Hope you are well, I have not been blogging much as no one else seems to be either. I see you all on faceBook :) Any how I just thought this was a great article *From old fashioned living*
Christmas cards abound each year as friends wish one another holiday cheer. These colorful greetings are displayed on tabletops, mantlepieces, and sometimes strung around the room. They're often collected and pasted in albums or used the following year for making Christmas decorations.
But sending Christmas greetings in the form of a card is not a centuries old custom. Actually the first real Christmas card supposedly appeared in the 1840s.
First Christmas Card
Henry Cole, an Englishman, found himself pressed for time at Christmas. So he wasn't able to send the personal Christmas letters (a tradition at that time) to his friends. Thus he asked well-known artist J.C. Horsley to design a Christmas message that could be printed up and mailed.
One source says that Mr. Horsley designed and sold more than 1,000 copies of that first card. Did Mr. Cole send so many cards himself, or did Mr. Horsley interest others in buying and sending cards, too?
Design of the First Card
This first Christmas card apparently was constructed of stiff cardboard, illustrated with a drawing of a family seated around the table eating Christmas dinner. Then the side panels depicted poor Londoners receiving food and clothing from the more well-to-do.
The card carried the message, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" as many cards do today.
Christmas Cards of Many Types
Louis Prang, a German immigrant, started printing commercially the first Christmas cards in America in 1875. By 1881, Prang was printing five million cards a year.
The smallest card ever made was perhaps the one sent to the Duke of Windsor in 1929. A grain of rice was inscribed with Christmas greetings.
This inscription could be seen only through a magnifying glass. Over the years, Christmas cards have come in all shapes and sizes and were made from a variety of materials. Some early Christmas cards were no larger than a postage stamp.
A Christmas Tradition That Continues
Sending Christmas cards is a tradition that isn't likely to die out even though postage keeps increasing. When you include a personal note or annual family letter you add something of yourself to the greeting. In today's computer world, we're finding computer designed and generated cards, as well as online greetings.
No matter how we send them, Christmas greetings bring people closer together at this time of year.
I will some day get to changing my blog to a Christmas theme, all is well. If you are on facebook and would like me to add you as a friend please send me your email as I have myself blocked as private. Hope everybody is in the Christmas spirit as I am BIG time this year.
Long time no blog or something like that. See the picture above to see how I feel right now. I just want to go home and snuggle on the couch with my woobie. Woobie is my special feathered filled mini-comforter my sister gave me years ago as a gift. I am like Linus and his blanket with that thing, I have to sew it as it has a small tear from being washed so many times the feathers come out a bit.
It is only 3 and I still have 1 1/2 left of work then I have to schlepp off to the Doctors office AGAIN. This is just my regular doctor I am seeing for refills of my prescriptions etc etc.... seeing all those specialist basically did nothing for me except give me a $1000 bill for my insurance co-payment isn't that a lovely gift just in time for Christmas. Some of you already now this but I just have to live with the pain and life goes on. The only thing I do hate is the meds cause me to feel like I am going to be sick all of the time and over the counter products do not seem to stop the nauseau so I will ask for a RX for that tonight. Enough about that it is depressing.
How has everybody been? Well I hope good as I have been trying to get caught up on my blogs and there are still a few I have to get up to date on. I just love google reader as it keeps all the entries there so I never lose the ones I have not read yet. It sure seems like a lot of people have made the transition over to face book and are hardly blogging any more. I do have to say I love Facebook.
All is well on the home front Dave has returned to work full time last week and is looking and feeling great. Life is funny how it throws things at you sometimes and when you do not think you can take any more things suddenly change. I hate this time of year when it is dark by the time you leave work and it is cold out it makes we wonder why I stay in the north east as I hate the cold....but I hate the heat too so I do not know where to live. Not too mention since Dave is back at work he has to travel to the office the every day now so I am home way earlier than him so I always have to cook now.....BLAH!!! I miss him being home and having my dinner on the table every night :) That is why we order out at least 3 times a week! Delilah is not happy at all either with this arrangement she misses her daddy being home during the day so she can snuggle up on his lap.....she just misses me because I am her walking and talking giant mouse she hunts; oh and of course the provider of the Kitty Treats. No matter what she is doing being bad, sleeping or whatever all I have to say is Kitty Treats (in the special voice) and she comes bolting to the cabinet they are kept in. She is getting a little pudgy but I am not dealing with the wrath of Delilah if I deny her them!
I have been looking at all those Halloween Decorations I put up because I am getting sick of seeing them but do not have the energy to take it all down.....oh well we will Halloween until Thanksgiving then I will switch it to Christmas Decorations which will probably stay up until February :) You also see my blog is still decorated in Halloween stuff I can not promise when I will change that.
Well I just wanted to check in and say hi to everyone and I will catch up with all your posts and then have to restart again. Hey look at that only 50 minutes until quitting time.....cool!
I want to change my blog link to: www.isittheweekendyet2.blogspot.com, nothing else is changing. Please come follow me at my new name:) I am behind on reading some blogs do not worry I will catch up some day :) I am deleting this post after a week so please jot down my new name thanks !
Happy Halloween! Well I am driving myself crazy as I had decided I was not going to give out candy this year as I do not feel like walking up and down the stairs 100+ times. Not too mention I have not even purchased any candy at least not yet. Now the Halloweenie spirit is kinda creeping up on me and I am leaning towards having Dave bring me to the store so I can pay a small fortune for some candy. Last year I think I spent $40-$50 and almost ran out of treats as I had well over 100 kids.
The weather is crazy as the temps have shot up to 70 degrees for today only and back to 50 degree temps tomorrow. It is very windy out but the perfect night for the trick or treaters. I remember as a kid it was always freezing and I was always so mad at my parents as they would make us wear our jackets over our costumes…..grrrrrrr Oh decisions, decisions it is 1:41 in the afternoon and I am still in my p.j.’s. I have done lots of house work today and would love a nap but that will probably not happen.
I hope everyone has a fun/safe night and do not forget to set your clocks back tonight!
Well what ever I decide I guess I will have to let you know. I do love Halloween so much here is my annual batch of Halloween goodies: Tags (used with permission), recipes, humor and crafts. Enjoy! Feel free to snag anything you would like.
Be Sure to get be creative and make a great costume…..hee heee
Autumn not only brings the arrival of apples, but of fresh apple cider. Nothing beats a cool fall day treat of cake doughnuts and a tall glass of fresh cider. If you can't make it to a local orchard you will find cider in the produce section of your grocery store as well. Don't miss out on this traditional autumn treat. Buy an extra gallon and save it for the following recipes!
Spiced Mulled Cider
2 quarts apple cider 3/4 to 1 cup RealLemon Juice from concentrate 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 8 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks
In large saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 10 minutes to blend flavors. Remove spices; serve hot with extra cinnamon sticks and sliced apples if desired. Note: You can tie spices in a small square of cheesecloth to make removal easier.
Apple Jelly Chicken
4 boneless chicken breasts 1/2 cup butter 2 Tbsp. apple jelly 1/2 cup apple cider salt pepper
Place chicken under broiler or grill. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 10 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, combine butter, jelly and apple cider in a saucepan; heat and stir over medium heat until jelly melts. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brush mixture over chicken. Broil or grill for one minute, turn. Brush jelly mixture over chicken, again cook for one minute. Turn and repeat process. Serves 4.
Applesauce Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup
Pancakes: 2 eggs 2 cups flour, sifted 1 cup milk 1 cup natural applesauce 1 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. baking powder 4 Tbsp. melted butter
Combine all the ingredients, mixing until smooth. Cook on a hot griddle or skillet. Serve with Apple Cider Syrup (see recipe). Makes about 16 pancakes. Serves 4.
Apple Cider Syrup
2 cups fresh apple cider 1 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 4 Tbsp. butter
Combine all ingredients, except butter, in a saucepan over medium heat until mixture thickens. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Serve hot over pancakes.
Autumn Stew
2 pounds lean beef stew meat, or roast cut into cubes 1 (1 ounce) envelope onion soup mix 1 (1 ounce) envelope brown gravy mix 1 1/2 cups apple cider Optional: Diced apples, baby carrots, potatoes
Brown the beef in a skillet, seasoning with pepper. (Don't use salt, since the soup mixes contain enough). Place the beef, onion soup mix, brown gravy mix and apple cider in a slow cooker and cook on low for 5 to 8 hours. Or place ingredients in a casserole and cook in a 325 degree oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Notes: Add the optional ingredients and serve with fresh bread. If you leave those out it can served over cooked noodles or rice.
Apple Bread for Bread Machines
2 1/4 tsp. Active Dry Yeast 3 cups Bread Flour 1 tsp. Cinnamon 2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar 2 Tbsp. Butter 1 Tsp. Salt 1 1/4 cups Apple Cider
Place in bread baking pan per manufacturer's directions.
Savory Autumn Carrots
2 tablespoons oil 1 sweet onion, sliced very thin 2 pounds baby carrots 1 1/2 cups apple cider 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
Cornhusk dolls have been made by Native American girls and women for more than a thousand years, probably since the growing and harvesting of corn began. They in turn passed this craft down to the Colonial families. It was a time when nothing was wasted and a purpose was found for everything. Today we can still make these whimsical dolls with our children!
You will need: Corn husks, fresh or dried, about 8 sections of husk String Cotton balls, or scraps of batting Scraps of cloth, cording or ribbon, beads, buttons
If you are using dried husks you will need to soak them in water for about 10 minutes to soften them. Fresh husks can be used as is.
Place a piece of cotton in the middle of a section of husk, twisting and tying it with a piece of string to make a head. Create your doll's arms by folding another husk and tying it near each end to make hands. Slip these arms between the husks that were below the head you made. Tie the "waist" of your doll tightly with string. Arrange more husks around the doll's waist so that they overlap slightly and then tie them in place with the string. Fold the husks down carefully. You can trim the husks straight across at the bottom to even your doll's dress hem. You'll now need to let your corn husk doll dry completely.
After she dries, you can leave your figure as is, or add a face with a thin tipped marker or paint. You can attach fake hair if you wish too. Glue on some tiny buttons to the dress or beads and cotton fabric to the doll for a skirt or shawl. You can use very thin cord or ribbon as a belt too.
You can dye your corn husks with fabric dye if you wish. Mix the dye as directed on the package and place your husks in the dye one at a time. Remove the husks when they are the color you want to use and rinse the husks in cold water, then drain. You can also soak them in food coloring for 30 minutes, or for an old fashioned dye, try using strong coffee or tea. Pat them dry before making your dolls.
Well my football team the Patriots just kicked some major butt In London, now we are watching the Nascar race. Yesterday was freezing, rainy with some major winds gusts up to 50 mph! Today is the perfect fall day it is sunny out and cool.
We decided to make chili in the crockpot, I have to keep getting up to stir it as Dave did all the cutting, chopping and browning the meat. We are making garbage chili today as we did not go to the grocery store so I used what I had in the fridge. This chilli has hamburg, sausage, bacon, onion, peppers, garlic, mushrooms, crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, dash of steak sauce, dash of bar-b-que sauce, 1/2 jar of salsa, cumin, cayenne pepper, chilli powder, salt…….so far :) At the end of the cook time I will make a rue of a little flour and water for thickness and throw in 1 can of pinto beans as neither Dave or myself are big bean people.
I feel ok today better than yesterday so that is a good thing, seeing the neurosurgeon Wednesday I am really hoping he can fix me up because I have had enough. Well enough of that subject. Dave went back to work last week part time to start 4 hour days for 2 weeks, he is doing great.
This is what is sister sent him for his Birthday.
I finally decorated for Halloween last weekend as it is my favorite holiday it took 2 days to put things out and I have rearranged stuff numerous times but I wanted to post some pictures. Also last weekend Delilah was so cute she was all wrapped up in my robe like a queen the pictures are cute. So here are some more pictures.
Well I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday I am off to stir the Chili again…….
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Autumn not only brings the arrival of apples, but of fresh apple cider. Nothing beats a cool fall day treat of cake doughnuts and a tall glass of fresh cider. If you can't make it to a local orchard you will find cider in the produce section of your grocery store as well. Don't miss out on this traditional autumn treat. Buy an extra gallon and save it for the following recipes! 
Cornhusk 
