the tale of a lonely leafsicle

What a resilient leaf ! How can I not be impressed by something that refuses to yield under such difficulties. All his leafsicle buddies left for warmer climates months ago. Why did this one particular leafsicle stay with me at my home through such terribly cold conditions ? I was working from home during our Monday ice storm that brought down power lines for many, many people. I remain warm in my cozy home and stare respectfully at all this liquidy ice. I looked outside into the frozen sight in front of me. All is hunkered underground or in it's hole, like me on this forbidding environment. But not this particular leafsicle. Thomas Edison and the warmth of his invention matters not to my tough guy. Clint Eastwood has nothing on him. The ice and wind lose the battle and the war to my lonely little icy friend. But since it is Christmas, I will name him Samson, for the Lord gives this leaf the strength of a great warrior. I snap this picture and hurry back into my warm home free of these bitter elements.I am glad to be nice and cozy inside. But whenever I venture out , I make sure to tip my hat each time I walk past this lone sentry.
Happy Holidays Samson the Leafsicle. Better you than me. Stay chilly my friend

Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole

With extra quiche crumb toppings, I called it the ultimate breakfast casserole. Lets see if the men like them at the Men's Breakfast.

Picture will follow shortly.

Recipe.

Potato ( 2 lbs )
10 ozs shredded cheese - I used cheddar cheese
12 ozs Sausage Links
1/2 lb Turkey Ham
1/2 each Bell Peppers, red and green.
1 medium onion - chooped
Seasonings.
10 eggs
3/4 cup milk

Cut up potato in cubes. boil and steam in a dutch oven for 25 mins or till soft.
Cut up sausage and turkey ham (into cubes).
In a big saute pan, cook sausage till slightly brown, add turkey ham and all other veggies and seasonings and sauteed for 15 mins. Mix in potato to cooking pan.

Scoop into 13x9 baking dish. sprinkle cheese all over.
Whisk up eggs and milk, pour over dish.
Chop up into crumbs 2 slices of quiche and spread as another layer of toppings over casserole.
Wrap dish with plastic wrap and refridgerate over night.
Bake at 350degree for 40 mins.

Cool for at least 5 mins and serve.

Sweet Potato Brioche Rolls

Today is a good day to bake these bread rolls with a little twists and flavor. My first brioche roll and I am hoping they will turn out decent since I have offered to bring dinner rolls to the Thanksgiving table.

The first 2 rolls are my test rolls. I bake the rest of the batch an hour later. I am well pleased of how the baked rolls come out from the oven, just perfect for the occasion. Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 warm water
1 tbs yeast
1/2 flour

3 eggs
6 tbs margarine
4 1/2 flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 medium baked sweet potato

1 egg
1 tbs water

Directions:
In a small bowl, stir together warm water and yeast and let it sit for 3-5 mins till bubbly. Add flour and mix well, let it sit for 1 hour. (will rise slightly)

Mix together eggs and sugar. Add yeast flour mixture to mixing bowl, add in flour. Add in soft margarine, mix well till all are incorporated and kneaded to smooth texture. Transfer dough to clean bowl and cover with towel and let dough sit in draft free warm place for an hour or so. Dough will rise to doubly. Punch down dough and cut dough into 20 evenly divided pieces. Fold each piece into a ball shape. Cut 8  - 1/2 inch slits (see picture above). let bread rolls for 30 mins to an hour.

Heat up oven at 350degree. Whisk up an egg plus 1 tbs water into egg wash. Brush top of bread roll with egg wash. Pinch middle of each roll and poke in a slice of almond. Bake rolls for 18 mins.

enjoy things and life ... always with Gratitude & Thankful Heart

..Dr. John White writes that several years earlier
God had made it possible for him to acquire a lovely home
with many luxuries. His feelings about the house fluctuated dramatically.

When he would begin to compare it with those of his friends,
he would feel proud because he had such a fine house and his joy would evaporate.
His home would actually become a burden.
All he could see were the many hedges and trees to care for and the endless odd jobs to do.

When he reminded himself that it was a gracious gift from God,
he felt JOY and THANKSGIVING.

White said, “While vanity clouds my eyes and burdens my heart, gratitude clears my vision and lightens my load.”

adapted from Our Daily Bread 11/28/2013

Psalms 95:2
Let us come before Him with Thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

Gathered Around Bowl

I have wanted to try sewing this for awhile since I first saw that this idea from this site page here . I thought it is neat and cute thing to sew and I have been curiously wanting to try this out myself. And it is, I like to do better in my second try. I have some padding on the base but on the sides. On my next try I will add padding on the sides to give it more support.

Bag of Gold Ornament or Pin Cushion

This is my favorite ornament yet and thus this ornament deserves a post all by itself. This design is pure inspiration .. a creative spark from God. I just keep on sewing with 'NO' plan earlier on .. it just happens. I like it. I need to pattern this and copyrights this under Joanne's Trails & Pursuits.

Soft Stuffed VT Football

I have to put together these in matter of days as I need to get them ready by Friday night. Guess what I got them done this morning... yeah! So, don't pick on my tardiness. These folks are die hard Virginia Tech fans, hope they will like them ... at least the little kids will find enjoyment tossing them around :)