Per Graem's Request...

Graem got a deer yesterday. He asked me to spread the word that the Clark family will not go hungry in 2011!

A Recipe. Yes, a recipe!!

I love to cook. Many of my friends use their blogs to share favorite recipes. So...why not??

This recipe is one of my favorites because it comes from Gigi, one of my favorite people, and because it is one of those dishes that I associate with childhood Christmases at Gigi's house, some of my best memories.



I think of it as a "festive" dish because we always had it at Christmas. This year I brought it to Christmas Eve dinner at Aunt Beth's house. It is a great accompaniment to ham or pork tenderloin. Gi notes in the recipe that dark cherries are optional. This is incorrect, you must include the dark cherries, because they are so delicious!



Publix didn't have apple rings, so I used apple slices.

Drain fruit & put all fruit in casserole.


You need a double boiler for this...yes, it is one of those recipes that you stir and stir until you think your arm might fall off.

In double boiler, heat one stick of butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 T flour and 1 cup of sherry wine.


You start with this:


And after A LOT of stirs, it becomes this:


Pour the sauce over the fruit.


Let stand in fridge overnight. Heat at 350 until bubbly (about 30 minutes).

Enjoy!

The Second Snowstorm of 2010

Well, snowstorm might be a tad misleading. But any snow -- or even mention of it -- is enough to wipe out every grocery store's supply of milk and bread statewide. It's fair to say that we get a little over-excited when the fluffy white stuff makes an appearance.

We awoke on Sunday morning to a light dusting of snow in our yard. I asked Graem if he thought we would have church. His response, "Of course we will." So off we went to church...and every other church we passed along the way was closed! Thankfully our service had not been cancelled!

The boys had been without their normal nap for what seemed like days...well, it actually had been days. So right after lunch they went down and slept the afternoon away. By the time they woke up most of the snow had melted so they didn't get a chance to play in it. Maybe it will snow again this winter...or who knows, it could be several more years! The weather is so unpredictable here!

I did snap a picture of Buck dressed up in white.


Buck Jr. stayed out of the elements on the porch.


A friend of ours made these and gave them to us this year and we have really enjoyed them! I'm surprised Graem hasn't tried to take a shot at Buck...this is the first year that I can remember him not getting a deer! Maybe he will get one this week before the season ends...

More Ornaments

These ornaments are so sweet...my new favorites.




(I can't help but question the extent of Roper's involvement in the design of the gingerbread man.)







We were late in getting our house decorated for Christmas this year so I have decided to keep the tree up through New Year's. I know we will continue to enjoy it through the next week...and let's face it, un-decorating is just not fun.

Happy Merry Christmas

Mason's preferred way of wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" this year was to throw in "Happy." So cute. Last week we were driving somewhere in the car and I said, "Christmas is Saturday." He replied, "No, Mama. Christmas is not Saturday. Christmas is Baby Jesus' birthday." Melt my heart!

We had a very happy merry Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve on the farm with my side of the family.




The next time I complain about getting a good picture of 2 little boys, I will remember how much more difficult it is to get a good picture of 3 little boys!




We came home late that night so that we could spend the night at home, play Santa, and watch the children's faces light up when they came down the stairs on the morning of baby Jesus' birthday. After a late breakfast and relaxing morning at home, we headed to North Augusta to celebrate Christmas with the Clark/Duncan clan.


Santa's elves...or rather, "Santa Nana's elves"...can you sense the excitement?


In closing...a little "now & then"...
2010:


2009:

Luminaries

Our neighborhood had our annual Luminaries/Christmas Party on what might have been the coldest night of 2010. We bundled up and headed out for a hayride and a visit with Santa. I didn't snap as many pictures as I typically would have, mainly because I didn't want to take my gloves off and risk frostbite.

Mason didn't hesitate in climbing onto Santa's lap and promptly told him that he wants a guitar for Christmas. This has been his go-to Christmas gift request ever since we visited a Cracker Barrel on our way to Kentucky, where he found a guitar that Bebe told him she would get him for Christmas. Roper, on the other hand, only stayed in Santa's lap long enough for me to snap a picture.


Some friends braved the bitter cold with us...


We made it back to the warmth of our home...here is our attempt at getting a group shot of the children. :)

Baby its Cold Outside!

These frigid temperatures and busy days make me wish we were back here...