WINTER

A light snow today. I love how quiet it seems outside. This weather makes me want to cook, listen to music and read a book by the fireplace.

EATING WELL

Brothy Chinese Noodles

• Heat 2 TBS hot sesame oil in a large saucepan with 1 bunch chopped green onion, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 1 TBS minced ginger.
• Remove from pan after five min.
• Add 4 cups broth, 3/4 cups water, 3 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage, 8 oz. dried Chinese rice noodles, 3 TBS soy sauce, 1 TBS rice vinegar
• Bring to a boil until noodles are tender, approx. 5 mins.
• Add garlic/ginger mixture
• Toss together
• Serve with matchstick cucumber sticks and green onion

This recipe is from the EATING WELL magazine, Feb. edition. The subscription was a gift from my sister who is a chef. Every issue has healthy and easy recipes. My family raved about this dish. The original said to add ground turkey, which my husband does not care for, so I did not add.

VINTAGE ITEMS

VINTAGE MINK RUSSIAN HAT

To view some of my vintage items for sale log on to http://jtutone.webs.com

I also have an ebay store under the name of Electric Threads. The URL is posted on my "About Me" section.

After the first of the year, I will be changing my website and adding additional vintage clothing & accessories.

PRODUCTIVE

Today was a productive day. I started the day with making Huevos Rancheros for the family. This is a healthy & yummy dish.

• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 1 crushed clove garlic
• sautee 5 min.
• add & sautee til soft 2 med. chopped onions & 1 lrg. green bell pepper
• add 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t pepper
• 2 t chili powder
• 1/4 t oregano
• 1/4 cumin
• simmer 10 min
• add 8 eggs....cook approx. 10 min
• top with cheese
• serve with tortillas

This is an easy recipe and rewarding.

Afterwards, I worked on my ebay store site listing 9 Royal Doulton figurines.

Off to try to accomplish some housework and laundry.

It feels good to be productive.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Valley of Lights
Gingerbread house display at the Prescott Resort

Gazebo downtown on the square

Bill's Pizza....best in town!

What a great Christmas! White snow....very festive. We had a family party in Phoenix last Sunday. Christmas Eve was spent downtown starting with our favorite pizza from Bill's. Walking around our beautiful town square. Viewing the gingerbread house display at the Prescott Resort and finally to the Valley of Lights in Prescott Valley. Christmas day we visited and had dinner with my in-laws at Las Fuentas Resort. Straight to my mom's for pie and visited with siblings. Before heading home we stopped at Eric's for another Christmas gift exchange. Also, my oldest came home and we chatted until early morning. Today we hit all the shopping malls for after Christmas sales with Lisa, Kyle and Nick. Five hours of hard core shopping....lots of fun. To end the day, we had to take them to our favorite pizza place (you guessed it) Bill's.

WHITE CHRISTMAS

Looks like we are having a white Christmas. The sun is out today....hopefully the snow will not melt before everyone from Phoenix arrives. You know those desert people need to see something other than sunshine.

This winter I feel like a bear wanting to hibernate.....to just lay in bed and read. I have just started Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA and I must say...I do not want to put it down!

VINTAGE FIND

Vintage Christmas wrapping paper purchased at an estate sale

QUOTE

"There is need of a sound body and even more need of a sound mind. But above mind and above body stands CHARACTER."

A beautiful postcard from 1910 with a great quote from Teddy Roosevelt