Simple Broth to Fight Colds

 

Tis the season...for colds and flu.  In addition to taking my daily supplements and vitamin or 2 or 10 (ahaha).  I enjoy a bowl of broth.  I make a variety of them - so easy to make from scratch and cheap!  Today, I made one to open up my sinuses.  Start by sauteing a whole bulb of chopped garlic, 1 onion, S & P.  Let the brown bits form on the bottom of pot.  Brown = Flavor.  I added fresh herbs - thyme, sage, parsley, rosemary and a nub of grated ginger.  Cook for a few minutes and add liquid (chicken stock, bone broth if you have it) I did water and chicken bouillon.  Bring to a boil and then let simmer until all is tender and melded together.  

Then, I strain it as I drink it.  

The benefits of drinking broth are so good for our bodies, especially here in snowy Wisconsin.  Also, I learned on Noom that broth fights your snacking hunger.  I kept on stove and just drank mugs full all day.  I can breath so much better!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Simple One Pot Meal

 I like to cook, but with just Al and I, sometimes I think "why bother."  I'm going to stop that!  Cooking brings me joy.  

I hate to say, but I am a "chicken and biscuit" snob.  I have been told, that mine is pretty good.  I've made it many different ways, depending on what I had on hand.  Yesterday was cold, icy and a perfect day to get out the dutch oven.  

I started with frozen chicken breasts.  Yes, frozen.  I just coated the bottom of the dutch oven with olive oil, spices and put the chicken in at 350 until I could smell it.  Oh, and what a smell.  

I took out chicken, diced it up and put it back in the pot with all the diced veggies.  I added some chicken stock and stirred up all the brown bits on the bottom....brown bits are flavor.  Put it back in at a lower temperature until ready to thicken and add biscuits.

I don't use too many "cream of" soups.  A rue is so easy to make.  It's equal parts fat to thickener (a flour/cornstarch).  Combine in a pan and add a liquid.  I did milk here, but I warmed it first.  Add slowly to the rue and stir out lumps.  Dump in the pot to thicken it.  

I made an easy biscuit:  2 C flour, 1/2 C corn meal, 1 T sugar, 1 T baking powder, 1 t salt, stir together.  In that bowl, grate one stick of cold butter, stir together.  Add milk....mine was a coffee cup full.  Drop by tablespoons on top of pot and put back in oven until done.  EASY!

Of course, with just us 2, we will be eating this tonight too along with a nice salad.  

Here in the north central Wisconsin - it's dutch oven time.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Last Lot Drop Before Christmas

 I'm planning 2 lot drops before year's end.  Tonight, at 6:30 pm, will be 49 lots of estate jewelry - rocks and gems.

All of these would make nice Christmas gifts.  Here is the link to the group:  Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sales

The last lot drop will be December 30th at 6:30 pm - Year's End Clearance - not sure how many lots - I have high hopes.

We have had a busy selling year and a January 2023 sale lined up.  Our winter sales are almost always done online.  

Well, we are in a winter storm warning.  It's sleet and snowing right now.  I can do feet of snow, it's the ice I hate.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Cozy Couch

 Last week I had some Gramma Bird time with Ezra!  He is just the happiest little thing - absolute joy!  While visiting, Anna and I made some Christmas candy.  Next to the grocery store in her small town is a thrift shop.  So, when we went to get ingredients, we had to shop.  

I ALWAYS find awesome pickin's there!  This trip did not disappoint.  I found this vintage Beacon blanket.  I was so tickled, it was only $5.  I just had my friend Nancy crochet me a very similar blanket.  I could already see it all in my mind on my couch.  I did look up the blanket, since it was unused, with original papers, to see if I should keep it or sell it.  This exact one, new like this, sold for $56 on Ebay.  I'll keep it.  

Now on to Nancy's blanket.  She rarely uses patterns.  This one was just in her head and heart.  Here is a link to her page:  Nancy's Hook N Needle

Now to put it all together

The pillows I bought from one of the estates I did this past year. 

I should be "decking the halls" instead, I am doing this....but I do love how it looks.  

Now on to more of making merry....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

What Gifts Can I Bring

 

Do your children have a wish list for Christmas?  Do you have family and friends asking, "what gifts can I bring?"  I'm sure you do.  Or, do you have a wish list for yourself?  This post could apply to both.  

When I think of the gifts given to Mary at Jesus' birth, I am reminded of the scripture:  "But, Mary kept all these thing and pondered them in her heart"  Luke 2:19.  I'm no Bible scholar, but I do know that each of these gifts represented something about Jesus and his life.  Gold is for the King, frankinscence is for the One who is mortal and myrrh is a symbol of death.  Jesus' Christmas gifts, was one to ponder on, what does this mean and what was to come.  

I was listening to some young mother's talking about what was on their child's Christmas list.  As I listened, I was thinking about all the Christmas lists my girls had.  All the gifts over the years.  Then, it hit me...this post.  

If one could give, or parents could give, gifts that you had to ponder on, wow what gifts!  Important things, not material things, you know, "real" gifts, what one really needs!  Often these gifts cost nothing.  

"What do you want for Christmas?"  (loved one) asks....

"an hour with you free from your phone"

"for you to play with me and not your video games"

"for you to look at me while I'm doing something, instead of taking my 'perfect picture' for social media"

"to have heart to heart instead of a conversation"

"for me to make mistakes and you forgive me"

"for you to put me first and not something or someone else"

"one on one time with you"

"you teach me how instead of doing it for me"

I could go on, but I think you get message of what I am saying.

As I am typing this, I am brought to tears as I need to give these types of gifts myself.  These gifts can't be wrapped, have a pretty bow or even be opened at Christmas.  However, these are the types of gifts we all need.  These gifts don't end up in the landfill.  These gifts have an everlasting value.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Welcome December

 

We took our granddaughter to the Enchanted Forest at the Rosholt Fair Grounds in Rosholt, WI.  What a charming experience.  There were dozens of decorated trees.  Some from local clubs, organizations, businesses and some with themes.  I really enjoyed looking at all of them.  The fair grounds have beautiful, huge pine trees that add to the winter wonderland feel.  December gets "busy" and filled with "things" to do.  Try to remember to slow it down and enjoy the reason for the season.  

Here are a few things I plan to enjoy doing the month of December:  

1. Reading "his" story again.  Reflecting on the "gift" this season represents.  

2.  Cutting boughs and making my own "wreath" etc.

3.  Making some homemade gifts.  

4.  Cleaning, deep cleaning, of house so I can totally decorate.  I plan to do a virtual tour on December 23 at 7 pm.  Follow along if you want here:  Very Merry Virtual Tour

6.  We challenged our 4H club with "act of kindness" in lieu of having a monthly meeting and party.  Like I said, everyone is so busy.   Here are a few ideas that you may want to try.

7.  Candy making day with Ezra.  Cookie decorating with Lauren.  

8.  An intentional "vacation" from my self-employment.  

9.  Bring back a few decorating ideas from the past.

10.  Take a "break" from all the "viewing" and "comparing" of what other's have accomplished....yes, it can steal my joy.  In fact, I'm working on a - I don't know what to call it - series of posts - "How To Be Happy For You and Me Too."  I struggle with this.  

Do you have any plans for December?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

"I Never Met A Cookie I Didn't Like"

 I was in the drive thru to a coffee shop recently and asked "what type of cookies do you have?"  As this young man started telling me I said "stop, it's o.k. just surprise me.  "I've never met a cookie I didn't like."  He started to laugh.  Because I'm "the entertainer" type personality, I had to add "oh, and at my age I never get surprises, well good ones anyway...."

Well, I met a cookie I didn't like and I made it.  Hahaha!  I made some applesauce from our own apples and was hungry for some cookies like my Grandma Kincaid made.  Well, these weren't it!  I made them for the lunch I prepared for the school my granddaughter goes to.  The teachers and some of the kids ate quite a few.  I also made Dicky Bird's Harvest Time Quick Bread from yesterday's post.  Thank goodness I did!  That was a hit!

I was thinking about this "I never met a .... I didn't like" saying.  I used it since then about cheese.  But, then I thought about goat cheese and limburger, so that's not a true statement either.

So now I'm sitting here typing this trying to think of something that statement would be true of.  I happen to look out the window, the sun is just coming up, orange and pink.  O.k. "I never met a sunrise I didn't like."  

Can you think of something that you could use that statement on?  Let me know.  I'm curious.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.