Pleasure

My daughter in Michigan sent me these Flameless Candles. They are excellent quality.

I really like them.

On these continued long dark and cold winter nights - they seem to make my reading room warmer.

Have placed one on my night stand. When having my meditation and prayer time - like the warm glow.

I always lite a candle when I have my evening meal.

This is something I can now use along with the real candles

We are no more than candles burning in the wind ~~Japanese proverb~~

The Old Turtle

I have never been one to collect things. Maybe plants and books - but somehow over the years I have accumulated a number of turtles. I never looked for them, it just seemed I would spot one somewhere and buy it.

Have told my children never to buy me a turtle. I do not want anymore. But if I happen to come across one - it might be added to this collection.

Why turtles? Guess that when I started out on my own - it was slow and easy. It had to be as I did not know what the future held, and still do not. My older children needed to finish their educations and my my little one was beginning her journey.

Do not remember where I read about this book "The Old Turtle" - by Douglas Wood Watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee - A timeless bestseller - offering a message of love and tolerance and honoring the sacredness of life.

After reading this book I would almost like to keep it for myself. But it was a gift for my little one on Christmas Eve morning.

2010 White Christmas

My young granddaughter's wish was fulfilled.

As they left grandma's home yesterday - they hugged her and said "grandma I hope we have a white Christmas."

Merry Christmas - to all far and near.

Missing You

For those over the miles and my son over the ocean - mom took an image as she prepares the table for Christmas Eve breakfast.

In my heart you will be among us.

I send you my love. May you be Happy, Healthy, Safe and at Peace....

As this year draws to its end,

We give thanks for the gifts it brought

And how they became inlaid within

Where neither time nor tide can touch them.

We bless the year for all we learned

For all we loved and lost

And for the quiet way it brought us

Nearer to our invisible destination

John O'Donohue - in part from "At The End Of the Year"

Cherry Nut Cake

Better take an image and post recipe while I have a moment and they are still here !

Marcia was so kind to share her mother's recipe http://msgraysea.blogspot.com/

Cherry Nut Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees - grease 3 small loaf pans

2 sticks of butter - softened

1 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract

2 and 1/4 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder

dash of salt

Two 16 oz jars of maraschino cherries, well drained and halved

1 cup chopped walnuts

flour, baking soda and salt in bowl and set aside

Large bowl - beat butter, cream cheese, sugar - add eggs one at a time - add extracts

Fold in flour mixture

Gently stir in cherries and nuts

I made - 3 small loaves - my oven took 45 minutes - started testing with toothpick at 35

Cool in pans 10 minutes and then on rack Wrap in foil - I was told freezes well....

I will not be freezing - 1/2 loaf is gone - another for a special friend - one for Christmas Eve

breakfast. May have to make special trip to store for more cherries and cream cheese and make again. Daughters may want to take a loaf home.

Marcia, thank you again for sharing this recipe ...

Welcome Winter Solstice

Perhaps I am a bear, or some other hibernating animal underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all Winter is so strong in me

~~Anne Morrow Lindbergh~~

One kind word can warm three Winter months

~~Japanese Proverb~~

December 20th News

Thankful my grandson is home with family in Florida. Flu like symptoms over the last week and grandma was concerned. A departure in blizzard conditions from Copenhagan, stop in Iceland, New York and then safely home.

My daughter said he wants to prepare a meal for them while he is home. Made me smile as I can remember my son loved to cook. Also a thought that none of my daughters ever made this offer:)

One granddaughter arrived in Florida safely from New York. Another granddaughter with special friend will soon be on the road from Washington D.C.

Those near will visit Woodhaven at noon on Christmas Eve. A country breakfast with ham (new offering of cherry nut bread) presents, pictures taken, and maybe my little one will play a song for grandma on her guitar.

Family busy with going and coming and Grandma after not leaving the woods for 9 days - practiced taking pictures of herself.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind

~~Dr. Seuss~~