Baked Brie

The recipe I did on the TV Show (AM Arizona) yesterday was Baked Brie, a great holiday appetizer!  It can be found in My Sisters' Recipes and Other Family Favorites.

Merry Christmas

from our home to yours!

"Home for the Holidays"

Home for the Holidays is a show that combines an Arizona background with Christmas songs at the Arizona Broadway Theater.  Did you know it snows in AZ?  What a fun date night!

Photo from the ABT website

Christmas Program

It was a little difficult with 80 degree weather, but we headed to church joined by my friend Julie for the church Festival of Lights Christmas program.  It was fabulous and the time in the church just zipped by!  We decided to forgo the hot chocolate on the lawn following the service - just didn't feel right although by that time the temp had dipped into the 70's.

The play was set in Victorian times and told of spreading the word of the good news of Jesus' birth.  Not all went as planned for the three youth on thier mission, but of course good came out in the end.

A Busy Saturday

It was a busy day for me yesterday.  In the morning I went along to breakfast with my "Church Ladies" in IL, and in the evening hosted my Bunko group in AZ.

 Jenell, Sue, Connie and Marge holding me (it's the Flat Debbie look)

Thanks ladies for including me!

Prep for Bunko - Baked Mac 'n Cheese for dinner and Christmas cookies for dessert

Christmas Up North

Last weekend we headed to the Arizona Christmas City for the annual lighting of the Court House.

 The sunset was so pretty!

 The Secretary of State read the Biblical Christmas story and the choir of all the choirs in the County sang a corresponding carol.

The Court House is quite stunning with all the lights on

A wreath in a window

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

“A cute story that pulls you in”; that’s what Uncle Bob had to say about Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. I had the book on my coffee table in anticipation of reading it over the Thanksgiving weekend. My husband’s aunt and her husband were spending a quiet weekend with us at our cabin, and as I came into the living room Sunday morning, Uncle Bob had the book in hand and was about a third of the way through it!


I must say, I have to agree with Uncle Bob. The story line is a mixture of fantasy, light romance and a glimpse of the impact family has on our lives. The interactions that the character Sandy, an adult with Downs Syndrome, has with her family and those she comes in contact with is a thing of beauty. It is a quick, easy read that is good in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa in your hand.

Download the first chapter to get a sneak preview.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

We had such a pleasant visit with Kendall's Aunt Lola Faye and Uncle Bob at the cabin this weekend!

After dinner last night at The Pine Cone Inn, we headed to some Christmas lights.

This morning we awoke to snow flurries!

... and we were cozy inside

  Bob & Lola Faye

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day brought nine relatives together for a feast.  We had Kendall's aunts, uncles, cousins and a cousin-in-law's cousin from the Netherlands join us at the cabin.  We enjoyed turkey with all the trimmings (dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, peas, cranberry compote, homemade pickles, rolls with homemade jam, pumpkin pie, raisin cream pie & banana spice cake) and then games/family time in the afternoon/evening.

Turkey Dressing Casserole

The holiday weekend began on Wednesday with an appearance on AZTV's AM Arizona.  I prepared Chicken Dressing Casserole from My Sister's Recipes and Other Family Favorites, but substituted left over turkey to give ideas of how to use turkey after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Week

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  Wishing all our family and friends could join us this year, but are thankful for those who can.  We're looking forward to a great week.



This week I had the opportunity to meet Margaret Wheatley, an author and speaker known throughout the world.  It was at a conference that I helped plan for work.

Chloe Elizabeth

Today we welcome into the world a beautiful baby girl!

Here is my new niece Chloe Elizabeth
6 pounds, 11 ounces and 18 inches of joy!

Fall is Here

It's so nice to have a break in the temperature with cool crisp mornings and pleasant days!

A Gift

How can you not feel special when you are greeted by such a gift when putting your shoe on to hit the trail?  One of the ways Gracie chooses to show her affection is by 'killing' her toy mice and placing them in spots that cannot be overlooked.  This would be one of those places! 

The Huntress in a quiet moment

TV Show

Today was another cooking segment on AzTV.  I explained how to make a Pumpkin Roll.

It turned out to be a yummy hit!

Busy Weekend

Friday we headed to Tucson to celebrate with my colleague Jennifer as she was award Alumnus of the Year for the University of Arizona School of Nursing.  Following that event we headed to Doug & Jenell's vacation home for an evening hanging out around the outdoor fireplace and spent the night.

After leaving Tucson in the afternoon on Saturday we headed to Apache Junction to visit with Aunt Lola Faye and Uncle Bob who are back in AZ for the winter.  Leaving AJ we had a spectacular sunset!



Nursing Icon

Tonight I met a world famous Nursing Theorist at a book signing.

Me and Patricia Benner, PhD, RN

 

End of Season Harvest

The last of the vegetables are out of the garden.  The carrots and potatoes are cooking away with a pot roast for a Sunday dinner.

Our Nation's Capitol

Last weekend I had a meeting in Silver Spring, MD with the American Nurses Association.  Kendall went with me and we took in some of the sights of DC by hopping on the Metro and heading into town for the day.  We did some of the Smithsonian and a tour of historical buildings.

On Sunday, Torrie was able to come down for the day and kept Kendall company while I worked.  In the evening we had a fabulous dinner and then cupcakes for dessert from Cake Love.  Yummy!

Senator McCain was getting off the plane that we were ready to board and head home