As we grow older I hope one day our grandchildren will be a witness to that same SHMILY love....
37 years of growing and learning to be a great big family!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
My love for old things....SHMILY
My love for old things has made it's way into the burlap world and my Etsy shop. The first time I read this SHMILY story was several years ago. There is something so intriguing about a life long love that has seen years of tears, joys and dreams. A friendship that has lasted through the fiercest of storms and somehow manages to find joy in the midst of that storm. The depth of a love that permeates every minute of their lives.
As we grow older I hope one day our grandchildren will be a witness to that same SHMILY love....
As we grow older I hope one day our grandchildren will be a witness to that same SHMILY love....
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Help me! I'm being sucked into the sea of Pinterest!
I remember when my years of homemaking began and just thinking of the simplicity of it all sets my mind at ease. Of course at the age of 18 how did I even know what all homemaking entailed? I remember someone asking me what style I liked....Country, contemporary,eclectic etc.? Is smorgasbord a decorator style? I was so young...very young...and newly married, decorating was the last thing on my mind! Little by little I began to discover what styles interested me and my list along with torn out dreams from magazine pages began to fill a little corner of our home. That 1 ziplock bag of recipes suddenly became 5! If I only had 1 place to keep them. Too bad we didn't have the internet way back then!
Have you ever seen something you liked and thought...."I'd like to have that" or "I could make that" ? Only minutes later forget about it or forgot where you saw it. For years I have said I should take my camera with me everywhere and photograph things that I really like...My camera if full right along with my computer! Then there is the good ole favorites list! Yes, I am the one who painstakingly clicks on each item I had saved looking for that one thing I know was on that very long list!
Then My daughter introduced me to Pinterest ! It's like an online picture book! This is the most ingenious website out there! Why didn't I think of something like this? The only problem now....I get sucked into this sea of dreams and ideas! And they are all in ONE place! How cool is that?! No more corner filled magazine pages in our house. No more out of order favorites list...a much shorter list!
I love that I can share my dreams with this sea of Pinterest friends! I have seen more cute ideas than I will possibly be able to complete in a lifetime...but I continue to pin away! There are so many great recipes posted.Warning....do not get on Pinterest late at night! Every time I do my taste buds start salivating and then the hunger pains. It's like being pregnant....I am NOT though!
I use to say I would love to have my house look like it was from out of a certain magazine. Now the question is when someone walks in my house...Have you been on Pinterest?!
Pinterest....the woman's new Facebook! If you would like to join in on all the fun, message me if you want an invite!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Yummy... Old Mill Restaurant's Signature Corn Chowder
Have you ever eaten at the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge Tennessee? They have this signature Corn Chowder that is out of this world! I first had this at a friend's house. She had purchased their chowder mix from the gift shop to make at home. I was instantly hooked! I immediately went home and did a search for a recipe. Here is what I found.... Corn Chowder recipe . I did add a can of green chilies for a little extra kick! A few times I have added some chicken for a more hearty soup. However you choose to make this recipe you won't be disappointed! But if you don't like to cook chowder then head on up to Tennessee...well up if you live below Tennessee!....for a genuine bowl of chowder goodness!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter , divided
3 cups onions , diced
3/4 cup crumbled unsalted oyster crackers
1/4 cup flour
2 cups water
1 cup clam juice ( You can find this on the top shelf on the isle above the canned tuna )
2 cups chicken stock or 2 cups beef stock or 2 cups ham stock
3 cups potatoes , diced (I buy the frozen hash browns...not shredded)
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups frozen corn (defrosted)
1 green bell pepper , chopped
1 red bell pepper , chopped
Directions:
- Mix liquids and 1 tablespoon butter, add potatoes and onions, cook until done.
- Mix cracker crumbs, flour and seasonings. Add to potato and onion mixture.
- Sauté chopped bell peppers in remaining butter till tender.
- Add to potato and onion mixture.
- Stir to mix well, bring to boil; add half and half and corn.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- *Seasonings are to taste. Taste often and add extra as desired.
Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/old-mill-restaurants-signature-corn-chowder-206847#ixzz1iu6tQsjp
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Nothing left....An empty cake plate!
I think the vote is in and the Layered Peppermint Cheesecake was a success! I wanted to show you the inside of this delicious cake...but nothing was left except the sugared rosemary. So I guess I'll leave you a before photo and you'll have to just imagine what the inside looked and tasted like! Trust me ...it was really good! The link for the recipe is in my previous post. I suppose I may just have to try this recipe again..... I would love to hear your thoughts about this cake!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Southern Living's Layered Peppermint Cheesecake....and a Holcombe Family Gathering
I knew a couple of weeks ago, when this cake made it's way onto our local morning news, that it would be making it's appearance to our annual Holcombe Family Christmas party. This lady...Melodie Belcher who submitted it to Southern living is from Atlanta. I watched in amazement as she shared her recipe and this sweet peppermint plate made from real peppermint candies! I guess I have a little bit of my Grandmama Melton in me...oh how I miss her! She always made the best cakes...and pies!
This is my first attempt at creating a
We won't be tasting this until this evening...if it makes it out of here! So I'll be back with our southern review of this beautiful cake!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Fundraising in the school system....
Just venting a little....
With today's economy many school systems are being greatly affected. I live in a rural county where many local businesses are struggling to survive. The last thing they have money for is advertising in a school newspaper. Have we come to the place where we are using our kids to peddle for the lack of funding in our school system? Are we distracting them from their learning time so we can fund things we might be able to cut out? Let's face it...We as Americans waste a lot of dollars on unnecessary things just so we can have the biggest and the best!
I first want to say....I am not opposed to fundraising. In fact our son works for a really great company that not only helps the school with raising money....but helps to build the student's character in a week long program!
I guess I am of the belief that if the funds aren't there, then the program needs to be cut or an alternative made.Thinking outside the box is not something many are good at, even when other suggestions are made.
Our daughter is taking a class where part of her grade includes collecting $ in advertising for the school paper which is handed out for FREE. 10 % of her overall grade to be exact. Stated in her grades is that each student is responsible for a $ 200 Goal for advertising. Isn't a goal a projected amount...and an attempt to get there? For three weeks in a row she participated going out with the other students in her own car and using her own gas money to seek business who would advertise.This was during the class period. Several weeks ago I noticed her grade for this part of the class. A 0 and a sweet little message.....Make an effort...everyone else has! That was enough to get my mama feathers ruffled!
In an effort to teach her to stand up for her rights, I encouraged her to talk with her teacher and an administrator. The conversation with the teacher went no where. She was told to ask everywhere she visited for $ and even ask people at our church. We have 9 kids....we don't eat out very often. She has an after school job at our local recreation center and goes to church....that's the extent of her social life right now.
Since when do students have to pay for a grade? Is fundraising a subject or part of one? Are my tax $ not enough? I do support the fact that she needs to earn her grade...but not by collecting $ for a free publication. When I can't afford something I do away with it or adjust my spending so I can. How about teaching the students to think of other ways to publish the paper? Maybe an online readership? Print less papers? Charge the teachers and students for the paper?
Her grade with the nice little message was a 0 until today. Now it's an 80 and the message has been deleted. Along with the teachers request that they continue fundraising long after the semester ends. This was a one semester class. Hmmm....I wonder where this will go next? Will she get a grade for that? I want my kids to learn to give and help....but not for a grade!
Am I wrong in my thoughts about this class requirement? Is it even legal to make a student raise funds for a grade? Sometimes teaching your kids to stand up for themselves and not settle just so they don't ruffle feathers or disrespect can be a task in itself. Teaching them that it isn't disrespectful to question an adult when something clearly isn't right. How about when the teacher disrespects a student with a comment on a grade report? Should she settle for her final grade of a 90?
How about when a student has done an assignment, turned it in ontime, it's been graded but not entered into the grade book, but returned to the student? Only to be given a 0 until the student can prove that it was turned in. Kids Stand Up! Hold your teachers accountable! Yes, they make mistakes...but their mistakes affect your GPA and Transcript!
I have come to the conclusion....Our teachers need more dollars and more help in the classrooms, just not for a grade!
A mother's work is never done.........
With today's economy many school systems are being greatly affected. I live in a rural county where many local businesses are struggling to survive. The last thing they have money for is advertising in a school newspaper. Have we come to the place where we are using our kids to peddle for the lack of funding in our school system? Are we distracting them from their learning time so we can fund things we might be able to cut out? Let's face it...We as Americans waste a lot of dollars on unnecessary things just so we can have the biggest and the best!
I first want to say....I am not opposed to fundraising. In fact our son works for a really great company that not only helps the school with raising money....but helps to build the student's character in a week long program!
I guess I am of the belief that if the funds aren't there, then the program needs to be cut or an alternative made.Thinking outside the box is not something many are good at, even when other suggestions are made.
Our daughter is taking a class where part of her grade includes collecting $ in advertising for the school paper which is handed out for FREE. 10 % of her overall grade to be exact. Stated in her grades is that each student is responsible for a $ 200 Goal for advertising. Isn't a goal a projected amount...and an attempt to get there? For three weeks in a row she participated going out with the other students in her own car and using her own gas money to seek business who would advertise.This was during the class period. Several weeks ago I noticed her grade for this part of the class. A 0 and a sweet little message.....Make an effort...everyone else has! That was enough to get my mama feathers ruffled!
In an effort to teach her to stand up for her rights, I encouraged her to talk with her teacher and an administrator. The conversation with the teacher went no where. She was told to ask everywhere she visited for $ and even ask people at our church. We have 9 kids....we don't eat out very often. She has an after school job at our local recreation center and goes to church....that's the extent of her social life right now.
Since when do students have to pay for a grade? Is fundraising a subject or part of one? Are my tax $ not enough? I do support the fact that she needs to earn her grade...but not by collecting $ for a free publication. When I can't afford something I do away with it or adjust my spending so I can. How about teaching the students to think of other ways to publish the paper? Maybe an online readership? Print less papers? Charge the teachers and students for the paper?
Her grade with the nice little message was a 0 until today. Now it's an 80 and the message has been deleted. Along with the teachers request that they continue fundraising long after the semester ends. This was a one semester class. Hmmm....I wonder where this will go next? Will she get a grade for that? I want my kids to learn to give and help....but not for a grade!
Am I wrong in my thoughts about this class requirement? Is it even legal to make a student raise funds for a grade? Sometimes teaching your kids to stand up for themselves and not settle just so they don't ruffle feathers or disrespect can be a task in itself. Teaching them that it isn't disrespectful to question an adult when something clearly isn't right. How about when the teacher disrespects a student with a comment on a grade report? Should she settle for her final grade of a 90?
How about when a student has done an assignment, turned it in ontime, it's been graded but not entered into the grade book, but returned to the student? Only to be given a 0 until the student can prove that it was turned in. Kids Stand Up! Hold your teachers accountable! Yes, they make mistakes...but their mistakes affect your GPA and Transcript!
I have come to the conclusion....Our teachers need more dollars and more help in the classrooms, just not for a grade!
A mother's work is never done.........
Friday, December 9, 2011
A Christmas Story....
I'm not really sure where this story came from. I discovered it while searching for a recipe in my little stash of handed down morsels of goodness. I guess you could say this story was in a very appropriate place! Sometimes we all need to be reminded...especially me! I hope you enjoy...
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