November Thanksfulness

Two year ago, I tried to post a daily thankful post. I decided this year to post on a weekly basis.

For my first thankful post, I'm really thankful for family. I'm awed and humbled to have a heavenly Father who loves me no matter what I do, say or don't do. I'm beyond thankful for the many blessings He's given me. The most special blessing being my earthly family.

I had two loving parents, who I miss terribly. But they instilled in me a love of family, friends, and travel. I love being with a group of friends, doing nothing more than enjoying each others company. I'm planning on doing just that tonight.

I also love my family. I have a sweet sister and brother-in-law. I don't get to spend enough time with them and we have to set dates to get together. But rearranging the calendar is nothing in order to be with them and again, it's the simplest of times. Just hanging out is a pleasure, being in one another's presence is enough for me and I truly enjoy time with them. I LOVE my baby sister!

Travel seems to be so much of my life, dad traveled all over the world for his job and even today, I think nothing of jumping in the car and taking a 4 hour drive to visit or see something and then come back home that same day! I also love longer trips and I'll leave you with a couple of photos of my summer trip to Maine.

Quest for the perfect pancake begins and ends

in my kitchen cabinet! For two years, I've been on a quest for great pancakes, the kind I remember mom making. I've posted lots of pictures on Facebook of my attempts, some successful and some not quite good.

Yesterday, sister and family went to the flea market and I kept seeing lovely Ball and Mason jars as well as cast iron skillets. Many in poor condition. I wish I'd taken a picture of the ABC skillet for shortbread. It was $125 and not in a great condition. But that no longer bothers me, I found a blog post to recondition cast iron http://www.ibelieveicanfry.com/2010/12/reconditioning-re-seasoning-cast-iron.html  But back to the pancakes.

This morning was the perfect morning for pancakes. I seem to crave them on cool fall mornings. Often I eat them on the porch. But they cool really quickly when I do that. I decided to dig into mom's recipe box and see if her pancake recipe was in it! IT WAS!!!

Next I dug into my cabinets looking for a good cast iron skillet, figured a small shallow one would work and I found this griddle!!! I don't remember mom ever using it but I did and my pancakes were awesome! I even added a few white chips to a couple and sliced a banana, heated the syrup and had delicious pancakes.

I didn't take the time to photograph those, I wanted to enjoy them while they were nice and warm. I've had problems with burning them and the flavor just wasn't right. I've used all sorts of recipes. Searched the Internet, used Betty Crocker cookbook, Bisquick mix, you name it and I might have tried it. Now that I've uncovered the griddle and relocated the recipe, I'm seeing more pancakes in my future!

Comfort

I love coming home to the smell of a roast in the crockpot. It hit me before I opened the front door. I woke up in the middle of the night with it on my mind that a roast was sitting in the fridge waiting to be cooked. First thing this morning, I put it in to cook.

Now that I'm home, I have tea going and stewed potatoes. I haven't had stewed potatoes in many years. I'm talking 25+ since I've made them. The last time I ate them Mom cooked them. My girlfriend Cindy also makes them, but it has been a long time since I've eaten them at her house. Yummy, can't wait for dinner to be done.

The only thing I'm lacking is dessert and my favorite thing is ice cream! It is cold out and I just want to curl up on the couch with a quilt. No way am I going out for ice cream. Mmm, peach cobbler would be good too.

Stay warm,
Tracy

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Winter break

I'm so enjoying this break. I was ready to have time off. It is hard getting adjusted to new holiday schedules. Sister has this week off and we spent some time doing last minute shopping and having lunch.

I didn't think I'd miss going to Florida as much as I do. I miss going to Tallahassee and doing the day after Christmas shopping. I miss taking a day and going to sit on the beach and reading, just soaking in the ocean sounds. But most of all I miss mom and dad and that really says it all!

The kitties and I have been taking it easy, just hanging out. Today they had an adventure and investigated the garage. Had they not knocked things over, I'd never have caught them out there. Puff did come in wearing the evidence in her whiskers. That was all the excitement we could stand today. :)

Thankful for Treasures

Today, my sweet sister and her hubby came and put in a new water heater for me. It is so nice having a new member of the family!

While he did all the hard work, Carm and I started going through mom's trunk of pictures. Something I haven't done and still have problems doing alone. But as we were going through pictures, Carm ran across a small plastic bag with some of dad's work ID's in it. When I opened it to take a look, there were three of dad's and then I found mine. Old high school ID's, college ID's, driver's licenses, hidden treasures I didn't know existed. 

I immediately teared up, Sis said "Don't" so I sucked it up! LOL But I'm so happy my mom saved these. I'm thinking a shadow box or something like that to put them in. I have a note mom wrote and dropped in the mail that says simply "I love you" I think I'll add it.

I am truly blessed!

Hobby

When I was young, I hated my mom taking pictures. She took forever to focus or whatever she was doing. LOL Both sister and I have a love of photography today.

I am constantly reading photography blogs. My vacations are to places where I can take great pictures. Even if my photo style is bad, the scenery compensates. :)

I'm very thankful mom gave me a love for photography. Even if I didn't want to be her subject. Tonight, I combined my gifts and made my own camera bag. I found tutorials online and think it was a success!

Sunday Morning

Today, I am thankful for many things. I'm most thankful for my sewing abilities. Not that they are grand, but that I come from a long line of sewing women.

My great-great grandmother was a tailor. She provided for her family by sewing men's suits. She lived far away from Nashville, which is where her suits were sold. She would send them to stores via ferry in Granville. She also made all of the clothing her children wore, from the skin out.

I remember my great grandmother quilting and crocheting. I have baby shoes she made for either sis or me. I am also blessed to have several of her quilts. I cherish them. I am a bad blogger and didn't take any pictures before sunset.

My mom didn't quilt. She did crochet and made great clothes. I'm still wearing some flannel lounging pants she made me. I will be very sad when they wear out. I also have an afghan she made me. I inherited her sewing things. I went through some tonight looking for Velcro. Made me miss her so very much. I'm sure there are snaps and buttons in that box that are older than I am.

Let me say again, I am very proud to come from a long line of talented women. I deeply miss them tonight.

Rest in peace sweet ladies...

Weekend Wonders

This weekend has felt like a roller coaster. I hung on tight for the ride!

Friday was the 2nd anniversary of mom's death. It was a very emotional day. I chose to spend the evening and Saturday working with Rising Above Ministry at By the Brook. This is a retreat they hold for mother's with special needs children.

I am blessed to be friends with Jeff, Becky, and Jon Alex Davidson. They head this ministry. I have served as the media person on the worship team at all the By the Brook retreats. I started the summer mom battled cancer and I often think I was ministered to more at the retreat than the moms!  

This retreat I had the privilege of teaching a class on quick inductive Bible study. There were such sweet ladies in the class, some very new to Bible study. It was awesome of God to give me the privilege of starting them on the journey of studying His Word.

Sunday was a full morning of church, working media for three services makes for a full morning. I took the night off from The Source which is our single's ministry. I had too much laundry and other home jobs to catch up on. I'm feeling very blessed and God answered my prayers of Friday morning to please let me feel His love and arms surround me. He is so good!

This one of my all time favorite pictures of mom taken on our trip to Key West.