Happy Boxing Day
Sean has my laptop. I'll post more about my holiday when I get it back.
Love,
Trish
Albert Schweitzer
Good morning Trish and OFF-
Happy Boxing Day to you. Glad to see your post wondered if your travels had gone ok. Hope your foot is okay. Glad Sean is going to try to work on your laptop.
Well Christmas for me was quiet. Mom and I slept in. She was surprised that I had gotten her gifts. I followed the rule, "has to be edible or useable". I had gotten her a nightgown and a big button telephone. Her vision is getting so bad that she can't see the phone to dial it. Hopefully the big button phone gives her confidence to dial the phone again.
today we will bake cheese straws. This is a southern entertaining treat. It's sharp cheddar cheese, butter, cayenne pepper and flour. I grew up with my grandmother and mom making cheese straws at Christmas. Mom couldn't remember the recipe but I found one on line.
My younger nephew earned his brownie points yesterday by initiating the Christmas phone call. He passed the phone around to everyone at that end so they could talk to Mom. My brother has been chilly with me but that's okay I don't care anymore about that but he can damn well call my mother once a week. Nephew said he got an Ar-15 rifle for Christmas. I'm not anti gun but I really don't see the need for semi automatic guns! My only comment to him was go take a gun safety class and learn to use it safely. Other nephew got a beer brewing kit. Future step niece got a waffle iron so I gave her some recipes to try with the waffle iron. She asked why I didn't come out there for Christmas. As I said to my mom I'd rather have a quiet Christmas at home than fly to California for chaos and excess.
Trish I am glad you got to Philly for Christmas. Connie happy you had time with your daughter. Mary happy that Maura is going to go with you to look at senior housing. Arlene looks like you had fun with your daughter. Carla hope you got to photographthe full moon last night, it was too cloudy here. Judy hope your visit with your Mom is going well. Jeannie Hang in there the holidays are almost over. Kathy your Facebook posts look like you had a good family gathering. Christine happy to read that steps came over early. Kudos to you for coming up with your coping plan for foods over the holiday, we should all
copy you!Cindy P I hope everything is okay in your neck of the woods. Vickie happy to read that the pajamas fit, it's a nice tradition to start for your family. Susan hope your grandson had some peace from his illness over the holidays. Yvonne looked like you had a nice family holiday visit.
off to the dollar store to buy bobby pins so we can wash and set moms hair. Thoughts and hugs going out to all of you.
Cindi
Hello Cindi....I think your mom will love that phone. I am so glad they make them that way. I am glad you followed the rules...LOL! That made her extra happy.
I have heard of cheese straws but have never had any. I can't handle anything with more then just a tiny amount of spicy. My tummy rejects it! Have fun making them together!!
You have a wonderful attitude toward your brother. Let him deal with his own crap. Helping out with your mom now and then shouldn't be that difficult!!
Cindy P has been dealing with some really fierce winds and rain. SO far all is okay at their home. In another area in town there was a huge sink whole. No one was hurt thank goodness!! I am so glad they managed to get their roof repairs made before these storm****
Bobby Pins....I haven't heard of anyone in many years that still set hair with them. Nothing wrong with it. I think the curl holds tighter and lasts longer that way. I did that for my mom at one time.
Have a good afternoon...enjoy the cheese straws....love and hugs...connie d
Good morning Trish and everyone.....
Trish....I will check in later to see your post.
As for me..... I slept so much better last night. I went to bed to read and read about a page and couldn't read anymore. I turned out the lamp and I was out! I was so exhausted.
I had such a wonderful time with my daughter, Carrie. The day went by too quickly. She gave me a great haircut, just like I wanted it!! Then she gave me a pedicure...awwwww!! We had fun!! She loved her Chow-mien. I had her leave me a serving and the rest she took home!
We had a snow storm over night. It just started snowing really hard again. It is very pretty!! I would so much rather be on a beach laying in the sun!! Oh well that is just a dream.
I will check in again later. Everyone have a good day!
Prayers for our loving OFF Family and their families. Special prayers as requested. Tears for some 
I love you all very much....HUGS....connie d
Hello Kathy.....I really don't have a recipe for my chow mien. I just learned i****ching a friend make it. That was many years ago when my girls were young. It is one of those old recipes that are really simple and my family wouldn't let me change.
1 bunch of celery...chopped
1 to 2 onions depending on size...chopped (my family loves onion)
2 cans of bean sprouts (my family likes it better then fresh)
2 small cans of chopped water chestnuts
1 container of fresh mushrooms ...chopped
Cooked chicken....chopped ( I put in extra as I want more protein)
1 1/2 to 2 boxes of chicken broth...it needs to cover the everything.
I put all the ingredients in a crock pot on high for about 3 hours. Then on low until you feel the veggies are as cooked as you like them.
Add soy sauce...3-4 tablespoons.
Add Kitchen Bouquet (browning sauce)....2 tablespoons
Then thicken...I use corn starch you can use flour. Make a paste and add to ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer until thickened.
I serve it over rice and topped with chow mien noodles.
Like I said it is a simple recipe....we really like it! ENJOY!!
I have made beef and also turkey chow mein. Same recipe!
Love you...connie d
