Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving And Loss



This has been a hard year, wait hard doesn't begin to define our year. I think my Daughter summed it up pretty well a couple of weeks ago when she angrily spouted, "I thought 13 would be my lucky year! It hasn't been! It's been the worst year EVER!" Dramatic, not really, you see I had just told her that her Great Grandfather, my Gramps, passed that morning at 10:23. This was October 29th just prior to her favorite holiday, Halloween. How ironic that this year the kid chose to be Queen Mab, who is sometimes seen in literature as the Queen of Darkness. It's been dark alright. The loss of my Gramps was made even more difficult for us to bear because it came on the tails of loosing his favorite pie baker, my Mom. Gramps was in his 90's, my Mom only 67. After having been told just a few weeks earlier that she was cancer free, a second sarcoma was found the day after Mother's Day. My Mom fought bravely to overcome that second sarcoma, but she lost the battle to cancer in June. Is that the end of our yearly losses, of course not. Things happen in 3's don't they!? A week ago today my Husband came home and announced that he just been laid off. Scared doesn't begin to describe having to go through unemployed with the Hubs for the third time in seven years.

So where am I at today, on a day of thanksgiving, after such a tumultuous last five months? I am at peace. The wonderful things that have been happening have been sadly overshadowed by all the pain, but they are there and I'm embracing them. In October my Brother tied the knot with an incredible Woman. It was a wonderful celebration with family, old friends and new friends. In addition to an awesome Sister In Law, I've been blessed with two darling Nieces close to my Daughter's age and an adorable baby Nephew who's still not too busy to snuggle. I scored! My glass has been keeping me extremely busy and all that work has begun to become fruitful. I'm excited that we've only begun this year's holiday season! Funerals and visitations are hard and painful, but they're also a place where people reconnect. I'm grateful for the friends and family that I was able to reconnect with in these last months. Though jobless is a nightmare, so is a job that was constantly stressful. The hubs is choosing to create opportunities for himself in the job world and I applaud his efforts. This will turn into a job that he is energized by, not drained by! My Princess is growing into a brilliant, talented, beautiful teen who I'm very excited to watch become her own person. She's become a driven student, actor, singer and pie baker who is just bursting with potential. The kid may have chosen to be Queen Mab "a fairy of darkness" for Halloween, but Mab was also said to be a fairy who brings dreams to people. We're going to continue our journey with that version of Queen Mab close to us. Let the dreams begin!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Stuffing!


Years ago when I began making Thanksgiving Dinner at our house I decided to do my own version of my Mom/Grandma's stuffing, basically because I couldn't stick my hand into a turkey without gagging. I also did not want one more thing fighting for oven space, hence crock pot utilization! It's now the go-to stuffing recipe on both my and my Husband's side of the family. :)

Crock Pot Stuffing
1 box of Chicken Stove Top mix
1 bag of stuffing bread cubes, seasoned or unseasoned your choice
1 1/2c raisins
2T dry onion flakes
2 cans of Swanson low sodium chicken broth

* Make the Stove Top as directed on the box
* In a VERY large bowl stir the Stove Top into all of the other ingredients and mix well
* Gently scoop ingredients into your crock pot and cook on low for 1-2 hours
* Stir in small amounts of water if it seems to be drying out
* Serve, but don't worry if you're bowl isn't as cool as our CORN BOWL

Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Swanson Broth.

Recipe Exchange Button

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Where can you find PickleBerries Glass in November?


Well there are a few places!

Seasonal Boutiques and Shows:

Heart and Home Boutique In The Country Barn
6730 County Road 10 North, Waconia, MN
http://www.heartandhomeboutique.com/heartHome.shtm
Nov 14, 18, 19, 20 & 21
Barn Hours:
Thursdays 9:00am - 6:00 pm
Fridays 9:00am - 6:00 pm
Saturdays 9:00am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00 pm

Chickadee Boutique
207 St. Marie, Shoreview MN 55126
http://www.chickadeeboutique.com/chickabout.html
open now: Thurs 9-8, Fri & Sat 9-5
Sun 10/3, 11/7, & 12/5 from 10-5

Artisan Holiday Boutique
5619 Manitou Road (next to Hazellewood Grill), Excelsior, MN, 55331
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Excelsior-MN/Artisan-Holiday-Boutique/136821069693936
Friday, November 19 - December 19
Tues - Thurs: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Crafty Pancakes at FAIR
http://sites.google.com/a/wmep.k12.mn.us/wmep-k12-mn-us-fair-c/
FAIR School Crystal (My daughter's school, awesome place!)
3915 Adair Ave N, Crystal, MN 55422
November 20 from 8:30-2:00
Arts & Crafts Sale 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All you can eat pancakes 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $5
All you can eat pancakes, 2 sausages, and choice of milk, juice, coffee or tea. Children under 3 eat free.

Shops and Galleries:

Moustique Boutique
111 Main St East
Hinkley, MN 55037
(612) 741-4977

The Art Pig
255 Millard Ave
Cokato, MN 55321

(
763) 443-2562

Anne & Friends
Wayzata Bay Center
819 East Lake Street
Wayzata, MN 55391

(612) 382-8774







Friday, November 12, 2010

I'm out and about!






This Sunday afternoon you'll find me out in Waconia, MN at the Heart and Home seasonal boutique. The boutique is in a gorgeous refurbished, heated barn with ethereal vaulted ceilings. Not only can you find my millefiori at Heart and Home, but a selection of my dichro and regular fused glass too! These pictures are just a sampling of the choices that you'll find for gifting a loved one or yourself.

http://www.heartandhomeboutique.com/heartHome.shtm
In The Country Barn 6730 County Road 10 North Waconia, MN
Winter Dates: Oct 28 - Nov 21
Barn Hours:
Thursdays 9:00am - 6:00 pm
Fridays 9:00am - 6:00 pm
Saturdays 9:00am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday, November 11, 2010

What's new?!




Bracelets, bobby pins and cuff links, oh my! It's been a busy seasonal boutique and show season so it's been a struggle to get things listed online, but the first bracelet is listed!