God's Little Silver Platter

As most of you know,  I have been working at a school here in Frisco that I love.   How I got the job is quite the story.    I  told a friend that I had always loved that campus and just couldn't seem to ever get a job there.  It seemed elusive to me and I even had classroom experience!  She told her principal about me and magically I was hired a week later.   Yes,  it wasn't as a teacher in my own classroom.......but it was in a classroom as a para-professional at the same campus I had been drooling over for several years.   HAPPY!   God really opened that door for me!!!  Gotta love that!!!

SO,   I have been working there since December 2014 and loving every day of it.  The location, the people...both adults & children.   LOVE!!! LOVE!!!! LOVE!!!!!

In May, I was sitting at a table with teacher friends relaxing after a band banquet.    One was the person who told me and referred me for the job I currently had.  The other was teacher at another campus.   She asked me how I liked my job and if I had ever considered returning to the classroom and be the lead teacher.   I told her yes...but really didn't want to just throw out my resume anywhere and that I really wanted to obtain "God's Silver Platter".    I needed to feel that assuredly it was the place for me.   I felt I was too old to be somewhere that wasn't a good fit.

SO.......her next words were "I may have that silver platter."    "Send me your resume."  

In fairness,  I told my principal that I was interviewing for a job at another campus.  I also told her that my first choice is ECS but due to current living circumstances......   I planned to interview if/when they called.  I needed a big girl salary and responsibilities.

This really felt like my platter.   I quickly figured out that I personally knew the counselor and principal on her campus.  Life was really looking up and there were 3 open classrooms.    It doesn't sound much better than that.  Right?    There were open classes in K, 4 & 5.   I would love any of them...especially K.   It felt right.    As we all know now...........  
They just didn't see my sparkling personality!!!!!


It bothered me for about a day.  Then it hit me.......   God doesn't want me there.  Ok, I still love my current job and am quite content at this time.   I am content.   

  

A week or so went by & in early June,  I found out that a teacher on my campus had plans to quit at a latter part of the summer.   I emailed my principal and asked it I could be considered for that classroom.   It couldn't hurt, right?   Absolutely,  if God wanted me to have that classroom.....   It would be mine and on a silver platter.   I was content to just put my name out there.  

A month or so flew past and on July 20......  I noticed an email from my principal.    About 15 minutes passed and about 4 emails later.............. at 12:45 that afternoon.   I went into training the very next day.   I FINALLY RECEIVED MY SILVER PLATTER.  I had the classroom of my dreams.  I had the campus of my dreams.  

God provided that job on a silver platter!!!!!  

Chocolate Gravy

A few weeks ago, my college bestie &  I loaded up and headed to Gulf Shores.  It was quite the trek.   Nothing catastrophic happened this time...  just a few shenanigans & chocolate gravy.   One year, we got lost in Mobile and rambled across most of Mississippi from there trying to find our way home.   This time, we lounged on the beach, ate our way through every shrimp basket along the coast and shopped at the outlet mall.   Our husbands would have been miserable.  Until the chocolate gravy was served.


                                               

This guy happened to land right beside us as we were taking an afternoon stroll.

We purposely drove one night just so we could watch the odometer turn 200,000 miles.

J.G. taught me how to do this.   I really didn't know it was this easy.   My life was empty until this point.  

If you are from the South and hear the words "chocolate gravy" muttered.......  you know that something wonderful is about to be served.   It is both magical and healing.  It covers a multitude of sins.  Just like Jesus can!  Folks from the other parts of this world.......  just don't know what they are missing.  Bless their hearts. 

Chocolate Gravy

3 heaping Tablespoons flour

3 level Tablespoons cocoa

3/4 cup sugar

3 cups milk

1/2 cup water

3 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the dry together and gradually add the liquid.   Bring to a boil and stir until thickened to your preference.  Add the butter & vanilla.  Serve over hot bisquits!!  Enjoy and Thank you very much!

Chicken Broth

It has been on my mind to attempt making broth from a Thanksgiving Turkey.  I noticed on FB that a high school friend of mine does it every year and she even asks neighbors for their leftover turkey bones.  If she can do it....  why shouldn't I give it a whirl?  Does it matter that her mother was a home economics teacher?  Yes?  NO!  That woman was my teacher as well.   I CAN DO THIS... I CAN DO THIS...(repeat 3x).

Earlier this week when my dear hubby brought home a Costco Rotisserie Chicken the other night for dinner, my brain started spinning.  Why not try it on a chicken first?   We first polished off most of the meat for dinner.   Costco chickens are huge!  They are a must-purchase-item!

Get out your large crockpot and one of those crockpot liners if you  have them.   They just make cleanup easier!  I usually find them on the bottom shelf at the store.

So, line the pot.  

Place the turkey/chicken carcass in the pot.  (bones, fat, any extra meat...the whole bird!)   

Grab about 3 carrots and 3 celery sticks and throw them in the pot. 

6 peppercorns & 2 or 3 bay leaves 

Add a garlic clove or two and also a large chopped onion.  

Don't chop anything too finely...you will just be straining it all out eventually! 

 Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  (I read that it draws the nutrients out of the bones.)

I wouldn't salt just yet.  Wait until you actually cook with it.

Cover with water as high as you can in the crockpot and turn on high for about 24 hours.

Strain it all and pour into freezable containers.  Enjoy!  

I will be doing this again with all the Thanksgiving turkeys this year!  

Hey neighbors..... Can I have all your turkey bones?

*mental note...maybe next time add some cilantro or rosemary?

Strawberry Bars for the Cajun!!!

There was a time when I absolutely loved to eat Nutrigrain bars.   They made a mighty tasty "on-the-go" breakfast.    At some point in my life after reading the nutritional facts,  I decided all those preservatives just weren't necessary and quickly began the search for something better that could easily be prepared at home.   These babies are absolutely delicious!   You gotta try them!

Strawberry Fruit Bars

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup oatmeal,  (I prefer the old fashioned kind.)

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup strawberry jam ( I used a small jar of this...)

Spray a square brownie pan with cooking spray & cover with foil.  Spray again.

Combine the first 6 ingredients until it is crumbly.  

Spread 1/2 into prepared pan.

Spread the Jam

Spread the remaining crumblies & press together.

Bake @ 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden.

I think that changing up the jam would be fun here...Seedless Raspberry?  Peach?  Blueberry?

So many options!!!

Hey...RB, is this quick enough for you?

Tomato Soup has changed my life.

 All my life I have thought that tomato soup was yucky and tasted metallic.  Yea,  I was raised to think that canned was the only way to get tomato soup.    And why should I order tomato soup at a restaurant when I don't like it?   My dear husband thinks it is amazing.  Canned, that is.

Hey, Mrs. CS......make this!!!! You will like it.  Get out your giant Le Crueset!!!

WELL....... We were watching an episode of PW and she was making it.   It looked easy.   I was hungry.  He said that he would go to the grocery store.  Ok, yea baby........  I'll make that.   Can you pick up a loaf of french bread too?  And a gallon of milk?

Tomato Soup

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 large carrots, finely diced

1 medium onion, finely diced

1 garlic clove, pressed

   *( these really need to be finely diced.....food processor?)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 large cans whole tomatoes, the 28 oz size

4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons parsley

1 cup water

Saute the top 5 ingredients.  Add the tomato paste and cook another 3 minutes.

Add the remaining and boil.  Reduce heat and simmer another 20 minutes or so.  

You really want the vegetables tender.

Get out your immersion blender and puree until smooth.  

Add..   1/2 cup whipping cream 

            2 tablespoons basil, chopped

            salt & pepper to taste

Simmer another 5 minutes.

  

                                             

December! January! & WAIT!!!!! Today is February!!! WHAT????

Miss C.G. tied the knot!  She recently married her love.......  Mr. RS   What a day that was!   As if getting married isn't going to fill the calendar......We planned a wedding on top of Christmas & a mini vacation.   Fortunately, I am a bit OCD and over all a decent planner!
Everything went off without a hitch.   Did I also mention I interviewed for a new job 2 days before the wedding?  AM I INSANE??????    Hey, God's timing is not always my timing...but I'll take it.

The Ringbearer just didn't want to hang out in a box.......

The cake looked pretty on that beautiful platter!!!

Something old..  (my pearls) 

Something new... (dress)

Something blue..... (her tongue?)

Baby, is my tie ok?

Look who photobombed the pretty girls?   JESUS!

What a good place for a new life to start!!!

RS entered our lives a few years ago and promptly introduced himself by announcing that he had no intentions of being enrolled  in the "Flavor of the Month Club".   We immediately figured out at that point he was a keeper.

RS will do the family pose now......

Some may call the wedding punch a "punch casserole"  It was easy.  It had a ton of things in it.  It was delicious!!  Anything served with that ladle & punch bowl should be tasty......  And can you believe we found all those cups for virtually about .10 each?  WHAT???????

Since the wedding of the year is over.....Life continued on.  We survived Christmas.  We went to Branson for a few days after that to unwind and find a new kind of normal without the daily excitement of having Miss CG in the house.  WAIT......  She is now MRS. CS!   Gotta remember that one!!!

Hey, kids...gas was $1.89 per gallon at the Racetrack on the day you were married!

I started the new job....actually using my diploma and loving it.   Yep......  I am finally back in the classroom!!!!    Family things occurred and I found myself in the midst of crazy band planning events.    I REALLY NEED A VACATION NOW!!!  


                                             Road trip anyone?  The beach isn't that far....

Merry Christmas Friends!

As 2014 draws to a close,  I sit here reflecting on the many blessings and events that have occurred this past year.

Meagann graduated from WHS in May and is enrolled at Collin County Community College.  She is currently performing with an independent winter guard group based here in Frisco and last weekend signed a contract with the Blue Stars to perform in their Summer 2015 show.  She is also working with the Little Elm ISD color guard and returned to Cinemark for the holiday season.   One of the above pictures features Meagann at her 18th birthday party.   We had several dozen of her friends over for a surprise party and gave them all a can of shaving cream to empty on her.    It was quite the memory for all!

The hardest part for Greg & I this year was to watch Clay play his final baseball game as a Riverdog.  The team had been together since his 1st grade year.   What a run they had!!!  Clay left middle school and began his Freshman year at Wakeland.  This means I began my 8th year as a WHS band mom.  He played the mellophone in the fall marching show "Venomous"  and enjoyed a trip to Indianapolis for BOA Grand Nationals where they placed 15th out of 94 bands in the Nation.

The biggest news lies with Courtney.  She spent the summer in London working with OM. Immediately upon returning in August,  the decision was made that the wedding would be in December during winter break.  Her fiance, Rick, is currently working for the Collin County Police Department and plans to enroll in the police academy as soon as he accumulates enough college credit hours.  They recently adopted an 8 week old French Bulldog and named him "Winston."
She will be finishing up her pre-law degree this next year at UT Dallas.  Her plans include law school the following semester.

Tramp isn't too sure of Winston.  He prefers to be left alone but will tolerate the attention that Winston is eager to give.   He jumps to the top of the closest couch in fear for his life.   Nothing changes too much with Tramp.....his current hobbies still include squirrel watching, cuddling and napping.


In closing, I ask all of you to look around and count your blessings.   We all have a blessing or two that goes unnoticed and taken for granted.  Be thankful for all.......