I need the sunshine

It's what my mother, mama, always said. I need the sunshine, Leisa. If ever a woman suffered SAD, it was my mama.
Mary Lou, an almost perpetually happy woman, woke with the chickens, a smile on her face and humming something before she poured the first glass of iced tea. My mother occasionally drank coffee but iced tea was her "go to" drink. I remember on school mornings she didn't iron a dress or make breakfast before she got her tea. You wanted her to get her tea too.
Like flowers need rain, my mother needed sunshine. After the iced tea came the opening of all the curtains to let the light in..  She went from one end of the house to the other opening curtains and windows, if weather permitted. Sunshine released her from the night, you could see it on her face.
Likewise, she hated dark, gray days. It was as if someone drew out her very last breathe. I liken it to dementors in the Harry Potter movies, they come to devour his very soul.
Like a bear in hibernation my mother would don her winter armor- snuggly socks, house shoes and always a bath robe on over her clothes with EVERY light in the house on.

I'm not sure she was ever depressed but she was surely down when the sun didn't shine.
Then, like a child looking forward to Christmas she counted down the days to December 21st.
Promptly calling each of her children on the morning of, making sure we remembered, "shortest day of the year today." Every day gets longer from here, by early February you will really notice it, she would say.  We would have excited conversations about how long it would be before the first Irises broke ground or how long it would take for the buds to appear on the azalea and plum trees.

I imagine my brothers both know what today is but someone really should call to remind them.

 
.

He Should Donate his Brain to Science. Also, we have a special on beans.

This is a little tidbit from a year ago.
It was only a few days after Thanksgiving and there was a nice chill in the air. I love when it's time for the first pot of chili. When you look thru the pile of blankets for the extra fuzzy one, your reindeer socks and you begin to crave grilled cheese sandwiches.

I called my hard-working husband and asked him to pick up a can of chili beans on the way home.
He was excited over the chili but asked if we could forego the beans? Not because he didn't like beans in his chili mind you but because he has difficulty in grocery stores. This is one of those things that truly makes me scratch my head. It's a simple concept, food all lined up on shelves, big signs over the aisles pointing you to the food, people work there wearing the same vests (where you can find them) all there to point you to food. It seems easy to me but not to my Don. He would rather rewire a house. 

No baby I say, we need the beans.  

I grew up in a home where men cooked. My daddy made pancakes on Saturday mornings, he fried eggs and made bacon. He made the best chicken and dumplings you ever tasted. He cooked at the hunting club.  I  heard all the stories of big meals of deer steak in gravy and big "cat head" biscuits. My brothers both cook. My oldest brother taught me many things about being a good cook, correctly he would say.
Steve was only fifteen when he would have dinner waiting on mama when she walked through the door from work. The look on my mothers face told me, at that moment, she loved him the most. I was okay with that, because the roast beef, corn bread and potatoes were delicious. 

Donald said, stay close to the phone in case I need you. [It's beans baby, just a can of beans]
As expected, the phone rings in about fifteen minutes. Here's how it goes-
"They do not have any chili beans."  "Donald, yes, they have beans honey. Where are you? Go to aisle three and..." "WAIT, I'm going to aisle three now. I see pork n beans, northern beans, green beans, .. what kind of beans?"
"Donald. Chili beans. You know, for chili?"   "Yea, yea.. chili beans. No. There do not have chili beans"
(long pause, as I beat my head against the wall)
"What do I do now?"  Donald, baby. I tell you what, find someone that works there and ask them. They will take you to the chili beans. I'm going to get busy here okay?
I want to say- You are 64 years old, use your skills, find the beans.
Ten minutes later he calls back. "Leisa, there is not a can of chili beans in this store. I'm telling you."  At this point, I'm feeling rather foolish and I begin to doubt there are beans at Publix. (that's how good this man is)
I direct him across the highway toward home and to please stop at Piggly Wiggly, "its on your way." Because now even I believe Publix has no beans.
This sounds reasonable to him and he's off.
I am now standing in the kitchen doing the prep work all the while thinking, this was an intelligent man when I married him.  My husband IS Richard Dean Anderson. He's MacGyver for goodness sakes!

This man can do anything, repair anything, run a room size computer at U.S.Steel, repair a car that needs an alternator with a gem clip and a twinkie. He once presented a finished house plan to an inspector for review and the Inspector said in all his years he had never seen a hand drawn plan from anyone like this. It was perfect and Donald did it all with a twelve inch stick ruler and a engineers pencil. Right down to the last hand-drawn brick. but that same man can't find a single can of beans in a store. It's like a maze to him.
All the prep work is done, it's been at least an hour. I'm waiting on the beans when I get another call. "Baby, they just don't have any beans." What? Has there been a run on beans? Store #2 doesn't have beans either?
You know that thing you do when you are about to pass out? Your head gets fuzzy and you can't hear well. It's like you are in a barrel.  I hear from him, "No, I'm still at Publix"..
I begin to get dizzy, I'm guessing it's my blood pressure.. I can hear my mothers voice, she would be cackling with her head thrown back about to wet her pants. She loved my husband. In her eyes he could do no wrong and she would be laughing her head off at my misery.
Okay, you know what Donald. Just come home. I would like to eat this da*n pot of chili before the late evening news.
He says one last time, "I'm sorry baby, there's just not any chili beans to be found"

My patience has worn thin, I add the remaining tomatoes to this BEAN-LESS pot of chili and head to the bathroom to shower and cool down, telling myself I will feel better after a shower. [I also begin to understand why people drink]  

After my shower, I emerge from the bathroom to find Donald gathering his clean clothes for his shower.  I tell him I'll have the grilled cheeses done when he gets out. He thanks me and heads to the bathroom.
I walk into the kitchen and there on the counter are SIX cans of mild chili beans. S-I-X stinking cans of beans.
I storm into the bathroom with a can of beans in hand, what the stinking heck , Donald?! He looks through soapy eyes and very calmly says,  Oh, a guy helped me find them. 

We have extra beans, if anyone needs them.   

Callaway Gardens review- Fantasy in Lights 2016

As promised, my Callaway Gardens, Fantasy in Lights review. First I should tell you, I am not easily impressed. I've been known to be a bit of a skeptic but Christmas is one of my favorite seasons and we have grandchildren which makes it even better.  So, here goes. It has been several years since we traveled to Fantasy in Lights, the year before mama died, I believe. I decided this year we must begin a new tradition of taking the grandchildren!

Accommodations are easy to find, as Callaway operates several. [I have heard people say they had difficulty perusing the Callaway website, I will offer links to assist in your search]
The Lodge and Spa   For those wishing to be pampered.
The Southern Pine Cottages    My personal favorite. A room here will run you $100 a night during the week. Be aware it almost doubles for the weekend. It is the most beautiful setting though, pines trees and wildlife outside your windows.
Mountain Creek Vacation Homes  I call this place "rustic elegance".. a fine balance of comfort and a homey feeling. MC has the most options for accommodations. Still pricey for a retired man and his wife.
Mountain Creek Inn  Super nice place. As all the others, run well and well appointed.

There are also options "off property." Smaller towns surround Pine Mountain and offer some less expensive stays, considering you aren't going to spend much time in your room. 

Have Pets? You want to stay at Mountain Top Inn. 

Find it HERE   I checked out several booking sites and found a nice room here for only $83 a night on Saturday.  Just an example of your other options.  Don't forget the Georgia State parks, which I will admit, make me more thankful for the way Alabama State Parks are run. They are a less expensive option if you have a RV. Franklin Roosevelt park is 5-7 minutes from Callaway but stays pretty booked.

Now, we've got that out of the way. Time for the FUN!  

**TIP: Look for the Robin Lake Beach entrance on your gps. This is the location for boarding Fantasy in Lights trains, Christmas Village and the outdoor Food Pavilion. Callaway is HUGE with several entrances and to get you in quickly for your ride thru the lights, this is your best option.  

Christmastime at Callaway Gardens...  It's just awesome, no other way to describe it. 

You can drive your own vehicle through Fantasy in Lights BUT it's not the best way to do it.  The absolutely BEST WAY is ride the trolley. [Park on the Robin Beach parking area per gps.]

There are CG attendants everywhere to guide you to the tents set up for waiting in line. Don't let the line scare you, it moves really quickly. [We went on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend and didn't stand in line more than 15 minutes] You can buy hot chocolate along the way, be warned its pricey as well. [Bring your own thermos and cookies to chow down after the ride]

Now, this is personal preference but there are two trolloys- the ones with seats lining the sides (each person facing into the center and you must turn sideways to see both sides of the road while riding.

The second choice is the "rowed" seat trolleys. (***DING, DING, DING.. we have a winner) You face forward with a supportive back and can toss your quilt from home, across everyone's knees.
[When they bring you up to board your trolley to board, if your choice is not up.. simply step back and tell the attendant in an elf hat, you need the forward facing trolley. No one minds if you wait for the next, there's always someone ready to jump on the one you passed up]  Enjoy your ride as you choose, you paid for it.

Speaking of paying. There are discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Also, active military get a remarkable special. Read about it here-  Explanation of Military discount options- Active, Retired and Veterans.
There are also Annual Passes, which is what we plan to buy.

Here is the page for pricing for everyone. Fantasy in Lights Pricing Calendar

PLEASE NOTE- Purchase your tickets online, please. If you fly all willy-nilly, seat of your pants style and then complain you waited forever in line and you didn't know where to go and about all the perks.. well, that's on you. I'm giving you all the great info here.  

After you disembark from the trolley, you will be ready to warm up and want to make your way to Christmas Village, which is stroller friendly. (It's the HUGE Dome just past the beach and food court) Let the children sit on Santa's knee and you can do some shopping.  The beach space is not without it's own rewards, used during the Holiday season for light displays. There is a large Nativity scene among other lights in this area.  Parents, you will find some well known "characters" [Abominable, Minions, etc] available for picture taking before going inside. 

Are you thinking yet, "how will I see all this?"  Well, yeah! Callaway "gardens".. Oh, yes. The gardens. When you purchase your advance Fantasy in Lights tickets you will receive entry into the gardens during the day OR you can return before January 7th for a daytime park adventure. [This is a savings of $20 for each adult]

~There are adventure courses and ziplines through the trees (extra charge for zipline)

~The Discovery center is "stroller friendly" and children of all ages will enjoy it. Plenty of parking. 

  You can hike all over the park, see the outdoor "Birds of Prey" show. (Caution: the hawks and owls do some serious buzzing by your head during the show. You are asked to REMAIN seated throughout the show.) We took a 2yr old who sat mesmerized right up to the minute she fell asleep in my lap.
The older children loved the show as well! There are activities for the children at the discovery center as well.
~The Cecil B Day Butterfly house is a wonder. Sit on a bench and watch the butterflies light right in front or you or on you! Watch the hatchlings out front or the video explaining the cocooning process. 

Did I mention this is a huge park! 

~Golf course for the enthusiast. 

~Designated picnic areas 

~Beach and water sports 

and special events throughout the year. Check it out.. Things to do at Callaway

Now for the drive down from Birmingham. We were pulling a 40 ft RV, but found 280 East the best route going down and returned using US 431. (Less traffic on 431) Takes about two and a half to three hours, depending on your stops. Yes, you can make it a day trip but why would you? There's too much fun to be had for just one day!  

When you ride through the light show in the cool night air with your quilt over you and loved ones at your side and begin singing old time Christmas carols, Silent Night, Away in a Manger.. it simply filled my heart. Thoughts of Christmases past flooded my soul. What a wonderful time of the year. 

There's still time for you to see Fantasy in Lights 2016.  I hope you love it as much as I do. 

Time to make the Christmas cookies. 

Let it Snow, the tutorial & The Blessings of Family.

I planned to do my next post on Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights but this is more time sensitive. [The Fantasy in Lights post is next]

I love a flocked Christmas tree, maybe it's because I can count on my hands great snowfalls in my lifetime. I mean beautiful, glistening snows, making home look like a Normal Rockwell portrait.

I have purchased one single, beautiful flocked tree over the thirty-six years Don and I have been married. Mostly due to the fact he's one of the thriftiest men God ever breathed breath into.. but I can't blame him, $100 is too much to pay for a tree. [the average price in our area] 
Because I love flocked trees so much, I wanted to find a better option. I tried several DIY options and never like the end result. UNTIL NOW... I found a blog (whose name has slipped my mind) but it's about this. 

This is the BEST tree flock product ever.
I wanted something that looks real, costs less and stays on.  You can purchase it at amazon. I'm a Prime member and mine arrived in two days, free shipping. Love that Amazon Prime! 

Amazon Sno Flock HERE  This is the 2lb size, enough to flock a 7 ft tree fairly well. Also available in 1# and 5#.  I purchased 5# because I was looking for a blizzard! This is a professional product like nurseries and florists use. 

All you need to apply the flocking is water, a new spray bottle, drop cloths and a kitchen sifter.  [CAUTION: It is recommended to wear a mask while applying simply because the particles are so tiny. They are cotton however and besides adhesive, have nothing remotely toxic in them]  The adhesive is something akin to Elmers glue. There is absolutely NO SMELL while applying or after drying. I have asthma and covered my nose and mouth with a mask. No problems whatsoever. 

I decided the best option was to set the tree up in the living room, where it would be decorated for the holidays. Time for drop cloths which I purchased at the local big box story for $3.67 for three. 

After spreading the drop cloths, I attached a few ends about 2-3 feet high to catch over-sifting and keep the mess to a minimum. I will warn you, whatever you are wearing on your feet should be washable. My house slippers began sticking to the drop cloths after a while.
What my set up looked like. . .  I taped the drop cloths to the backs of furniture pieces and to window trim to make a "pool" for flocking with the tree in the middle. I taped two drop clothes together and it nearly covered my living room. (I saved the third drop cloth for the after finished drying time) Then it was time to get busy. 

You can go to the website [seasonsreflections.com] for Sno Flock and follow the directions for application. I used two of their methods of application and one of my own, to achieve the

look I desired. I wanted somewhere between a snow-covered wonderland and a blizzard.

Here's what you do: Spray a few branches at a time with water and sift the flock over the branch. Lightly at first and I advise stepping back after you get a section done and eyeball it. See how it looks. That would be method #1 application. 
Method #2 involves some coordination.. Spray your branches with water, begin sifting and while sifting lightly mist the flock (falling from the sifter) onto the tree. It gives a wind blown look. As if snow was whisked into your tree by the brisk winter wind. 

**You will need to go back and mist the branches you've completed- not saturate them, just mist to set the adhesive.  This activates the adhesive to adhere better to the branches and needles. It takes a full 24 hours for a 7.5 foot tree to dry. [It was raining outside and mine still dried in 14 hrs] It is recommended to wait until your tree is fully dried to allow good adhesion before applying lights and ornaments. Waiting is not my strong suit but I'm doing it. 

Here's my "Before"

Here's the "after"... ta-daa!  Isn't it lovely?  I was thrilled as I trotted off to bed, satisfied it was easier to apply than I had first thought. Oh, and #3 application, I almost forgot. I stood on a step ladder to distribute the sno flock on the very top branches. When my sifter got really low, before I refilled it, I would hold it "sling shot" fashion and let it go. Let the snow fall where it may.. it ended up giving me a really authentic application. As you sift you discover these little sparkly, slightly larger snow flakes at the bottom of your sifter. Ah, the icing on the cake! These little sparklers have a "mother of pearl" opalescence to them. They are the last ones you apply and best done by hand. *mist lightly on the tips of your tree and sprinkle them strategically where you wish. I hope you can see the shine here in the close up, it's hard to capture in a photo but it's there and it's a beautiful finish. 

I simply rolled my drop cloths up toward the tree and carefully eased each leg of my stand up to get them out. Rolled with all the mess inside and disposed in the trash. I placed the third and clean one under the tree to catch any adhesive drips overnight. I found a couple the next morning.

My review of this product- it gets an A+ for ease of application, simplicity and beauty. The price is nothing to sneeze at either. By purchasing the 5# at $39.95 I have enough to do an entire other tree (If I like).  For reference, you could easily do a 5-6 foot slim tree with 1# and if you were careful, a 7.5 ft tree with 2# (if you want a light snow effect)
I plan to save mine for touch-ups next year AND add some more flocking on my other decorations around our home. 

My only vivid childhood snow memory, living in the Southern U.S.- I could not have been more than seven years old, when we had a massive snow. It's not unusual to have 100 degrees in the summer but snow in Alabama? Not often and certainly nothing like the several feet we got that winter.
Looking back, I'm sure my mother did not enjoy it as much as we children. We had a large metal arm that swung out over the fire in the fireplace that was hardly ever used. My daddy built that fireplace and I guess added the arm just in case. It came in handy for holding pots for cooking over the fire and his old perculator coffee pot. [there were NO generators]

We had a "sleeper sofa" in the living room and the dining room and kitchen had a low and half wall. It was like many open plan homes of today. Mama piled all the blankets into the living room, moved the furniture back and daddy brought mattresses to the floor. They put all the food from the refrigerator out in the snow and buried it. The power was off for days, I'm not sure how many but I remember mama cooking on that fireplace for several nights. We sat at the table and ate "One pot" meals she cooked over the fire, probably the best meals I had ever eaten. I slept beside her in front of the fire on that sleeper sofa with daddy and the boys on mattresses on the floor. Daddy worked hard at work and it was a joy not lost on my brothers and I, to have him home. Captive, just for us. We all five played monopoly, rook and Crant (my brother closest in age to me) even played Candyland with me. We read stories and poems from the Childcraft and Encyclopedia [It's where we got our information when you could not get to the library. You know, before "google"]
I remember the look on my mothers face when I asked "can we turn the lights back off, Mama" after Alabama Power Co finally managed to get them back on? 

While mama was likely thinking of the piles of dirty laundry, taking a hot bath and cooking on her stove- I was thinking, don't go. Stay and play a little longer. Take time to laugh with me again. Pile up together and read another book. Let's fall asleep in front of the fire.
I want to eat out of bowls sitting on a quilt in front of the fireplace with my brothers, laugh again while daddy and mama tell stories of their childhoods. Those days are long gone. I am the old one now and my perspective has changed over the years and is now different yet still the same. 

While you mark all the links to the perfect gifts, hustle to get the new ipad, make sure your family gets their every desire...  All that stuff. It's not important, really it isn't.

My hope for the best holiday season Bowls of soup by the fire, grandchildren giggles and belly laughs, reading, listening to their dreams, telling stories from long ago. To be thankful for what God has allowed and so freely given, for the birth of a Savior. Share your time and most of all, the love of Christ. It really is the best gift.  

I bake a little..

Is there anything better when you're a child than waking up to the smell of cake in the oven? If there is, I can't think of it. My mother was a morning person, as am I, and she would get up very early and begin her holiday baking.
I'll just call it right here. I talked all the time, I mean ALL the time. I suppose she felt it necessary to rise early to get everything measured and mixed before I woke up. I was always pretty upset but I got over it as soon as she presented me with the beaters.

This would explain why baking has always been my constant. When life is good- I bake, when life gets hard- I bake. Anxious? you guessed it. The experience of moving through the recipe tweaking flavors or technique is cathartic for me. It takes me to the kitchen table of my childhood helping mama make a sour cream pound cake or a pie crust. Being schooled on the importance of the best ingredients you could get your hands on, not skipping steps and intricately measuring everything. I may be one of the few people that enjoy sifting flour. My mother relished the perfect tender crumb on the sides of that cake, while maintaining a light crunch on the top. If you ever had Sour Cream Pound Cake from Mary Lou, you know what I'm talking about.
I find great satisfaction in continuing family traditions. Our children continue the same traditions. My daughter-in-law, Alisha makes the best Sweet potato pie, while my Danielle makes superior cookies and scones, Patrick makes a mean pancake from a scratch recipe.

 Almost 40 years ago I took my first "cake and candy" class. I'm not trying to toot my own horn but I found something I was truly good at.  I remember thinking, "these are my people."
Fast forward a few years and life changed as it has a way of doing. I no longer had time to bake for others. I put my baking on the shelf for a while, waiting only for family birthdays and celebrations to whip up something marvelous.  Strangely, I am not a sweet fanatic. I'd rather have a piece of cornbread.

[Old Fashioned Spice Cake with praline pecan filling & Brown Sugar buttercream]

In the last year I have picked my cake tools up again and taken some classes to refresh my skill set. I am having a BLAST. I remember so many times hearing my mother say, "How did I have time to hold down a full time job?"  ... and now I understand. 

[Gum paste roses for a cake top]

I'm also a sales rep for an amazing Jewelry Designer. [Jewelry blog post coming soon] I love our eSBe Designs company and everyone I get to work with. There's my husband of almost 37 years, children, grandchildren, dogs, horses and fabulous girl friends! [Not necessarily in that order] This is life now and it's wonderful.

I had a hard time coming up with a name for my baking. I almost called myself "Cake Nazi" because I do not deal with whiners well. It would have been something like this, except "No Cake for You!"

Our babies call me Honey, that proved difficult as well as most sounded like stripper names but I settled on Honey's Cakes. 

To clarify, if you think the cake from the big box store is the best you've had in a while, my cakes are probably not for you. I buy fresh local eggs and pecans, make my own vanilla extract, buy the best butter and flours available. I use old family recipes along side new versions I've toiled over, until I perfected them.

[A little Halloween fellow I made. Marbled fondant over Red velvet. The boys loved it!]

If you want a really good tasting cake, I will provide you with a delicious homemade confection. It will transport you to a place in childhood when all was good with the world, memories of your grandmothers German Chocolate Cake at Sunday dinners. Dinner on the grounds at church, when you were sure to grab a piece of Mrs Vines Coconut cake before it disappeared.

I will make you a Espresso Chocolate cake covered in my Sweet Chocolate buttercream topped with Chocolate Ganache. Maybe a white sponge cake with lemon or apricot filling that balance the sweetness of the Vanilla buttercream? I make Red Velvet cake, Strawberry, Chocolate, Sour Cream Pound Cake, Almond Cake, Oatmeal Cake, Vanilla Sponge [excellent choice for weddings] and Italian Creme to name a few. I decorate birthday cakes as well. American buttercream is a favorite but there are other options as well- Italian meringue, cream cheese, Seven Minute and more.

I make Wedding Cakes and cupcakes. Yes, if you want a beautiful & great tasting homemade cake, I can do it. I will deliver local for a fee. My Thanksgiving deadline has passed but you can order for Christmas now. I'm offering $5 off a "Specialty" cake ordered by December 2nd.  Payment is up front on this offer. *Offer does not include standard cakes- vanilla, strawberry or chocolate.

Thank you mama and Aunt Lora, Aunt Ola and Aunt Jim. You taught me well and I'm passing it along.  Yes, I bake a little.