Sewing Lessons

The nieces came from the north and the south. The northern niece got a sewing machine for Christmas. Aunt Gigi gave sewing lessons most of the day yesterday.

Northern niece made her first pillow case. She said she would probably give it to her brother. It's a little to wild for her dreams.

Even though southern niece said her mother won't let her touch her sewing machine, she got lessons too.

They made pocketbooks out of place mats. She did it all by herself except the buttons. She can sew buttons on by hand because I taught her a few years ago but we wanted to learn how to sew them on using the machine.

I made most of the southern nieces pocket book, but she did help!

They also made toiletry bags out of place mats. They turned out pretty cute. They were happy campers, no happy seamstresses.

Alligator Farm

Look at this big grin!

Welcome to the Alligator Farm

in St. Augustine, Florida.

Don't ya just love that welcoming

smile that Charlie is giving us?

He was glad to see us.

As well as his homeboyz,

Leroy, Calvin and Homer.

And all of their cousins

were there to greet us too.

We got there around 10:00 A. M.

and it wasn't to busy but by the time

we left the place was packed.

Who knew that sunny Florida was

the place to be the day after Christmas?

It took the girls a little bit to warm

up to the idea of looking at

these 'hooge' gators.

But it wasn't long before some

of us got very brave and even

dared the gators to bite us.

I can say that Shelby didn't think

that up on her own, Aunt Emmy

had to show her how first.

They had a kids zone.

Both girls enjoyed playing.

They enjoyed driving around with

a jeep full of crazy animals.

Shelby enjoyed riding the giant turtle.

But Reagan couldn't get off fast enough.

She freaked out to say the least.

And I guess there is no lap like

Pop Pop's lap when your eating pop corn.

We went to the beach after the Alligator Farm.

We had lunch after that and

then went to see Madagascar 2 at

the IMAX theater back at the resort.

It was a wild and crazy but fun day!

We all had a great time.

Jealous?

These pictures are really for Aunt Betsy who hates the snow and lives in SLC, Utah. When she called Christmas day she was about to shovel the snow from her driveway. I told her that it was so hot in my house cooking Christmas lunch that I had to turn on the air conditioning. She was not happy.

Christon was excited about driving on the beach for the first time. Here in Georgia we aren't allowed to drive our cars on the beach. This is St. Augustine Beach and it is one of the few beaches left in Florida that you can still drive on.

(Rea, Christon and her sister Emmy)

The little ones were not happy to just drive on the beach they needed to get out and play a little bit. It was 84* down town St. Augustine. It was a little bit cooler on the beach but not much. It was one of the nicest days ever.

The water was still pretty cold.

The beach had lots of people on it for December the 27th. I really wish I had come to stay for a few hours. I could have easily stayed all day. The girls didn't want to leave. It took all of us to get them back in the car. This is one of my favorite places to be, on the beach!

Warm Weekend in Florida

Going up to 83* today in

St. Augustine. We are doing a

little sight seeing with the

DIL and grandchildren!

Other DIL and sons are freezing

up north, deer hunting!

They're not real bright.

(Actually I think they are crazy)

Watch Out Betty Crocker

We're Cookin Now!

Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

I'm still wrapping presents,

And have a few more things to do.

Another busy day before going to

Harry's parents house for his family's

Christmas Eve party.

I've got Santa's cookies ready!

Hope he like Gooey Butter cookies.

Because I sure do!

Here's hoping the fat man can

get down your chimney tonight.

Wishing you and yours a

very Blessed Christmas!

Tasty Tuesday

I'm still cooking and

enjoying it! It will

all be ready for Christmas!

This is a grits lovin girl!

Actually both grand daughters

love them some cheese grits!

And she's getting pretty

good at feeding herself!

Look! Gigi, No Hands!

I went to a party Saturday evening where I had the best grits I have ever eaten in my life! No, I mean it! I had two helpings of them. They are prize winning Boursin Cheese Grits. Chef Tim Thomas won with this recipe in a cook off in New Orleans two years ago and that won him the right to go to the White House and prepare this dish for President and Mrs. Bush. His son James, graduated early from high school and they had a small friends and family celebration. It was a lot of fun and the food was over the top! Just to, to good!

Tim Thomas' Award Winning-

Wild Georgia Shrimp Ratatouille with Grits

Sauteed Shrimp Ingredients

35 Shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

6 Cloves garlic,minced

2 Ts chopped basil

Salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients together and marinate 30 minutes. Place in heated saute pan, cook for 30 seconds on each side.

Boursin and Cheese Grits Ingredients

4 Cups Milk

1 Cup Grits

2 Tbs Butter

4 Ounces Boursin Cheese

Salt and Pepper

Bring milk and butter to a boil, and add grits.

Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes,

stirring often. Season with salt and

pepper. Add Boursin and cook

for 2-3 minutes.

Ratatouille Ingredients and Directions

1 Egg Plant,peeled and large dice

1/4 cup Olive Oil

1 Onion, diced

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

1 Green Pepper, diced

4 oz Beer

1 Zucchini, diced

1 Yellow Squash

2 Tomatoes,diced

1 Cup Tomato Juice

1/4 cup Fresh Basil,chopped

Salt and Pepper

Heat large skillet with oil.

add egg plant and cook 5-7 minutes

until brown. Drain excess oil.

Add onion,garlic and peppers.

Cook another minute.

Add beer and cook for 3-4 min.

Add zucchini and squash.

Cook 2-3 minutes. Add tomato products,

salt,pepper and herbs.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Place grits in individual bowls,

top with ratatouille and then shrimp

For more Wild Georgia Shrimp recipe's click here.

Merry Christmas

Wonderful

The Family Christmas party was wonderful!
It was a lot of fun.

(this was my side of the family.

We still have to do Our own family

and Harry's family on Christmas Eve.)

The little children were so excited to
see each other. It's fun to be young and have
cousins your age. We really had some
wonderful food. We have some great
cooks in our family. It was especially good to
have my mama and daddy here with us.

Everyone was here except the 2 sisters

and brother in law that live in S.L.C.

I am most excited about my

early Christmas Present!!!!!

Do you remember the Old Gray Goat??

Ta Da!!!!!

It's gone!!

Whoo Hoo!

I must say that's the best

Christmas gift ever!!

(and you can't tell me that it

doesn't look 100% better!)

Merry Christmas!

The Reason

For the season

Merry Christmas

Madness

Good luck with your last minute holiday shopping!

I still say,

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Reagan, Santa and Shelby

December 2008

(doesn't look like Rea likes Santa to

well and it doesn't look like Santa

likes his job to much either)

Rea and Shelby last Christmas, December 2007

(look how much they have grown)

Harrison and Christon's

this years Christmas Card.

Merry Christmas!