To Brine....or ...Not To Brine....

This question may not be not be familiar to you....you may not know what on earth ...."BRINING" ....is

Not to worry....I didn't either ....until 2 Thanksgiving's ago when my daughter and her sweetie bought a jar of Brine to use that Thanksgiving on the turkey...

This is a Jar of Brine from William Sonoma...it is filled with spices and in this case fruit..

• For moist, succulent turkey, professional chefs and home cooks alike rely on the old-fashioned technique of brining. Brining helps keep the meat juicy without giving it a salty taste – you’ll never have to worry about serving a dried-out holiday turkey again.
  

  • Our perfectly seasoned blend takes the guesswork out of brining.
  • Includes coarse sea salt, dried apples, juniper berries, lemon peel, Spanish rosemary and other herbs, plus large black tellicherry, sweet Indian green and Madagascar pink peppercorns.
  • Combined with water, the mix draws moisture and flavor into the meat, keeping it tender and succulent as it cooks.  The pictures and above instruction is from William Sonoma...check it out...

This Brine is from Bed Bath and Beyond....I share that to say you can find it almost anywhere....when the kids first used a Brining kit on their Turkey I was amazed at how succulent....juicy...moist....and tender the process made the meat....

One of the things I never expected was how tasty the meat was for  sandwiches....casseroles..when Thanksgiving is over....there is always so much food to consume ...with some imagination.. .(maybe a good Gooseberry Patch Cookbook for inspiration)... they're are LOTS of things we can do to use up the last tasty slices of ...Brine soaked Turkey

When it's time to make the gravy ...the Brining juices are incredible for taste....no salty bite...as well as making for a creamy ...smooth gravy....this is something my daughters sweetie and I work on together.... It' our "  Tradition "...                                    

I hope this suggestion has been helpful....I love to learn new things when it comes to cooking ....it's one of my all time favorite experiences...I am trying to get into the doctor today...I am suffering way to much with my back...I need to find out what is wrong...and God willing ...FIX IT......I hope you girls have a splendid day...blessings to you and big hugs till next time........Karena

OUR LITTLE GIRL....CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GIRL.....27 years ago today....at 5:45 pm you came into the world....we are so blessed that your here....good morning girls....today is our youngest daughter's birthday...I want you to know little one that we are proud of you....proud of the woman you've become...

Proud of your accomplishments...I pray your day is blessed...I hope you have fun...just know that we are thinking of you...

A yellow daisy to remind you that ....when we have time to spend with you it brings light and sunshine into our lives...WE LOVE YOU...thank you girls for allowing me to speak first to our.... BIRTHDAY GIRL....how are you all doing this morning....I am fine.......still hurting a little but nothing like I was...why do back problems take so long to heal....?????....I am going to try and move around a bit more today...I think it will be good for me ....what are you doing today...I hope what ever it is you are in for a GREAT day...will be back tomorrow....blessings and hugs till next time.......Karena

 

 

A Monday Morning Minute...

Happy Monday Morning ladies....I've been away for a few days ...somehow I hurt my back....yes...it has been a painful 4 or 5 days of trying to get comfortable...with not much luck...Friday night my sweetie took me to the hospital I was hurting so bad...they did some tests for kidney infections...bladder etc...the conclusion was I was fine ....except for a ....BAD BACK...

They gave me some drugs and sent me on my way....I am feeling much better than I was ....but I can still tell time by the hour my medicine is wearing off....

While I was in the thick of it ...I couldn't sit...or lie down...or do anything but... PACE...so I found myself wondering around the house looking at things....stopping to peek inside our cabinets...looking at vignettes...smiling at things that I never really take the time to look at...

Like this fabulous ...."BEECHNUT GUM"....Tray from the 20's or 30's...it would have sat at the register as an impulse buy back then....I love the collection of dog friends on top....

This adorable little Lemax Christmas House caught my eye....my sweetie and I find these little cuties this time of year...they have lights inside them so when dusk comes....and eventually it gets dark...they throw the most charming glow....

Looking through my sweeties eye's ....he took this picture sort of looking past  my fern into the living room...a different perspective is ....INTERESTING...don't you think.....

He took this too ...this antique dressing mirror is... VERY OLD....I loved how he captured the rest of the guestroom in it's reflection

 Something tells me it's time to end this post....my back is barking....I hope you all have a great day....I will be back tomorrow....blessings and big hugs.......Karena

Offering A Note Of Encouragment....

Morning is here...I've been up for a while ....I was looking through some of my favorite blogs last night ...I was touched by so many of you that are going through some major life changes...some of you are starting your life over after saying good-by to your marriages...some of you are moving to another state...a new house....a brand new life....others are embracing new faces that your adding to your family...still others are looking for work...trying to make ends meet...and praying for answers to some really hard circumstances...I have been through so many of the same "SEASONS" in my life at one time or another...I wanted to offer up a prayer for all of you today....

For me...one of the miraculous things about blogging is the support...friendship...and laughter we bring one another...but sometimes I think we all need the "Balm" of knowing in our hearts that someone cares about us...cares about what were going through in life even if we never see their faces or hear their voices we can know their hearts....my heart is for all of you today...my prayer is for you to feel an extra touch of peace ....encouragement....possibility...and pride for your hard work as you walk out the steps it takes to get from ........where you are.....to where you want to go....the other side ...sometimes takes A LOT OF SACRIFICE.... I found this poem....it spoke to me....I hope it speaks to you as well.....

                                 
 

  May the wings of faith uphold you
                 When your cross is hard to bear,
                 As temptations surround you,
                 And no one seems to care.
                 May the wings of faith surround you
                 And shield you from the pain
                 When sorrows overcome you
                 And teardrops fall like rain.
                 May you know that God is with you
                 In times of deep despair.
                 May the spirit, who's within you,
                 Confirm that He is there!
                 May the valley of the shadow
                 Provide angels unaware...
                 May the wings of faith uphold you
                 When your cross is hard to bear.

 

 

 
                                     

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

  Poet, Clay Harrison

                   

No matter where we live ....how big our walls are...what kinds of things we're trying to cope with .... .or what our stuff looks like inside.....we have much to be thankful  for especially when we're in the trenches  ....the WAY that heals us ...can take us to  some unexpected...amazing...places........when we open our hearts to the possibilities..... my prayer for us today  ...is that we allow ourselves to lean into the SURPRISES....even if their a little scary...the Lord says he will never leave us or forsake us....and that he will ....GIVE US WHAT WE NEED....NOT JUST WHAT WE WANT....how soothing is that to ponder.......you are luxuriously loved....wondrously made.....you have a purpose....I appreciate every one of you....thanks so much for stopping by ....blessings and big hugs till next time......Karena

Sharing OurLiving Room....

Hello Ladies...How are you this morning....today I wanted to share our living room with you...I wanted to post it now before we get closer to Christmas...It is a nice size room...we spend a lot of time in it with our faces ....when the fam comes over we visit around the table ...we eat dinner here as well ...

Walking in from the front door...there is a little entry room as you walk in with a closet door as well as the door to our "Cabin in the Attic"...This desk is a beauty...my sweetie found at an estate sale before we met...

We placed our sofa in the "Bay Window" I have always dreamed of having one....it is so warm and inviting...

Our fireplace...

This is our Grandfather clock...I have memories of picking it up and strapping it to the top of the car to take it home....it has a Westminster Chime...when M is here...and the clock strikes .... she always asks me..."GiGi what is the clock saying to us"...so cute...

Our twirling book case...with collectibles...books...and antique hardware...you can sort of see the front door entry in this picture...

The view from the couch....

Our fireplace mantel...

This is the table next to our sofa...it is called a Kidney Vitrine...

Our coffee table....That is our living room girls....I am off today ....housework awaits....I hope you all have a great day...happy November 2nd....can't believe we are in the....THANKSGIVING.....countdown....I'll be back tomorrow God willing....be blessed today....big hugs till next time....Karena

TRICK OR TREAT....

OCTOBER 31st.......let the .....trick.. or......treating... begin....Good Morning girls....well here we are....HALLOWEEN DAY.....can you believe it...so how are you spending this day ladies...are you scrambling for costumes....candy...treat bags...party favors....or are you ....COMPLETELY....HAUNTINGLY....ORGANIZED AND PREPARED....?...

I woke up this morning realizing I have forgotten ....CANDY....oh no.....I will have to get some later....things have been so busy I completely forgot....

My ghostly friend is ....SHOCKING...don't you think....I took this picture at the Williamsburg Antique Mall when I was there...saving it for this morning...I thought he was so cute...I am going to spend some time looking through my favorite blogs today so I can live vicariously through all of you...getting your little ones ready....all the excitement...I will also be watching ....HOCUS POCUS....on DVD...a favorite tradition of mine...before I sign off I thought I'd share a favorite Halloween memory from my childhood...I've mentioned before that my father was a musician...this time of year was always really busy for him with party's ...dances ...and events...often he worked with his friends...pulling together small bands to play with....well after he left the doorbell rang late in the evening when trick or treat time was over...around 9 o'clock or so.......Marmie asked us to get the front door...I went ....and started screaming....my sister was next to me...Mom came running ....standing on our porch was the wife of one of my dad's musician friends dressed for a party as a zombie...to my sister and I she was terrifying ...it was our first experience with a  GROWN UP ...dressed for Halloween....Marmie and the lady laughed so hard....my sister and I....NOT SO MUCH...

I hope you all have a.... SPOOKTACULAR....day....I will be thinking of you...blessings and big hugs...Karena

It's time to say.....

Happy Saturday morning to you girls....it is POURING down rain here for us....it's barely 50 degrees...a great day to cuddle up at home which is exactly what we're going to do....one of the things on my mind today is the ...END OF OCTOBER....(oh sad)....

Alice and I are waving a fond farewell to one of the best months of the year....This sweet little statue of ..."ALICE IN WONDERLAND"  was a present from my dad years ago when I was seven ....he was a musician ...he played the accordion ....in the early 6o's he had a job at Disneyland playing with a band on main street....he brought this little Alice home for me with a watch wrapped at her feet....my sister got Snow White...I cherish her...

I was up in the attic recently and found one of my favorite books.... "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" have you ever heard of it...It was published in the  late seventy's....after the journal and all her paintings were found in England by her family...she lived in the early 1900's...

This is a picture of Edith...

She would go out into the countryside of England to journal and draw ...plants...flowers...animals...she had a wonderful talent the book above "The Edwardian Lady" is the story of Edith's life...it's a very good book with pictures of her family...herself...and of course her paintings...

Her attention to detail when drawing birds and animals was impeccable...

She didn't spend a lot of time painting houses or cottages so this picture is one of my favorites

This print is of the goats used in the book "Gruff the Goat"...I believe that was the name..anyway she had some other books published as well

I've never seen this one but I am on the hunt for it...during the eighties many gift items were made of her work...tin cans...purses...apothecary jars with her artwork on the front of the bottles...I think  the tradition of recording nature keeping a  journal as the seasons roll in and out is so charming...it's a very Victorian snap shot of  the female life back then...if any of you love to read good books about that era with fabulous pictures these books are... KEEPERS...well girls that's it for me today...I hope you all have a great Saturday....big hugs and blessings too till next time.....Karena