Crafting with my Girls

Erin discovered another U of I alumni here in the Treasure Valley. 

Her and her husband own the Indian Creek Winery.  

They were holding craft day - creating with wine corks - and we knew we wanted to arrange with our favorite girl posse for a morning out. 

 We quickly confirmed availability with my daughter-in-laws and signed up. 

If you have never been out to Indian Creek Winery I highly recommend the visit. 

Granted our visit was December, but the small store heated with the pot belly stove was cozy warm,

the staff (all family) was charming and friendly.

Kristen and DIL Britnee

DIL Karissa

Britnee, Deb, Erin

Our trees

Just us girls.

With my Girls

I am looking forward to returning when the spring weather returns.  

The flower beds are intriguing and I suspect I will find one or two blooms to photograph.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Gumbo

We traveled to Tennessee to visit family. It was a crazy, cold weekend itinerary involving football games and marching band competitions - and our talented son-in-law cooked up a batch of his infamously delicious gumbo! 

Here's what I learned from Wikipedia.  Gumbo is a dish that originated in southern Louisiana during the 18th Century.  Typically  it is a strong-flavored stock with meat or shellfish, a thickener, and seasoning vegetables.  It may also include the trio of celery, bell peppers and onion, know as the "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine. 

Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used: the African vegetable okra, the Choctaw spice file powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves), or roux,  the French base made of flour and fat. The dish likely derived its name from either the Bantu word for okra (ki ngombo) or the Choctaw word for filé (kombo).  Creole gumbo contains shellfish.  Cajun gumbo varies but often has a dark roux with shellfish or fowl, but not together. Gumbo is traditionally served over rice.

 Danny added smoked sausages and diced chicken breast to the pan to brown.  

The next addition into the pot was two packaged of cut okra, partially thawed.

And a few bay leaves...

Garlic salt, basil, oregano onion... 

and two sliced jalapeno peppers.  

Danny gave the roux another stir.

...and then added it into the pot of gumbo ingredients.

And after an hour (or more if you want) simmering to blend the ingredients.  

We served the Gumbo over a bowl of steamed brown rice.  

Delish!

Tennessee

We were invited to fly to Nashville to visit with Mike's daughter and family. 

It was also a chance to meet Danny's cousin Dena and Aunt Cathy, who share their home. 

Dena is a very sweet person whom I truly enjoyed getting to know better.  

She is caretaker to her Aunt Cathy. 

So caring and giving - makes you want to be a better person.

Naturally we spent a day visiting the Grand Ole Opry.  

Even if you aren't a country music fan you should still go visit.  

The history behind the scenes was very exciting.  

And since I am a fan of the show "Nashville" I really enjoyed the 'behind the scene' stories. 

Natchez Trace Bridge

We enjoyed a brunch at Loveless Cafe - famous for their biscuits.  There was an hour waiting time but we were able to pass the time wandering around the property and the many little shops.

Downtown Franklin, Tennessee

Durham Manor

Baxter found a cozy place to nap with Papa. 

We were also able to enjoy some time with granddaughter Mikayla.

Mikayla is ready for Halloween - they were inspired by the movie "Castaway"

Caleb is a inspirational musician. 

 

We also had an opportunity to see grandson Caleb march with the high school band at a football half time and then participate in a marching competition at Vanderbilt University. 

Thank you Tonya, Danny and family for a very special weekend.

That Ah-ha Moment...

Since the beginning of time - or at least since we moved into our home in 2002 we've been fighting with the bottom corner cabinet.  The kitchen is already cozy (read small) and storage space is premium.  The corner cabinet is one of those that may have once housed a Lazy Susan type contraption.  (In our household this element is referred to as a Lazy Lucy because that's how our children translated it at one time...)

It's the only place where we have enough room to store baking sheets, the griddle, cutting boards of various sizes, cooling racks, well you get the gest.

Often times we would risk life and limb to adventure into the deep dark crevices of this cupboard for an item or (gasp) even the occasional frustrated cleaning moment.  The later usually occurred AFTER I attempted to find something and knocked myself senseless on the top of the cabinet space.

Recently I saw in Pinterest a picture of a cabinet organizer for the lids of pots and pans and I thought this was exactly what I needed for this cupboard.

I didn't have a clue what I was looking for and Googled "kitchen organizers" at Bed Bath and Beyond and eventually found this in Drawer & Cabinet Organizers.

The next day I went to the store and purchased it - $12.99.  I proudly presented it to my "Mr. Fix it" husband and was delighted to hear the clanging of pans being moved from the cabinet.  He installed it out away from the inside wall the same equal distance of the dividers which provided us with an extra section.  

It looks amazing!  I thought to myself - why the heck didn't we do this sooner?  Hmmmm what can I organize next!?

My Faith gives me Direction

I tried to make a change.

I trusted in God to know what the right thing was for me now. 

I know He made the right choice.

The beauty of it - once I made the decision to try a change

it was out of my hands.

I have never felt so confident.

What happened would happen.

I have so many opportunities before me right now.

And feel reassured to know the things which are making me happy right now

are the right things.

Not to mention hearing from so many well wishers and supporters.

It's wonderful to have such good friends - past and present.

Talk about moving forward with confidence - I am for sure.

I truly don't need to let the weight of other's selfish immaturity

hold me down.

I have strength in my faith and support of family and friends.

I know what I'm doing is the right thing -

whereever I go.