A Happy Fall!

Loving the fall weather today!  October has finally cooled down a little for us here in south Texas.  Last night temps were in the high 40's.  Not bad!  I wanted to share with ya'll a great cornbread recipe I found.  This one is a keeper! Goes with chili, or stew, or just plain by itself.  It's wonderful!  Here it is:

Bacon Onion Cornbread




2 to 3 thick slices bacon, cut into ½ - inch pieces


1 cup chopped onion


2 cups Aunt Jemima Self-Rising Corn Meal (white or yellow)


1/3 cup all-purpose flour


1 cup buttermilk


3/4 cups milk (2%)


1 cup cream style corn


5 tablespoons butter, melted


1 egg





Heat oven to 400 degrees.






In a non stick large oven proof skillet, fry bacon and chopped onion together until browned, about 5 minutes. Combine dry ingredients and then add milk, buttermilk, melted butter, corn and egg; mix well by hand, don’t over mix. Pour over bacon-onion mixture and then bake 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Turn out onto serving plate and cut into serving size pieces. Serve hot!

Happy Baking!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2001

I thought it was suppose to be fall!

My new fall entrance garden.  Just put out the yellow mums.  Hope they don't burn up in this heat!


It was a scorcher today! I believe it was a whopping 103 degrees here in my neck of the woods.  The breeze was blowing hot, and I pretty much stayed inside the house all day! This is way to hot for this late in September.  What's happening to our world! I miss the rain and the cool breezes of fall.  Will we ever have cool weather here in South Texas? 

Well, enough of the weather. My day consisted of going to our local H-E-B for grocery's.  Hubby and I made our list and headed out early. (Sorry, we skipped church).   Got our grocery's and a new hummingbird feeder.  Those little hummers are buzzing every where in our back yard looking for a little drink.  So I figured I better get another feeder for them.  Now, I've got 4 feeders on my back patio.  I'll try to catch a photo of one of them, or two at the feeders. 

Got to see my son and my 3 precious grandkids.  They are all growning so fast I can't keep up!  I haven't seen them in 3 weeks! That is way to long for this little grandma! But, I know they are busy with school, and Jason and Missy are both teaching this year! They have a busy life that's for sure! But, I am blessed that both my kids live within a 15 minute drive from me.  Thank you Lord! Jenny's doing good today.  She had her 10 year class reunion this weekend.  That can't be! Seems like she just graduation from high school!  Little angel.  She should be delivering our new little one soon. 

This past Friday we said "Goodbye" to our Honduras visitor.  He's going back now.  Bobby helped him out for awhile.  But, he really needs to go back and see his family. 

Well, that's all for now.  

Valentine Day History

It was originally known as St. Valentine's day and shortened to Valentine's Day over time, but the sentiment remains the same. It's a day of celebrating love and affection between one another. The day is named after an early Christian martyr named Valentine and was first associated with romantic love during the High Middle Ages, when courtly love was popular.



The date derives its name from several Christian martyrs from the early hundreds, AD. There were several different martyrs that the name was taken from and at the time they had no romantic leanings. One specific Valentine is said to have been martyred in Africa on February 14th and that's where the date came from. The romantic aspect of the holiday comes from Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote, "For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate." These words were included in a poem that honored the engagement of teenagers King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. Critics mistakenly assumed he was referring to St. Valentine's Day of February 14th, although that is not a time when birds would be mating. In his text, Chaucer makes it seem like it it's an old tradition, although it doesn't appear to have existed prior to his writing it.



It seems only just that the city of love, Paris, adopted a High Court of Love on February 14, 1400. This was run by women on the basis of their poetry reading ability or the earliest written valentines. The holiday flourished and England embraced the celebration with the forming of factories that assembled paper valentines.



While the earlier forms of valentines were hand written poems, they eventually gave way to the manufactured forms. From paper valentines to gifts such as chocolates, flowers, and other romantic gifts, the traditions surrounding Valentine's Day have blossomed like the roses so popular on that day. It is estimated that 190 million valentines are sent each year in America alone, mostly among children. Although it's jokingly called, "Singles Awareness Day," it's still a time for all people to remember to express to their loved ones their un-dying love.

Happy Valentines Day!

Dee Dee

                              

Romance is the word for Valentines Day!

Romance:  A word, so beautiful it even sounds pretty!  That's what romance is all about.  A celebration of the Senses.  So turning your Valentine's Day into something Romantic can be a wonderful sensational experience.  Making things that taste, smell, feel, sound and look wonderful are the ingredients to a romantic day. 

Here's a few ideas:  For dinner, create that romantic mood with sensual foods, use your best crystal, silverware and light candles, play music, and have flowers on your table.  Use all the good stuff to create your table for two. 

Soft, cushioned, sink down puffy Beds are romantic, fluff your feather pillows, add a soft comforter, with loads of soft blankets. 

Create your own Valentine Cards to give. Everyone will love these "straight from the heart" homemade cards. I made these Valentine cards last year for my grandchildren. They were probably too young to appreciate them. These cards called "Antique Valentines"  Instructions can be found on the Martha Stewart website, as well as instructions for the following valentine cards. 

I thought this was a cute idea.  Cut out your own photos to be added to your creation!

These envelopes were made using doilies!  How clever is that!

Also using doilies, these valentine cards are sure to be a hit! 

All of the above card projects can be found at http://www.marthastewart.com/

So, go forth and be creative and romantic this valentines! 

Till next time....Dee Dee

(tablescape photo can be found at Victoria Magazine for a better view.)

Don't forget to buy your sweetie some flowers!

Valentine Flowers we made at my flower shop, a few years ago.

Valentine, Texas

Valentines Day is just around the corner.  If you want to have your valentines sent out with the special Valentine, Texas stamp, here's the information.  Send your valentines in a large envelope to:

Valentine Post Office
Valentine, Texas 79854-5400

They will post mark your envelopes with their cute stamps

Make sure your envelopes are fully addressed and stamped before you put them in the large envelope.  Take it to your local post office so you will be sure to have the correct postage. 

Won't your Valentine recipient's be excited to see their postmark! 

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Dee Dee