My (Grown-Up) Letter to Santa

Hi Santa,

It has been many, many years since I sent you a letter.  I know that you are busy deciphering the writing of many children, but I hope you don’t mind taking a moment to read a few words from me.

I have tried to be a very good person all year long.  As I child, being good meant trying to please my parents.  Now, I strive to be a good mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and citizen . . . oh, and blogger!  I don’t think I have done too badly this year, but I know there is always room for improvement!

When I was a small girl, there were lots of things that I wanted.  Now, however, it is much harder to come up with a list.  There are some things I'd like to have - but not much I really need.  The things I truly wish for are not items that would be left under the tree to be found on Christmas morning.

That being said, of course I wouldn’t mind receiving a photo light box and lights, so I could take better food pictures for this blog.  Or, maybe the iPhone 5 / 5S Camera Lens Kit - some of those lenses look pretty cool. There are lots of blogging classes, resources, and subscriptions that look pretty amazing. Kitchen gadgets are always nice, and I wouldn’t say no to a new sewing machine … although I’d probably want some extra hours in my day to use it. But, none of these things are items I need to have. My iPhone and my recently acquired MacBook Pro laptop have me feeling pretty spoiled. As far as possessions go, I really am pretty content.

What I truly desire is good health, happiness, and personal success for all my family members and friends. I’d like humans to learn to all be a little kinder and more tolerant of each other.  I wish that planet Earth could be a little healthier; and that global poverty, illness, and despair would diminish. I doubt that you and your elves can deliver any of this, but these are the things that would make me very happy.

The reason I am writing this letter today Santa, is not to ask for something, but to thank you. I want you to know how much you are appreciated.  

You and your reindeer have spread so much hope, cheer, and love across the world. I remember the wonder and excitement I felt, waiting for your arrival as a child. I experienced that same wonder again with my children, when they were small. The example of love and generosity you set is a wonderful lesson for every child. 

My kids were so excited for Santa to come down the chimney!

I know that many of us give you cookies, milk, and carrots each year.  But those treats just don't seem to adequately express how grateful we are for the positive impact you have on our lives. Today, instead of asking for anything, I just want to say thank you.

Good luck on your trip around the world this year, Santa.  I hope you get a well-deserved rest when you are done.  Please say hello and thanks to Mrs. Claus and the elves, and pat the reindeer for me. 
Happy Holidays!

Gratefully,

Susan

P.S.  Santa - do you remember having this photo taken? I have kept the newspaper clipping all these years, and I even still have the little ceramic bell tree-ornament you gave to each of us! 

The newspaper published a photo of my twin sister (L) and me (R), on Santa's knee!

I wonder what Santa Claus wants for Christmas?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains Amazon affiliate links, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

This Eggnog Coffee is Low in Fat, Calories, and Cost!

A Guilt Free Holiday Coffee Beverage!

Holiday flavored lattes and other coffee drinks can be expensive and high in both fat and calories. Learn this easy way to create an inexpensive, low-calorie and low-fat version right in your own kitchen!

Usually I prefer my brewed coffee to be an unflavored dark roast, with the addition of a little milk or half-and-half. During the holidays though, it can be enjoyable to drink something a little more festive. Pumpkin spice or eggnog lattes abound in coffee shops, but I have discovered an inexpensive and healthy option, easily made at home!

To give my brewed coffee a wonderful holiday boost, I substitute my usual half-and-half with an equal or lesser amount of low-fat eggnog. By using "light" instead of regular eggnog, the beverage is not highly caloric or laden with fat. It is slightly sweeter than the way I usually drink my coffee, but as a result I usually don't even add quite as much eggnog as I would half-and-half. (If it is your habit to add sugar to your coffee, you will probably find you won't need as much of this either.)

When I compared the nutritional values on the cartons of half-and-half and low-fat eggnog currently in my fridge (both Lucerne brand from Safeway), the result surprised me.

The nutrition facts on the cartons are as follows:

Note, though, that the serving sizes are different!  Some math is needed to make an accurate comparison:

• There are 8 tablespoons in 1/2 cup. The above information is comparing 4 times as much eggnog to the half-and-half!
• Therefore, if we divide the values for Lucerne Light Eggnog by 4, we can compare 2 tablespoons of each to see how nutritionally they compare:

My mother once told me that when she worked as a nurse, eggnog was a beverage often served to malnourished patients to "fatten them up". I have been leery of this holiday favorite ever since! The comparison above, however, provides proof that light eggnog contains less calories and fat per serving than half-and-half! 

I had assumed the eggnog would be lower in fat - but expected it to have more calories! 

Now I know that choosing a low-fat eggnog, and only consuming a small amount (such as a few tablespoons in coffee) won't cause the numbers on the scale to soar.

Adding low-fat eggnog to your cup of coffee is not only festive - it can be a healthy choice!

Irresistible!


Do you usually buy your coffee or make it yourself?

Reminder: In less than a week I will be giving away a prize to one lucky blogger! Stop back on Dec. 15th to enter!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

This is not a sponsored post - all opinions are entirely my own.

Uh-Oh! Am I Qualified to Write This Blog?

This is not the post I planned to publish today.  That one still needs to be written.

Yesterday, I spent almost the entire day outside.  We were putting up our Christmas lights.  Or more specifically, that is what we set out to do.  We did get most of them up - but it became a little more involved than we expected.

An unplanned chore 

We had the “big ladder” out to hang the wreath over the garage, so I decided that it was a good time to mention to my husband something I had noticed when snow was melting off the roof. I had seen water overflowing from the side of our roof gutter, instead of out the downspout. I wondered if something was blocking it.

Oh, boy! ...  An hour later we had removed two rubber balls, some unknown debris and a ton of thick silt from the gutter.  Good thing it was warm enough to hook up the hose and use it to rinse the muck off everything that had been splattered, when we eventually got the gutters unclogged. What a mess.

Hanging lights used to cause some tension - but not anymore!

My husband and I finally returned to putting the lights on the trees. Thanks to the string light hanging pole that I mentioned earlier this week, this process went really smoothly and was accomplished without any tension! I really love that thing!

How could I not have done this before ...

Once the trees were decorated, I started to arrange the ropes on our rock walls.  Withered iris leaves (which I had not found time to cut back before winter arrived) were quite an unsightly distraction, so I decided to remove those before I finished with the lights.

As I was cutting down dead foliage, I was mentally berating myself for not having done it sooner.  I was thinking, "How can I write a blog about making the most of every moment, when we clearly did not do the home maintenance and yard work that we should have in the fall? Wouldn't someone who makes good use of her moments complete such tasks in a more timely fashion?”

Gardening in Montana in December - perhaps that is making the most of a moment!

But I suddenly decided to see it another way.  I reminded myself of all the things we did accomplish in autumn. Also, yesterday was an unbelievably gorgeous day - warm and bright and sunny, with no wind. Cleaning the gutters wasn't exactly fun - but it wouldn't have been in September either. I love to garden, and even clearing away dead plants can be enjoyable for me. What could be better than being outside on a December day, needing only a sweatshirt to stay warm - gardening in Montana in winter! If that is not making the most of the moment - perhaps nothing is!

I am not an expert at making the most of my moments ... far from it, a lot of the time, I'm afraid! But, perhaps that is exactly why I can - and should - still write about it!

Happy Holidays!

How often do you clean your gutters?  How does mud get on the roof?!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains an Amazon affiliate link, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

A Prize, A Good Deed and Cranberries ...

Today I am very excited to have written a guest post for the blog, 2 Just B You.  

I recently won the 100th Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop Giveaway! My prize included a free copy of Carrie Groneman's book, A Mother's Shadow and free advertising for my blog on three other websites that I really admire: 

• 2 Just Be You 

• Ducks 'n a Row 

• Confessions of a Mommyaholic. 

Then, making this prize even sweeter, Kim invited me to write a guest post for her blog today!

Have you ever noticed that when you do a good deed, you often benefit as well?  I tell a story on Kim's blog today that is a perfect example of this.  And, it includes one of my favorite holiday recipes - perfect for snacking or giving away!

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While I was making some Sugared Cranberries this week, I was thinking about the many benefits of doing good things for others.  The way I acquired the recipe for these berries is one example of a very unexpected benefit of a good deed!

I am a member of our high school Booster Club. Last year, our core group of volunteers all did some baking, arranged it on some platters, and placed these where the teachers and staff would find them the next morning.  It was a small gesture of gratitude for the work they do all year.  

As I was delivering one of the platters to the custodian's break room, I noticed that someone had contributed a container of a really tasty-looking treat - with a recipe attached for Sugared Cranberries.  I had never heard of making these, but they looked amazing.  I set the tray on the table, but before leaving the room I snapped a photo of the recipe with my iPhone.  

I wish I could remember who contributed these berries, or at least knew the origin of the recipe, so I could give that person credit here. I do know that I probably gained more from the small donation of my time and efforts that evening, than probably most of the teachers who consumed our donated treats. (Unless, of course, they also kept a copy of this recipe!)

I have made Sugared Cranberries numerous times. They are yummy to snack on - their initial sweetness followed by a burst of juicy tang is quite addictive!  I have also found they make a lovely hostess gift, when packaged in a pretty bowl.

It's true - to give is truly to receive! 
If I was not a Booster Club volunteer, I would not have this recipe! 

If you make these, here is another tip:

Instead of discarding the liquid after the cranberries have steeped, it can be kept in a sealed glass container in the fridge for a couple of weeks. This simple syrup has a wonderful cranberry flavor and a pretty color. It can be used in many beverage/ cocktail recipes. Also, I am coming up with some other uses for it, which I will be sharing in the future on my blog.

If you do pop over to the most - - of every moment, I hope you will leave a comment and say hello!

Have you ever reaped unexpected benefits from an act of volunteering?

Also, I have been participating in the December Instagram Challenge: #Instaalbum2014 - “Celebrating the holiday season one photo at a time.”  Follow me on Instagram to see the photos I am posting there.

Also, remember to visit this blog on December 15th, and enter the giveaway sweepstake I am hosting that day. (Find out more by clicking on the link in my sidebar.)

Happy weekend!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

An Easy Christmas Gift - for the Birds!

During this season of giving, most pet-owners include the names of their furry friends on their "who-to-buy-for" shopping lists. I love going in to the pet store in December, and seeing people of all ages buying gifts for their pets. I have watched all sorts of people (older ladies, burly men, and small children) spend considerable amounts of time deliberating over choosing a catnip mouse for their cat, or a chew toy for their dog. It warms my heart to know that so many animals are well loved.

Our dog and cat have lived through enough Christmas seasons, that they now get excited when the Christmas tree goes up.  I always gift-wrap their treats - usually a huge bone for the dog and a catnip toy for the cat.  One year we made the mistake of encouraging them to open them.  Now, they think that maybe all wrapped presents are theirs to unwrap!

When it is cold and snowy out, there are some other creatures who would love a little treat as well.  Birds that have not flown south for the winter can have a tough time finding food.  Putting out a feeder is a good way to make them happy.  There are all sorts of feeders available for purchase - a friend of mine even has a heated birdbath which attracts all sorts of birds.

But, don't worry.  Proving a holiday treat for our feathered friends doesn't have to be expensive.  Last year I wrote about how to make a festive holiday decoration, which doubles as a homemade bird feeder. It takes just a few minutes to assemble, and it is an easy enough craft for even small children to do.
  

A homemade bird feeder can be a festive decoration as well as a holiday treat for the birds in your area.

Easy Directions for How To Make a  Festive Birdfeeder

What you need:

•   A pinecone

•   Ribbon

•   Thin wire

•   Pine boughs - artificial or real

•   Peanut butter

•   Birdseed

•   A "shepherd hook" or other pole or place to hang the feeder.

Instructions:

•   Tie the ribbon securely around the top of the pinecone (under a sturdy layer of scales) and make a decorative bow.

•   Attach pine boughs to the ribbon, behind the pinecone, using wire.

•   Attach a wire loop of appropriate length for hanging the feeder from your hook.

•   Coat the pinecone well with peanut butter, being careful to not smear it on the ribbon or pine boughs.

•   Put some birdseed in a bowl and roll the pinecone in it until well coated.

•   Hang your bird feeder and enjoy the birds that come to visit.

Note: Some people claim that peanut butter may be bad for birds, but my research indicated that this may just be a myth. If you are still concerned, or if you have a peanut allergy, solid vegetable shortening can be used instead.

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Birds provide us gifts of beauty and song, and help reduce the insect population in our gardens. This holiday season, when food is scarce, provide the birds in your area with a welcome treat. And remember to shop for a special treat for your pets as well!

Just a reminder about December 15th

This is a little off topic, but still on the subject of gifts. In ten days I get to give one lucky blogger the opportunity to win an awesome prize.  Save the date for my giveaway on December 15th, and be sure to stop back and enter!

31 Days of Blogging Deals and Giveaways

Have you ever made a pinecone bird feeder? Did the birds like it?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!
Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains an Amazon affiliate link, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

Turkey Soup!

I know there is a rooster on these linens, but the turkeys are all packed away until next Thanksgiving!

Almost as much as turkey dinner, my family loves homemade turkey soup! Whenever I cook a turkey I always save the carcass and any extra drippings, because they can be used to make a wonderful stock.  (I'm sorry for not posting about this sooner. If you already discarded the turkey bones from your Thanksgiving meal, you can pin this recipe on Pinterest or print it out to use next time.) If you roast a chicken instead of a turkey, you can follow this same method and make chicken soup.

The stock doesn't have to be made immediately after you cook the poultry.  If you prefer, remove most of the meat off the bones, break the carcass up a bit, and store the bones and any skin in a sealed plastic freezer bag or container until you are ready to use it.  If you do this, be sure to also freeze any leftover drippings and some of the leftover meat, as these will also be added to the soup.

I have never really followed a recipe when I have made this soup, but over the years I have made a lot of notes, tweaking this procedure a little each time! As I made turkey stock and soup this week, however, I wrote down all the ingredients and each step of the process -  so I could share the recipes with you.

Feel free to make as many changes as you like - but these guidelines produce amazingly delicious results.

Turkey Stock

Instructions:

The Easy Way to Hang Christmas Lights

The Easy Way to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Without a Ladder!

Simplify hanging string lights on a Christmas tree or outdoors, using these simple tips and an easily purchased, inexpensive tool. No ladder needed, and you will be amazed by how quickly those twinkly lights are in place.

A simple tool called a "string light hanging pole" or "Christmas light hanging pole" makes it really easy to hang lights on a Christmas tree! This tool can be used for holiday decorating indoors or out, or any time you wish to hang string lights, is easily purchased and inexpensive.

I can't count the number of years I have nearly fallen from an unsteady ladder, stretching to wrap strands of lights around a tree. Last year I discovered a faster and safer way. Buying a string light hanging pole greatly simplified and took the danger out of this annual task. Trees more than twice my height can now be decorated in less than 10 minutes, without my feet ever leaving the ground.

The Equipment

• A "string light hanging pole"

-there are a variety of these available for purchase, but we really like the one we bought by ST. NICK'S CHOICE. It is very similar to this one that I found on Amazon.com: Dyno Seasonal Solutions St. Nick's Choice Professional Pole for Hanging Lights, 16-Feet 

• Christmas light reels

-Lights are sometimes sold on these; or the reels can be purchased and the lights you previously owned can be easily wound around them. I bought several for about $4.00 each at Bed Bath and Beyond. Just be careful that they are compatible with the hook on your light stringing pole.

• Strings of lights

- The number required depends on the size of the tree. (Three strings of 300-mini lights were just the right amount for my 12-foot outdoor pine tree.)

• An extension cord

• A programmable timer

• An electrical outlet with GFCI protection

Instructions for Decorating a Tree with Lights:

• Determine how many lights you will use.

- (The company Christmas Lights ETC suggests 100 mini lights per vertical foot of indoor tree; but less outside.) http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/pages/LightCalculation.htm

• Make safety a priority!

- For Christmas Tree and Winter Holiday Safety Tip Sheets, refer to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website. http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/safety-tip-sheets

• Plug in each strand of lights to be certain it works before you begin decorating.

• If not already done, wind light strings onto the reels, starting with the pronged "male" plug end, so that it will unwind last and be available to plug into the next string or your timer, when your reach the bottom of the tree.

• Follow the directions on the package to assemble your string light hanging pole.

• Using the hook on the light hanging pole, secure the "female plug" receiving end of the light string to the top of the tree by wrapping it around a branch.

• With the pole inserted in the center of the reel, begin winding the string around and down the tree, catching it securely on branches. (You can start at the base; I prefer working from top to bottom.)

• When near the end of a string, plug the next string into it, switch the pole to the new reel, and continue to wind until you have reached the bottom branches.

• Plug the end of the last string into an extension cord; plug the extension cord into the timer.

• Program the timer to turn on at dusk and stay on for 6 or 8 hours, or for as long as you desire the tree to be lit.

• Plug the timer into the outlet, and put away the reels and light pole.

Using our string light hanging pole, we can decorate even our 14-foot trees without fear of falling off a ladder!

Beware: It May Be Tempting To Exceed Your Tree Decorating Budget!

This method of decorating trees is so quick and easy that the greatest danger involved is that you might get carried away. You could be tempted to decorate more trees than you planned!

I apologize for the quality of these photos.  I had planned on taking better ones to publish with this post. Unfortunately, however, we didn't get our lights up this year before we got 8 inches of snow - and now I am just hoping it will melt! 

Have you ever used a string light hanging pole?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains an Amazon affiliate link, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

#GivingTuesday Is Today. What Is Your Plan?

Today is December 2nd.  This day has been designated by the United Nations Foundation as “Giving Tuesday.”

The theme of many of the posts on this blog during December will be about gifts or giving in some way. I first saw this video in a post by Cathy Chester, a #Giving Tuesday Social Ambassador. I loved the concept and I knew right away I wanted to share it here today. 




I encourage you to either watch the video here, or pop over to Cathy's blog to watch it and read her two-part #GivingTuesday post. She used her blog post to create awareness about an organization that uses the healing power of horses for good, and one that rescues abused dogs.  

There are so very many ways we can all do good things, by giving a little of: 

• our money
• our time
• our efforts
• our influence
• our love.

How am I giving today?

• I am calling the American Red Cross this morning to make an appointment to give blood this week. (I will tell you more about this in a post later this month!)

• I am taking two boxes of clothes which we no longer wear to donate to a local charity. (This is in addition to the full carload of items I took last week!)

• I am putting together an exam-week care package for my daughter, who is away at college. (Oops, she reads my blog, so I may have just ruined the surprise! Hopefully she is too busy studying to read all my posts this week!)  

• A committee I belong to is putting together a gift of baked goods. I am going to start to do some baking for that today. (This is a surprise, so I can't mention the name of the committee!)

• Our family has a tradition of choosing a gift animal to purchase during the holiday season from Heifer International. We love the idea of being able to help another family. Picking which animal we will give is fun, and we have even named each one! 

Today, I am going to order the animal we have decided to purchase this year: a llama, which will go to a family in an area of higher altitude, such as Bolivia. 

When they were small, one of my children's very favorite books was "Is Your Mama a Llama?" written by Deborah Guarino and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. So, of course, we have named this llama "Mama." 

• Nearly 70 years ago, Heifer International was founded on the philosophy “teach a man to fish ... .” Their mission is “to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.”  

• Rather than just being a handout, each Heifer animal gift provides a family in need with food and reliable income, resulting in self-reliance and participation in improving their own communities. Each family who receives an animal agrees to give the first female offspring to another family in need. 

• Animals not your thing? Heifer International also offers opportunities to help purchase items such as irrigation pumps or trees, to give the gift of clean water, to empower women, or send a girl to school.      

And last but not least:

• Today, I am spreading the word about this  #GivingTuesday campaign. Every time someone participates in #GivingTuesday (or Giving Anyday!), our world is a better place ... one gift at a time.

The advice from the UN Foundation about #GivingTuesday is to “make it your own.” 

To be truthful, I probably would not accomplish all of these things today, if it were not for the motivation of #GivingTuesday.  I would do them all eventually, but this campaign has helped me to avoid procrastinating!

Oh, and about that llama. - -  When I sent a text to my daughter last night, to ask her if she thought buying a llama was a good idea this year, she responded that she had initially only seen half of my text. For a second she thought WE were getting the llama!  If the receiving family is even half as enthusiastic as she momentarily was, it will be a fantastic gift!

What will you give today? What will you give on the rest of the days of this year?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains an Amazon affiliate link, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

Perfect Weather to Work Outside - and We Missed It!

I should have listened to that little voice in my head.  I am always sorry when I ignore it.

A few weekends ago, I was determined to get our outside holiday decorating done, while the weather was still mild.  Unfortunately, while they were stored away over the past year, many of our light strands had mysteriously ceased to work. But the time I sorted out what we needed to replace, daylight was vanishing and it was too late to get started outside.

This photo shows some of the outside lights we put up last year

Near the end of this past week, we were treated to a real warming trend, and all of our snow melted.  I knew Friday morning that it was the perfect day to work outside.  But I was still feeling lazy from our Thanksgiving meal and I had other things to do. I rationalized that I would put the lights up on Saturday, when my family could help me.

Friday evening, we went to a friend's house for dinner.  We discussed the weather forecast; we had all noticed a winter storm was expected to begin about noon the next day.  Our friends didn't have their lights up yet either - we all agreed it would be a good plan to get up early and get our outdoor decorating done.

Upon returning to our house that evening, it was 48 degrees F outside.  We woke up to a chilly house - it always takes the furnace a bit to catch up.  The world outside our windows was white, it was still snowing steadily, and the thermometer said minus 6 degrees F.  (A drop of 64 degrees since the previous afternoon.)  Not exactly ideal conditions for hanging lights.

I should have listened to that little voice!

We might get another warm spell - or we will eventually have to brave the elements if the lights are to go up.  Either way, I am glad that a few years ago I learned an easy trick for hanging string lights in hard-to-reach high places.  I once wrote an article explaining the technique.  If you are like us and still have decorating to do, you may find it helpful. I will publish it here on my blog later this week.

Do you put up holiday outside lights - and have you done so yet this year?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!