Beef Stew that I have ever eaten. The pickle juice just makes it! It is easy, tasty and with snow on the way it is what we need. Am I the only one that writes in cookbooks?

As you can see from the page, this recipe has been used a lot.

Beef Stew

1 1/2 pounds lean stew beef, cubed

meat tenderizer

salt and pepper

2 to 3 tablespoons cooking oil

2 quarts water

2 medium carrots, sliced in 1" pieces

1 small green pepper, cut in thin strips

2 turnip roots, peeled and cubed

4 stalks of celery, cut in 1" pieces

1 bay leaf

1/4 cup dill pickle juice

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can condensed tomato soup

dash Tabasco

3 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes cut and undrained

1 pound can small English peas, drained

2 to 3 tablespoons flour mixed with water

Sprinkle stew meat with meat tenderizer. Salt and pepper meat. Place cooking oil in a large dutch oven and heat. Brown meat on all sides in cooking oil. Add all remaining ingredients except potatoes, tomatoes and English peas. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender. Add potatoes the last 20 minutes of cooking. Add tomatoes and English peas the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove bay leaf. Mix together the flour and water (about 1/4 cup) and blend until smooth. Gradually add to stew and simmer until thickened. Stir frequently. Additional salt and pepper if needed. Serves 8.

NOTE: This is also good cooked in a crock pot slowly all day. Just brown meat as described above. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer on low all day.

Thank you for dropping by. I am getting candles, flashlights, food and everything I can think we will need in case of a loss of power. We are excited about the thought of a little snow but the tiniest bit will shut us down. Thanks for stopping in!

Update on Josh

Thank you so much for the many well wishers regarding Josh's surgery today. Everything went very well. The vet said it took 3 people to hold her down for the anesthesia. She wanted to play not lay down! He is walking very slow, and is very sleepy. But otherwise no worse for the wear.

Doug and I are struggling with a huge decision. Hopefully we will have some big announcements the end of this week or the beginning of next week.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Your support, my blogger friends means so much to me.

Josh's Big Day

Welcome! Thank you for visiting. I am a nervous Nelly tonight. Tomorrow Josh goes to be spayed. She went to the vet today for preliminary work up. Of course my brain knows that everything is going to be fine. My heart is screaming, my baby is going to have surgery! Josh has the happiest personality. She is so good to me when I am sick. She has learned that when my tremors get really bad, she can lay across my legs and it actually helps. Well at 10 pounds it was precious, at 20 pounds it was sweet, at 30 pounds it was cute, at 40 pounds it was nice, at 50 pounds......well you get the picture.
Keep Josh in your thoughts tomorrow please. I will post when she is up and about tomorrow evening. I want to share that Doug and I have a huge decision to make in our life this week. It is a life changing decision. I wanted to post some recipes today but am using these 2 events in our lives to avoid everything. LOL.

Thank you for visiting. You can leave a get well comment for Josh, we are not telling Keelie (our puggle). It is for the best, trust me.