Sorry for the delay!!

Hi All,

Glenda and I went to the Lock & Dam to eat some lunch, and guess what??!! Another Tornado Warning!! Now, I know it's been many months since we last posted, but things have been going well, and we have been busy. But, it was very interesting to be out at the river, and here the PA go on about the warning.

I'll let everyone know when the big event happens -- hopefully never.

Still learning how to use the video on my cell phone. Since I can't use the phone to make calls, I might as well use it for a great camera and recorder.
I didn't know that I was doing that at the time, but oh well.

The Ten Commandments of Christmas

The Ten Commandments of Christmas

Debra Oaks Coe © all rights reserved

1.   1   Thou shalt not put any other holiday traditions or celebrations (not even Santa Claus) above the celebrations of our Savior’s birth and the deep meaning of His life, teachings, and sacrifices.

2.    2  Thou shalt look at thy life and make at least one positive change as your gift to the Savior at His birthday celebration.

3.    3   Thou shalt have many traditions, especially those types of traditions that remind you of the Savior, give service to others, and bring your family closer together.

4.    4   Thou shalt remember those who are alone and help them to have a “Merry Christmas” also.

5.   5   Thou shalt give gifts of worth and not merely add to another’s collection of clutter simply for the sake of “giving a gift”. Give of yourself which is the way the Savior gave.

6.   6   Thou shalt value the effort and thought put into gifts received. Just as with widow’s mite, it is the meaning that gives a gift value not the dollar amount paid.

7.    7  Thou shalt give no gift grudgingly or because you have to. This does not mean to not give the gift to someone, but work until you have changed your own attitude.

8.    8   Thou shalt not become so busy that you don’t have time to really enjoy the season.

9.    9  Thou shalt remember that of all the beautiful and expensive gifts, what children want and need most is honor, respect, love, and your time.

1010.  Above all, thou shalt find a way to keep the spirit of the Christmas season and of giving all through the year.

Our Christmas tree and fireplace.

Our Christmas tree looks pink, but it is really white with pink lights.  I have one more to put up.  I can't put up all 7 this year because of lack of room on the truck when we were moving here we had to leave a lot of things behind but unfortunately Christmas items were some of the things we left behind.

Yum, yum, yum!

Decided to finally make something sweet for after diner, and it was real easy to make - just a little time consuming.

Spice Orange Cake w/ Caramel Glaze (or Dulce de Leche)

For the cake:
All I did was add 1 tsp. Japanese Five Spice to a Duncan Hines orange cake mix and followed the directions on the cake mix box. For this recipe, I used a Bundt(r) pan.

For the Caramel Glaze:
Take one 12oz can sweetened condensed milk, and remove the top. Place in small sauce pan; fill with water to about 3/4 way up the can; bring water to boil and let milk sit, stirring occasionally. Maintain doing this until milk turns caramel in color and thickens. This can take upwards of 1 hour.

** Caution** make sure there is water in the pan at all times. And, make sure NO water gets into the milk.

Cake should be done way before the sauce is. So, when you are ready just drizzle the sauce on the cake, and serve. You can heat up the sauce in a separate bowl to keep it fluid and warm. YUM!!

**Note**
This is how Dulce de Leche is made.

Gas Radiator - Resonator

This beautiful thing is called a resonator - a gas radiator, I guess. I'd love to know if anyone can help me find out what this really is called. The inserts are ceramic on most of them. I happen to have a few of these here in our home, and I will take pictures of those to share later.

Well, we are hitting below the freezing point here in Aberdeen, and I am still without heat. We are now going on week 5, and now have to wait until 2 more weeks because the money I had saved up to get the guy out here to pressure test our gas line, has yet to show up. Now, please keep in mind that I have called other plumbers to do this, but I am still waiting for Santa to bring me my Rolls Royce Silver Phantom.

Major flaw here is that it takes too long for someone to get a hold of you. Bad business, people, bad business.

YAY! Another Siren.

Again with the Tornado warnings. Sirens blasting, PA system calling out, people across the street burying their cat, yeah, just the normal stuff during tornado warnings. It was pretty neat just the same. One day Dorothy is going to come flying at me, and I am telling you now, she hits us with her house, I'm going DC in her Kansas butt.