King Me!

It is the start of Carnival season (beginning with the celebration of Epiphany on January 6th).  This will be the longest carnival season since 1943. 

Want to order your own king cake?  Here are links to a  few of my favorite king cake bakers that ship around the country.  Prices (including overnight shipping) are in the $40 - $60 range.  It is expensive (at least $20 goes toward the shipping), but well worth it and a medium king cake will feed a crowd.  The packages also include a little Mardi Gras lagniappe like beads, doubloons and cups.

• Manny Randazzo's  - https://www.randazzokingcake.com/ (my personal favorite)
• Haydel's Bakery - http://www.haydelbakery.com/
• Randazzo's Camelia City - http://www.kingcakes.com/
• Nonna Randazzo's - http://www.nonnaskingcakes.com/
• Frances Bakery - http://www.francesbakery.com/

King Cake Facts

• The original king cakes were simply cinnamon laced (traditional), the additions of fruit, nuts and cream cheese fillings were introduced about 30 years ago.  I prefer the traditional, but enjoy the praline and lemon (DS loves the apple).  Many love the cream cheese, but it is too rich for my taste.
• Early king cakes had a bean or ceramic baby/figure instead of today's plastic baby.  A popular tradition, if you find the baby in your slice, you must host the next party.  (Always check under your slice to check for the baby before you take your first big bite.)
• In September 2010, Haydel's Bakery set the Guinness record for the world's largest king cake by building a king cake that circled the Superdome (of course it was done in black and gold sugar).
• The Randazzo family bakery was a major local bakery, when the Randazzo parents passed, the children, grandchildren, cousins, etc. all opened their own competing bakeries with their "version" of the original king cake recipe.  They are all very similar, but in a side by side tasting they are subtlety different - but all delicious.)

Did I whet your appetite for more New Orleans food?  Planning a trip to New Orleans and want to know where to eat?  Check out local food critic, Tom Fitzmorris' blog http://www.nomenu.com/joomla1/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=184&Itemid=77

Skechers Moonrock Sandals
Photo from Skechers website

 Guess I will have to purchase some new toning shoes and clothes to help offset all those king cake calories. ; )  

I purchased the Sketchers toning sandals last summer and they really did work - I recaptured a little of the tone in my calves, thighs and butt without any additional effort other than wearing them during my ordinary daily activity - they were also very comfortable for running errands or working at home.  It gives you an extra boost even if you make no extra effort.  I am planning to buy a pair of the walking shoes and begin walking with DS while he begins his cross country conditioning.  I am currently researching various brands, including Reebok, Avia and New Balance.



Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

I am sorry for being absent from the blog for a while, but my fingers have been busy:

• knitting scarves (for everyone but me),
• baking cookies and cakes,
• homecooking (including a stash of favorite soups in the freezer),
• class parties,
• Cotillion ball,
• decluttering and cleaning,
• and doing a little Christmas bargain shopping.

 I have not stopped long enough to take a picture or blog about of any of it.

(I am hoping to take a snap of some of my scarves before the go to their new homes.)

I have tried to take some time to check up on some of my favorite blogs recently to catch up on everyone's

stitching, crafting and cooking, but was overwhelmed by the sheer number of wonderful postings. 

I will have to do a lot of catching up after the new year.

I will be back to stitching (and blogging) again in the new year.

 

Happy Thanks Giving

I re-read Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation two weeks ago.  Reading this proclamation gives a different perspective on our celebration of this day.  We are scaling back our feast, including more giving of our time, talent and treasures to our community and focusing on our many blessings.

I wish you all a wonderful day of thanks giving

(with a little turkey and cranberries on the side).

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.  To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.  In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.  Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.  Population had steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.  It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.  And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

-- Abraham Lincoln

In addition to being floored by the sentiments expressed by Lincoln in this proclamation, I am truly awed by Lincoln's use of the English language. When (and why) did we loose the ability to speak so eloquently?

Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make kown among the peoples his deeds!
Psalm 105:1

Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakeable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe.

Hebrews 12:28

. . . and say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the Lord; for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throught all the earth.
Isaiah 12:4 - 5

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you . . .
Philippians 1:3

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
With your arm you redeemed your people.
Psalm 77:12 - 16


I thank you, Lord, with all my hear; before the gods to you I sing. 
I bow low toward your holy temple; I praise your name for your fidelity and love. 
For you have exalted over all your name and your promise.
Psalm 138: 1-2

Those who offer praise as a sacrifice (of thanksgiving ) honor me;
to the obedient I will show the salvation of God.
Psalm 50:23So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6 -7

Happy Easter

Alleluia!
He is Risen!

A Joyous Easter
to you and yours.

Got Eggs?

We do!

We took a peek in the nest of our porch bird and found five beautiful blue eggs.

I think the white-ish fluffy stuff is the stuffing from my yard swing.  Yesterday, caught a squirrel red-handed with a mouth full of stuffing for it's nest, too! 

There is now an almost 12x12 hole in my swing seat!  ARGHHHHH!

We have some of these eggs, too.

Have not done much stitching this week and am suffering withdrawal symptoms.  There is no school next week so my stitching prospects look bleak, but looking forward to spending extra time with DS (and no homework).

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My giveaway ends TODAY at MIDNIGHT.

Good Luck!

Mardi Gras Memories

I have memories of those few Mardi Gras Days when the weather was too cold and DB or I were deemed "too sick" by our DM to go out to the parades. I still remember one Mardi Gras sitting on Maw Maw's (DGM) giant foot stool (big enough for two) so we could get as close as possible to the television to watch the parades while eating a piece of McKenzie's king cake.

This morning, I woke up with a full blown cold - sore throat, coughing, sneezing, stuffy head . . . you get the picture.

Today, instead of watching the parades on a foot stool, I have spent the entire day in bed (without even one piece of king cake), watching Jane Austen DVDs and doing some stitching.

I think stitching goes very well with Jane Austen and, based on the popularity of the designs by The Sampler Girl and many of the blogs I follow, I am not alone in this thought.

Today's Austen-thon marquee looks like this:

1. Pride & Prejudice (1995 with Colin Firth - might as well start with the best)
2. Sense & Sensibility (2009 - the recent Masterpiece Theatre version)
3. Persuasion (mid 90s with Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds)
4. Persuasion (1971 BBC with Ann Firbank as Ann Elliot)
5. Sense & Sensibility (Emma Thompson version) -- if I stay up that long

I wanted to watch Mansfield Park (1983 BBC with Sylvestra Le Touzel as Fanny Price), but am missing the second disc, I am sure it was removed from the player by DH or DS and not returned to the case so it will turn up soon. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2010 Masterpiece Theatre version of Emma at my local library. I always like to see it before I buy it (or hint that I would like it for Mother's Day).

I also changed my blog header and background and checked up on all my favorite blogs (including yours ; ).

My lovely Mom has not only taken DS to her house for the day, she has delivered hot meals all day:

1. Scrambled eggs (I still cannot duplicate the fluffiness of her eggs),
2. Cauliflower soup (chicken broth, cauliflower, garlic & noodles -- great for congestion) and
3. Grilled chicken with mashed potatoes.

She even boiled a chicken breast for our dog, who is doing very poorly.

The icing on the cake was the dozen red roses my DS delivered with lunch.

Thank your for stopping by, I hope you did not catch my cold while you were here.

We interrupt this blog post for the following non-paid endorsements:

Today made bearable by the makers of --

Kleenex, Sudacare Shower Soothers, Mucinex, Advil,

DVD players and the Remote Control.