The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 22 . . .

Outside my window . . .
It is absolutely freezing!!! Saturday it was in the 70s and now it is in the 30s!!!

I am thinking . . .
I will have to get busy and finish a scarf for a friend/co-worker since we are having our party tomorrow!

I am thankful for . . .
my dad. We spent the entire weekend together and it was great. We hunted, went grocery shopping, moved equipment, and just had a great time.

From the kitchen . . .
I am making Whiskey Glazed Carrots for the office Christmas party tomorrow and maybe Holiday Bacon Appetizers (depending on how lively I’m feeling when I get home!!!). Thanks to Ree at The Pioneer Woman for the recipes (I salivate on my keyboard while reading her recipes!!!).

For Christmas, my MIL has decreed that we are having untraditional foods. SO, brisket, beans (I’m making them), potato salad, cole slaw, etc. What fun!!! DH is not happy about it. Apparently he dreams of chicken and dressing all year long. I did not have the heart to tell him I could cook it later. He is seriously bummed. Oh well.

Okay, beans. I make them totally different than his mother and he made the mistake of telling me that early on in the ten year marriage. He gets them only when we BBQ with my dad and on special occassions. I put a package of homemade venison pan sausage in the crock pot, then I add a hunk of salt pork (for flavor, y’all), half a yellow onion smushed in the food processor b/c DH doesn’t like onion and will refuse to eat something if he sees chunks of onion in it (but he LOVES onion rings, go figure), then the beans and water. My secret ingredient is chili powder. Some people add tomatoes. I am a bean purist. Tomatoes belong on hamburgers, NOT in my beans. Other people don’t want meat in their beans, but honeys, I make beans that are a complete meal with cornbread and you gotta have meat!!!

I am wearing . . .
Blue jean dress with a black collar and black slip on shoes (did I mention it’s freaking freezing out there?!?!?! I am wearing semi-real shoes today in honor of the temp).

I am creating . . .
a red scarf for Pam and a Santa Hat toilet paper cover (cute and useless—perfect for so many people!!!)

I am going . . .
to be so stinking busy for the next few days

I am reading . . .
crochet patterns and Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods (a Sweet Magnolias novel!!)

I am hoping . . .
that everything I cook turns out fabulous!

I am hearing . . .
Christmas Cookies by George Strait

Around the house...
it is cluttered and messy and I don’t have time to even care. Will does though so I am sure I will spend lots of time on my week off attempting to organize the clutter. Or maybe not. It is still deer season. Hmmmmm . . .

One of my favorite things...
The day after Christmas. I can sleep in or go hunting and nobody is expecting ANYTHING from me!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Cook, cook, and more cooking! Oh, and crocheting.

Here is picture thought I am sharing . . . Merry Christmas from our house to yours