Taco Soup Tuesday With my Sister Luann!

 I couldn't find my Taco Soup recipe from my sister, Nita.....
even though I looked through all those recipe boxes lined up on top of my stove.
AND I looked in a big clear envelope thing that holds more recipes. AND I looked in two wooden recipe boxes at the end of my kitchen counter.

But I made the soup anyway, by relying on my memory.

I wanted to make a LOT so I would have plenty to SHARE!

And so I did!

Because my sister, Luann, was coming - I baked a cake!

I found a recipe card I had written out no telling how long ago and it said 'Pot Luck Banana Cake' while I was looking through all those boxes yesterday. Since I had ripe bananas and all the other ingredients - I made it! It was in the oven when my sister arrived.

Look what she gave me!

She found this in an antique shop and I absolutely love it.

A clear glass mannequin half full of perfume with a tape measure and a cluster of flowers.

So unique.

We had a good visit over lunch and I confessed to having felt a little blue the last several days and she said,"That's okay, Sis! I am a Grief Counselor!" And she really and truly is! She went to a good bit of training and now volunteers at an organization. Having a grief counselor is a good person to have in the family - any family - these days!

We had lunch at the dining room table and I forgot to take pictures.

But I remembered to take some selfies before she left.

I took over a dozen!

If I looked good - she had her eyes closed.

If she looked goood - I didn't!

So I took the best three and edited them!

#1

#2

#3

Luann left to get home before traffic and Louis Dean and I headed out to do some errands before dark!

I unloaded a trunk full at Goodwill and only came out with a small bag.

I forgot to take a picture but it was a salt and pepper shaker in a holder that matches some bowls and plates I have. It's a grape theme and very pretty so  I will be using this after the holidays.

We took Taco Soup, Caramels, and Banana Cake and Texas Trash to a few friends who are either staying in due to Covid - as in Kimmy and June - and Val who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. She is a rock star and doing extremely well! Then one more friend to give Texas Trash and caramels. I did stop at Home Depot in South Irving and paid regular price for two boxes of warm white LED lights - pricey at $20 for both boxes.

After we dropped off Kimmy and June's bag, I stopped at a Family Dollar and bought a case each of 50 count white lights with green wire and and 100 count. I can already tell there will be no after Christmas shopping for me this year. It will all be gone!

So today has been a good day.

We are very concerned about Lonnie. They are running a lot of tests so he is still in serious condition. No news on Amber and Mike.....Day #4 waiting for test results.

In other news, some of our cousins have tested positive and have symptoms.

Praying they have mild cases......

With all the worrisome things on our minds at this time of year.....I am trying to concentrate on the positive. Things that bring comfort and 'tidings of joy.'

Like re-reading all my favorite Christmas books.

Browsing through the old Better Homes and Garden or Southern Living Christmas cook books.

Even the pictures are comforting to me.

And I love the I Spy books.

I've had so many of these for so many years.

I went through all my Christmas books a few years ago and gave some of them to family.

The Little Drummer Boy is my favorite Christmas song and I love this little book.

We have been reading out loud a Duck Dynasty book - which is really good.

Sadie - the daughter of Willy and Korrie - spoke at Fellowship Church a few weeks ago.

But we decided to take a break and re-read this Once Upon a Christmas Time.

I refuse to watch the news and I have edited my Facebook, Yahoo and Google feeds to the point that the only news stories that show up are about Chip and Joanna Gaines, Kitten stories and a Seattle family tucking two shipping containers inside their 1950s home.

Louis Dean still watches Fox Business but mutes it when I come in the room. 

Smart guy.

"......whatsover things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report, if there be any praise, think on these things."

Phillippians 4:8

So that's what I am going to do!