If you haven't seen "Always Patsy Cline" at the Chapman Cultural Center  in Spartanburg, SC
I highly recommend you do!  It is awesome.  You will hear all of Patsy Cline's classic songs.  Nita Biven plays the part of Ms. Cline and she does an excellent job.  Becky Koon who is a veteran of stage and screen plays Patsy Cline's most die-hard fan, Louise.  She is hilarious.  These are two very talented ladies and (they are real life sisters.)  You have two more chances to see this wonderful performance.
The setting is the Grand Ole Opry complete with a band and back up singers, and Louise's kitchen.
 
Saturday @ 8pm -Jan 22
Sunday @ 3pm  - Jan 23

The performance is 2 hours long with a 15 minute intermission (with concessions, beer and wine available)

Just click on the CCC link above to read more about this play/musical and to get tickets.  You'd better hurry, they are going fast.  (Tonight's show was a sell-out.)

An apple a day

As this New Year takes
The old year's place,
I pray to meet each new challenge

credit: http://www.digivickie.com/

Through the power of God's grace.

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"The world will right itself; take the long
view and you are comforted.
~Lin Yutang

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6242702/sc_governor_nikki_haley_reveals_plans.html?cat=4

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"Winter is on my head, but spring is in my heart.
~ Victor Hugo

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Age is a quality of mind.
If you have left your dreams behind,
It hope is cold,
If you no longer look ahead,
If your ambitions' fires are dead--
Then you are old.

But if from life you take the best,
And if in life you keep the jest,
If love you hold;
No matter how the years go by,
No matter how the birthdays fly-
You are not old.
~Author Unknown

An apple a day

When it comes to dieting,
I really hate to begin
Because I always find
It's my temper that gets thin.

Homemade Oreo Recipe: Great for Teachers on Valentine's Day!

Homemade Oreos


makes 25-30 sandwich cookies



Ingredients

For the chocolate wafers:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa (I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar [see recipe note]

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter

1 large egg



For the filling:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used clear vanilla extract)

Optional- Gel dye



Method

1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.



2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.



3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.



4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy. (Optional: Blend in a tiny bit of gel dye until you reach the desired color.)



6. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.



Notes:

- Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder instead of Dutch Processed.

-Wilton Gel Dye to color the centers.

-Once I measured out a rounded teaspoon of dough, I rolled the dough into small balls before baking.

-This recipe is slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen and can be found at http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/05/my-kingdom-for-a-glass-of-milk

Haiku on Salvation

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It is only well with me when I have a chisel in my hand.
~Michelangelo

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Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window
through which you must see the world.

SMART SHOPPING LADIES: Walgreens 1/9/2011

check out this week's deals @ Walgreens!
SMART SHOPPING LADIES: Walgreens 1/9/2011: "I always suggest to take coupon policies with you when you shop. If you haven't experienced the new cashier with little or no experien..."

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The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ted Williams is in Rehab: What are his Chances for Success?

If you like saving money with coupons, check out the new website I heard about from
our local news. 

http://www.smartshoppingladies.com/

Prayer at it's Best!  This week's devotional at EWomen.  click link below to read:
http://www.ewomen.net/devos/2011-01-10/prayer-its-best

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Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.
~William Shakespeare

Today on Dr. Phil: Ted William's Reunion With Family He Abandoned

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Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

~Proverbs 16:3

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Tomorrow's fate, though thou be wise,
Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise;
Pass, there, not today in vain,
For it will never come again.
~ Omar Khayyam

This is more snow than I've ever seen in my life.  It's 27 degrees...brrr.

I'm more than ready for summer! 

An apple a day

For those who will fight bravely and not yield, there is
triumphant victory over all the dark things of life.
~James Allen

Fresh Snow Cream Recipe~

Ingredients


8 cups freshly fallen snow
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (adjust to your taste!) 

Directions

Place a large clean bowl outside to catch the snow!
Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix
to combine.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

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One man pretends to be rich, yet has
nothing;  another pretends to be poor,
yet has great wealth.
~Proverbs 13:7

Broccoli Walnut Salad: Healthy Lunch Recipe

2 cups fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar

__________________________________________
In a small bowl, mix broccoli, walnuts and raisins.
Combine mayo, lemon juice, and sugar.  Mix into
salad.   Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Yield: 2 servings

An apple a day

When I was young, I knew it all;
At least I thought I did.
But now I'm old and the truth be told,
What I knew, I can't recall.

---Dick Ham
Richmond, KY

Happy Friday!  What will the weekend bring?
The weather reports say SNOW Sunday night.
Not again!  Where is summer????

A coupon tip!

I love to save $$ using coupons!  I want to share this tip with you...

When you find a coupon for a product you regularly purchase,
wait about 3 weeks before using it.  Grocery stores bet on
consumers rushing out to buy the item, so they keep their
costs at full price.  Then the store will put the item on sale
a fews weeks after the coupon is published.  By holding on
to it and using it when the item is on sale will give you the
maximum savings.

To clean a stained porcelain dish or sink, fill it with warm water, drop in some denture-cleaning tablets, and watch the stains dissolve. Get more tips.

Enjoy this recipe from Sunday Dinner at Grandma's (M233).
from: http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/
Check out this website for many Great Recipes!

Grandma Jo’s Potato Soup (Nothing better on a cold day!)


2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 lb. carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, diced
4 c. water
12-oz. can evaporated milk
1/4 c. butter, sliced
onion and garlic seasoned salt to taste
pepper to taste
8-oz. pkg. shredded Cheddar cheese
3 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

Combine vegetables and water in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook until vegetables are fork-tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce heat to low; stir in evaporated milk, butter and seasonings. Heat through. Ladle into soup bowls; garnish with cheese and bacon. Serves 6

An apple a day

Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

Psalm 37:1-2

In these times when there is so much hatred and evil among men, remember
it's not our place to judge or avenge, but know that they will have to
answer to God.  The old saying, "What goes around comes around" is
true in my opinion

Find a Day of Dance Event Near You | Day of Dance

Find a Day of Dance Event Near You Day of Dance

This is always a fun and beneficial event. Check it out!
I usually attend the Day of Dance in my area.

Spray the sheets with baby powder or your favorite perfume
before crawling into bed.  This will give you a welcome
sense of relaxation, as well as feeling absolutely
beautiful~

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Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune
at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.
Robert Louis Stevenson

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"Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our strivings cease; take from
our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the
beauty of Thy peace."
--John Greenleaf Whittier

How to Create a Spirit of "Stillness" in Your Life

An apple a day

A wish is a desire without any attempt to
attain its end.

Is your home "a safe refuge?"

A welcoming home is a place of refuge, a place where people worn down by the noise, turmoil, and hostility
from the outside world can find a safe resting place.  A welcoming home is a place that you enjoy
coming home to.

Let's strive to make our homes more peaceful and welcoming in 2011!

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remember this:


Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God.
Francis de Sales

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The diamond cannot be polished without friction,
nor man perfected without trials.

Happy New Year Everyone!  I hope everyone
is healthy, happy, and blessed this year.

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All problems become smaller if you don't dodge
them but confront them.  Touch a thistle timidly and
it will prick you; grasp it boldly and its spines crumble.

One of my New Year Resolutions will be to

Eat From the "Farm" and Not From the Factory...

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A wish is a desire without any attempt to attain
its end.

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Be cheerful.  Of all the things you wear,
your expression is the most important.

(This one really hits home. I struggle and
fail at this each and every day.  It's so hard)

South Carolina: First Snowfall on Christmas Day Since 1963! - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

5 pictures from our Christmas day snowfall.
Take a peek!

An apple a day

For when the One Great Scorer comes,
To write against your name,
He writes not that you lost or won,
But how you played the game.

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We may give without loving, but we cannot love
without giving.

A picture from SC's first snowfall on Christmas day since 1963!

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May you live all the days of your life.

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In HIS will is our peace.
Merry Christmas all!

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Mirth is from God, and dullness is from the devil.  You can never
be too sprightly, you can never be too good-tempered.

An apple a day

Joy is not in "things", it is in us.

If you love recipes and crafts, check out the new blog I'm following.
It's called Gooseberry Patch.  Just look for "blogs I read" on the right
side of this blog and click on the link.

The more expectations  you have, the less gratitude you will have.

An apple a day

Climb the mountains and get their glad tidings.  Nature's peace will flow
to you as the sunshine flows into the trees.  The winds blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares drop away
from you like the leaves of autumn.

Bible Verse for Today

And Mary said:  My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
Luke 1:46

(as we should) Let's not forget the greatness of our Lord not just at
Christmas, but every day of the year.

If you are interested in learning to draw (anything), www.dragoarts.com is my favorite website to go to!
Check it out.

2010 Census Results Released Today: A Short Review - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

An apple a day

Even moderation ought not to be practiced to excess...

Happy Birthday to my favorite sister (my only one too!lol)
May your birthday be happy and blessed.

I                                                  you!

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Whoever has resigned himself to fate, will find that fate
accepts his resignation.

Hello to all this Sunday morning.  Family Christmas party is today!  Getting food prepared and can't wait to see everyone!  Has everyone
finished their shopping?   Not me....................time is running out.

An apple a day

Spilled on this earth are all the joys of heaven.

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Blessed is the man who digs a well from which another
may draw faith.

The Christmas Angel - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com


A little prose meant to inspire us this Christmas!

These are a few of the gingerbread houses built by Chapman High
Students:

An apple a day

The glory of life is to love, not to be loved, to give, not to get;
to serve, not to be served.

Watching movie on the Hallmark channel "Gifts of the Magi."
It is a new 2010 movie.  It is great.  I recommend watching for it.
I'm sure it will air again soon.

Try these Easy Pickle Rolls!

These are great appetizers to take to your next
Christmas party


 Spread cream cheese (could be low fat) on a slice of soft whole wheat bread. Cut off the edges. Roll around a “baby” dill pickle (regular size will be too big), preferably something with some spice, like a “hot” variety, but you can use regular Kosher dills. I make the rolls and then chill them overnight. Slice them after they are chilled. (You might want to throw out the ends if they don’t have enough pickle in them, or eat them as you go.)

Foreign Accent Syndrome: Causes, Affects, Diagnosis and Treatment - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Foreign Accent Syndrome: Causes, Affects, Diagnosis and Treatment - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

An apple a day

I am to be so busy today, that I must spend more
time than usual in prayer.

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One on God's side is a majority.

EWomen Devotional: Trusting God’s Love

EWomen Devotional: Trusting God’s Love

Twas the Day After Christmas! - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

A little bit of humor for the day after....

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There is nothing wrong with making mistakes
but don't respond to encores.

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A mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something

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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good
men do nothing.

Bible Verse for Today

Proverbs 16:3
All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.

An apple a day

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.

Make Some Cute Snowmen Cupcakes

Just whip up a batch of your favorite homemade cupcakes or buy pre-made ones at the store, Frost.

To transform your frosted cupcake into a festive snowman, do this...

1.Dip frosted cupcakes in sparkling sugar.
2. Use 2 m&ms for eyes.
3. Use a candy orange slice halves for the nose.
4. Cut a strip of licorice and attach 1 gumdrops on each end for earmuffs.
5. Use licorice for the mouth.
6. Add a pink sprinkle to each side of mouth for cheeks.

Voila...you have cupcake snowmen...the kids will love them.

This recipe came from All You Magazine (great mag sold at Walmart)
It's chock full of coupons and great ideas and recipes.

I just finished watching the 1938 version of "The Christmas Carol."
Now, it's Christmas!  I love this movie. 

An apple a day

The only safe and sure way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend.

An apple a day

Good depends not on things but on the use we make of things.

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Let us be the first to give a friendly sign, to nod first, smile first, and --if such a thing is
necessary--forgive first.

The Inspirational and Graceful Elizabeth Edwards Died Today at Age 61 - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

An apple a day

All people smile in the same language

Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

Lesson in Chapter 9 is summed up in verses 2 and 3.  It says "All share a
common destiny__the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,
the clean and the unclean, those who offers sacrifices and those who
do not." 

v3-"This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all."

Death is eminent for everyone who has breath, so while you live,
eat your food with gladness.  Give thanks to God in all things.  He favors you.  Enjoy life, but be careful to be clothed in white, and give your heart to God, for after your days on earth ends, your eternal destiny is what is going
to matter most. 
Our purpose is to do whatever our work in this life is to the best of our ability and with all our might, for in the grave, where
we will all go, there is neither working, nor planning nor knowledge or wisdom. 
In the grave we will know nothing, until the Lord returns to
claim his "children" meaning those who accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior while living.  None of us know the hour of our death nor the hour the Lord will return to gather those who are already in the grave.

Recipe: Christmas Bark

You will need:

16oz vanilla-flavored candy coating, chopped

2 cups small pretzel twists

1/2 cup red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces

Directions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.  In medium saucepan, melt candy coating over low
heat, stirring constantly.

2.  Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat.  Spread mixture thinly on wax paper lined cookie sheet.
Cool 30 minutes or until set.  Break into pieces.

An apple a day

A sad saint is a sorry saint.   Uh oh....alot of meaning in these words.

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Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest
of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how
to use.


this is not me.....

How to Play Bunco - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

An apple a day

Every noble life leaves the fibre of it interwoven in the
wool of the world.

Recipe: Holiday Cookie Frosting

Ingredients
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 2/3 cups confectioner's sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
food coloring (red, white, green)

Beat butter, sugar, milk and vanilla in a mixer until smooth.  If frosting
is too thick, add a little more milk.  Divide frosting into several small
bowls.  Add a different color of food coloring to each bowl.  Mix.
Glaze each cookie the holiday colors of your choice.

Baring Our Souls - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

I'm so tired, every bone in my body aches.  I'm sorry I haven't posted
the next chapter in Ecclesiastes.  I will catch up tomorrow......

An apple a day

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.

2010 Free or Low Cost Family Friendly Christmas Events in and Near Spartanburg, SC - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

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To willl what God wills brings peace.

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What I must do, and not what people think, is all
that concerns me.