Recipe of the Week... and the first Sunday of Advent

You know those warm holiday scenes in the movies and Hallmark commercials, where the whole family is trimming the tree, baking or otherwise involved together in some wondrous Christmas tradition?

The final outcome at our home might present that sort of appearance but the process is anything but.

I always have great intentions. This year, I assembled a whimsical advent candle pot (because I've never been fond of the look of the advent wreaths), and searched for just the right words to read this evening, including a responsive prayer.

What better way to bring meaning to the Christmas season than to celebrate the season of advent; the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.

Sarah arrived home from her Dad's. I prepared a marvelous dinner. In between bringing dinner to the table and the lighting of the advent candle, a Sunday night meltdown occurred that left Sarah and I in tears and Jim calmly sitting at the table waiting for the dust to settle, while I yelled at him also.

In no frame of mind to pray, I dismissed the advent candle tradition, threatened to throw the pot and candles, amongst other things, into the garbage, crumpled the printout of prayer readings, questioned God why I even bother, and then felt downright disgusted with myself.

Somehow though, the calm eventually resumed, dinner was served, Sarah read the background on the season of advent from the torn, crumpled paper, followed by the lovely responsive prayer that we almost giggled through, and the first candle was lit.

We also watched an adorable video on Sarah's phone, from her extensive weekend travels, of Sarah teaching her two-year-old niece to count.

Later I wrote out Sarah's Birthday party invitations, only to be told by her after they were written that the school dance was on that night, and so Jim helped me white out the invite details, so that I could change the date and time.

Sarah hung her usual 4 ornaments on the tree, before everyone retreated to their own space, and I continued to hang ornaments alone for the next two hours.

Maybe next Sunday, the advent ceremony will go smoother. Just maybe... So much for Hallmark moments.

Anyway ~ Here's the new recipe I tried as it appeared in Midwest Living magazine. It's a dish that is served at Turkey Run Inn in Marshall, Indiana. It was delicious.

Rolled Spinach Pork Loin

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

8 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained and crumbled

1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

One 3- 1/2 pound boneless pork center loin roast

Cook the bacon and set aside on paper towels to drain. Crumble. Wipe out pan and heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium-hot heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is tender but not brown. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in spinach, bacon and Parmesan cheese, set aside.

Trim excess fat from pork. To pinwheel the pork loin, start cutting lengthwise 1/2 inch under the fat cap on the roast. As you cut the roast, gently rotate the roast at the same time. This will allow the roast to unroll as you cut it. When the roast is completely cut, it should be a rectangular piece of meat between 1/2 and 1 inch thick.

Spread spinach filling over cut side of pork. Roll up pork tightly from a long side to resemble the initial roast. Tie securely with 100 percent cotton kitchen string. Place roast on a rack (or just in a pan) and roast the pork in 325 oven for almost 2 hours, or until meat thermometer reads 150. Transfer the roast to a serving platter and cover loosely with foil and let meat stand 15 minutes before carving. Remove string, cut into 1 inch thick slices.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Another successfully-delicious Thanksgiving dinner, followed by warm feelings of gratitude as I collapsed onto our comfortable couch beside my husband and Dad, with Mom in "Grandma's rocker", to watch a warm, fuzzy Hallmark Christmas movie on Thanksgiving night.

It was one of those rare priceless moments where I saw everything just as it should be and whispered an internal prayer of thanks.















All of the Christmas cards are in the mail, shopping almost complete, tree is up, a long-overdue visit to the beloved ancestors at St. Mary's Cemetery on Thanksgiving Saturday, and enjoyed a delightful lunchtime visit with two of my three sisters and family.

Jim's outdoor display is fantastic - those blue trees.... stupendous. The shooting star... brilliant. Cars have been slowly down, stopping, turning around and driving past again for two nights now.

Christmas is in the air.

LLIB ~ Friday Quote

Use the good silver.

Let the Season begin...

It's the night before Thanksgiving ~

I'm starting to get anxious for setting out my Christmas pretties. Containers of my fondest trinkets are sitting around the bedroom and the garage, waiting to make their once-a-year special appearance.

Jim has been working on the elaborate outdoor display all week with the thumbs up and nodding approval of passerbys. Our home is about to be transformed into a Christmas wonderland...

But not before Thanksgiving...

The table is set, daughter is delivered to her Dad's house for the weekend thanks to Jim who handled the 4 hour drive alone so I could take care of things around the house, the turkey is brining, the menu has been checked, dinner for four at 3:00 Thursday.
















Happy Thanksgiving!

Step into the Art

This is something that I played around with one late afternoon a couple of weeks ago and posted as my Facebook profile picture for fun.

I'm sharing it here for my blogger friend Geralyn, who wrote this week about a real life sculpture garden in New Jersey where one can seemingly step into the artwork ~ Greetings from Geralyn.

Do you see anyone you know

in this fantastic work by

Georges-Pierre Seurat?

Yes, there I am, elegantly strolling in the park...

The work is titled A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and it is a Pointillism, a style of painting in which small distinct dots of color create the impression of a wide selection of other colors and blending.

It is Georges Seurat's most famous work and you might remember the piece as being featured in the 1986 film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's a very large piece of art ~ the photo that I played around with, features only a portion of the 6'10" x 10' 1" masterpiece.

Seurat, at only age 25, spent two years painting A Sunday Afternoon from 1884-1886, focusing scrupulously on the landscape of the park. His theory was optical: the conviction that painting in dots, known as pointillism or divisionism, would produce a brighter color than painting in strokes.

While a crowded park such as this would be noisy, filled with the squeals of children, the chatter of conversation, a man blowing a bugle; the impression provided instead is one of calmness and order. It's a place I'd love to step into. Especially right about now as the chaos of the holidays begin.

Seurat was only 26 when he first showed this piece at the eighth annual Impressionist exhibition in 1886.

The son of a wealthy Parisian family, his initial major works were rejected by the Paris Salon and he turned away from such establishments, allying himself instead with independent artists.

He lived secretly with a young model, Madeleine Knobloch, whom he portrayed in his painting Jeune femme se poudrant. In February 1890 she gave birth to his son, Pierre Georges, and it was not until two days before his death at age 31, that he introduced his family to his parents. Shortly after his death, Madeleine gave birth to his second son, who died soon after birth.

The exact cause of Seurat's death is uncertain, but has been attributed to diphtheria, as his elder son died from the same disease.

His last ambitious work, The Circus, was left unfinished at the time of his death.

While he created other ambitious canvases, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte has remained his definitive achievement.

Although the picture was only rarely seen in the three decades following his death in 1891, its visibility was dramatically increased in 1924, when artist Frederic Clay Bartlett purchased the picture for $22,000 from one of Seurat's students and placed it on loan at The Art Institute of Chicago.

It has hung there ever since, becoming an icon as one of the art world's most recognizable images.

Thanks be to God

More than 19 centuries ago, God inspired the apostle Paul to predict today's global attitudes and write them down to warn us: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." II Timothy 3:1-2

Now, I'll never make any speculation as to where this present time of history stands in the grand plan, because I firmly trust God's words that "No one knows the hour or the day, not even the angels in heaven", but certainly all of the elements that were predicted of our humanly nature have never been more evident than in the present days.

This fourth Thursday of November, the United States will once again celebrate Thanksgiving.

In the early autumn of 1621, 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest with a modest celebrational feast that is now known as the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth.

Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving in 1863, but it did not become a federal holiday until 1941.

What was historically a religious observation in order to give thanks to God, has become primarily a secular holiday; much like Christmas, in my opinion. But life is what one makes of it and it's our choice as to the emphasis of our days.

For me, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorites because of its very simple purpose of getting together with family, enjoying each other's company while partaking in a delicious meal, considering our blessings and reliance on God. It's a day steeped in tradition and some of my fondest memories pertain to Thanksgiving.

When we were growing up, we used to rotate locations each Thanksgiving between our home and the homes of my Mom's brother and sister, where my sisters and I would enjoy spending time with our cousins. (There's my three sisters and cousin Jenny, in the blue t-shirt, below, on one of those Thanksgivings)















One year we would all meet at our house in Orland Park, the following year we would meet at my Uncle Charles & Aunt Helen's house on a farm in Anchor, Illinois. The next year, Thanksgiving would be at my Aunt Mary & Uncle Don's house in Decatur, Illinois. We all lived within 3 hours of one another and it was just far enough to build the anticipation.

Now, we traditionally stay home on Thanksgiving because no one has invited us otherwise and my sisters normally spend holidays with their husband's families, though there has been the rare Thanksgiving dinner together at our home.

I still enjoy getting up early, beginning my food preparations, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on the television. We have traditionally had our Thanksgiving meal at a later lunch time, rather than in the evening.

I'm the main cook of the meal and have been for many years, and my parents will of course join us, since they are also our next-door neighbors.

Jim has been busy working on the outdoor Christmas light display this week and I will begin my work on the decorations tomorrow (which begins my 5-day break from my job), including the indoor display. Nothing will officially be lit though until after I take down the Thanksgiving turkey sign that Dad made me for my 2008 Birthday (pictured above) along with the remainder of my Thanksgiving decorations, which will be stored away on Friday and the Christmas season then begins, intermingled with our Birthday season of course.

No, I never shop the Black Friday sales and have absolutely NO interest in doing so. 99% of my Christmas shopping is already completed and I only need to begin wrapping gifts, which includes the December Birthday gifts.

Jim, however, has been known to get up at 4:00 a.m. and head out to the stores on Friday morning in search of the blockbuster deals. So much for the stereotypes about men, women and shopping...

However you plan to spend this weekend, I pray that thankfulness would surround you and blessings would abound in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipe of the Week

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is this week?

We've been enjoying some beautiful mild weather again in Illinois ~ November has been a gorgeous month.

My husband and I just enjoyed our annual Pre-Christmas trip to Chicago. We shopped at Woodfield Mall, ate at some of our favorite spots, talked, laughed, loved, walked in the footsteps of family history in Wilmette, and I attended my very first city Christmas parade.

Here's the link to the photo album: November 20-21 Weekend

We're not big fans of stuffing, but we all enjoy this recipe that I received years ago from my dear first Mother-in-Law. It's great with Ham, but I always make it on Thanksgiving.

Hope you and your family have a most blessed Thanksgiving week! For those blog friends in other parts of world not celebrating an American Thanksgiving, I wish you continued thankfulness. ♥

Pineapple Stuffing

4 eggs

1 cup butter (room temperature)

1 cup sugar

1 20 oz. crushed Pineapple (UNdrained)

7 slices white bread (torn into small cube pieces)

Beat eggs. Add softened butter. Gradually add sugar. Mix well.

Mix in with a spoon, the undrained pineapple. Fold in pieces of bread. Pour into a GREASED pan (13x9x2) and Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Shake the glitter off your clothes now...

Party day is over.

It was a great Birthday thanks to my dear family and friends.

Beautiful cards, lunch with one of my long-time friends, flowers from a dear friend that will look lovely on the Thanksgiving table as well, compliments, super sweet greetings on Facebook and the Blog, great conversation, laughter, reminiscing, food and drink, Sara Lee, lots and lots of wonderful presents, a back ache that finally left... couldn't ask for more. Thanks everyone!

I did learn that while Shabby Apple dresses are lovely - they must have an entirely crazy view on sizes - Since when does a size LARGE fit a Size 0 daughter?

That's right - Sarah is a super tiny size 0/Juniors. The dress I wore for my Birthday is a size 8 / medium, so a size large should have ample room, right? I don't get it.

Oh well, Sarah does. She received the surprise dress when the beauty Jim bought for me fit her instead. The red satin ballet flats fit her better as well -- Doesn't she look adorable? She's all set for Band Contests and other special events and everyone needs a good black dress.

Lastly ~ Winston is indeed a weird little guy... he loves to be in the midst of every party. ☺

Here's the link to the photo album... view it quick though, as I don't keep these links active on FB for long!
Birthday photos

LLIB ~ Friday Quote

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.

My 45th Birthday

Today I am 45.

Yes, that's me above, making my request known for plain Sara Lee Cheesecake (I also prefer the Jello Cheesecake variety). None of that fancy, dense stuff for me. And no real cake, as I'm not that fond of it.

My family knows that all I ever want for my Birthday Cake is a plainly-light, simple Cheesecake.

Birthdays always make me think of home ~ where it all began, where I've been, where I love to spend my time alone and with those who mean the most to me.

I think about what my Mom was doing at age 45...

My Mom was 45 in 1975 and a full-time Homemaker at that point.

At 45, she was raising an 11 year old (me), and my sisters, 6 year old twins, and a 4 year old. 45 is young.

At 50, Mom had a 16 year old, 11 year old twins, and a 9 year old. I'll have a nearly 19 year-old at 50.

She seemed to have an abundance of energy during those years. Life has been good to her physically ~ she still amazes me with her daily energy at 79.

Today, I don't feel quite the same at 45. After fighting off the flu for nearly 3 weeks, I'm left with some sort of an odd, excruciating pain in my lower right spine that comes and goes.

Normally though, I do have an abundance of energy. It's not easy for me to sit still. I'm not happy unless I'm doing or planning something.

At 45, I haven't travelled the world. In fact, the farthest I've been from my home state of Illinois, is Nova Scotia, Canada. Yet, I have dear friends across the globe and that is more than enough for me at this point.




















I'm still in the early years of marriage. Jim and I have been married for just over 7 years. I'm blessed to have the most patient, attentive husband who puts up with all of my moodiness and griping, and loves me unconditionally.

We're blessed to have three lovely daughters ~ ages nearly 14, 17, and 22. All I ever hoped for since childhood was to be a Wife and a Mom, thus all of my dreams have actually come true.

Then there's the writing and an employer that has been a blessing for over twenty years. Life is indeed good.

These are some photos from my first home. It's the Hoffman home in Bourbonnais that I wrote of in my parents anniversary blog, and I've written about it before here on the blog in general many times. It no longer looks like this as it's a business/warehouse.

Since my sisters were only babies at this house, I'm the only one of the four of us who has detailed memories of this home.

This is where I played in the large, park like yard and called out to the Monarch butterflies that I named Dena. This is where I remember those early Birthdays and holidays. This is where I learned how to ride my green bike with the Banana seat in our gravel driveway.

This is where it all began.

45 ~ Life is good today.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad

Saturday, November 17, 1962

President Kennedy dedicated Dulles International Airport, outside Washington D.C.; the first airport in the world specifically designed for jet aircraft, but its first flight was an Eastern Airlines Super Electra Turboprop, arriving from Newark International.

It was a mild weather day in Illinois and under the bright sunshine, one didn't even need a jacket.

At St. Joseph Catholic Church in Manteno, Illinois, the only significant event of November 17, 1962, that directly affected my life occurred ~~ My parents were united in marriage.

















Dad had just turned 37 and Mom was 32.

The reception was held at the Hoffman family home in Bourbonnais in the first floor portion that used to be part of the family restaurant.

The drinks were housed in the laundry tub filled with ice and among the guests were Dad's Painter buddies from Manteno State Hospital (where he and Mom met as employees), Stanley & Agnes Hoffmann (Dad's cousin and the son of the Stanley whom I wrote of here recently), Alice & Frank Hermes (Dad's sister and her husband), Charles & Helen Blackman (Mom's brother and sister-in-law), Don & Mary McMillen and Don's parents (Mom's sister's family), Ken & Ruth (Ruth was Mom's friend from College, and they had gotten married only a week before), and Ed McBroom, son of State Senator Victor McBroom and Chairman of the Kankakee County GOP.

Back in those days, in order to get a job with the county, one had to buy a car from a dealership owned by Ed McBroom. Ed McBroom became a State Senator and was the former Illinois Governor George Ryan's boss. Did I mention that Dad and his brother were involved in Politics?? ;-)

A lively bunch for sure and pranks were played on the newlyweds at the hands of Mom's sister and her family, who filled their bed with cornflakes (between the sheets & mattress), so as to surprise them on their wedding night.

Dad's brother Jim was the best man and Karen Ann, Dad's niece, the Maid of Honor. Mom's brother Charles walked her down the aisle and gave her away, since their Dad died in 1961 ~ Dad's parents were already gone as well.


















A week later, they visited Mom's Mother, Rilla Blackman, my Grandma, in Southern Illinois, who wrote about their visit in a letter to her daughter Maxine on November 26, 1962. Grandma wrote in reference to my Mom "She was happy. I asked her if she was going to keep her working, she said for a while. Harry said not long"

I was born November 19, 1964, so it was not too long. The twins were born January 29, 1969, and the youngest on March 21, 1971. Four daughters, 8 Granddaughters, unmeasurable blessings over forty-seven years of marriage.


♥ Happy 47th Wedding Anniversary, Mom & Dad ♥




















~ Their original cake figurine, as used on their 45th Wedding Anniversary Cake ~

Recipe of the Week

Comfort food for a cold, wet, November evening...

Shepherd's Pie
Make 6-8 servings of Instant Mashed Potatoes (or make your favorite mashed potatoes from scratch, lots of butter, salt & pepper, and parsley flakes)
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion, finely diced
1 (15 oz) can of corn, drained
1 (15 oz) can green beans, drained
4 (10.5 oz) cans brown/beef gravy
Splash of Worchestershire
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 pound American cheese slices

Preheat oven to 350.
Prepare potatoes according to directions on box, etc. Set aside. In a large skillet, saute ground beef and add onion to skillet, continue cooking until beef is fully browned and onion is beginning to brown. Drain off some of the grease. Add corn, green beans, and gravy to skillet. Mix thoroughly. Add salt & pepper to taste and a splash of Worchestershire. Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Spread potatoes over top. Lay cheese slices over potatoes.

Bake in preheated oven to 40 minutes, until cheese turns golden brown. Yum.

Weary

I am weary in this November hour, the days ahead bring many festivities.

It is the Birthday season at our house until the dusk of Christmas Eve, when then our thoughts turn fully to this holiday that holds a host of nostalgic remembrances that often overwhelm my spirit.

I am weary and pausing to take a rest before "... and we wish you many more, may God bless and keep you" (an added verse in our Birthday songs), decorating, travels, wrapping, cooking, buying, working, singing, playing, laughing, drinking, eating, remembering, reminiscing, crying, visiting, unwrapping, thanking, writing... praying.

I am weary.

LLIB ~ Friday Quote

Become an expert in time management.

Likes and Dislikes ~ Part III

I do believe it's time for an updated list... It's funny reading back over my older lists; most of the likes and dislikes remain unchanged, but there are a few that have changed in this past year.

For instance, I no longer like rustic/country decor (heading much more towards the classic, warm Pottery Barn look), and I have a much more hands-off approach when it comes to school this year and am loving that.

Likes

• Being the Mom of a teenager (Yes, I actually LOVE this time of life!)
• Reminiscing
• Reconnecting with old friends on Facebook
• Tights with skirts in fall and winter
• Sleeping in until 8:00 a.m.
• GLEE! (the Fox musical comedy)
• A lot (not all) of modern country music which leads me to...
• Lady Antebellum!!! (beautiful harmony)
• Bailey's Irish Cream
• Many of the alternative music songs that daughter listens to
• Having my own life apart from my family ~ pursuing my own interests, like writing and having free time in the midst of every day. A great perk of having only one child at home.
• Online Christmas shopping
• Hot spiced cider
• Hot cocoa with a tinge of spice (a pinch of cayenne pepper)
• The first snow
• Heat on with the windows opened (in the car, in our bedroom in the morning, etc.) in the colder months - FRESH air.
• Cute boots!
• Shabby Apple dresses
• ModCloth (retro and vintage apparel, accessories, shoes, and decor from independent designers and artists).
• Wine and Cheese (with some crackers and grapes) ~ a yummy little lunch or dinner
• Traditions
• Handcrafted Christmas ornaments
• Trains
• lyrical prose
• Acting silly with Sarah which always brings on great laughter
• Winter skies
• The color Grey - love it!
• Melancholy moods (I like being contemplative and it's when my best writing occurs)
• Enthusiasm!
• Trees and particularly Forest Preserves
• Bigelow Vitamin Mentha Vintage Rouge Mint Balm

Dislikes

• Ice Cream
• Baking
• Cake and most baked goods - they're okay, but too filling and I'm just not a big fan of them. I prefer Savory over Sweet.
• Busy schedules
• The hustle of Christmas, the commercialism that surrounds it and the attitude of the crowd of multitudes around this time of year. That's why I finish my online shopping early and have no need to be part of the frantic.
• Bulky pajamas or robes (too hot)
• Dark Chocolate
• Being ignored
• Shallowness
• Cuddling (too claustrophobic for me)

Here are the old lists:
Likes and Dislikes ~ Part II
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Likes

• Windows Opened! No air conditioning until it's at least near 90!
• Lunchtime walks through the local cemetery
• Walks with daughter Sarah that involve climbing over the fence row and walking around the pond area behind our house.
• Sleeveless tops (even in the cold winter months)
• A lovely Chaise in the Living Room
• Pottery Barn furniture styling
• Greenview Nursery
• Quiet (I like to work and walk in peace ~ no music, no talking, just peace and quiet)
• Traditional cottage gardens with old-fashioned perennials
• Bath & Body Works, Cherry Blossom Bath Products and Perfume
• Organization
• Completion of tasks well before deadlines
• Athleta (they have great swimsuits, among other niceties)
• Musicals
• Salmon baked in parchment
• The way our cat Winston snuggles into my neck when I hold him ~ it's his way of giving a hug.
• Heels
• Platinum/White Gold
• Diamonds
• Little subtle signs from God
• The music of Susan Ashton
• Orchards
• Chianti
• A card in the mail from my cousin in Poland
• The dunes along Lake Michigan
• Bare legs
• Completely calm days (no wind!!)
• The sight of a toad or a frog in the garden
• Mentos
• Browsing through the Williams-Sonoma catalog
• Daydreaming
• Etsy!
• Bratwurst on the Grill
• Antique Roadshow
• Listening to the Cubs on WGN Radio while sitting on the patio in the hot sunshine, enjoying a beverage.
• The laughter of Sarah and her friends
• Butterflies
• My Spaghetti Casserole ~ it's a family favorite
• The sound of church bells
• Intuition
• Private prayer
• Our backyard ~ it's such a beautiful sanctuary and place of fun. I can easily spend all day out there! I pause periodically while I'm out there to simply admire the beauty.
• Huge snowstorms, where we are snowed in.
• The END of the school year! Hooray!!
• Small town parades
• Chicago television news (the drawback of living downstate ~ small town news with no real in depth coverage of stories)
• Approaching the Chicago skyline along Lake Shore Drive ~ It takes my breath away every time!
• My New Balance walking shoes
• Google (I'm very good at researching ~ can find virtually anything if I want to)
• Free Speech ~ the right to verse our opinion, even if it greatly differs from the status quo.
• The road less travelled
• HTML code
• Ikea
• Words of affirmation
• Fresh Herbs and growing my own
• Parting with clutter, whether it's placing unused items at the curb with a free sign or throwing things away... I'm happy to part with clutter.
• Toenail polish :)
• When I whisper a little prayer for God's help with something at work or while writing my next newspaper column, and I immediately feel His presence and the solution at hand, or the words flowing, and my next thought is to look up and whisper "thanks!"
• Being a Wife and a Mother, even when times are difficult, I wouldn't change a thing.
• 80 degree pool water ~ ahhh, soon. ;-)
  

Dislikes

• Artificial lighting ~ if a room is sunny or bright, no lamps are needed until nightfall.
• An over-medicated society. Just because a doctor says so, doesn't make it right. I question everything and take my chances.
• Sweatpants or baggy clothing
• Houseplants (I've never liked them -- but I LOVE outdoor plants & gardens)
• Freezing cold air conditioning in buildings. I find this ridiculous, even if it is hot out. A normal indoor temp of 75-78 is delightful.
• When someone is driving extra slow in the right hand/driving lane and you go around to pass them and they speed up. Argggh!!! Don't people use Cruise Control?
• Bicycles along the sidewalks when there is a bike-lane provided.
• College football ~ really any football. Just not a fan.
• People who park on or over the line - come on, keep it between the lines.
• Having to nag daughter all school year long about homework and having to track down missing assignments. Ahhhh!!!
• Two day weekends - there is absolutely NOT enough time in two days for homeowners and parents to get things done, especially in the Spring when there is so much yard work to accomplish, and no, I will not ease up, as it's important for me to accomplish ~ I would not be happy otherwise.
• Chaos
• An unrepentant spirit
• Political correctness ~ I detest this term.
• Wearing coats

Likes and Dislikes ~ Part I
Friday, September 26, 2008
Likes

• Neat and organized
• Skirts
• Summer
• Miniatures
• Romantic getaways with my husband
• Cottage-style decorating
• Unusual, artsy necklaces
• Relatively-simple earrings
• When my daughter is chatty and shares the fascinating stories of her day
• Large desk calendars that I can write on!
• Writing for the newspaper
• The sweet sound of Sarah playing her flute!
• Preparing and bringing in snacks for my daughter and her friends
• Photography from the eye of an artist
• Deep thoughts and ponderings
• Bluebirds
• The annual appearance of the wren at our cat house
• Our pool
• Our simple, uncomplicated home
• Haribo Gummi Bears
• Music from the 1940's - 1960's
• Genealogy
• Mabel Lucie Attwell ~ illustrations and figurines
• Hollyhocks and old fashioned flowers
• Porch Swings
• Old houses
• Sisters
• Nieces
• Sheets on the clothesline
• The chatter and laughter of children
• Bicycling
• Walking and Hiking
• The Autumn foliage in full color
• Pumpkins
• Magazines like Midwest Living, Country Living, Home Companion, Martha Stewart Living
• Festivals
• The Cubs!
• A hot dog at Wrigley Field
• The Rosebud restaurant in Chicago
• Family get-togethers, especially at our house
• Thanksgiving Day, waking up early to cook and tuning into the Thanksgiving Day parades.
• Christmas Eve. Beyond it being extra special due to Jim's Birthday, there's always been something magical about Christmas Eve night. I prefer it over Christmas morning.
• The last day of school/beginning of summer vacation
• Relaxing on our patio
• Badminton
• Vintage/Retro Toys that remind me of my childhood
• Moral standards
• Sephora glitter lipstick
• Junior High Band Concerts
• Sarah's Cheerleading routines
• Teachers
• Self-sufficiency/personal responsibility
• Ugly Betty
• The Office
• Sherbet
• Long country drives
• Antiques and browsing through Antique Shops
• Rustic/Primitive decor
• Warm Autumn colors - browns, reds, deep purple, burnt orange
• Diet Cherry 7-up
• Researching various topics
• Being busy doing something
• Seasonal decorations
• Mom's simple Lasagna recipe
• Pastas of any kind
• Cherries
• Raspberries
• Gift From the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
• Bath & Body Works
• J. Jill
• Garden Centers
• Garden Statuary and Fountains
• Poetry
• Words
• Painting in a creative sense
• Changing around the furniture
• My extra-large skillet pot - it's wonderful to cook in!
• Galena
• Chicago
• Dusk
• The sight of nighthawks high in the sky on late summer/early fall evenings (the first time I saw them was from our front porch in Orland Park, so it always reminds me of our happy days at our childhood home)
• Mourning Doves
• Cemeteries
• Natural lighting
• Dragonflies
• Monarchs
• The beach
• Mountains
• The clearance room at Anthropologie, which then leads me to...
  Unique/artistic clothing that one can't find at a local shop
• Owls
• Tea of all kinds
• Nail polish on my toes only
• Athleta for swimsuits
• Silence!!
• Hot Apple Cider
• Window boxes filled with seasonal plantings
• Dad's Carrot Cake
• Ice Skating
• Natural Prairie Grasses and the usage in landscaping (I have several)
• The mummy exhibit at the Field Museum
• The breathtaking view from Sears Tower
• The moon
• Achievements
• Confidence
• One-on-one lunches with a close friend
• Reading about Pompeii
• Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Items that are tole painted
• Decorative pillows
• Candlelight
• Our lead crystal wine glasses, a gift at my first marriage from a dear friend who worked with me at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has now been deceased for many years, but I cherish these glasses. They're even better, filled with our favorite Chianti!
• Brats on the grill
• The Library
• Bookstores
• Shimmer body lotions
• Chicago-style Italian Beef
• Portillo's Hot Dogs
• Wood floors (maybe someday!)
• Hummingbirds
• Lists
• Mail from friends or family (either through the post or email)
• Cats
• Historic Preservation
• Online auctions and online shopping
• Old childrens books
• Black & White photographs
• Freckles
• A tidy, welcoming yard
• Anais' Anais' perfume
• Old china dishes
• Using my holly china from Thanksgiving until New Years Day
• The sight of old fashioned Luminarias (candles in sand in little paper sacks along a walkway or driveway) lighting the way of the Christ child on Christmas Eve

Dislikes

• Clutter
• Pantyhose (I never wear them, but tights in the winter are okay!)
• Winter (except for the fun of an occasional snow day)
• Asian decor
• Biting Gnats
• Cell phone conversations (for instance, when I'm in the car picking up Sarah from school and we're all parked next to one another with the windows down and someone talks for the entire time on their cell phone in the car next to me and I can overhear everything). I just don't see the need for constant cell phone chatter.
• Watches
• Bad manners
• Poor drivers
• Rap or hip hop music and artists of this type of music
• People who have cars with ridiculously-loud stereo systems
• Litterers
• The Cardinals
• Long sermons or long speeches of any type - one should be able to make a point in 20 minutes or less.
• Too much policy
• Big government
• CNN
• Yellow, peach, pastel pink colors - anything pastel!
• Sitting!
• Grapefruit
• Confusion of any type
• Tornadoes
• Flying
• Waiting
• Numbers
• Irresponsible parents who expect too much from schools & government
• Overhead fluorescent lighting
• Windy conditions
• Too much rain
• Disagreements
• My own short temper and attitude at times
• My reading glasses (even though they are helpful, they're a pain - can only see close up and then have to immediately remove them so I can see everything else)
• People who talk loudly in public and especially with profanity
• Board games (I've never liked them)
• Too many family photographs displayed around the house (I only like a couple displayed and the rest I prefer to keep within our computer directories/discs and albums. Otherwise, it's too cluttered for my taste)
• An underlying emphasis of works over faith
• Negativity
• Large gatherings of women (like a conference)
• Clams and most seafood, except for Salmon and other Fish.
• Purses (I have one because I need it, but I never like them)
• Houseplants
• Modern art or modern decor

400

This is my 400th post.

If I didn't work full-time, that number would likely be much, much higher, as there are countless topics that I think about throughout each day that never reach the keyboard.

I often wonder about the significance of things. Thus, I looked up some tidbits on the number 400.

Mathematically, which is never my forte, 400 is the square of 20. A circle is divided into 400 grads, which is equal to 360 degrees. 400 is a self number in base 10 since there is no integer that added to the sum of its own digits results in 400. On the other hand, 400 is divisible by the sum of its own base 10 digits, making it a Harshad number.

Some of those terms sound vaguely familiar, and that's only because I have a daughter in Honors Algebra. Yikes.

400 is an HTTP status code for a bad client request. Don't you just hate those?

And the Four Hundred Club is a phrase that will never include me.

Sadly, I do remember the Atari 400 home computer. Much to my daughter's dismay, I was around when the first personal computers were introduced.

In scripture, the number 400 might be considered a divinely perfect period.

From the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham in the birth of Isaac to the Exodus was a period of 400 years.

Whenever God wanted to prepare a nation for His purposes, He seemed to take 400 years.


The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt for 400 years (Gen 15:13, Acts 7:6). The time span for the seven Judges of Israel was roughly 400 years (Judges 1-21). The “Divided Kingdom” lasted 400 years (1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25). The ministry of the prophets spans roughly 400 years.

There were 400 years of silence from God between Malachi and the time Jesus was born. That's a lot of silence.

I have a hard time being silent for a few minutes ~ Just ask my husband.

Harder still would be for me to stop writing. That's an impossibility for sure. Even when I've taken short breaks from the blog, I can't imagine quitting it entirely.

The blessings that have come about because of it are immeasurable.

So write on I will... sharing in as pure a manner as I can. One of my dear sister-in-laws recently commented that I "open my soul to my readers and that they truly must know me personally by now". In truth, I don't know any other way to write.

Those novels that I penned in long-ago junior high, might be my only fictional works. I find it much more natural to simply write from my heart sharing the stories of life.

I still stop and pray before writing one word of each month's newspaper column and pray throughout the entire process. While the original idea often comes to me on those walks, it is only after talking it over with God that I can truly envision the message.

Glimpses around the house

Remember our ongoing home improvement projects?
Here's the original post for those who might have missed it:
Click Here

Sarah's room is coming along nicely... despite finding myself caught in a flu stronghold for nearly two weeks, I managed to complete the requested Beatles wall lyric, late Saturday afternoon in between coughing spasms, while Jim worked on rerouting and hiding wires of her electronics command center.

You'll need to click on the photos to enlarge them and see what it really looks like since Blogger can't seem to upload without distorting the view!

I'm very pleased with the outcome as it's light-hearted and fun, just like Sarah, and she loved it as well and couldn't believe that I wrote this free handed.

Jim used his handy laser level so that I could pencil in a few guidelines and I looked at an example text and made it my own.

Then our outdated kitchen sink faucet with its single handle finally died, and Jim replaced it with this lovely piece:

Sarah and I also added this artsy mirror set (another PBTeen item) on her wall a couple of weeks ago:






















And, finally, I don't believe I showed you a photo of the fan that Jim installed in our 3rd bedroom/his office:

Do-it-yourself network, alive and well at our house.

It's all in the Dressing

Very few clothing stores excite me.

I'm extremely picky because I strive to find unique, classically artistic, feminine items that represent a piece of my creative personality.

My favorites, like Anthropologie, are on the pricey end and so I'm resolved to perusing an occasional sale.

Birthday and Christmas are my once-a-year chance to request my heart's desire to my husband who aims to please.

While providing Jim some Wish List ideas, I noted a dress or two from Shabby Apple and found ModCloth as well.

Yes, very few clothing stores excite me. These join the ranks of the few!!!

Wowsers, I could go crazy with all of these adorable dresses. Click either of the photos below to check out that of my ♥'s desire:

Did you know that one of my most favorite, talented blogger friends has submitted dress designs to Shabby Apple? Her blog is listed along the bottom right of my page: Where the Quaint Things Are

Thank goodness for once-a-year Wish Lists and generous husbands.

Recipe of the Week

Two new recipes from Martha Stewart Living that I tried for November 1st, Sunday dinner with my family, including my parents.

I prepared this dinner in the midst of a horrible head cold (which still persists today after 2 weeks) and I don't recommend that as I rinsed out the pan with the mustard-wine sauce before I was done drizzling the meat with it! Regardless both dishes were thoroughly enjoyed by all!

As usual, I always improvise the recipes to our taste.

Pork Tenderloin and Mustard-Wine Sauce

1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 pork tenderloin (about 2 pounds)

Coarse salt and pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 450. Whisk together wine, water, and mustard. Season pork on all side with salt & pepper.

Heat a 12-inch ovenproof saute' pan over medium-high heat, add oil. Sear pork until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Remove from heat. Carefully add mustard-wine mixture. Transfer pan to oven.

Roast pork, spooning sauce over meat about halfway through and at various intervals. Cook 45 minutes. Drizzle with sauce.

Roasted Cauliflower with Pasta and Lemon Zest

1 large head cauliflower (about 2 lbs), cut into small florets

1 red onion, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and pepper

1 lb shell pasta

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest (from 2 lemons)

Preheat oven to 450 (I baked these both at the same time). Toss together cauliflower, onion, and 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.

Roast, stirring halfway through, until cauliflower is tender and browned, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until ad dente, according to package directions. Drain.

Toss hot pasta with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the parsley, and lemon zest. Add cauliflower mixture, and season with salt & pepper. Gently toss to combine.


November 9 Update: Here's the link to the photo album of Dad's Birthday Celebration, where I prepared our family favorite ~ Lasagna:

Birthday Album

Happy Birthday, Dad

Patriarch

~ A man who rules a family, clan, or tribe.
~ In Scripture: a) One of the antediluvian progenitors of the human race, from Adam to Noah. b) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or any of Jacob's 12 sons, the eponymous progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel.
~ Used formerly as a title for the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria.
~ One who is regarded as the founder or original head of an enterprise, organization, or tradition.
~ The oldest member of a group

This is the word that a Priest used several years ago to describe my Dad and his role in the family as the last remaining member of the original Hoffmann family (yes, I distinctively used the original spelling of our family name, as it was actually never legally changed).




















1946 - Graduation from Woodrow Wilson Junior College, Chicago

Today is my Dad's 84th Birthday and while I know he probably views that with various complexities, it is a great blessing and privilege to have been given this many years on earth, and even greater still that I have the honor of being one of his four daughters.

I know that I join with my sisters and our husbands, our Mom, and eight Granddaughters in wishing him a most Happy Birthday and pray that the years continue on with abundance.

When I think of Dad, the scripture of Exodus 20:12 often comes to mind. It is the Fifth Commandment and something that I've thought about all of my life because of Dad's example in the manner that he loved his parents, living with them and caring for them until their deaths in 1955 and 1961.

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

He married Mom in 1962, and obviously I never got to know my Grandparents, but I imagine that they would be so very proud of their son Harry, to see the great man that he's become and the life that he has been blessed with.

1954


















We will celebrate tonight with his Birthday dinner. They are not only my parents ~ they're our neighbors! :)

Happy Birthday, Dad!















November 9 Update: Here's the link to the photo album of Dad's Birthday Celebration:

Birthday Album

LLIB ~ Friday Quote

Improve your performance by improving your attitude.

A murder mystery, cyanide, and time travel

How does one work hard, save up enough money when one's country is falling apart in an historically pivotal time of political and economic unrest so that they can travel an ocean away to begin a new life, find love and marriage along the way (with Antoinette Niemczyk), have 4 children (sons Stanley A., Eugene F., Walter B., Alex S.) and end their life at age 48?

I'm haunted by the thought of someone I never knew.

In the world of my imagination, where lies the greatest fantasies, I've travelled back through time and changed his destiny by the simple words of someone who cares.

Somehow I get there in time and warn him that the actions on the afternoon of February 8, 1927 would forever change his life and that in some way, he should try to change the outcome of that afternoon. At the very least, he should remember that he has a wife and four sons who love and depend on him deeply.

Last year in the newspaper column, I wrote about a simple, handwritten envelope that I located on eBay. You'll need to re-read this item for further background on today's blog entry and to better understand the context:

Click here

Stanley Alexander Hoffmann was originally thought to have first entered the United States on August 21, 1909, but I now know that his original immigration took place earlier. He was already married on the 1909 entry through Ellis Island, and his sister Wanda Hoffmann was on the same ship. He carried the money.

Stanley and Wanda were the brother and sister of my Grandfather, Joseph Boleslaus Hoffmann (my Dad's father).

For some reason, Wanda did not remain in the country. It is purported that she did not receive family sponsorship for whatever reason. Those were poor times for newly-immigrated foreigners.

My Dad recalls that Stanley was to have retained for Joseph, part of that money listed in the ship manifest, likely money from their parents who remained in Sierakow, Poland (Zirke, Germany). However, he never did. Unfortunately, as we well know, not all children are obedient and all of us make the wrong decisions at times.

Somehow, by the grace of God, my Grandfather was able to immigrate to the United States in 1911.

Both sons avoided the atrocities of World War I. My Grandfather, Joseph had received his preliminary registration to the Landsturm unit of the German Army shortly before he immigrated. The Landsturm unit was The Reservists, basically comprised of older (sometimes very elderly) men and youths. Though they served a vital military purpose in the army, sadly they were frequently issued old and out-dated uniforms, equipment, and weapons. Yet, they came through magnificently on numerous occasions.

Considering they were seriously lacking in weaponry, one has to wonder if my Grandfather would have survived. Likely Stanley had received a similar call to order before immigration.

Stanley travelled on the Hamburg-Amerika Steam Ship line on that August, 1909 journey.

Line 27 from the original ship manifest lists Stanley's credentials... Interesting that he's noted as a Medical Student. There was another Stanley (Labendzinska), who was married to Dad's Aunt Mathilda Siegrosser, who shares the last name of Stanley's mother (Helena Labendzinska) and he was a doctor, so perhaps this is what influenced Stanley Hoffmann...

At any rate, Stanley never became a doctor, to my knowledge.

Instead, he is listed on early censuses as a Dealer in Meats or a Butcher (like his father was and my Grandfather also) but later became involved in Real Estate and had his own Real Estate Office at 3360 Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

This is the envelope that you can read about by clicking the newspaper column link featured above:

Then, something went sorely wrong.

Stanley was exonerated of all charges on April 8, 1927, yet only he knew what truly went on during that afternoon.

While the sight of the young man's family saddens me, it is apparent that Andrew arrived at the Real Estate office with violence in mind and in an act of anger two families were forever shattered.

Two and a half years later, on November 4, 1929, Stanley, just 48 - only 3 years older than I will be two weeks from today - took his own life by ingesting cyanide. That was a week after Black Tuesday and the beginning of the Stock Market Crash and the Depression.


















I visited his grave with Jim and Sarah a couple of years ago, after requesting a copy of the death certificate so that I would know where he was buried.

It's a cemetery I had never heard of - Irving Park Blvd. cemetery in Chicago. No other family are buried there to my knowledge. In order to locate the grave, the older woman in the cemetery office went to great lengths. "Oh boy," she smacked her words loudly in her best Chicago accent, "We're gonna have to get the BIG books for this one".

She disappeared behind the office door and returned a while later with a book almost 2 feet tall. She plopped it on the counter and a dust cloud shot upwards.

After much searching, she called to one of the Groundskeepers on her Walkie Talkie, and they conversed about a certain section of the cemetery. She sent us out to meet with the Groundskeeper and he pointed me in the section of Stanley's grave.

Most of the graves in that area are single lots, infants and adults. There are many from 1929.

I can't imagine what Antoinette went through in that year and the coming years, a widow with four sons during the Great Depression.

She died August 17, 1962, never remarried, and is interred at All Saints Cemetery, separate from that of her husband. She was a Grandmother of one and Great-Grandmother of two at the time of her death.

Of the sons, Alex S. was married to Victoria and apparently had no children, but was noted as a fond Uncle to many when he died on June 13, 1976, and he interred at St. Joseph. Stanley Jr., married Agnes McLaughlin and died December 8, 1978, and is interred at All Saints. Oddly enough, I can't locate obituary records on Eugene or Walter, though I know that Walter had already died by the time of Alex's death in 1976. I have no photographs of any of them.

As someone who deals with her own times of unrest, I feel sympathetic towards my Great Uncle Stanley. As I knelt by his grave, realizing that I was likely the only visitor in decades, I just shook my head and whispered "Why?"


I'd love to be a time traveler, but even that might not have made any difference in the case of free will and destiny.

November Newspaper Column

I know that I probably repeat this statement every month, but this particular column topic is near and dear to my heart. ♥

Hope you enjoy it!

A Walk Yields Far More Than Exercise

Doing the Right Thing

From the time I was a little girl, I've loved writing.

There were other dreams... archaeology, singing, acting ~ I loved to perform; but writing has been my constant love.

In Junior High, I wrote several full-length fictional novels that were read only by friends and a couple of teachers and somehow discarded along the way.

Life happens. I went to work at the University just a year out of high school, spent my twenties running around with a boyfriend who was going nowhere, had great times partying with friends, eventually married a month before my 30th Birthday, had my daughter at 31, divorced, remarried.

Throughout those years, I wrote a lot: Diary entries, poetry, and frequent letters to the editor (all that were published, even in the Chicago Sun Times). For me, it was enough at the time and I always took great joy in seeing my words in print.

When the opportunity arose in the Fall of 2007 to write a regular column for the local newspaper, I knew what I had to do.

I knew that God had planned this opportunity especially for me. His timing is always perfect. I didn't even think twice about submitting my examples and was thrilled when offered a column with a choice of weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or periodically. I selected monthly, and it was a wise choice because it gives me the experience of working on a deadline without the pressure that anything more frequent would have brought.

Last year, I received an article solicitation from Salem Press and immediately knew that I had to take this chance. It was something entirely out of my comfort zone - a reference article for an Encyclopedia series on American Business History. I selected the topic of eBay ~ not the most exciting topic to write about, but I gave it my all, with the proofreader assistance of my husband.

It was my first contractual, paid work and they accepted my first submission as is, without revision.

This week, I received the offprint of the article. While this piece won't be a bestseller and it serves only the purpose of reference, mostly to school libraries across the country, it is entirely special to me.

I'm coming up on 400 blog entries very soon... I believe that writing has the capability of encouraging, teaching, inspiring and blessing.

I may not always know what I'm doing, but when it comes to writing, I know that I'm pursuing the gift that God has blessed me with, and that is entirely enough for me!

November Girl

It's sunny and 61 degrees out, the windows are opened, the grass remains a vibrant green, a few flowers remain ~ a beautiful beginning to my favorite month of all... November.

November, a month of thankfulness, the calm before the storm of Christmas frenzy, my Birthday Month. I love it.

While I'm less than enthusiastic about numbers when it comes to aging, I'm still like a little girl when it comes to Birthdays.

To me - everyone ought to celebrate their Birthday with enthusiasm, because it's our very own holiday unique to ourselves.

For this reason, I've always felt a kinship with November.

My niece's Birthday is November 4th, my dear Dad celebrates on November 8th, my parents' wedding anniversary is November 17th, my Birthday on November 19th, followed quickly by Thanksgiving.

Our family has always made a big to do about Birthdays... special dinner, cake of one's choice (or cheesecake in my case since I'm not very fond of regular cake), lots of presents and celebrating.

Sunday, we'll celebrate Dad's Birthday. For as long as I remember, he protests every year that we don't need to celebrate his Birthday. We just smile and nod, and then prepare the usual special dinner, cake and presents.

Life is truly short, days are brief, celebrations are SWEET.

... And the days dwindle down To a precious few, September, November - And these few precious days I'd spend with you, These golden days I'd spend with you

Give me the end of the year an' its fun When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done; Bring all the wanderers home to the nest, Let me sit down with the ones I love best, Hear the old voices still ringin' with song, See the old faces unblemished by wrong, See the old table with all of its chairs An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.
~Edgar A. Guest, Thanksgiving