word of the day and more books on my bucket list

antepenultimate  \an-tee-pi-NUHL-tuh-mit\ , adjective:

 

{Did you know that I am an antepenultimate child?! I didn't either until yesterday when I read this word for the day on my igoogle page! Pretty cool, eh? Next time I get asked about my fam/sibs I will proclaim, "We have a rather large family as I am the antepenultimate offspring...."}

1. Third from the end.
2. Of or pertaining to an antepenult.

noun:
1. An antepenult.

The vengeful eagles of the open sequence [and] the birds of augury watched outside the library and the emblematic kinsmen who shake 'the wings of their exultant and terrible youth' in the antepenultimate entry in Stephen's diary.
-- James Joyce, introduction by Hugh Kenner, Ulysses

But all day that is how it is, from the first tick to the last tack, or rather from the third to the antepenultimate, allowing for the time it needs, the tamtam within, to drum you back into the dream and drum you back out again.
-- Samuel Beckett, Mercier and Camier

This adjective is the product of three Latin roots: ante meaning "before," paen meaning "almost" and ultima meaning "last."


Also, I really want to read and own both of these books!! I love Gretchen Rubin's thoughts about life and happiness; her article each month is the main reason I look forward to the next issue of Good Housekeeping! She writes candidly and with humor about her year-long experiment on making small life changes that added to her daily happiness. I like how she brings out that tiny seemingly mundane choices can really add or subtract from how happy we are "at home" each day, and that we have to embrace TODAY because we are living our life right now! I could purchase both books on eBay or on my Nook, but I'm kinda hoarding the rest of my Christmas $ {since I had a fine time blowing quite a bit of it which will be a whole 'nother blog post one of these days!} and am hoping to find used copies second-hand instead! So, please, if you happen to find either of them and don't want 'em, nab 'em for me!

GIVEAWAY!!!

Since it's Christmas... and I'm tired of baking cakes, and I learned that Wendy's doesn't open until 10:30!!! {what in the world?! I had to go home frosty-less and sad!} and since 'tis more blessed to give than to receive, and since I love y'all, I decided to be like the other big, bad, fancy-schmancy blogs and have a merry little GIVEAWAY! Hip, hip, hooray! Maybe you will be the winner of my most favoritest kitchen gadget ever! Except you won't be getting mine, you'll be the proud owner of a brand spanking new one fresh from Kohl's! Hear ye, hear ye! The most splendidforous 2 cup measure on the planet! No more laborious bending over at the waist to see if you've poured just the right amount of buttermilk for red velvet cake! A simple glance from above does the job!

The rules for the giveaway are as follows:

1. Please answer this question with a comment - "What did your Christmas dinner menu consist of?" Did you stay traditional, or stray away? Have McD's? Or steak, or seafood? Did you cook Southern Living's festive spread recipe by recipe? I love food, and I wanna know! :)

2. Your comment counts as your entry to the giveaway.

3. One comment per person, please!

4. Giveaway will be open for entries for 2 weeks since this is such a busy time and some of you may nary have a chance or remember to peak at this ole blog, and I don't want anyone to feel left out! So any comment left before January 7, 2013 midnight will be counted.

5. To make this as even as I know how since I don't have a giveaway selector thingy, or know how to download, or use one! I am going to be old-fashioned and print off every single comment, cut them in even-sized strips, put 'em in a hat, and have Daniel draw out the winner! If the winner should be one of my dear local readers, I will bestow the measure upon you in person! If not, I will contact you for your address and send it to you via Pony Express! {I mean USPS priority mail.}

P.S. If you send me some of your favorite Christmas candy, cookies, or sweets of any kind, it will count as 2 entries!! .............................................Just joking!

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

sadness

{I've been thinking so often of the innocent children that were so tragically taken last Friday...and praying that their families could somehow find Christmas peace....but I couldn't seem to put my sadness into coherent words. This poem does it for me. I received it today from a friend via email....it was written by Cameo Smith. }

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38 when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say. They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

Those children all flew into the arms of their King.
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had. He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below. He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, "Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools" "I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, "in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf , PA
 

musings

Amidst my busyness, my fingers have been itching to WRITE! I get serious withdrawals if I go too long with scribing my thoughts! Much has transpired since I've last written... We had the loveliest Christmas Saturday evening with Mom, Bill, Billy, and Jo. We feasted on succulent prime rib, loaded baked potatoes, french bread, and the tenderest broccoli ever from Bill's garden! Next was PRESENTS! :) Gotta love presents; don't think I will ever outgrow the thrill of unwrapping! I was delighted to open a gorgeous, red Oster blender! Smoothies, here we come!!!

 

Also love my new cookbook and Christmas spending $$! Abby and Bella loved their presents too! I had baked some homemade dog treats for them. I've had a bone cookie cutter for years and never tried it! They were super easy and fun to make! Diesel and Leroy think I should win a "Good DogKeeping Award" LOL!

 

Here's the recipe if you have any pooches that need pampering!

You’ll need:

• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375′F.
In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead.
Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 18-20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.
Make sure you keep an eye on them, because they tend to burn easily.

 

 

 

After presents, we had coffee, some delicious "cranberry bliss bars", and the red velvet cheesecake cake. Was a wonderful night of relaxing quality family time!
I've been baking cakes for orders and cinnamon rolls for neighbors....busy, but rewarding. Still have not made fruitcake! I think knowing that it will take 3 hours is hindering me from ever starting... I threw together the second pot of "Christmas Smell" today since the first one wasn't smelling much anymore and was resembling a pot of nasty, black tar. I had been keeping it in the fridge at nights to keep it from rotting. But the new pot sure is smelling wonderful! Yesterday I worked on getting cards/letters in the mail or emailed. Doing about half one way and half the other. Do y'all think getting an email letter is as special? Or is it just plain lame? I'd like to hear your thoughts! Personally, I don't care which method we get them as long as we are on the list! :) I print off the email ones, and add them to my stash of USPS ones and enjoy them just the same! Plus, it's "greener" and cheaper! But, I didn't get a response back from a lot of the email/letters and then I wonder... "did they get it?! did I have the right email address? will they even open it before Christmas?!" So, I dunno which is better! I had to get shots yesterday aft; took Christmas letters along to read in the waiting room...{sometimes I wonder what the other patients think of all the peculiar things I do in the waiting room! paying bills, "sorta quiet" phone conversations, much reading literature etc!} But, I cannot be idle! No, that would never do! I'm wishing I would make a small lap quilt that I could take along and hand-quilt while I wait....sigh! I never seem to accomplish all the artsy crafty things I long to create! Tyler and Rylan are spending the day with me today so Kristi can accomplish things that desperately need doing before they go to the mission. We stopped by Rhonda's and ended up staying for lunch. They had good time playing with Neil. Back home now; naps {quite short ones, I thought!} are done, and I just might start cutting up fruit for fruitcake while they are playing toys! Crossing my fingers while I get out the knife and cutting board....

did you know?

- How We Came To Celebrate Christmas on December 25th -  

 “In the 4th century, Catholic Church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Although the date of his birth is not pinpointed in the Bible, Pope Julius I chose December 25th. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645 they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of this effort, Christmas was cancelled. Charles II was later restored to the throne by popular demand, and with him, Christmas. “

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

 

{I read this interesting tidbit today, and thought I'd share it!}

the cake of all cakes!

Time for a recipe! This baby is what I am going to make {or attempt to make!} for our Christmas supper in Pace Saturday night! The middle layer is solid, baked CHEESECAKE! Wowzers! Can't wait to dig into it! IF it turns out....

 

 

 

 

 Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake

 

Yield: 12 to 14 servings

Prep Time: 1 hr + cooling and chill times

Cook Time: 1 hr, 15 min

This recipe has a few steps to it, but it's all worth it in the end! It's easiest to make the cheesecake layer one day and then assemble the rest of the cake the next.

Ingredients:

CHEESECAKE:
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
RED VELVET CAKE:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups vegetable or canola oil
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup (two 1-ounce bottles) red food coloring
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons white vinegar
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted lightly to remove any lumps
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare the cheesecake layer: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place a large roasting pan on the lower third rack of the oven. Place a kettle of water on the stove to boil. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Wrap a double layer of foil around the bottom and up the sides of the pan (you want to seal it so the water from the water bath doesn't seep into the pan). In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the cream cheese- blend until it is nice and smooth and creamy. Mix in sugar and salt and blend for 2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, blending after each addition. Finally, mix in sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan into the roasting pan in the pre-heated oven. Carefully pour the hot water from your kettle into the roasting pan (it will fill the pan surrounding the cheesecake). Pour enough water so that there is about an inch of water coming up the foil along the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake the cheesecake for 45 minutes. It should be set to the touch and not jiggly. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan and let it cool on a wire rack for at least an hour. When it has cooled, place the pan into the freezer and let the cheesecake freeze completely. This can be done in several hours- or overnight.
2. Prepare the cake layers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round metal baking pans (or spray with nonstick baking spray with flour). In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar to the flour mixture. Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat for 1 minute, until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pans, dividing equally. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pans, then invert cakes onto a rack to cool completely.
3. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla until it is smooth and creamy (do not overbeat).
4. Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer into the center of a cake plate or platter. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, take off the sides of the pan, and slide a knife under the parchment to remove the cheesecake from the pan. Peel off the parchment. Measure your cheesecake layer against the cake layers. If the cheesecake layer turns out to be a slightly larger round than your cake, move it to a cutting board and gently shave off some of the exterior of the cheesecake to get it to the same size as your cake layers. Place the cheesecake layer on top of the first cake layer. Place the 2nd cake layer on top of the cheesecake.
5. Frost the cake: Apply a crumb coat layer to the cake- use a long, thin spatula to cover the cake completely with a thin and even layer of frosting. Be sure to wipe off your spatula each time you are about to dip it back into the bowl to get more frosting (this way you won't be transferring any red crumbs into the bowl of frosting). Don't worry at this point about the crumbs being visible in the frosting on the cake. When your cake has a thin layer of frosting all over it, place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to "set" the frosting. Once the first layer of frosting is set, apply the 2nd layer. Start by adding a large scoop of frosting onto the top of the cake. Use a long, thin spatula to spread the frosting evenly across the top and then spread it down the sides of the cake too. Because you applied a crumb-coat layer, you shouldn't have any red crumbs floating around in the final frosting layer. Decorate, as desired. I recommend white chocolate shavings (see *Tips below). Keep this cake refrigerated.

Tips:

*For making white chocolate shavings: Purchase a hunk of white chocolate. Microwave the chocolate to soften it up slightly (15 to 30 seconds, depending on the size). Use a potato peeler to run down the side of the chocolate to create shards/shaves/curls of white chocolate. I like to shave it onto a paper plater and then just use the plate to slide the chocolate onto the top of the cake.
*If you are serving this cake at a party, it's perfectly okay to leave the cake at room temperature for an hour or so while serving. Otherwise, keep it in the refrigerator. It also freezes perfectly! I made my cake one day and then just placed it as-is in the freezer and pulled it out the next day. It thaws quickly.

Source: RecipeGirl.com (cake & frosting portions of the recipe from Piece of Cake, inspired by the red velvet cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory and by a version of this cake made by Erin's Food Files )

wishful thinking

 

Good morning!!! Can hardly believe that I got up at 5:30 a.m. and am now drinking coffee out of my favorite NYC mug, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with a couple loads of laundry already done and a load of dishes loaded in the dishwasher! How extremely rare! The reason for this is that my hubby wanted to go hunting this morning even though it is insanely cold outside! I sure hope he is rewarded for his endurance! poor thing.... but it was his choice I guess! So I decided to be a big girl and stay up instead of going back to bed after he headed out. I just finished my bowl of Cream of Wheat which I took the time to make it like my mom did growing up...on the stove! So it turned out smooth and creamy instead of lumpy like my normal microwave version does. Yummm....and then you just have to bury some clumps of brown sugar in it while it's hot so when you are eating it, you stumble across these pockets of liquid brown sweetness....

  I wandered into World Market on Monday to finish up some Christmas shopping, and wanted to stay awhile and set up housekeeping right there in the store! That place makes me swoon....and transports me to places all over the world that I've never been! The thought even crossed my mind that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to be locked in overnight. But I decided not to hide in the aisles and forced myself to leave and go to Walmart, horror of horrors in the Christmas season! Anyway, after several hours of shopping, I had everyone crossed off my list! Yay! But, I also had compiled quite a list in my head of things that little ME wanted! Why is it so easy to shop for myself?! These are the items that have my heart pumping peanut butter! And I am amazed how domestic most of them are!

 Love these cake pop pans at World Market...

  This VS robe would be perfect to lounge in...

 Old welcome mat is on its last leg! Or shall we say "foot?!"

 

 

Or shall I get this one?! It so cracks me up!!!

 

Need a new blender... but NOT this one! It's ON SALE at Kohl's for $710!!! Don't know how a blender can ever cost that much! {I have a Food Network blender hidden at Dirt Cheap, waiting for it to go 80% off}

 

 

 Anthony gave me this shoe calendar last year, and I LOVED it! Want another one for 2013.

  Another World Market find...a single cup coffee dripper! Put in a filter, add grounds, pour hot water over, and wait for a fresh cup 'o coffee!

 

   Another item that I have hidden at DC...need to stop by and check on it today!

 

 This is probably the best thing I could spend my Christmas $ on! Perfect for zapping up crumbs and grass when you don't feel like getting out your big vacuum, while is ALWAYS for me!

 

Do y'all have your Christmas shopping all done? and your own Christmas list compiled? :)

 

gettin' in the holiday mood!

 

 

I falter to even TYPE this....this rash decision I made yesterday in Atmore. But, I WILL! and I hope you can give me advice on how not to commit murder again. You see, I bought a TREE! A living, breathing, alive TREE! That I desperately don't want to kill! It's the loveliest little "Meiwa Kumquat" tree! I plan to give it a home in a large pot on the front porch for the first year of its life with us. That way I can tenderly nurture it through our harsh Florida winter by covering it or wrapping it with Christmas lights for warmth should a deathly frost bear down upon us. Then once it's more established, I'll {umm... I mean Daniel} will plant it out in the yard! The man at Central said I should spray it with insecticide if it looks like it needs it. {help! how will I know?!} Any tips on growing citrus trees would be appreciated! To me, a kumquat tree is the best kind of Christmas tree!

I also wanted to share with you how completely Christmasy our house smells right now! I had seen these little stove-top potpourri gift bags on Pinterest, and had rapidly made one for a hostess gift for the candy exchange at Kristen's this morning. Which was the sweetest little party! Literally! She had five of us, and we all brought at least two kinds of candy and got to take home a broad assortment! Of course, I just had to sample each kind once I was back in the secrecy of my own house! But just the teeniest, weeniest little tastes you know! Anyway, since all the mess of making the potpourri was still strewn about the kitchen, I put together a batch and stuck it on the stove to simmer. Alas! I forgot that I had kinda it turned up a bit to hurry it along, and it BOILED violently before I noticed. But the most wonderful smells were spewing forth, so I didn't fret for long. I do wonder how many days it will continue to emit scent without rotting.... Here's the recipe if you want to try it!

Stove-top potpourri kits. Cute neighbor gift idea: one orange, 1/2 c cranberries, 1 Tbs whole cloves, 3 sticks cinnamon, a bit of grated nutmeg. Instructions: "Quarter the orange, place all in a small saucepan filled with water and simmer on lowest setting. Refill water as needed."


So even though it is so sunshiney and balmy outside, it's starting to feel, taste, and smell like Christmas inside our house and in my heart! I want to get our Nativity set put up today along with a few other items of Christmas decor. Still need to bake fruitcake and buy a poinsettia.... Growing up, Dad always bought Mom a poinsettia every year....{and still does!} I've hinted broadly, but Daniel hasn't picked up that tradition. Oh well, it's fun to pick one out myself anyway! :) I'm thinking a blue one would be awesome this time. What Christmas traditions do you carry on each year? We usually made fruitcake with Grandma Smith each Christmas before they moved to MS.....now I always miss her so much when I make it!

It smells like Christmas!....or not.

Is your house smelling of the piney woods, or festive cranberries, or traditional cinnamon? What smells like Christmas to you? Our house smells like garlic and gravy! Ugh! It was some good venison, but the smells that linger aren't so pleasant, and it seems I can barely detect the non-Christmasy Bath and Body Works "wallflower" scent of Mahogany Teakwood {which I do love for other months} that is feebly wafting out. Earlier, I had a Cranberry Woods bulb in, and Daniel proclaimed that it needed to be BANISHED asap. Then I screwed in a Cinnamon Stick.  Not an improvement! Fake cinnamon smell just doesn't cut it. {Don't even get me started on B&BWorks!!!} Are we too picky or what?! Should I brew orange peels and cloves? Steep real pine needles from the woods? Buy a Woodwick candle? Seems there ought to be something awesome out there for this holiday season.... Please share what tickles your nose this time 'o the year! Thanks in advance!