Saturday, November 2, 2019

Bee Quilt, Halloween, Lillian and the Christmas Painting Giveaway - Catching UP!

Thursday - aka Halloween - saw me up early cooking and getting ready for what was supposed to be a lunch for a couple of friends. My original time was 1:00 but that got pushed to 1:30 and then 2:00 and when Kimmy and June arrived at 2:15, I was still preparing food!
But since we have been such good friends so so very many years - they gathered in the den and started working my jigsaw puzzle while I stirred the pot and chopped up the ingredients for salad.

I was in the den just checking that they were doing okay when I saw a delivery man leave something on my front porch.


Man! Was I ever surprised to find a personally designed hand made quilt!


It blew my mind that someone made this for me.......but then that someone is very special!

When Amber started college at Texas State in San Marcos, Lisa was her roommate.
Lisa married Adam and Adam has a brother.
Sharilyn is Adam's brother's wife and she found my blog when Amber was pregnant with the quads.
When she noticed my blog on the sidebar, she started following mine.
Long story short, we became Facebook friends and regularly visit one another via Facebook Messenger. We are members of MAS - Mutual Admiration Society!
Can you believe she made this for me???


Anyway, opening my gift and all the admiring of it and then the posting about it on Facebook -because, of course, I had to brag about it, made lunch even later!


We finally sat down to eat a very late lunch at last!

This is what I made.......
and the recipe is from Ma at ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

Hungarian Goulash

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leave
3 lbs beef stew mat cut into 1 to inch cubes
3 tbsp. Hungaria Paprika
3/4 tsp.  salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 c. beef broth
3 tbsp. tomato past of 1 6 oz can 

Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium heat.  Add onions and red pepper and cook until soft.  Add minced garlic and bay leave and continue to cook for 1 minute.

Add beef to pot and stir in paprika, salt and pepper.  Cook, stirring often , until meat is browned .  Stir in broth , tomato paste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low; cover and simmer until meat is tender.  About 2 hours. Remove the bay leaf. 

You an also transfer mixture to slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.   

Serve over cooked egg noodles and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.  For a creamy goulash, add a dollop of sour cream.

It was delicious!!!
I served it with salad and dessert was easy peasy!


A selection of cookies from Aldi!




Our after dinner entertainment was a reading from Fannie Flagg's book Daisy May and the Miracle Man! It is SO funny and this wasn't even the funniest part!

We had just finished when my last guest arrived.....Pam!
You remember she is Reaoma's daughter.
I fixed her a plate and she ate in the kitchen keeping me company while I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher!


I made to go bags for everyone and bid them all goodbye just as the Trick or Treaters were arriving.



Then Louis Dean and I took our places on the front porch and prepared to greet all the children.


It's a tradition to drink from our goblin goblets as we wait and we have been doing this every year since we married in 2005 with the exception of 2012 when we were living in our camper down in Katy, Texas after the quads were born.


Look at this most precious little girl!
She loved pushing the button to make the skeleton play his banjo!


This is the Haines family and they have been coming all these past years.
Tray, the son, didn't make it this year but Brittany - standing next to her tall dad - was younger than her sister, Nicole, who is standing in front of her. They lived across the street from us at the time but continued to come every Halloween even after they moved away.


This is my beautiful next door neighbor and looks as young as her daughters!

While I didn't get to see any of our grandchildren in person - I will show you their costumes.....


Rayne was an astronaut and is fascinated with all things NASA related.


The Four Bells were all action figure heroes.


And this is Piercyn and Bella with their mama, Chandy.

It was a great evening and we tottered off to bed around midnight.
I admit to being tired to the bone.
Having fun is exhausting!!

Summer spent the night with us and was feeling well enough to go with me to Fort Worth the next morning. That was a good thing because I was so still so tired I felt numb and she drove for me.


Lillian gets her done there at the nursing home every Friday morning and she was looking so pretty with make up on and everything.
Her TV had lost connection for whatever reason and Summer walked down to the nurses station and waited while they paged Billy the maintenance man. He is the funniest and most patient guy!
Lillian was all smiles as he reprogrammed the TV.
When you live in a nursing home, the biggest source of entertainment is TV.

While we had originally planned on going to Mineral Wells, I knew a day or two before I would not be up to that so Nita offered her home to us.


I packed up a repeat of Halloween's lunch and Lillian, Summer and I ate together in Nita's kitchen.
It was along about this time that I knew I was in trouble.
I was so exhausted I could barely put one foot in front of another.
Overcome with weariness, I told Summer and Lillian I just had to lie down and take a little nap.
They were troupers and visited and watched a little TV together while I rested.


Nita was home by the time I got up so we visited a bit and took a selfie.
I'm so thankful I did not look as tired as I felt.
And I am grateful Summer was feeling well enough to pick up the slack and talk to Lillian.
She had a good time and we shopped Aldi for a few things for her on our way back to the nursing home. I ended up going back to the car and waiting for them and then Summer drove Lillian back and the us home.
I was so  glad to get here and felt like my battery had run down completely.
I took a hot shower and went straight to bed.
Got up to eat a bite about 9:00 and then went back to bed at 10:00 and slept until 10:00 this morning.
I was, indeed, tired!

It's a miracle what a good night's sleep does for us.
While I felt so much better this morning, I did not jump right back up on the bandwagon but decided to stay in my pj's and just potter around the house. No make up. No hard work.
My goal had been to take all the Halloween stuff down but Summer did that for me while I was sleeping in!

My main accomplishment today was cleaning the refrigerator.


I had laid a Dirt Coke bottle on its side and it slowly seeped out - running down into the drawers and every crevice on its way down.

I do not normally keep a super clean fridge like Nita and Deanie do. Even Lonnie's fridge is always neat and tidy. Luann says hers is a mess like mine although I saw it once and it looked clean to me!

But for today - I have a really clean refrigerator!!

And I used another of Ma's recipes this evening.


This was the best potato soup I have ever made!
Between Louis Dean, Summer and myself, there's just a small bowl of it left!


Before I close, just look at these clever Halloween cheeses Summer brought over along with an assortment of crackers! I haven't cut into them yet - but I will!

I finally finished the Santa for this year's Christmas card. It's glazed and dried and I am attempting to order the cards so I can mail them out right after Thanksgiving.


I would love to send you one and I will - if I have your address!
And in case I didn't send you one last year, I have a few of those left and I will tuck one in for you.

Now to the Christmas Giveaway.......
the thing is - I haven't finished painting it yet!

It's not a Santa painting this year but a manger scene on a 12x16 canvas panel.
This will make it easy to mail and if you live out of the country - I can still afford to mail it to you!


This is the way it looks right now but it will be my first priority to finish painting it this week!
That will give it time to dry and then glaze and dry again.
Everyone who comments on any post from this one through the 23rd and I will announce the winner on Sunday, November 24th. Then I promise to mail it off on Monday if I have your address so you will get it in plenty of time for Christmas.

And now I think I am all caught up!!
It's only a little after 10:00 this evening but I am going to take my shower and go to bed.
I think my age may be trying to catch up with me!



32 comments:

  1. I do love the nativity painting this year. well done and it looks like my not being able to go Friday after all might have been a God send. I do hope December works out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, no wonder ypur batteries nneded a recharge. I'm glad you got a little nap at Lanita's and that Summer was with you. You've stayed so busy.
    Both soups sound so good, but Ed will rarely eat anything but Brunswich stew or beef stew. Oh well! I love all soups and stews. Well, I love food!
    I think you have my address and I hope I'll get a card from you. Last year's is still in its frame, waiting to be set on the piano. And I'd like to be on the list to win the painting, too. Anyone would consider it a treasure, I know!💕
    You do so many good things!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I’m glad that after your good nights sleep, you were feeling better.! Happy to you could have a puttering day at home.

    You’re video of reading that book made Tim and I laugh! I’m going to have to get that book!

    Lillian looked beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I usually reply on Facebook but will here to get in on the drawing for the beautiful picture. Mercy, no wonder you were exhausted after all you did the day before. I am glad you got a good rest. I love all the pictures, your grandchildren are precious.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! That bee quilt is a keepsake. I would love a card and sent my address to your email. I plan to try the potato soup recipe since you gave it a good recommendation. Sounds yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda, Your candles was burning from both ends. You needed rest. I am glad Summer has been there to help you. What a wonderful girl. She always looks happy, bless her heart. Your pictures are always fun to see. Everyone looks happy about Halloween. Try to rest up. Blessings to all,love you, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
  7. A beautiful gift that bee quilt...

    Oh my! That video is hilarious! 🤣 My sister and I can get into those laughing bouts from time to time...good for the heart.

    Rest a lot, Linda. Have a great Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  8. so the busiest bee on the planet now has a busy bee quilt. Wow! what a gret gift.. perfect for you. your late lunch turned in to early dinner. ha ha the goulash sounds good and I do love potato soup. we finally got up today to 62 degrees, the first under 70 since last June.... has to be cool to eat tater soup.... your quads look adorable

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a fun filled post! The Bee Quilt is beautiful and I know you will love curling up with it. I love all Fannie Flagg books - you laugh and you cry, but then you want to read again! Cute costumes, big smiles! So, so glad Summer is feeling a bit better and that she was able to take care of you. I know that made her feel good too. Lunch with old friends - one of my favorite things too!
    That Nativity is, well, it's inspiring. I think it's one of my favorites! Can't wait to get my Christmas card this year, will be on the shelf until after Christmas. I keep several handmade cards up a little longer than other decorations as I just love them so.
    Take very good care of yourself, get plenty of rest and take things slower. You're a very dear friend and no one wants you to get overtired. Oh and tell Lillian she looks beautiful, as do you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So nice you had a lunch with all your friends and am sure it was delicious. Cute trick or treaters coming to your house and how nice that the two of you greet them outside. Glad you could make it to see Lillian, I know she looks forward to it. You do tend to overdo and glad that rest makes it all better:)I emailed you my address:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an exciting post! Full of many of your adventures. I am still blessed beyond measure that you do so much for Lillian as I am sure you are truly a real blessing for her. As my mother in law is in the nursing home currently and she constantly talks about coming home, but I don't think she ever will. She won't make friends or anything and it would be nice if she had someone like you that would visit her and make her stay a little better.
    I am thankful that your Halloween is such a traditional time. I love that the people have came there for many years and continue to visit. That says a lot about you and Louis Dean!
    I am glad that Summer is feeling better and I hope that her health continues to improve!
    I love the Nativity scene and will look forward to my card as I did receive last years'. God Bless you for all you do! Stay rested though!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That bee quilt ws the perfect gift for you. Glad Summer was feeling goo enough to pick up the slack for you. You really needed the rest. Lilian looks like she is doing very well. Glad you like my recipes.It''s my pleasure to share them. I'm always looking for something idifferent to fix here myself. I don't like to keep on fixing the same old things. I'll be having leftover soup again today. It was only 35 degrees here this morning. It's perfect soup wether. Happy Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a neat bee quilt, perfect for you! Yummy recipes. Thanks for sharing.
    And for sharing the pictures of your grandchildren on Halloween. Hope you are feeling more rested. Sometimes it just hits us and knocks us off our feet. Another one of those growing older things we just need to pay attention to and rest as needed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Linda, I love your blog. You are such an active person who lives life to the fullest and is a servant to others (as God commands us to be). Love your quilt! I sent you a FB friend request and also a PM on FB with my address - hoping for one of your lovely Christmas cards. God bless you and your family.
    Beth from Iowa

    ReplyDelete
  15. I dont know how you do it all. I am tired from reading all this. Please enter me in your drawing. One day I hope to own a Linda original!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Linda,

    You are a true dynamo! I thoroughly enjoy reading about your adventures - love your enthusiasm and zest for life! God bless you and thanks for always brightening my day! Hugs, Sheryl

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Sweet Linda..a long post, but read every word...goodness you are the energizer bunny. Every picture brought smile as I see how your life and gifts of love and hospitality bless everyone who comes in contact with you. Thanks for always being an encourager...You make the world a better place! Love and Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  18. You look beautiful even when you are exhausted! Summer really was your special angel. I love Wensleydale cheese but can never find it! Do you know where summer bought it? This is such a good Halloween picture of the Quads! Your mask is so pretty! And the bee quilt is beyond belief awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a beautiful and generous giveaway. I love reading about the quads.
    Marion

    ReplyDelete
  20. I sure hope I am still on your Christmas card list this year.I love the one you sent last year. Please slow down-I worry about you and Louis Dean overdoing it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Even the "Energizer" bunny needs to re-charge ever now and then.

    You are important to so many people, you need to take care of yourself by having some slow days!

    You do more in a day than most folks could do in a week!

    Happy painting! So hope I win.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for this beautiful giveaway. Enjoy reading your posts.
    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm ashamed that I haven't commented in quite a while but I ALWAYS read every post! The bee quilt is amazing - she is such a talented artist! And so are you, the manger scene is beautiful as it is in my opinion! But I'm sure it will be even more beautiful once it is finished! You certainly had a busy Halloween and day after, no wonder you were tired! Glad you could catch up on your rest and that Summer was there to help out! Those cheeses she brought look amazing! Have a wonderful rest of Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a lovely gift, the bee quilt, and interesting looking Halloween cheeses. Your paintings are beautiful, and Ma sounds like a great cook. I'm going to try that potato soup recipe for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a lovely gift!! I love seeing your paintings. They are beautiful. Thank you for the recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. That bee quilt is just amazing. What a dear friend to stitch it for you. I know much love went into each and every stitch.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I just bought a jigsaw puzzle by Thomas Kincade of the Nativity! I can't wait to get started on it. But, I am sure we won't set up the puzzle board 'til after Thanksgiving. Need the spare room for our son who will be spending a shortened week with us for the holiday.

    Ohhhhhhhhh, LINDA your nativity looks superior. And anyone who is lucky enough to receive it with your generosity....they will enjoy it immensely. Love your Santa painting/card too.

    Your goulash recipe was a hit, I'm sure. Goulash, on Halloween...a bit ghoulish. Ghoulish, only 'cause it's close to goulash.

    Love your Halloween tradition and wonderful family/friends photos.

    ReplyDelete
  28. PS...forgot to mention your bee quilt. FANTASTIC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pss...you have an email from me (no subject text)

      Delete
  29. Oh Whew...you were finally convinced you have to slow down....
    Its scary when you are this tired. I'm so glad that Summer could drive and do some things for you.
    Linda your Christmas card is gorgeous.
    I would love one to cherish.
    Thanks also for the recipes. The potato soup one reminds me of my Mom's when I was young.
    My friend Sandy..we were both about 7...always wanted to come over and have Thoop with Thusan...She had the most adorable lisp..Potato soup was her favorite...so any time I have soup i think about her.
    Address:
    Sue Batz
    4810 Buxton Way
    Rocklin, CA
    95677
    Oh yes, I forgot to say that the quilt is beautiful. What a Special gift. Talk about a treasure!!
    Wow

    ReplyDelete
  30. hi linda, the quilt is so beautiful, lucky you!! i enjoyed reading the goulash and soup recipes, both sound like something chuck and i would love!!

    awesome halloween pics, i LOVE seeing everyone at the table, enjoying a meal!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. That quilt is gorgeous and absolutely perfect for you! 🤗 Your luncheon sounds divine. I always wonder how you're able to do so much but I am concerned that you push yourself too much! I'm older than you so I can say that the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak. 😊 Mentally, I think I can do whatever I want to but physically it just doesn't work. It's a very difficult situation to adjust to!

    Take good care of yourself and always have fun!

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete