First Sewing Lesson

Ayva learned how to thread the machine and pull the thread from the bobbin. Then she practiced a basic straight stitch.

We washed the material for her skirt, and measured her little waist. Next lesson will review today's lesson and start the skirt.

She is a very good student.

Hometown Hero

From Simone Niles Instagram a powerful quote from the statements of survivors.

From Glamour magazine:

After hearing the testimony of Amanda Cormier, a music lover who said she couldn’t write or perform after Nassar’s abuse, Aquilina said: “It seems to me, after this, you can finish writing. You found your voice. It's a strong, effective, brave voice, and you have a child coming. Maybe what you need to do is start and finish a lullaby."

Responding to Taylor Cole, a woman who testified she suffers from anxiety and lack of sleep because of Nassar, Aquilina said:“Push away those nightmares. He’s gone. Your words replace what he’s done to you.”

Aquilina told gymnast Bailey Lorencen:“The military has not yet come up with fiber as strong as you…. Mattel ought to make toys so that little girls can look at you and say, ‘I want to be her.’ Thank you so much for being here, and for your strength.”

To read the article click here 

Visit with Great Grandkids

I love when they come to visit. Last night Caroline brought my makeup that I ordered from her. As soon as they walked in the door they put the tablets down and found things to do. Ayva got the bag of felt and started making clothes for her stuffed dog toys, Mr. Pug Johnson and Weenie. Then Javier started helping her.

The boys got the blocks out and started building. Then the tow trucks to knock this down.

Before they left they had ice cream and pop. Hope they went to bed okay, Grandma Caroline!

Patrick

This man.... I'm so in love with him. He's reading a Michigan magazine.

I looked at my hands and noticed how wrinkled they are since losing weight. Half kidding I asked, "Will you still love me when I'm totally saggy baggy?"

He answered, "You'll be cute saggy baggy. Of course I'll love you. "

Chicken Stroganoff

Always looking for ways to used cooked chicken. Came up with a Chicken Stroganoff recipe for 6 Freestyle points per serving.

This recipe serves 2.

3/4 cup Fat Free Gravy
1 cup Fat Free Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup White Wine
3/4 cup Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
Mrs. Dash, Salt, Pepper, Minced Garlic, Minced Italian Herbs
Heat on low

Cook 3 cups Carba Nada Noodles in salted water, drain

Add to sauce
8 oz cooked chicken cubed or shredded
Cooked noodles

Serve over
Zucchini sauted with Chili Lime Seasoning

Cream Cheese Parfait

A Small Delicious Cheesecake Parfait - 3 pts

This recipe makes 12 small parfaits. They are delicious and our non Weight Watcher company loved them too. Just the right size to satisfy the craving for something sweet.

8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese
1 cup Fat Free Whipped Topping
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
1 single serving container FF Greek Yogurt

Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries

36 Trader Joe's Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies (These are tiny.)

With hand mixer blend cream cheese, yogurt, powdered sugar and whipped topping.

Crush 3 cookies into the bottom of each parfait glass. Put a dollop of cream mixture on top. Add a layer of fruit. Top with another small dollop of cream mixture.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate & Banana Oh My

Trying a new dessert.

3 Bananas
1/4 cup PB2
1/4 cup Cocoa
1/2 cup Fiber One

Combine bananas, PB2, and cocoa until smooth with hand mixer. Fold in Fiber One.

Fill into 12 mini cupcakes. Freeze.
1 = 0 pts
2 = 1 pt

Freeze but take out of freezer for 10 minutes before eating.

Bagel Oh Yum

1 cup Self Rising Flour
1 cup FF Greek Yogurt

Mix
Knead in bowl (sticky)
Cut in 4
Roll into ball, push hole through middle

Put on parchment covered cookie sheet

Brush with egg

Sprinkle sesame or poppy or Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel seasoning

Cover with towel and let rise while oven gets preheated.

Bake 350° 20 minutes
Broil 500°  2 minutes

Makes 4 bagels 3 pt each

End of Year

Since beginning Weight Watchers on May 21st I have done pretty well.

My cholesterol medicine dose was cut in half. Hoping adding exercise this last month will get it taken away completely. We go to the Freeland Sportszone every morning for 35-45 minutes of biking, walking and some of the machines.

I've had a bit of a glitch since the program changed in the beginning of December, but I think I've got it figured out now.

So I'm ending this year with a 56.4 loss. Still a long way to go but it has been amazingly much easier than I thought it would be and I feel so much better.

Christmas at St. Dominic

Oh Yeah!

The only thing Pat wanted of his Dad's! 

Yup, I married a Mountain Man!

Advent

We looked to Bishop Ken's homily from the first Sunday in Advent - 2003 for inspiration for our worship space at the SS. Peter and Paul site of St. Dominic's in Saginaw, Michigan. The empty manger at the cross.

"The calendar that affects us today is the Catholic liturgical calendar. In that calendar, the New Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, which we are celebrating today.    

Our liturgical calendar revolves entirely around Jesus Christ. Every single year, we celebrate the whole story of Jesus Christ. We begin with the Advent and Christmas seasons, which revolve around his birth. The Christmas seasons ends with the baptism of the Lord by John the Baptist, and we begin his public ministry.  So we start listening to Gospels telling us about the early days of his ministry. After that comes Lent, when we begin looking toward his arrest, his suffering, his death. Lent leads up to the three-day Holy Triduum, when we meditate on his passion, death, and resurrection. Then we have the fifty day Easter season when we celebrate the truth of his resurrection, leading up to Pentecost when we celebrate his pouring of the Spirit upon us. Finally, we spend the rest of the year proclaiming all that he did and said.

We do that every liturgical year, the same sequence. Then when it ends, we start over.

So here we are at the very beginning of another liturgical year - the first Sunday of Advent. There's an interesting thing about our beginning. Every year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the Gospel is about the end of the world. At first that might seem strange - to begin with the ending. On the other hand, that's the way we map out a trip. If we're trying to figure out how to get somewhere, we start with the ending - our destination. Then we figure out how to get there."

http://www.visitationnorth.org/index.php/year-c-luke/123-first-sunday-of-advent-year-c

Happy Day After

What a great time yesterday. 20 people in our condo. No kids so it was less than expected but we all had a place to sit.

The turkey was delicious and very juicy even though it was done an hour early and we had to wait for everyone to arrive.

That pumpkin slab pie was such a good idea. Potatoes and dressing made in crockpots turned out yummy.

This made the day run smoothly.

After work was done

Thankful for so much.

Easy Peasy

I decided to make a cookie sheet pie. Doubled the pumpkin pie recipe on the Libby's pumpkin can. 350° for 55 minutes. Turned oven off and left it in for 30 minutes. It's gorgeous.

New Perspective

I love how the angle of the sun changes in the fall. It changes the landscape with shadows. This afternoon we drove through the countryside, stopping lots of times so I could take pictures. A great afternoon.

Wonder

A heartwarming movie filled with growing up, friendship and family. I doubt it will win awards, but it won my heart.

Much needed pj day

I'm sitting on my couch in my PJ's and it's after Noon! We have been on the go for weeks. Even if some of that time was fun time it was part of the nonstop pattern.

So today I'm watching an NCIS marathon, tipping my neighbors on Bakery Story, planning the cooking prep for 24 Thanksgiving guests (it may sound like work, but I love making a timeine) and not getting dressed until we have dinner with friends later tonight.

One last look from the living room before leaving for dinner.

As good as it gets

We went to Lumberman's Monument with Barb Sharma last week. Everything was on sale. I saw this book and knew Romeo and Tino would love it. Yup. We laughed and laughed some more.

Dreams!

So the result of the last post is that Pat and I slept most of the afternoon. I know that means I'll be up most of the night, but the dream I had makes it worth it.

I NEVER remember my dreams. But today was different. My best friend, Janet died several years ago and I really miss her. Today in my dream I was organizing our classmates to go to Grand Marais to see Janet. (Something I did when she was alive.) In my dream I forgot to tell Janet we were coming. Lots of stress when I couldn't get her on the phone.

Finally we all got there and Janet was nowhere to be found. My cousin, Jon, also a classmate, came in looking like a hippy with an afro!  (I can't wait to tell him that!)

Then I went in the living room and there was Janet. She was laughing. It made me so happy to see her. Then I woke up and I can't tell you how happy I am I got to see Janet.

Cleaning, lazing, still in my jammies!

Pat has a cold so it's a good excuse to stay in my nightgown all day long!  Haven't done this in ages. We watched a movie and now are watching the rerun of the Astro win last night because we both fell asleep before it was done.

Earlier I cleaned out the refrigerator. I zoodles the zucchini and took all the meatballs and sauce out of the freezer for our family dinner tomorrow.  Can't wait for everyone to come over.