We broke the record…

Peoria’s new snowfall record: 52.5 inches.  Every little bit counts.  The 1.7 inches of snow that fell Friday night enabled Peoria to break the record for its snowiest winter in history.  The record is 52.5 inches at least for now.  We still have more winter to go so the total may go higher.  I am not discouraged though because as I am typing this it is only 21 days, 8 hours, 13 minutes and 22 seconds until Spring. 

Nothing new to report here.  No snow last night and that is a break.  It is 34 degrees right now and climbing.  I am gearing up for Spring big time.

I have a pot of ham and beans on the stove.  Cornbread to follow.  Come on over.

  Beth

That S word again…

Yep, I had to clean my car off again this morning before I could run some errands.  Looks like a couple of inches, I don’t even keep count anymore.  I have lived a long time and the winters just keep getting worse every year.  We are right at breaking the all time snowfall record this season.  I guess that is quite an honor.  Well, maybe it would be if we were talking ski slopes here. 

The muffins turned out perfectly.  I got 6 large muffins and a small loaf out of the recipe.  I took 4 muffins over to my daughter, froze 2 and I am working on consuming the small loaf.  YUMMM!!

Click on the picture to make it larger and to make you hungry.

I am going to get off the computer and dig out the vacuum and clean a little bit this afternoon.  Mostly to have something to do.  I will be so glad when the weather warms up and I can go outside and walk.

I hope you all are having a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy.

  Beth

Only 4 inches of snow this time…

and I have just come inside from sweeping the snow off my car.  It is cold and my fingers are frozen right through my gloves.  There is a pretty brisk wind blowing, but hey guys, right this minute  there is only 23 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes and 9 seconds till the first day of Spring.  It is pretty outside this morning.  The sun is shining brightly after the storm and everything is white again.

I am planning to make some pineapple muffins this morning.  Twin, do you remember when I gave you the recipe and you had a big hit with them? This time I will be trying my new big muffin pan that my daughter got me for Christmas.  She even found me some paper liners to fit the pan.  I also plan to put a streusel topping on them today.

Pineapple Muffins

•1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)

•1 & 1/2 cups sugar

•2 eggs (beaten)

•2 & 1/2 cups flour

•2 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

•1 & 1/2 cups crushed pineapple (undrained)

•1/2 teaspoon salt

•1 teaspoon vanilla

•1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

With mixer cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and crushed pineapple. Mix well. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder together. Add to first mixture mixing well. Fill muffin tins lined with paper or sprayed with cooking spray 2/3 full. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven for 18 – 20 minutes or test with toothpick. Makes about 2 dozen small or about 1 dozen large.

May also be baked in mini loaf pans or large muffin tins with paper liners or sprayed with cooking spray. Test for doneness with toothpick after 20 – 25 minutes. May be glazed or frosted or you may put a streusel topping on before baking.

Before I make the muffins I am coming around to visit you all.

Have a peaceful weekend.

   Beth

Update on Thursday…

My niece came home from the hospital last night and is recuperating at home.  Thank you so much for the kind thoughts and prayers.

Well, we are under another  storm warning for tonight with 6 – 8 inches.  However, I am not discouraged because according to the countdown on my blog it is only 24 days, 11 hours, 15 minutes and 28 seconds until Spring as I am typing this.  Scroll clear down on my blog and you will get caught up on the countdown.

I am heading out to pay a bill or two and check in at the Sears store to see what the markdowns are now.  So far they haven’t been very good.  I also will fill my car up with gas as the prices are going up at the pump again this weekend.  Yesterday they were topping out here at $3.29 a gallon.

Nothing much to get caught up on with me.  This has been a rather blah week filled with a lot of apprehension.  I have been talking that over with God and reminding myself of Matthew 6:34 that cautions me not to worry about tomorrow and to let the days own troubles be sufficient. 

I hope you all are having a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Update..

My niece Dee, Rae’s daughter, is still in the hospital.  She will be undergoing further tests tomorrow.  Rae asked that you all please continue to keep Dee in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you!

Another dreary day here with snow flurries.  I again accomplished nothing as I can’t settle my mind on anything, it keeps wandering down to West Virginia.  I did have lunch with my daughter today.  She fixed lasagna and garlic/butter toast.  It was very good.

I will try to post more tomorrow.  I think I have visited all of you that posted today.

  Beth

Dreary, Cold, Rainy, Yucky type of day…

and for some reason I am finding it hard to do anything.  After having not slept well for the last couple of nights I slept till 7:30 this morning.  So that started my day off on the wrong foot and then I didn’t want to do anything.  I did get over to Kroger and even that didn’t cheer me up, just induced me to buy a couple of junky type foods that I have no business eating. So how is that for a Monday??  By the way, for the zillionith time in my blog I am stating that I do not like Monday holidays.  I don’t like not getting any mail or having the bank closed.

One of my nieces is in the hospital, very ill.  She had a unit of blood yesterday, I am so worried about the outcome.  500 miles is too far away for me to visit her.  I would be so grateful if you would join me in prayer for her.

Short post today.  I am trying to look on the sunnyside today Toodie.

  Beth

The Final Inspection

 

THE FINAL INSPECTION

 

THE FINAL
INSPECTION

The Soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass..

'Step forward now, Soldier ,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear..

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you Soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell.'

Author Unknown~

It's the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.

It's the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us the freedom of speech.

It's the Soldier, not the politicians
That ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness..

It's the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the Military,
Please pray for our men and women
Who have served and are currently serving our country
And pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom....

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN

AMEN!

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!God Bless Our Military

  Beth

 

 

Glorious Bright Sunshine…

Checking in here from central Illinois with 45 degrees and dazzling sunshine.  I used dazzling as an adjective because this is the first day in several weeks that I can see bare ground with the sun shining on it.

I have been busy today with normal everyday things that really are of no interest to anyone but me; such as laundry, running errands, etc.

I had coffee with my niece at one of the McDonalds here in town this morning.  The first time I have sat in a fast food place and observed people for quite a while.  Lots of people there taking advantage of the 70 cent senior citizen coffee.  We had one of the hot cinnamon rolls with it.  GOOD! coffee in Mickey D’s.  My niece told me I should have coffee there more often as there is a group of single over the hill guys that have coffee there each morning.  Not sure I am interested in a single over the hill senior type guy that hangs out in McDonalds.  But to be fair to her I did glance around to check them all out.    Not a Mark Harmon among them so I settled down and paid attention to my decaf and cinnamon roll.

Then we came back here and watched Y & R.  Boring today for a Friday as that is usually cliffhanger day.  LOL

I think I will spend this afternoon cleaning out the closet in my spare bedroom.  That should keep me busy for a couple of hours.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Hey everybody, it’s 50 degrees…

and we might break the record of 64 degrees set in 1899.  I am definitely going to be out taking the sun today, that is if it comes out as it is cloudy and drizzly right now.  Oh well, we can’t have everything.  In reality I am going to go get my hair cut and run some errands, all in my comfort zone.

The snow has almost all melted away and I can see the ground again, all covered in leaves that maintenance did not rake up last fall.  The ice and snow has melted from around my car.

I just am giving a quick update as I need to get some breakfast before I leave.  Where is everyone anyway, all on facebook?  Catch ya all later.

  Beth

Too much birthday cake and chocolates??

Time to get caught up with unfinished business.  Like yesterday I started cleaning, did a couple of rooms and was just p**ped out so I quit.  Well, maybe I overdid it a bit on the sweet stuff yesterday.  I bought a birthday cake for my daughter.  She came over yesterday morning and I had a big piece of the cake (Italian cream) with a cup of tea.  The cake was very good although I have to braggingly say that my own homemade Italian cream cake is better.  (Recipe below)  Naturally I sent the rest of the cake home with her.

Cream together:

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 egg yolks

Stir 1 teaspoon soda into 1 cup of buttermilk.  Add 2 cups of flour alternating with the buttermilk mixture.  Add:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Beat the 5 egg whites until stiff and fold them into the batter. Pour into 3 greased and floured 8 inch layer pans.  Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Check for doneness with toothpick.
Icing:
Beat one 8 ounce package cream cheese with 1 stick of butter, add 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 box of powdered sugar, and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.  Continue beating until spreading consistency is reached.  Fill the layers with the icing and around the sides and top.  Garnish with coconut.

And now I have cleaning to finish, stuff like the dreaded bathroom and mopping the kitchen floor.  But first I am going to the nearest drop box to mail a card.  Since the drop box is in the Kroger parking lot I will have to go in the store.    My daughter asked me why I get all of those free Kroger coupons in the mail and she doesn’t get any.  I think it is probably because I am one of their best customers.  Let’s put it this way.  The path from my back door to the Kroger store falls in one of my comfort zones.  You see I have what my daughter calls my comfort routes; how I get from point A to point B without getting on any of the one way streets.  Works fine for me.

Enough procrastinating, which I have stated before is one of my biggest faults.  Now I have to get busy.

  Beth

Happy Birthday Marcia

Valentine’s Day is a very special day for me.  It is the date of my daughter’s birth.  I would have written a poem or something equally sentimental but I am not very good at that kind of thing.  I always got A’s in creative writing when I was in school but I have never been able to string words together in verse.  So I will just take this opportunity to wish my daughter a very happy day.
Please click on the picture to make it larger.
  Beth

For Carol

Carol lost her beloved mother last night.  My very deepest sympathy is extended to Carol and her family.  May God Bless you all.

  Beth

Whew, that’s done for another year…

the taxes I mean.  I went over them with the accountant yesterday and now they are in his hands.  I am hoping for a refund, but I am not holding my breath.  My daughter went with me and afterwards we had lunch at Grumpy Pete’s now the 8th Street something or the other.  The food was very good.
Now what do I have on tap for today?  First I should get the weather out of the way.  It is 18 degrees right now.  This is the first morning in a while that the wind chill hasn’t been below zero.  The forecast for next week is a string of 40 degree plus temps.  I am hoping it will melt off some of the many inches of snow on the ground.
My daughter is coming over in a few weeks and we are really going to do some serious spring cleaning.  It was so hectic when I moved in that I just put stuff away to get it out of sight.  We are going to clean closets and take the curtains down to wash.  I can hardly believe that I have lived here almost a year.  The time flies by so quickly.  I still haven’t found my second iPod.  I know it is buried under something.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!
  Beth

Good Morning Sunshine…

Yes, the sun is shining this morning but it is still bitter cold with below zero wind chills.  Will it ever warm up?  Only 39 more days till spring.  For those of you who have asked me if it magically turns warm on the first day of spring; no, it doesn’t.  The promise is there though with brighter days to come and an occasional 60 degree temperature.  I have seen snow before in April and way below zero real temp  several times in February.  However, spring in Illinois is beautiful.  It gives me hope for the future.  Please scroll further down on my blog to see a Spring in Illinois slide show.
I have an appointment with my tax accountant tomorrow morning at 9AM.  This means I have to go from my computer to my kitchen table in a few minutes and try and get all of the crappola in order.  I hate tax time.
Yesterday was a semi-productive day.  With my little can of putty I went around this place filling in little cracks here and there.  Man, I love putty, it is good for mending all kinds of things.  I think I will ask maintenance to put me on the payroll.    My neighbors Joe and Deb have kept ice melt sprinkled on the back sidewalk all winter so I think they should be on the payroll too.  I keep a snow shovel by my back door that comes in handy too.
This is short today because the tax stuff is calling.  Stay safe and be happy!
  Beth

Minus 22 wind chill…

but who cares?  Not me, I am busy counting the days till Spring which stands at 40 days, give or take a day or two.   If the weather forecast is to be believed by  next Sunday it should reach a magnificent 40 degrees.  Not holding my breath mind you, just cautiously optimistic.  There is so much snow on the ground though that I don’t expect to feel much benefit.
Yesterday my niece came over to have lunch with me and watch Y & R.  That show is so mixed up now it is hard to keep up with who is dead and who is alive.  I have been hooked for a long time now so I keep right on watching. 
I fixed beef/vegetable soup for lunch with the leftover roast beef.  It was good and I had 4 serving size containers to put in my freezer beside the chili.  Watch out Ms Calender.  Not sure what I am cooking today.  I need to get to the pharmacy but I am not going out in temps this cold.  Hopefully tomorrow.  I also need to get to the grocery store for a few things.
I think I have everything I need to file my taxes, so that looms on the horizon.    Not looking forward to that!!
I need to stop and fix me some breakfast.  I will be around to visit later.  In the meantime, play nice.
  Beth

A Monday Gift From Me To You

A Monday Gift From Me To You
by Mark Anthony Kernan
I send to you this morning a gift of words, like a cloud delivering rain.
May they fall upon you ever so gently and wash away your pain.
For you and all your loved ones, I bow my head and pray.
May these prayers somehow guide you and help you find your way.
My thoughts and prayers are also with you, as you begin your day.
Only You and I, and God, know what these words attempt to say.
Never look into the past – move forward and straight ahead.
Do as your heart tells you, your soul will be fed.
Always remember how very special you are.
Your friendship to me is a beautiful, bright shining star.
For this friendship that we share, I send this small token,
May it somehow help you repair all that is broken.
There is a power on this earth greater than You and I,
He is the one who stirs your emotions and allows you to cry.
Mark Anthony Kernan
Copyright 2003

  Beth

28 Degrees and what else?

Why it is snowing of course. My car that was all cleaned off yesterday looks like a giant snowball. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones. I left little bitty size 6 & 1/2 footprints in the snow going back and forth to the laundry room. I wanted to get it all done before I go out after while to clean off my car.


My legs and arms are still letting me know that I shoveled snow for a nice period of time on Friday when my daughter helped me to clean off my car. Last winter I shoveled just about every day but I guess I am out of practice.

Is everyone all set for the super bowl? I am not a fan but I hope the Packers win for my friends from Wisconsin. I don’t even have any snacks here but I have got lots of Bones episodes on the DVR to keep me busy. Plus I have downloaded several books on my Nook. I really do like the Nook, but there is one major thing I don’t like about it. I confess to always reading the last few pages of a book first and I like turning back a page or two in case I missed something. That is a lot of bother to do on a Nook. So here I am reading this chilling murder mystery and I don’t know who dunnit. Very frustrating.


I am fixing a roast for today. YES!! I am cooking something again, in fact I have been cooking a lot more lately instead of eating so many TV dinners. I have several containers of chili in the freezer. I think veg/beef soup is next.


I hope you are all having a wonderful day. Please do not OD on Nachos and cheese dip.


Beth

Dug Out…

My daughter came over this morning and in below zero wind chill we dug out my car.  I had to come in once to warm up my fingers as I was thinking I was close to frostbite.  However my daughter didn’t come inside once to warm up.  After shoveling out my car and warming it up we went to Kroger for groceries.  There were only a couple of carts available in the store.  People were packed like sardines inside the store and the carts were overflowing.  I got enough stuff to last me through the next snow which is predicted for Sunday and Monday, calling now for 6 inches.  I thought of Paul while shopping and wondering if he had any more shoppers that wanted to buy a ‘tird pound of ham.’ 

We are set in this area to break all kinds of records this winter.  With almost a month to go, snow totals are expected to exceed the 1978 –79 total.  I well remember the blizzard of 78 .  We lived 1block from  what was one time the Civic Center in my little town.  All interstates were closed around us.  We lived just a few blocks from Interstate 57.  For blocks around our house there was row upon row of semis just parked with the motor running.  The Civic Center had been opened up and several hundred people took refuge there during the storm.

Our son had started south on 57 during the storm when he went in the ditch with his car on his way to work.  I remember the tow bill on that but thank heaven he was safe.

I fixed the salmon patties and creamed peas yesterday.  So good!  The salmon patties are delicious cold too, which is what I had for lunch today!  I sent the cookies home with my daughter so I am safe from them.  I did buy brown sugar at the store this morning so I am good to go in the baking department.

I hope you all have a good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Is minus 6 cold enough for you?

If not then we will factor in the wind chill which is 16 below zero.  Baby, it’s cold outside.  I couldn’t go anywhere if I wanted to, which I don’t.  When our driveway was plowed yesterday I had enough snow thrown behind my car to be above the trunk now.  I thought I had it bad until I received photos from my nephew in northern Illinois.



Not sure about that last picture, but my great niece was having fun with the snow.
I am trying to think of something good to cook on a cold winter day.  I am thinking salmon patties with creamed peas or tuna fish casserole.  Taking votes.  Something different.  I used to make salmon patties a lot because they were one of Jim’s favorite meals.  The cookies are in the freezer as I was enjoying them too much.
Time for me to fix breakfast.  I hope you all have a great day.  At least the sun is shining here on top of all of that snow.
  Beth

Photos from the storm…

My poor car.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.
Just heard from my son in Chicago. They got over 20 inches there. So ready for spring.

The storm is winding down…

and the grand total stands at 16 inches.  It is still gusting like crazy outside and we are predicted 1 – 2 inches more snow before the storm winds down.  Then  the bitter below zero temps move in.  Last night was really something.  We had a lot of thunder snow.  Inside it sounded just like a summer thunderstorm.
I took a picture through the top of my kitchen window a few minutes ago.  I couldn’t get my front door open because of the snow. 

Looking out my back door.


Looking out my front door.  Click on the pics for a bigger view.
The cookies yesterday were delicious and being here alone and in an anxious state I managed to scarf down quite a few.  I love this recipe.  It is on both of my recipe sites.

Dried Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

 
by Beth Marie in Cookies

A recipe from cooks.com
1 1/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3 c. quick or old fashioned uncooked oatmeal
1 c. dried cherries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; add to creamed butter mixture, mixing well. Stir in oatmeal and dried cherries.
Drop by a rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-11 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then remove. Makes 5 1/2-6 dozen cookies.
When I make these cookies I only get around 3 dozen as I make huge cookies.
Time for me to see about some breakfast.  I will catch you all later.
  Beth

---

The lull between the storms..

It is windy and otherwise quiet outdoors this morning.  We got a couple of inches of snow last night and now we are bracing for the heavy snow which is to start this afternoon with total accumulation of 20 or more inches.  The wind is to pick up to 50 – 60 miles per hour and so we are under a blizzard warning.  All schools are closed.  I am in the house for the duration, praying that we don’t lose power.
I have a pound of butter on the kitchen counter softening.  I think I will make some oatmeal/cherry cookies  made with dried cherries.  No telling what else I will make or cook.  I have the iPod hooked to the Bose speaker and I will turn off the scanner and ignore what’s happening outside.  My daughter gave me strict orders  to not try to clean my car off as she will do it as soon as she can get here.  We are under a city wide parking ban until Thursday afternoon.  That means no parking in the street.  I have parking behind my building just a few feet from my door so I am good there.
Bee , my blogging friend, has graciously given me the Stylish Blogger Award.  I told her I was already  a recipient of this same award but I will try to tell 7 more things about me.

1. As a child in a large family that was very poor, there wasn’t a lot of things that I remember from my childhood that were really happy.  I do remember running barefoot all summer long and playing softball in the street with bases made up of anything,  What fun.  To this day I think that is why I am such a baseball fan.  In those days I was a Brooklyn Dodger fan and I had this huge crush on Pee Wee Reese.  My sister Rae, liked Gil Hodges.  After they became the Los Angeles Dodgers it wasn’t the same and I shifted my loyalty to the St. Louis Cardinals, and why not?  My dad was a Cardinal fan and the games were on the radio all of the time.
2. I had an aunt on my dad’s side.  Her name was Alice and I was a favorite of hers when I was a small child.  She would bake a birthday cake for me on my birthday and it would be beautiful with lots of frosting.  I really felt special because none of my siblings received a cake from her on their birthday.  Of course, Aunt Alice has been gone now for many years but I count those birthday cakes as another happy memory of my childhood.
3. Growing older, I remember my teacher from the 5th grade.  Her name was Miss Keithly.  To this day, she is the only teacher from my grade school years that I remember.  She was always so kind to me and praised me for everything that I did right.  I count her as an influence on me that helped me to be the person I am today.
4. Wait, just a minute, I want to go back to the first grade.  That was the time of my first boyfriend.  His name was Harold and he was a preacher’s son.  He was a nice chubby little guy and he had this big crush on me.  He would occasionally bring me a candy bar to school.  I would keep it in my desk and eat just a bite every day.  I didn’t take the candy home with me because I didn’t want to share. Shame on me. 
5. I remember when I was a freshman in high school that my grandmother on my mom’s side passed away in Missouri.  I remember her lying in state in the living room.  To this day that memory is so vivid that I can recall all events from that day.  I really wish I couldn’t remember them so vividly but I do.
6. On to the summer before my senior year in high school. I got a job at the telephone company.  My very first job and the pay was 25 cents an hour.  During my senior year I worked 4 – 9 each evening after school and all day long on Saturday and Sunday.  Yes, you are reading this right, I worked 41 hours each week and still managed to finish near the top of my graduating class.  It was fun though, I finally had money to spend.  One of the first things I bought was a lovely set of dishes for my mom from the Sears store there in town.  Oh my, my mom was so proud of those dishes.
7. I met Jim through a co-worker at the telephone company.  Her brother in law was home from Korea and would I introduce him around to my friends.  I have told this story 100 times or more in my blog.  Long story short, met in July, engaged in September, married on Dec 2nd to the nicest guy I have ever met.

And that is all of the reminiscing for today.  I will visit you all and then I am off to the kitchen to keep myself busy.
  Beth