Cookies

So, while hubby works in his shop crafting wooden bowls and the like, I am enjoying myself working on my cookie decorating skills.

Beautiful bowls

 Retirement provides time to explore and create... Here are some of hubby's bowls and candleholders that he recently crafted. I love the natural look with the rough edges of bark that some of them have.

The Saga of the Mississippi Roast!

 There is a really fun story to share here about a tasty roast that you made have heard of called "The Mississippi Roast."  The roast is good, but how it became an "internet" sensation is a great story since my blog is a small (but integral) part of the story. 

For me, it started back in December of 2010 when I saw a recipe for this easy roast on a blog of a young mom named Laurie. (Laurie lives in Arkansas and I enjoyed following Laurie and her sweet friend Kelly; two lovely Christian young moms.)  I tried it and it was good so I shared the recipe with some friends.  I did not want my friends to call it "Candis' roast" since it wasn't my recipe.  Laurie got it from her husband's Aunt.  So I sent a message to Laurie (who I did not know, actually) and told her I liked the roast and my friends liked it too, but it needed a name.  She responded nicely "let's call it a Mississippi Roast."   So I called it that on January 9, 2011 on my blog. 

Apparently someone put my blog post on pinterest... and it got saved ("pinned") again and again and again.  I had no idea it was going all over pinterest and internet.  However, the New York Times food editor Sam Sifton discovered this Mississippi roast, somehow learning it was the most "pinned" roast on pinterest so he set out to find out its origins. 

His search went through pinterest back to my blog post.  And then from my blog back to Laurie's blog.....

 Here is the full story.... starting with a gal named Robin, in Mississippi, who tweaked some ingredients and made the tasty roast.  Next, Robin's friend Karen put it in their church cookbook.  Next, a gal from the church named Judy (she saw it in the cookbook) made it for her nephew and his wife Laurie who were visiting Mississippi from their home in Arkansas. Laurie came back to Arkansas and wrote about it on her blog.  I read her blog, tried it and posted it with the name Laurie suggested.  And it went viral. And the New York Times food editor wrote an article about it.  And then Good Morning America did a feature segment on their show with Robin and Karen from Mississippi.  (I imagine those two ladies were completely shocked when they were told about this amazing roast and then they got to be on Good Morning American!  No, they did not call it the Mississippi roast but I'm pretty sure they do now!)

This is Laurie holding up the NY Times article. She also got her picture in there!

 

 



 
 .  This is a picture from my original blog that was saved over and over on pinterest.

 If you look to the left of Robin Roberts you will see the picture from my blog.

 

And the recipe?  Oh my, this is easy peasy. 

Place a 3-4 pound chuck roast in your crock pot.  Sprinkle one package of McCormick's Au Jus mix on top of the roast. Then sprinkle one package of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix on top.  Place an entire stick of  butter on the roast (I use unsalted) , add about 5-6 pepperoncini peppers around the roast and cover, cook on low for about 8 hours.  DO NOT ADD WATER. 

 

Trust me. You will love it.  Apparently people nationwide do!



Time for a long overdue update!

Hello, it's been a long time since I posted!  I thought I would add these two family pictures for those of our blog friends near and far that may check in here.  The top picture was taken in October 2015 at the baptism of our 14th sweet grandchild - born to our youngest son and his wife.  This sweet grand-daughter joins 6 wonderful siblings!  Obviously, it is a busy household, full of energy and full of love.  Also in the picture is our eldest son and family; they were honored to be the godparents. 

 

This second picture is us with our middle son, his wife and 5 children in their new home.  They live only an hour away from us, so we often get to see these grandchildren in their various activities. 

 

Because we, as a family,  are spread out a far distance apart, we were not able to take a photograph in 2015 of all of us together.  That is the way things go and we have to be so thankful for all the years we did get a group photograph - and I am also thankful for things like facetime, etc. to keep that connection regardless of the distance!

 

May this day find you healthy, happy and thankful!



Happy 4th!

 Living here in the land of 10,000 lakes, it is only fitting that any good Minnesotan would find a lake to enjoy on the 4th of July.  We were happy to get out on the water with some of the grands.. the weather was hot and humid and we had some fun together!

Hubby celebrates!

My cowboy had a pretty big birthday this past month and we had a little western themed party because getting together with friends is always a good time!  Thanks to our friend Ray for making this little composite of some pictures he snapped. 

Sedona...

We arrived in Sedona, Arizona, a place that we totally enjoy.  Beautiful scenery, blue sky, fresh air and lots of hiking trails.  We had good family time as well and lots of fun!

Yosemite is fantastic!

 

On our long drive from Oregon to Arizona we enjoyed the beauty of Yosemite National Park!

A little beach...

 

In February we drove to Oregon to visit Daniel and Meghan and the grandchildren.  We spent two nights out at the Pacific Ocean, enjoying great weather and the freedom to run!

 



 

One of the beaches was full of driftwood and lots of "structures" that creative people assembled with the driftwood.  Of course, our crew had to build their own structure too!

 

 

We sat and waited for the sun to set.  It never gets old watching the sunset!

 



The girls did a little exploring.

And a lovely Christmas to you... and a Happy New Year in 2015!

Here is our sweet family... this photograph was taken in July of 2014 when we all gathered to attend our family camp at Inspiration Point Bible Camp.  What a great time together as family, enjoying the benefits of being together while relaxing at such a lovely facility...

  time together, time in God's word, time with family and friends...

 

Our thirteen precious grandchildren. 

We are so thankful for all our blessings!

Family Farm Day in New Jersey

 On September 28th many members of my family met at my brother's farm for a day of celebration and fun.  It was great to be with my mom and my siblings as well as the rest of my family.

 

 We also celebrated my Aunt's 95th birthday; she is pictured here in the front row, in the middle. 

 

 My mom is amazing as she will celebrate her 97th birthday in December.  Wow!

 



My sweet sister and her two daughters, both "favorite" nieces.  ha ha. 

 

 My two handsome brothers.  We miss our third brother, who died in 2004.  It just doesn't seem right to not have him here still.

 

The horses are harnessed up ready to give us our wonderful wagon ride.

The day was perfect too.

 What a pretty view.

 

My little Auntie opens some of her gifts. 

 



What happened to February?

Dear lonely blog... What happened to February? Well... The temperatures went down, the propane prices went up, the layers went on and discouragement set in. And the road trip commenced.

That seems to sum it up.  And I can't figure out how to post pictures from my ipad.  If I could, they would be of Arizona sunshine!!

What's up in 2014?

 What's been happening in 2014?   Brrrr.......... too cold to do much more then stay inside!

 

 We felt sorry for those who lived outdoors and we did our best to provide them some food so they could keep their energy up and keep their bodies warm.

 

The deer were thankful for the help.

 

 

Just for fun I decided to pose wearing a sweater that was a gift from my oldest brother when I was a teenager.... which would mean this sweater is 50 years old.... and I am older still!  (It was not bitterly cold the day I posed for this - and it was a quick-take-a-picture moment.)
 



This pretty much sums up January for us. 

Works for me.

Stay warm!