Marching along....

Just as these Santas on the mantle are marching on into storage for another year, so is 2016 quickly coming to a close! Happy New Year's Eve!

Christmas in the country....

We were blessed once again to spend some time with the Country Couple at their home on Christmas Day.

A perfect tree for their home in the country!

Just a few words....

It has been a long time since I've posted on the blog.  Just as is the case with you, it has been a busy time here.

There are those of you to whom I have sent Christmas cards in past years who most likely didn't receive one from me this year.  Perhaps a few words of explanation are in order.

On Wednesday, November 23 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff reported a 1.5-acre wildfire near the Chimney Tops Trail.  Fire suppression efforts began, though extreme drought conditions hindered successful extinguishing of the fire.

On Monday, November 28, hurricane force winds entered the picture, setting off the unbelievable spreading of the fire!  Where blown sparks didn't ignite, trees blown across power lines set off fires as well.  Evacuation of the area was ordered.

Before the burning was controlled, a total of nearly 18,000 acres had burned, along with a reported 7,000 structures burned/damaged and 14 fatalities reported.

Rather than adding to my Christmas card list, I chose to donate to the Disaster Response Fund of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.  Should you wish to donate, write your check to Holston Conference and mail to the Holston Conference Office, P.O. Box 850, Alcoa, TN 37701.

Tourism is vital for Sevier County's economy.  Gatlinburg has re-opened, and tourists are welcome.  If you wish to make plans for a vacation, there are many places that are open for lodging.  It is a lovely area and The Husband and I have many memories of time spent there during our courtship, then with the girls as well.

The year is quickly passing!  While I may get around to another post before year's end, I send good wishes to you for the year ahead at this time.

Time on Tuesday....

I'm continuing to read through the book I quoted yesterday, The World According to Mister Rogers, written by Fred Rogers.

Today's quote:  "We want to raise our children so that they can take a sense of pleasure in both their own heritage and the diversity of others."

I think this is vital for the world in which we live.

Monday's Musings....

From The World According to Mister Rogers, a gift from a dear friend, are these words....

    "As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us

     really is, that each of us has something that no one else has - or ever will have - something inside

     that is  unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to

     provide ways of developing its expression."

Words for Wednesday....

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech that is known as the Gettysburg Address.  Following are some excerpts from that speech....

    "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

    "....we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

What inspiration!!

For Tuesday....

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote "The New Colossus." Following are some of the words from that poem....

      "Give me your tired, your poor, 

       Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

       The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

       Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.

       I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These words are inscribed on a bronze plaque placed in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. 

Words for thought for today.

Monday's message.....

.....is about a safety pin.  Do you have one somewhere?  This may be a use you might consider for it.

There are those among us in our nation just now who are feeling threatened and vulnerable - more so than they usually feel.  I am joining with the Safety Pin America movement by wearing a safety pin on my clothing each day.  This indicates that anyone who is feeling threatened will be able to feel safe with me.

Wednesday wishes

Today's wishes go for a happy birthday to Munchkin the Elder!

Here you are, just 13 years ago!! You've certainly grown since then!:-)

This was last year's delicious cake.  We are certain this year's cake will be another wonderful creation!

Happy Birthday to you!  We love you!

Tasty Tuesday

Time for pumpkin!

Yum!

Monday munchies....

This seems to be appropriate for this special day!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip brownies ready to slice and arrange on the serving plate!

Here they are!

The other snack is equal parts dry-roasted peanuts and candy corn!  So good!  

Have a Happy Halloween!!

Morning moon.....

In the southwest sky....Tuesday,  October 18....7:00 a.m.

Tuneful Tuesday....

For weeks we have been rehearsing these selections....

Together, they provide this lineup....

....following this program theme.

Time to begin that tour!

A college homecoming....in pictures

Great fun!

Friday fun....

It was really special for me to be able to have the author sign these copies!

Watch for that full moon this week-end!!

Tasty Thursday....

....and it was good!!

Wordless Wednesday....

On this day....

.....in 1908.....

                - the young girl in the picture below was born!

Several years later....

She became my mother.  Sadly, she left us in 1983, at the age of 74.  She is in my thoughts daily. Happy Birthday, Mother!

....and there was salad!

Using some of summer's favorite flavors, this salad is an excellent addition to the table.

This recipe comes from Martha Stewart.

I loved having leftovers of this one!!

Doing a "photo bomb" is a Longaberger dish of green beans.:-)

Well, I didn't make it posting about summer corn before the first official day of autumn.  Time to think of other flavors now!  What is the flavor you think about with autumn?

Serving bowl - Strawberry Fair by Johnson - now discontinued

Salad plate - Pink Dogwood Depression glass

Flatware - Chateau by Oneida

There was soup....

Continuing on my challenge of using recipes from some of my cookbooks that haven't been used in quite awhile, I took this one from the shelf....

It didn't take long to find this recipe....

Once again, this is up at the top of my list of favorites!

Do you like corn chowder?  Do you have a favorite recipe?

Before summer ends....

Are you having a good September?  Has your weather actually hinted that fall is on the way, or have you still experienced the heat of summer?  We have finally ended our string of days with high temperatures over 90 degrees!  It is probably a good idea that I post a day or two on one of Summer's highlights.

When good friends were out-of-town for a week, they asked if we would gather the produce from their garden.  Wouldn't you know it?  That was the week the corn was ready!!!!  Everybody just waits for that good fresh corn, so we picked what was ready and kept it for our friends.  Well, when they returned, they told us to keep the corn!!  

We decided to invite them to dinner where we served them all things corn!!!!

It is difficult for me to choose a favorite corn dish, but this would definitely be up at the very top!

It is a super appetizer platter!!

What is your favorite way to enjoy corn?