Taking My Christmas Village Down

Hi there everyone....How's your March going??? Mine has been busy so far. Many things to do and accomplish these last couple of days and weeks.

Tomorrow 3/7 I will be taking this lovely Christmas village down....I have really enjoyed it this year. Last year I was too lazy to put it up. So this year I wanted to leave it up as long as I could. Takes a long time to put it up....but a short time to take it down. 

Don't you just love all the lights? I shall miss my village. It's always different each year, but I have found certain pieces seem to find their way back to the same place each year. Probably I just remember where they were the previous year. They just seem to fit right.

This space will look bare when the village is gone and very boring. Some of the buildings included, a light house, the church, a restaurant, general store, mechanic's garage, a bridge, water tower, sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph in a manger, a house, people and lots of trees.

I always try to get a new piece each year....not this year though. Thinking I have plenty of buildings and people and space is limited.

There is a couple if ice skating ponds, benches to sit on. A post office, a school and gazebo.

See the boy shoveling the snow off the wooden play house. I think this is one of my favorite pieces. Always enjoy taking it out each Christmas.

I hope you liked visiting my village....sometimes I wish I could live there, away from the rat race and maddening crowd and world!!!

Since I last posted here. JP has been off work 18 days and this past Wednesday he was put on Leave of Absence. When his back is better he can return to his job. Not sure when that will happen. He tried for disability but was denied. In the mean time we sit with no income except SS (thank God for that) I called the mortgage company to tell them the situation. They said I can pay what I have and the rest, in a week when JP's SS comes. When JP worked, I always used his check to pay mortgage....now it is not there and I have to find another way to pay it. 

Hopefully I will be able to get other help. I have signed up to get help to pay JP's doctor bill. Can get food at the Salvation Army and Food Share. We might be able to get SSI and Medicaid. Guess we are about to learn how to "depend on God" for the next couple of months. I will keep you posted about JP. He does have a check-up the end of this month for his prostrate, hopefully that is still clear.

I have to tell you...my printer has come in very handy, what with all the papers I have had to copy and print for these different forms and such. GOD knows what we need when we need it....Awesome God!!!

Well time to close here...keep looking up I know better days are coming.....I am sure of it. Cheers ~ Louise

The First Day of June......

Hi there everyone....wow!!! First day of June! Where did January - May go to???? What does it mean when time flies by so fast? Is it because we live at such a fast pace??? When we lived in the Chicago area, we left to live in Ladysmith, WI for a slower paced life. Yeah, we left the "rat race" to slow down a bit. We were so impressed by the way the farmers just took time to talk, work, eat, it sure was a slower pace.

Then we moved to Appleton and worked at the Salvation Army....and life seemed to speed up a bit and now......here we are back in the "rat race" again. Even in retirement, the days go by fast....so much to do and accomplish......so little time!!!

Last night I made a Blue Apron meal.....man, this was delicious. "Beef Tartines with Zucchini au Pistou"  Yep, I would make this again and again and you know what?? It tasted better the next day too!!

2 ozs of spinach was cooked down till wilted, Cooled down then chopped up (I think it would be better to chop the spinach before it is cooked down though), 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and the juice of 2 lemon wedges were added and enough olive oil to create rough paste; season with salt and pepper to taste.

In the same pan, heat olive oil and add the cut up zucchini till lightly browned and slightly softened. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add half the pistou and toss to coat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add oil to pan and add the bread slices, cook 2-3 minutes per side till brown and crispy. When the bread is cooled, carefully rub the sides of the bread with the clove of garlic. Transfer the garlic toasts to a sheet pan.

Cook the sliced beef in olive oil adding salt and pepper to taste. When browned and cooked through, remove from heat. Divide the cooked beef between the garlic toasts, evenly top with Fontina cheese and chopped capers. Bake 3-4 minutes until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and divide the baked tartines and dressed zucchini between 2 plates. Top the tartines with the remaining pistou. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges on the side....Enjoy!!!

I hope you could follow my instructions for the yummy meal....but if not, here is where to go for this recipe.

Well, the hockey game is over and the Pittsburgh Penguin's beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1. Now they go back to San Jose....maybe the Sharks will win in their own backyard. Then it will be tied 2-2!!!
The Sharks have never won a Stanley Cup in the 25 years they have been playing. So I am rooting for them. Of Course I was hoping the Chicago Black Hawks would have won....but maybe next year!!

Time to close, I need to get downstairs and make some cards for Hospice. Have a great day and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise