Thursday, January 24, 2013

Enough with the Pity Party, Sweepers!

     I love to enter sweepstakes.  I simply adore it.  I enjoy the rush when you get an email, stating you won, I  love the surprise packages in the mail and I love just imagining if I won the big prize!  What I don't like is this:   Stop with the pitiful comments, people!
     See, occasionally a blog contest will ask you to leave a comment about what you'd do if you won a cash prize of a varying amount.  I usually say, vacation or new gadget or even luxury coffees.  However, invariably some sad sack will state,

"Buy food for my three children"   "Buy clothing for my adopted children"  "My husband is out of work, we have 8 children, a blind parrot and I have a terrible rash and I need to buy ointment." (okay, I made that last one up, but wait...you'll see it eventually.)

    I think people do this because they think they will play the pity card, but a random computer generated pick does not care that your mother-in-law feeds orphan squirrels and needs nut money.

     On a side note, end your comments with "Thank you".  I do that because my daughter has done giveaways on her blog and they are work.  Be polite.  It's not going to help you win, but it helps you look like a decent human being, something in short supply from this 19th Century Lady's point of view.

     When you win, put a nice comment back up on the blog and then

Keep Celebrating!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Clean Your House.

     I recently had an acquaintance tell me that I was a bit of the joke of our circle because I vacuumed every day.  Now, please, I'll explain that I do not particularly like this person. (hate the bitch...ooo, sorry, that's not ladylike.)  She tends to come at me with all manner of passive-aggressive statements, whereas I tend to be a pretty laid back person.  That is until you rile me, then I'm In-Your-Face aggressive.  Annnnywaaaysss...I laughed and told her I was rather pleased by that remark, at which she rolled her eyes at me and went talking to the other hippie mom in our group. (Birkenstocks and all, I do not kid.)
     Okay, I don't vacuum EVERY day, but I do take pride in my housekeeping skills.  I wish I could tell you that she is a working mom, and just has no time to clean, but nope.  Not only is she a full time mom, like the rest of the home schools, she isn't really a home schooler.  She unschools.  I know some that really make that work, but it's not working in this case.
     Look, in order to have a stress free live, you must have clean, comfortable surroundings.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I was an Organizer.  I believe it is innate in me to keep things neat.  It may not be natural for all of you, but it certainly doesn't help, when peers ridicule you for trying to bring order to your home.
     Cleaning is not stupid women's work.  It is a noble thing to want to keep your family stress-free and happy.  So pick up that dust cloth, put on your favorite music and be proud of yourself!  Afterwards, the house will look so lovely, you'll want to invite a few friends over so you can....

Keep Celebrating!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Chicken Stew with Parsley Dumplings

     Oh, the nights are long and cold.  We need comfort food and this recipe from William-Sonoma will satisfy the family on the coldest of nights.  I have to make a triple batch of dumpling for my dear ones.

Ingredients


 4 lbs whole chicken leg
6cups chicken stock
3celery stocks
4carrots, peeled
2russet potatoes, peeled
1onion
1tomato, cored and chopped
Salt and Pepper


For the Dumplings:
1egg
2T water
Dash of Paprika
Dash of Cayenne
1tsp butter, melted
salt
¾cup A/P flour
1tsp baking powder
2T flat-leaf parsley + a little for garnish
Place the chicken pieces in a deep, heavy pot and add the stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Skin any froth and scum that forms on the surface. Coarsely chop the vegetables and add them to the pot. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Lift out the vegetables with a slotted spoon and place in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process to form a thick puree. Stir the puree back into the pot with the chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes longer while making the dumplings.
In a mixing bowl stir together the egg, water, paprika, cayenne, and melted butter. Season with salt. In another bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder, then stir into the egg mixture to form a thick, smooth batter. Stir in the parsley.
Using a large tablespoon drop the dumplings into the simmering stew. Cover the pot and simmer without raising the lid for 15 minutes. Lift out a dumpling to test to see if it is cooked. If it is still floury, re-cover and let cook 3-4 minutes longer.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

10th Century Lady?

     Oh, my old-fashioned friends, is there any greater pleasure than reading?  I was ever so fortunate to receive many books for Christmas along with a few gift cards for book stores.  I hope you were just as lucky!
     I enjoy the tactile feel of a new book and the nice smell when you open it.  I love the atmosphere of a good used book store....all musty and full of information I have yet to discover.  Now, your 19th century lady has a confession to make...I own a Kindle Fire.  Yes, I do enjoy it.  It is very useful when I am waiting for the children at one of their events.  I used to have to consider what book to take with me and now...I just take them all in one small electronic device that fits in my pocketbook.
     What do you like to read?  Right now, I am enjoying a history of England by Peter Ackroyd and to accompany that, I am reading a non-fiction book by Edward Rutherford by the name of Sarum.  I am seriously fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon time period, so much that I am teaching myself Old English!  Perhaps I shall have to retitle my blog "10th Century Lady" someday!
   I do hope that all of you have enjoyed your holidays and I hope that you, above all,

Keep Celebrating!