Baby, It's Cold outside!

Man, oh man, is it cold!!! School was cancelled since it was 10 below today so I slept in. Terry and I are going to Jamaica next week and with this cold weather, I'm definitely looking forward to it. That warm beach is going to be heaven!

To help warm everyone up on this cold winter day. Here's a yummy recipe for hot chocolate!

Maple Hot Chocolate
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 large marshmallows




DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt. Stir in hot water and butter; bring to a boil. Add the milk, maple flavoring, vanilla and 8 marshmallows. Heat through, stirring occasionally, until marshmallows are melted. Ladle into mugs and top each with a marshmallow.

Family reunions

I buried my dad today. It sure has been a week of emotions. I guess I should give you a little history. In a nutshell, I've been the black sheep for over 25 years and haven't had much contact with my siblings or parents in all this time. I have 2 kids that never knew their grandparents....and we all live not far from each other..didn't make it easier. I got a call from my older brother and Sunday, the night he died and a call from my twin brother the next morning...they wanted me there...so I went, with my husband and 2 sons and daughter in law. Except for a sister that is adopted and has major issues with me, the rest was good and I know that my dad would be happy. At one time, he and I had a special daughter/dad bond so I just kept myself at that time of our lives. I hugged my mother and we spoke...I introduced her to my boys and met my neices. Talk about the gene pool, but my older brother's daughter favors me...we have the same nose, profile, dimple in chin, height...freaky! Everyone commented on it the last 2 days. She's 16 and beautiful. His other daughter is a cutie too. My brother and I are the only 2 biological kids that have kids and these 2 girls and my 2 boys met for the first time. It was cool....my mother even sat down between my son and Ted's daughter and at one time held my younger son's hand. It's amazing what a death can do. I don't know where it will go from here, but we all left on good terms. A first in many years.

I'm sad for my dad, it's never easy losing someone. I know he's not suffering anymore. He had congestive heart failure and hasn't been well the last few years. I saw him from time to time at the store or driving by so I saw the illness take it's toll. It was quick and that's a blessing.

Everyone...take the time to offer a smile and a hug. Life goes by so quick.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Ok...here I go again. I thought I would really try to do more with blogging, keep you updated to what I'm doing new on Ebay. Right now, I'm working on Valentine items and yesterday I sewed shamrocks. I've also been thinking about spring items already. My son goes back to school Tuesday so I'm hoping I get back into a routine. I've been slacking during Christmas vacation. We were so busy from August to December, I was ready for a break. My oldest son got married in October and my younger son is in the Elite choir at school among every known club the school has practically, so needless to say, we were busy. I even sang in the Christmas Contata with the High School choir. They asked community members to join so I did. It was fun.

It's the beginning of a whole new year. I'm wishing everyone a healthy, happy one!