All is Merry and Bright...almost.

As you may or may not have noticed, my posting has been sporadic at best. I promise I have not given up on entertaining the throngs who read here with my uncanny wit, ancient wisdom and superior photography skills my feeble attempts at blogging.

I'm just busy.

You see, I, the highly unorganized one, have volunteered to not only host my Monk's side of the family for Christmas Eve at our home, but I've also offered to host Christmas Day with my side of the family. I am nothing if not a glutton for punishment, y'all.

However, the way I see it, I will clean once to host twice. It's a two-fer. Besides, through my hubby's series at church on hospitality a while back, I have become seriously convicted on the subject. I can no longer use excuses of half painted rooms and holes in the wall the size of a small child as my reasoning for not following a biblical command. And so, here I am.

As I was sitting at my table this morning, I looked upon one of my kitchen counters and was pleasantly surprised that it was, for the most part, clean. I am making progress people. So, for your viewing pleasure, my counter top.


All I have to do is put the dishes away and I'm done. Impressive, eh?

May I point out a few things of interest?

1. The clock. It reads 7:50 am. I'm taking pictures for my blog before 8 am. Does that count as pathetic?

2. The small Pampered Chef batter bowl sitting on my cutting board. This would contain starter for Amish Friendship Bread. I have kept that one for myself and also have 3 gallon size bags with starter in it on the opposite counter. Have I no friends upon which to bless with these bags of starter? Uh..no, my printer is not working properly for me to print the instructions as how to finish the starter, so for now...I'm stuck like Chuck (just who is Chuck anyway?). Friends? Anyone want some starter minus the instructions?

3.The large Pampered Chef batter bowl with some golden liquid inside. This would be leftover chicken grease my friends. Nectar of the gods. My mother informs me that this will be used to "flavor" our green beans on Christmas Day. Have mercy, life is good.


4.The large container of golden liquid in the floor. This would be a vast amount of peanut oil. This fried the chicken last night, which led to the golden liquid mentioned above. This is liquid gold my friends.


5. The Wal-Mart shopping bag lying next to the gallon of liquid gold. This is potato scraps. Wha?? Yes, I'm blogging about potato scraps. They are going into my much neglected compost pile that I have resurrected over the past few weeks. Why? Because people! My uncle gave me his tiller (to keep - it's ALL MINE!) so I will be able to put in a garden this year! Are strains from Green Acres filling your ears?

And there you have it.

I am still going to post the last of the vacation trip home. I will just need a fairly sizable amount of time to blog it though. And time, my friends, is of the essence right now. There are things that need cleanin' and meals that need to be planned and a baby that is calling my name as I type.

Until next time...